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☆ Elon Musk says he's had little to do with Trump's cabinet picks — he just likes 'spending time' with the man
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he's had little input on Trump's Cabinet picks. Elon Musk says he's had little input on President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks. He was a major contributor to Trump's campaign, spending just under $119 million on his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC. Musk, according to multiple media reports, has joined Trump's calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Lutnick, Musk wrote in an X post on November 16, "will actually enact change," compared to another candidate, hedge fund CEO Scott Bessent.

Persons: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, he's, Musk, Donald Trump's, Haven't, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, cott, ott Organizations: SpaceX, Cabinet, New York Post, Trump's, UFC, Trump, Madison Locations: Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, usk

Pushing the funding fight to next year would put Trump in position to have far greater say. Congress faces a jam-packed to-do list of critical legislative items, including the annual defense policy bill. The next Trump loyalty test – who will lead the Senate GOP? The new Senate GOP leader will be elected by secret ballot, meaning no one will know who voted for which candidate. The House and Senate are only expected to be in session for two weeks before leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Persons: Donald Trump won’t, Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ”, Kelly Armstrong, “, Trump’s, Dusty Johnson of, “ I’m, Mitch McConnell, John Thune of, John Cornyn of, Rick Scott, McConnell, –, ” Thune, Cornyn, ” Scott, Scott, Sens, Marco Rubio, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, Ron Johnson, they’d, haven’t, Elon Musk, Musk, Hakeem Jeffries, There’s, Alayna Treene Organizations: CNN, White House, Capitol, Republican Party, GOP, Trump, North, Republican, Senate, Florida Republican, Democratic, Republicans, National Defense, Department of Defense Locations: North Dakota, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Sens, John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, Florida, Marco Rubio of Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Washington, United States

☆ 2024 was yet another 'change' election: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill. In today’s edition, senior political editor Mark Murray breaks down how 2024 was the sixth "change" election in a row as voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the country remains high. They culminated in the nation’s sixth straight “change” election, in which either the White House or at least one chamber of Congress switched party control. Trump won those “change” voters by 50 points, 74% to 24%. Read more →Trump’s win has sparked fresh concerns among his critics that he may enter office looking for retribution.

Persons: Mark Murray, MAGA, Donald Trump’s, ’, Barack Obama, Trump, Joe Biden, Trump’s, Kamala Harris, “, Sahil Kapur, Matt Dixon, Julie Tsirkin, Donald Trump’s “ MAGA ”, Mitch McConnell, John Thune of, Sen, John Cornyn of, Rick Scott of Florida, ” Scott, —, Scott —, Scott, leapfrog, hasn’t, ”, Read, Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, Tom Homan, Stephen Miller, 🗞️, : the, lea Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Republican, Senate, GOP, Republicans, White, Trump, Democratic, Voters, McConnell, NBC News, House Republican Conference, United Nations, Environmental Protection Agency, . Immigration, Customs Enforcement, rit, upr Locations: Kentucky, John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, New York

☆ Elon Musk has named his top choice for Senate majority leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk wants Rick Scott to be the next Senate majority leader. "Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!" Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader! Both Cornyn and Thune served as deputies to McConnell when he was Senate majority leader. AdvertisementPresident-elect Donald Trump has yet to endorse a candidate, but wrote in an X post on Sunday that the next Senate majority leader should support his recess appointments.

Persons: Elon Musk, Rick Scott, Scott, John Cornyn, John Thune, Mitch McConnell, —, Elon, Sen, Rick Scott of, lpT34yHTKk — Elon, John Thune of, John Cornyn of, Mitch McConnell of, Cornyn, Thune, McConnell, Donald Trump, Musk, — Donald J, Scott's, Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, GOP, Musk, Business, Republican Party clinched, United States, Trump, SpaceX, America PAC, PAC, The New York Times Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Turkish, Ukraine

☆ Elon Musk and MAGA's next big fight: Who replaces Mitch McConnell?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk and other MAGA figures are onto a new fight: Who will be the next Senate Majority Leader. John Thune and John Cornyn. AdvertisementWith President-elect Donald Trump now on his way to the White House, his allies are settling on a new target: Getting a loyalist installed as Senate Majority Leader. Ahead of Mitch McConnell's long-awaited retirement from leadership, Republicans are set to choose a new leader on Wednesday of this week. John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and Rick Scott of Florida.

