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Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford. "I think this will strengthen the resolve of his supporters," said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist who represented Trump in many media appearances during the 2020 presidential campaign. "It’s not good for Trump, the question is how bad for Trump it is," said Sabato. Trump has defied predictions of his demise numerous times since he launched his bid for the White House in 2015. Trump remains the front-runner in the 2024 Republican field, with the support of 44% of Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday, ahead of DeSantis' 30% support.

He now faces renewed criticism over his agenda at the Fed, where he oversaw efforts to reduce regulations on regional banks. U.S. regional banks are expected to pay higher rates to depositors to keep them from switching to larger lenders, leaving them with higher funding costs. In 2008, regulators had to contend with billions of dollars in toxic mortgages and complex derivatives sitting on bank books. Currently, regional banks below $250 billion in assets have simpler capital, liquidity and stress testing requirements. "SVB is not a very complicated bank," said Dan Awrey, a Cornell Law professor and bank regulation expert.

☆ Manhunt for ex Maryland governor's former top aide after court no-show
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Roy McGrath, the former top aide to an ex Maryland Governor, is seen in this U.S. Marshals Service wanted poster released on March 14, 2023 after McGrath failed to appear in court where he is charged with wire fraud and falsification. March 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. on Tuesday said it issued an arrest warrant and began a manhunt for Roy McGrath, the former top aide to an ex Maryland governor, for not appearing in court to face charges of wire fraud and falsification of records. In June 2020, McGrath was appointed Chief of Staff to former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who served from 2015 to 2023. Reporting by Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. House Financial Services chair urges confidence, says financial agencies acting within law
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The FDIC is doing what the FDIC is supposed to do in conformance with the law," Representative Patrick McHenry told CNBC, adding Americans should "have confidence in their financial system." "You have the decisions of the institution, and you have decisions of the supervisors," the Republican committee chairman told Punchbowl late on Monday after briefing Republicans on the matter. His administration stepped in over the weekend to shore up the banks, with the FDIC taking over receivership. Biden also vowed new bank rules after regulations enacted after the 2008 financial crisis were rolled back under former Republican President Donald Trump. The panel's ranking Democrat, Maxine Waters, on Monday urged bipartisan work to ensure the stability of the financial system.

☆ U.S. House Financial Services chair to seek documents, hold hearing amid bank collapses -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee said he would request documents and hold a hearing after the collapse of two U.S. banks raised concerns about the banking sector and roiled world markets, according to a media report on Tuesday. McHenry spoke after briefing Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, about the weekend collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which continued to weigh on investors on Tuesday. "They currently have the tools, and they‘ve used them appropriately to resolve two banks," McHenry said. Biden also vowed new bank rules after regulations enacted after the 2008 financial crisis were rolled back under former Republican President Donald Trump. The panel's ranking Democrat, Maxine Waters, on Monday urged bipartisan work to ensure the stability of the financial system.

☆ DeSantis makes Iowa debut as Trump waits in wings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Iowa could be particularly crucial for DeSantis, who is expected to jump into the 2024 White House race later in the spring. Addressing a welcoming crowd at a casino in Davenport, Iowa, DeSantis boasted about his policy record in Florida and blasted the Democratic Biden administration on issues such as crime and immigration. Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Iowa Republican Party, believes Iowa voters are eager to hear from DeSantis, who polls show to be Trump's biggest rival for the nomination. Randy Yaddof, 71, of Davenport described himself as a Trump supporter but said after listening to DeSantis he was considering backing the Florida governor. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll released on Friday showed declining favorability ratings for Trump among Iowa Republicans.

☆ DeSantis, Trump to collide in key state of Iowa
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Iowa could be particularly crucial for DeSantis, who is expected to jump into the 2024 White House race later in the spring. The state will hold the first Republican nominating contest early next year, and a win there would show DeSantis is a viable candidate against Trump. DeSantis will appear at events in Des Moines, the state capital, and the river town of Davenport that will be moderated by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Iowa Republican Party, believes Iowa voters are eager to hear from DeSantis, who polls show to be Trump's biggest rival for the nomination. But the Midwestern state will remain as the first electoral test for Republican presidential candidates.

☆ Biden says 'wacko liberal guy' Ronald Reagan had a higher corporate tax rate than the US has right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In remarks on Friday, Biden noted that Republican President Ronald Reagan had a higher corporate tax rate. "When we talk about 28% tax rate — Ronald Reagan was 28% tax rate — you know, that wacko liberal guy, the idea that that's an unreasonable amount…" Biden said during his Friday remarks. Biden has pushed for a higher corporate tax rate previously, saying that he's "sick and tired of ordinary people being fleeced" as some corporations pay nothing in income taxes. Still, even with the release of Biden's budget proposal, Republicans have yet to put forth their plan. House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington told Politico that there is "no timeline" for a GOP budget, frustrating Democrats as the US inches closer to default.

