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Hawaii Narrowly Advances Bill To Boot Trump From Ballot

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Donald Trump could be facing trouble in Hawaii.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii State Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 2392 by a single vote, moving the bill to the full floor, HawaiiNewsNow reported. The proposal would place the decision to potentially disqualify Trump under the chief elections officer.

Advocates for the bill claimed Trump’s involvement in the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, amounted to an insurrection that should bar him from running for the presidency.

Despite the bill clearing the procedural hurdle, the bill’s critics have been more outspoken than its supporters. According to HawaiiNewsNow, the bill drew over 300 complaints or negative testimonies, with only about 20 favoring it.

“This is tyrannical, to say the least,” said Jamie Detwiler, a resident who testified ahead of the vote, per the report. “He has not been convicted nor has he been charged with insurrection (cheers) there is no evidence of committing insurrection so please don’t waste our time on this poorly written piece of legislation.”

According to Fox News, Hawaii does not have a legal process to exempt candidates from the ballot or disqualify them from appearing, the bill would establish that process.

A description of the bill says it “specifies that election ballots issued by the chief election officer or county clerk shall exclude any candidate who is disqualified by a constitutional or statutory provision.”

It also “provides for a process for challenging an inclusion or exclusion of a candidate from a ballot. Includes a candidate’s disqualification as grounds for an election contest complaint. Specifies that electors of presidential and vice presidential candidates shall not be individuals who are disqualified by a constitutional or statutory provision. Prohibits electors from voting for any presidential or vice presidential nominee who has been disqualified pursuant to Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Tucker Carlson Confirms Vladimir Putin Interview

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

On Tuesday, Tucker Carlson confirmed he will interview Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The sit-down will mark the first time a member of the Western media will interview Putin since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine that sparked the ongoing war between the two countries.

“We are not encouraging you to agree with what Putin may say in this interview,” Carlson said in a video posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “But we are urging you to watch it. You should know as much as you can. And then, like a free citizen and not a slave, you can decide for yourself.”

Carlson did not specify when his interview with Putin would be published.

According to The Hill, while speaking from what appeared to be an elevated balcony in Moscow, Carlson acknowledged what he called “risks to conducting an interview like this” and noted he and his crew paid for the trip to Moscow themselves and did not take any financial assistance from government groups to travel.

However, the next day Putin’s press secretary called out Carlson for lying about his interview with the Russian leader.

While Carlson made many claims in his 4-minute video, one that stuck out was, “Not a single Western journalist has bothered to interview the president of the other country involved in this conflict, Vladimir Putin.”

Dmitry Peskov said they were wrong. The long-time Putin press secretary told the New York Times, “Mr. Carlson is not correct, but he couldn’t have known that. We receive a lot of requests for interviews with the president.”

Former House Speaker Gets Unexpected Endorsement Amid RNC Shakeup

By
Madeleine Jackson
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivers remarks at the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Washington DC, December 1, 2021. USDA Forest Service photo by Tanya E. Flores.

On Tuesday night multiple outlets reported that Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel plans to step down after the South Carolina primary.

McDaniel has faced pressure from party figures who have expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the RNC and its lack of finances heading into a 2024 general election. 

In a statement to The Hill, RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper said, “Nothing has changed. This will be decided after South Carolina.”

McDaniel has spoken with former President Trump about her resignation, according to The New York Times, which first reported on the news. They met Monday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home in Palm Beach, Fla. 

After reports surfaced that McDaniel may soon leave her post rumors quickly began to circulate that McCarthy could be a candidate to replace her.

In an unexpected twist, McCarthy’s known rival Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) fully endorsed the idea.

“I fully endorse Kevin McCarthy for RNC Chair. Kevin is well organized and a very high-revenue fundraiser. He will also be well-liked by the RNC Committee,” argued Gaetz. “The RNC Chair doesn’t make any policy decisions, set any agenda, or negotiate against Democrats, ever. Kevin would be terrific.”

The RNC’s fundraising dipped in 2023. The committee raised $87.2 million in 2023, but ended the year with $8 million left, according to its year-end filing with the Federal Election Commission.

Nikki Haley Loses Nevada GOP Primary

By
Madeleine Jackson
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The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

That has to sting…

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley lost Nevada’s GOP primary on Tuesday to “none of these candidates” in an embarrassing defeat.

Despite the fact that Haley was the only major candidate listed on the ballot she still managed to lose the primary, according to NBC News projections, coming second to “None of these candidates.” Donald Trump was absent due to a conflict between the state and the Nevada Republican Party

“Nevada voters in the state-run primary had a choice to reject all the candidates on the ballot, and they did just that — with more people choosing to vote for ‘none of these candidates’ than for Haley,” reported NBC News’ senior national political reporter Natasha Korecki, who described Haley’s defeat as “a stinging rebuke.”