Persons: Elon Musk, MAGA, Sen, Rick Scott, Sens, John Thune, John Cornyn, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell's, John Thune of, John Cornyn of, Rick Scott of, Scott, Tucker Carlson, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Scott isn't, Kevin McCarthy, there's Elon Musk, Musk, Elon, Trump's, Cornyn, they'll, McConnell, that's, That's Organizations: Service, White, Republicans, Trump, GOP, Business, Senate Trump, Capitol, Republican, Punchbowl News Locations: Sens, John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, Florida, Texas, Ukraine

"Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate! One of the demands he outlined is the ability to make recess appointments, which would allow the president to appoint people to senior administration positions and bypass Senate confirmation. In 2020, during the throes of the Covid pandemic, Trump threatened to unilaterally adjourn Congress so he could make recess appointments, but the threat never materialized. Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images fileScott quickly weighed Sunday, writing on X that he agrees with Trump about recess appointments. “The Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments,” he wrote in the post.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell of, de, GOP Sens, John Cornyn of, Rick Scott of Florida, John Thune of, Sen, Rick Scott, Bill Clark, Scott, Cornyn, ”, ” Thune, “, Schumer, McConnell, Republican Sens, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Tommy Tuberville, Marco Rubio, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Thune, Mike Lee, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer Organizations: United States, Senate, adjourn, GOP, Inc, Getty, Trump, Democrats, Republican, CNBC, NBC News, White, Republicans Locations: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota, Alabama, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tennessee, Utah

☆ Trump loyalists spew racist, vulgar attacks at Harris and Democrats at New York City rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday began with a series of profane attacks on Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, other Democratic leaders, Puerto Rico and migrants sheltering in the city. “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”The line was well-received by Trump supporters who filled Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. Harris’ campaign seized on the attacks on Puerto Rico, quickly clipping the video and posting it on social media channels. The vice president on Sunday visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia, where she discussed her vision for the island along with plans to lower costs and create opportunity in Puerto Rican communities on the mainland. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans!”Hinchcliffe, also on social media, addressed the furor, saying that his critics “have no sense of humor.”“I love Puerto Rico and vacation there.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Harris, ”, Tony Hinchcliffe, “, Trump, ” Hinchcliffe, Harris ’, Bad Bunny, Hinchcliffe, Republican Sen, Rick Scott of Florida, …, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, David Rem, ” Rem wailed, Sid Rosenberg —, Don Imus, —, Clinton, ” Rosenberg, New York City –, illegals Organizations: CNN, Madison, Sunday, Democratic, Local Trump loyalists, Republican, Puerto Rico –, Puerto Ricans, Trump, US, Puerto Rico, Fox News, Malaysian, WFAN, – Locations: New York, Puerto Rico, Local, Puerto Rican, Puerto, Pennsylvania, Madison, Midtown Manhattan, North Philadelphia, California, New York City, Central Park

☆ These 2024 Republican candidates disputed the 2020 election results
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +43 min

The success of so many 2020 election deniers in Republican primaries this year demonstrates that Trump’s ongoing campaign of election lies continues to have a strong hold on his party. Even four years later, candidates’ views on the 2020 election are relevant in important practical ways. Lake also baselessly advocated the imprisonment of Katie Hobbs, who was Arizona’s election chief during the 2020 election and went on to defeat Lake in the 2022 race for governor. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/FileSen. Rick Scott voted to object to the congressional count of Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, though he voted in favor of counting Biden’s victory in Arizona. Pennsylvania: Dave McCormickSenate candidate Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024.