☆ Ex-Trump official sets up 2024 fundraising group for rival DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"America's future is Ron DeSantis. Ron DeSantis doesn't just talk he acts, but most of all he never backs down," Cuccinelli said in a video promoting the PAC, Never Back Down. "Governor DeSantis, today I'm asking you to run for president." So having someone like a Cuccinelli come in and beg DeSantis to run is significant," said John Feehery, who was press secretary for former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert. There was no immediate reaction from DeSantis or Trump to Cuccinelli's announcement.

☆ Texas and Portland, Oregon, politicians take to Twitter to argue over why Walmart is closing stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walmart has said its closing stores this year for many reasons and hasn't called out retail crime. Mayor Ted Wheeler replied on Monday, referring to "dozens of Walmart stores that have closed in Texas in recent years." "The retail industry is changing and retail theft is a national issue," he added. They say that the problem isn't individual shoplifters but organized retail crime that involves multiple thieves taking large quantities of goods from stores. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC in December that Walmart would close stores and raise prices unless theft at its stores slowed down.

☆ Rupert Murdoch testified that Fox News hosts lied about the 2020 election. Here's why it wasn't a misstep.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rupert Murdoch admitted Fox News hosts endorsed falsehoods about the 2020 election. Murdoch chairs Fox Corporation, which argues it isn't responsible for claims made on subsidiary Fox News. Here was the chair of Fox Corporation, a 91-year-old mogul atop a conservative media empire, admitting to lies that damaged democracy. When asked by Dominion's lawyers in a January deposition whether he thought Fox hosts were truthful about the election, Murdoch was candid. Fox Corporation also manages subsidiaries like Fox Sports, a large number of local TV stations, TMZ, Tubi, and a blockchain company.

☆ Ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won't challenge Trump in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

He was Maryland's second Republican governor ever to be reelected. Some Republicans had hoped that Hogan, emerging as the new best hope of a small group of "Never Trump Republicans," would challenge Trump in 2020. In his first year as governor, Hogan went right to work on pocketbook issues. Hogan has long been upfront about his distaste for Trump as president. "I did not go out of my way to criticize the president," Hogan said.

☆ Ron DeSantis attacks liberals in California speech as he mulls White House run
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Tim Reid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SIMI VALLEY, CA March 5 (Reuters) - Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took his fight against liberalism deep into the Democratic territory of California on Sunday, part of a national road show as he lays the ground for an expected White House bid. While he has not yet announced a White House bid, one candidate who has - former Republican President Donald Trump - clearly views DeSantis as a major potential threat as the Republican nominating contest kicks into gear. Trump has already launched personal and political attacks on DeSantis as the race for the Republican Party's 2024 White House nomination begins to heat up. DeSantis also took aim at the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), which opposes a Florida law that restricts classroom instruction of gender and sexual orientation. "There's a new sheriff in town," DeSantis declared, referring to what he has called the end of Disney's "corporate kingdom."

☆ Republicans stoke 2024 culture wars by attacking Biden's socially conscious investing rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A brewing fight over socially conscious investing appears to be a preview of 2024 attack lines. The GOP's ongoing battle against environmental, social and corporate governance issues seems to be picking up steam ahead of the next presidential election, with Senate Republicans unanimously opposed to government involvement in personal investments. "If there's some other social goals, that'd be run through government, not through investing," Johnson told Insider between Senate votes. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who is running Senate Republicans' reelection arm for the 2024 cycle, declined to comment on whether an anti-ESG plank would be part of that campaign. "Stay focused on investors and shareholders, not on stakeholders," Daines told Insider before being whisked away by the Senate subway.

☆ Schumer, Jeffries pressure Murdoch, Fox News over Trump's false election fraud claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Trump has repeatedly spread false claims that the election was stolen from him. Earlier this week, Dominion filed court papers that revealed parts of the testimony from Murdoch and other top Fox Corp leadership. In his deposition, Murdoch acknowledged that some of Fox's top TV hosts endorsed false election fraud claims. When Murdoch was asked if he was "now aware that Fox endorsed at times this false notion of a stolen election," Murdoch responded, "Not Fox, no. Fox News has consistently denied that it knowingly made false claims about the election.

☆ Former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney will be a professor at the University of Virginia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Rep. Liz Cheney is about to become a professor at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. Once the chairwoman of the House GOP conference, Cheney became a prominent anti-Trump voice. In her new role, Cheney will participate in the center's research, and deliver university-wide lectures, and serve as a guest lecturer in student seminars. 3 House Republican, Cheney faced widespread attacks within the GOP after she blamed Trump over the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and voted to impeach him. Upon her election loss, speculation swirled about Cheney's future political ambitions and whether she might run for president in 2024.