As of reporting, Haley received just over 30% of the vote, while “None of these candidates” received more than 60%. Former Vice President Mike Pence came third with just over 4%.

As reported by CBS News, due to a dispute between the Nevada Republican Party and the state of Nevada, “Nevada Republicans have made clear that the caucuses are the only method to earn the party’s delegates in the state, while effectively barring anyone on the primary ballot from appearing on the caucus ballot.”

“Candidates that chose to appear on the state-run primary ballot did so knowing that decision meant they could not earn delegates by appearing on the caucus ballots,” declared the Nevada Republican Party. “Those candidates are John Castro, Heath Fulkerson, Nikki Haley, Donald Kjornes, Hirsh Singh, Mike Pence and Tim Scott.”

While Haley will not appear on the ballot, Thursday, “None of these candidates” will be an option for the caucus just as it was during the Tuesday primary.

Trump Teases Future Leadership Shakeup At RNC

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Ronna McDaniel via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Big things are coming…

    Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel may find herself out of a job soon.

    On Monday, while referring to RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as “my friend,” Trump signaled her future as the party chair could be uncertain.

    “Things are looking great in the Presidential Race of 2024 against Crooked Joe Biden,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social, adding later that “Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I’ll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth.”

    In an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News, Trump predicted there would be “changes” to McDaniel’s leadership of the committee.

    When “Sunday Morning Futures” anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Trump how McDaniel was doing, he said, “I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me. I think she did OK initially in the RNC.”

    “I would say, right now, there will probably be some changes made,” he added.

    Trump’s post on Monday comes after meeting with McDaniel at Mar-a-Lago, Politico reported.

    Trump signaled his confidence going into the South Carolina primary where he will face off against former governor Nikki Haley.

    “This has been a very exciting Primary Season. The Iowa Caucus was won in Record Fashion … and likewise New Hampshire, where I had the honor of getting more votes than anybody in the History of the New Hampshire Primary, Republican or Democrat,” the former president wrote Monday. “Hopefully, we will continue this string of Victories in Nevada, the Virgin Islands, and then, South Carolina.”

    DC Circuit Court Rules Trump Not Immune From Prosecution

    By
    admin
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    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    The Washington, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that former President Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution, rejecting Trump’s claims of absolute presidential immunity for alleged crimes committed in office.

    The Hill has more:

    “For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant,” the panel for the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in its 57-page decision.

    “But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.”

    “We cannot accept former President Trump’s claim that a President has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power — the recognition and implementation of election results. Nor can we sanction his apparent contention that the Executive has carte blanche to violate the rights of individual citizens to vote and to have their votes count,” the judges wrote in the decision.

    “We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter. Careful evaluation of these concerns leads us to conclude that there is no functional justification for immunizing former Presidents from federal prosecution in general or for immunizing former President Trump from the specific charges in the Indictment.”

    Donald Trump plans to appeal the ruling.

    “Prosecuting a President for official acts violates the Constitution and threatens the bedrock of our Republic. President Trump respectfully disagrees with the DC Circuit’s decision and will appeal it in order to safeguard the Presidency and the Constitution,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

    “Deranged Jack Smith’s prosecution of President Trump for his Presidential, official acts is unconstitutional under the doctrine of Presidential Immunity and the Separation of Powers,” Cheung said.

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Senator Responds To Trump Considering Him For Vice President

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

    South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R) responded to former President Donald Trump’s comments over the weekend naming him as a potential running mate.

    Trump revealed to Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo over the weekend he is considering Scott, along with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the next vice presidential running mate. (RELATED: Trump Names Two People When Asked About Potential VP Picks)

    “The only thing I can tell you is that the one thing we need is four more years of President Donald Trump,” Scott told Fox News Digital on Monday.

    “We were better off under Trump. In order for us to be successful, the one thing I can’t afford to do is take my eye off the ball. The eye on the ball means making sure that President Trump gets four more years,” he added.

    Over the weekend, Trump told Bartiromo that his top priority in choosing a vice presidential candidate is selecting someone who could easily step into his shoes in case of an emergency.

    “Always, it’s got to be who is going to be a good president. Obviously, you always have to think that because in case of emergency. Things happen, right? No matter who you are, things happen. That’s got to be No. 1,” Trump said.

    On Monday, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway advised the President to consider choosing a person of color for VP during an op-ed published in The New York Times.