☆ Rupert Murdoch admits Fox News hosts 'endorsed' election lies and wanted to make Trump a 'non-person' after January 6 riot
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rupert Murdoch conceded in a deposition that Fox News hosts pushed falsehoods about the 2020 election. Fox Corporation, which Murdoch leads, argues it isn't liable in Dominion's lawsuit anyway. At the same time, Murdoch denied that Fox Corporation itself endorsed these false claims. Dominion sued Fox News Network along with its parent company, Fox Corporation, in March 2021, also including Bartiromo, Pirro, and Dobbs as defendants. According to the filing, Rupert Murdoch said in his deposition he took care to strike a tone that wouldn't antagonize Trump.

Instead the opposite happened," said Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat on the select committee, in his opening remarks. McMaster said the United States must put a priority on expediting delivery of billions of dollars of weapons and munitions that Taiwan has already purchased. Although the committee is bipartisan, some Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns that it could fuel anti-Asian sentiment within the United States. The select committee has 13 Republican and 11 Democratic members. It will not write legislation, but will draw attention to competition between the United States and China on a range of fronts and make policy recommendations.

Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Biden administration approved more than $23 billion worth of licenses for companies to ship U.S. goods and technology to blacklisted Chinese companies in the first quarter of 2022, a Republican lawmaker said on Tuesday. The data comes amid growing pressure on the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden to further expand a broad crackdown on shipments of sensitive U.S. technology to China from Republican lawmakers, who now control the House of Representatives. The data comes a week after the Biden administration added new Chinese companies to the trade blacklist for aiding Russia’s military and months after announcing a sweeping new policy aimed at dramatically curbing shipments of chips and chipmaking tools to China. Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd was added to a trade blacklist known as the entity list by former Republican President Donald Trump in 2019, amid allegations of sanctions violations, spying capabilities, and intellectual property theft. Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Marguerita Choy and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former GOP Senator James Inhofe retired because of long COVID symptoms. Other colleagues have it but keep it secret, he said.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Former Republican Senator James Inhofe said he retired due to long COVID symptoms. During his time in office, the Oklahoma senator repeatedly voted against COVID protections. The CDC estimated that one in five American adults with the disease suffers from long COVID symptoms. He said "five or six" other political colleagues have long COVID, "but I'm the only one who admits it." In March 2020, Inhofe voted against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which broadly expanded benefits for those affected by the pandemic.

☆ U.S. weapons sales to get stricter human rights review under Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We are looking at a policy of prevention when there is a risk of violation of human rights," one official said. Biden's administration was criticized last year for approving the potential sale of radars and aircraft to Egypt despite what Human Rights Watch called Egypt's "atrocious human rights record." Reuters reported in 2021 that the Biden administration was considering a CAT policy shift to emphasize human rights. For example, Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposes the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to Turkey for reasons including disregard for human rights. He rolled out a CAT policy in 2018 that gave commercial concerns as much weight as human rights in deciding whether to approve weapons sales.

☆ Exclusive: U.S. to vet human rights more closely before approving arms deals, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Patricia Zengerle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Defense companies and activists scrutinize such policies for insight into the administration's posture as it balances commercial interests of exporters like Lockheed Martin Co (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies (RTX.N) against the country's stated commitment to human rights. One change is how the CAT policy addresses the possibility that arms from the United States could be used for major human rights violations, the officials said. Previous CAT policy had said such transfers would not be authorized only when Washington had "actual knowledge" that the arms would be used in such actions. "We are looking at a policy of prevention when there is a risk of violation of human rights," one of the officials said. For example, Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposes the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to Turkey for reasons including disregard for human rights.

☆ An architect of the law Biden is using to cancel student debt reiterates that it 'could hardly be clearer' that the loan forgiveness is legal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He argued that it "could hardly be clearer" that the HEROES Act permits broad loan forgiveness. Miller wrote in a Wednesday opinion piece in The Washington Post that Biden's loan forgiveness falls exactly within what the law permits. "That language could hardly be clearer," Miller wrote. "Sure, Congress could have gone farther by requiring the Education Department to relieve student debt," Miller said. We will continue to defend our legal authority to provide the debt relief working and middle-class families clearly need and deserve."

☆ Far-right Republican groups surge in swing state Michigan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Candidate for district party chair for Michigan Republican Party Jon Smith speaks with guests during a fundraiser in Hillsdale, Michigan, U.S., February 8, 2023. "What's going on in Michigan is a microcosm of what is going on with the Republican Party nationally," said Michael Traugott, a professor at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan. The judge declined to intervene, leaving it up to Michigan Republican Party officials to set the rules on delegate selection. The top two candidates for state party chair have both promoted conspiracy theories in support of Trump's false claims about voter fraud. "There's some people that are thinking this is the end of the Republican Party," he said.

Governors gathered in the nation’s capital in recent days for the National Governors Association winter meeting. And while they were focused on their jobs at hand, questions about the 2024 presidential race were unavoidable. Asked on Saturday if she would like to see Biden run again, Michigan Gov. At a Democratic Governors Association press conference on Thursday, a group of 11 governors echoed support for Biden’s potential re-election campaign. Spencer Cox also joined “Meet” and weighed in on the presidential race, saying he would like to see his party nominate a governor.

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