    “With a crisis on the border, economic dissatisfaction, fears about crime, a parents’ rights renaissance and multiple wars and threats across the globe, Mr. Trump’s deputy must be able to navigate chaos and challenges at home and abroad,” Conway wrote.

    “Taking all of this into consideration, if I were advising Mr. Trump, I would suggest he choose a person of color as his running mate, depending on vetting of all possibilities and satisfaction of procedural issues like dual residency in Florida,” Conway wrote. “Not for identity politics a la the Democrats, but as an equal helping to lead an America First movement that includes more union workers, independents, first-time voters, veterans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans.”

    Conway listed Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) among the potential options.

    Trump Names Two People When Asked About Potential VP Picks

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Trump is narrowing down his search for his next running mate…

    During a weekend interview, former President Donald Trump said he has two potential candidates in mind.

    Trump mentioned Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem when asked during a Sunday interview with Maria Bartiromo

    “Well, I have a lot of good people. We have a lot of really good people,” Trump said. “I have a lot of good ideas, but I haven’t — and there’s no reason to do that quickly.”

    “I speak to everybody,” he said. “I called Tim Scott … and I said, ‘you’re a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself.’ When I watched Tim, he was fine, he was good, but he was very low-key, et cetera, et cetera.”

    However, Trump admitted he’s still a ways off from making any final decisions on a running mate. The GOP frontrunner told Bartiromo that his priority in choosing a running mate will be choosing “someone who would be a good president.”

    “I watched him in the last week defending me and sticking up for me and fighting for me,” he continued. “I said, man, I said, ‘you’re a much better person for me than you are for yourself’, because, for himself, he was low-key. For me, he’s been a real tiger. He’s been incredible. And others have too.”

    “Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me,” Trump added. “She said, I’d never run against him because I can’t beat him. That was a very nice thing to say.”

    On Monday, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway advised the President to consider choosing a person of color for VP during an op-ed published in The New York Times.

    “With a crisis on the border, economic dissatisfaction, fears about crime, a parents’ rights renaissance and multiple wars and threats across the globe, Mr. Trump’s deputy must be able to navigate chaos and challenges at home and abroad,” Conway wrote.

    “Taking all of this into consideration, if I were advising Mr. Trump, I would suggest he choose a person of color as his running mate, depending on vetting of all possibilities and satisfaction of procedural issues like dual residency in Florida,” Conway wrote. “Not for identity politics a la the Democrats, but as an equal helping to lead an America First movement that includes more union workers, independents, first-time voters, veterans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans.”

    Conway listed Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) among the potential options.

    This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

    Former Trump Official Dies After Carjacking

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Police image via Pixabay free images

    A former Trump administration has passed away after being shot during a carjacking last week in Washington, D.C.

    “It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill,” Gill’s wife, Kristina Gill, wrote in a statement. “His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled.”

    Gill, a married father of three who worked at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission during former President Trump’s White House tenure, was shot last Monday while inside of a car at the 900 block of K Street NW (RELATED: Trump Admin. Member Shot During DC Carjacking)

    Kristina remembered her husband as “a devoted husband and father” and a cherished son, brother and friend in a state to The Hill.

    “Over the course of his remarkable life, Mike brought people together and made them feel included, supported, and loved,” she wrote. “His heart was evident in everything he did, as demonstrated by his mentorship and deep friendships with those who worked with him professionally. Above all, Mike spoke with pride and love about his family, especially our children, Sean, Brian, and Annika. “

    Ed DeMarco, president of the Housing Policy Council, remembered Gill as “outstanding lawyer, public servant, colleague, and community member” who gave “his time and talent in service to his country, his city, his church, and his community. “

    “Mike’s death is also a huge loss for the Housing Policy Council and for the Washington, DC community, which has lost an outstanding citizen, neighbor, co-worker, and friend,” he wrote in a statement to The Hill.  

    Republican Congresswoman Reverses Retirement Decision

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    On Monday, Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz (R) announced she would seek another term in Congress after all.

    “Deciding where your duty lies — family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family,” Spartz said in a statement.  

    “However, looking where we are today, and urged by many of my constituents, I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress, with the current failed leadership in Washington, D.C., on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on,” she continued. 

    Last year, Spartz announced that she would not be running for another term, saying in a statement at the time “being a working mom is tough” and that she wanted to spend more time with her daughters.

    However Spartz seemed to signal she would reconsider her decision in recent months, saying on NewsNation’s “The Hill” in September, “I do need to regroup because I think my party is failing the people.” 

    The solidly red district in Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District went for former President Trump in 2020 by 16 points.  

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