Persons: Washington CNN — It’s, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Joe Biden’s, Mark Robinson of, Kari Lake, Bernie Moreno, Sam Brown of, Ted Cruz, ”, Biden, – Mark Robinson of, Mike Braun, Indiana, Mike Kehoe of Missouri, Greg Gianforte, Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia –, Braun, Sen, Kelly Ayotte, Scott Olson, “, Trump, ” Braun, Trump’s, Jennifer McCormick, Mike Kehoe Missouri, Mike Kehoe, David A . Lieb, Joe Biden, ” Kehoe’s, Crystal Quade, Montana, Greg Gianforte Montana, Phelan M, Ebenhack, Gianforte, Lee, Ryan Busse, Mark Robinson, Gov Mark Robinson, Grant Baldwin, Robinson, Biden “, Josh Stein, Patrick Morrisey Patrick Morrisey, Tom Williams, Morrisey, Biden’s, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, Tim Sheehy of Montana, REbecca Noble, Biden didn’t, baselessly, Katie Hobbs, Lake, Lake’s, Ruben Gallego, Kyrsten Sinema, Rick Scott U.S, Rick Scott, Chip Somodevilla, Scott, ” Scott, Debbie Mucarsel, Jim Banks, Banks, ” Banks, Valerie McCray, Braun . Maine, Demi Kouzounas, Kouzounas, Angus King, Royce White Royce White, Alex Brandon, Royce White, “ TRUMP, “ Trump, White, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Josh Hawley Sen, Josh Hawley, Allison Bailey /, Missouri Sen, Hawley, CNN’s Manu Raju, Lucas Kunce, Sam Brown, Patrick T, Fallon, Brown, we’ve, we’re, ” Brown, Adam Laxalt, Laxalt, Jacky Rosen ., Bernie Moreno Cleveland, David Dermer, Moreno, denialism, –, ” Moreno, CNN’s Raju, Sherrod Brown ., Dave McCormick, Kamil Krzaczynski, wasn’t, Elizabeth Gregory, Dave, McCormick, “ Joe Biden, ” McCormick, Mehmet Oz, ‘, … We’ve, Bob Casey, Patricia Morgan Rhode, Patricia Morgan, West Warwick, Kris Craig, Morgan, Morgan baselessly, ” Morgan, Sheldon Whitehouse, Marsha Blackburn Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Blackburn, Tennessee’s, Tennessee Sen, Bill Hagerty “, Gloria Johnson, Ted Cruz Sen, Ted Cruz of, Cruz, ” Cruz, ’, Colin Allred, Hung Cao Hung Cao, Milwaukee . J, Scott Applewhite, Hung Cao, Cao, Barack Obama, It’s, ” Cao, United States ”, Tim Kaine, Jim Justice, Justice, – Patrick Morrisey, Joe Manchin, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, – Denny Hoskins, Dennis Linthicum of, Brooke Paige of Vermont, Kris Warner, Washington’s Dale Whitaker, Christi, Denny, Denny Hoskins, Kelly Dereuck, Hoskins, ” Hoskins, Barbara Phifer, Dennis, Dennis Linthicum, Linthicum, Tobias Read, Brooke Paige Vermont, Brooke Paige, Lisa Rathke, Paige, ” Paige, ” Paige’s, Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Kris Warner West, Mac Warner, I’m, Thornton Cooper Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Capitol, Democratic, CNN, Republican, ILA, Indiana, Gov, Missouri, Biden, ” Kehoe’s Democratic, Greg Gianforte Montana Gov, Republican Governors Association, AP, Representatives, Republicans, Lee Newspapers, Getty, The News, Observer, Conservative Political, Conference, Republican National Convention, Inc, West, West Virginians, Associated Press, Huntington Mayor, Kari Lake Arizona Republican, Fox, Arizona, Senate, Democratic Rep, Democrat, Scott, Jim Banks Indiana Republican U.S, Fox News, Demi Kouzounas Maine GOP, Portland Press Herald, Army, Maine Republican Party, New Hampshire GOP, ”, Beacon, Minnesota, U.S . Senate, Arizona –, Marine, Sam Brown Republican, US, Nevada, Convention, Treasury Department, Bloomberg Businessweek, Philadelphia Inquirer, Providence Journal, USA, Blackburn, Tennessee, ABC, Milwaukee ., United, Jim Justice West, West Virginia Gov, Wheeling Mayor, Montana, Christi Jacobsen, Missouri State Capitol, Springfield News, Oregon State Capitol, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Vermont State House, Facebook, Electoral College, ” Paige’s Democratic, US Department of Agriculture, Virginia Watch, Virginia Economic Development Authority Locations: Mark Robinson of North Carolina, Kari Lake of Arizona, Bernie Moreno of Ohio, Sam Brown of Nevada, Ted Cruz of Texas, Missouri, West Virginia, Indiana , Missouri, Montana, – Mark Robinson of North Carolina, New Hampshire, Indiana, Indianapolis , Indiana, . Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo, Orlando, Fla, Texas, North Carolina, Carolina, Asheville , North Carolina, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, Nebraska, Delaware , Connecticut, Hawaii, Arizona, Kari Lake Arizona, Mesa , Arizona, AFP, Phoenix, Arizona and Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania, Powell . Indiana, Milwaukee, Braun ., Demi Kouzounas Maine, Maine, China, St, Cloud, Minn, Amy Klobuchar . Missouri, Washington, Lucas Kunce . Nevada, Las Vegas , Nevada, Nevada, what’s, Jacky Rosen . Ohio, Westlake , Ohio, Ohio, United States, Sherrod Brown . Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Island, Patricia Morgan Rhode Island, West, Rhode, Sheldon Whitehouse . Tennessee, Tennessee, Gloria Johnson . Texas, Washington ,, “, Colin Allred . Virginia, Virginia, Loudoun, – Denny Hoskins of Missouri, Dennis Linthicum of Oregon, Denny Hoskins, Barbara Phifer . Oregon, Dennis Linthicum Oregon, Salem , Oregon, Anadolu, Getty Images Oregon, Oregon, Tobias Read . Vermont, Vermont, Montpelier, Kris Warner West Virginia

☆ Harris could face Senate GOP roadblock for any Supreme Court pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

For more on the Senate Republican leadership race, watch “Inside Politics with Manu Raju,” this Sunday at 8 a.m. EDT. If Republicans regain control of the Senate, a President Harris would have to rely on the next GOP leader to schedule a vote on a Supreme Court nominee. “It depends,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said when asked if a Harris Supreme Court pick would get a vote in a Senate that he would lead. “We’ll cross the bridge when we come to it,” Thune said when asked last week if he’d allow a Harris Supreme Court pick to be confirmed. Asked how he would work with a President Harris, Cornyn deadpanned: “We would be the loyal opposition.”

Persons: Manu Raju, ”, Kamala Harris, Harris, Mitch McConnell, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, I’m, John Thune, ” Thune, ” Sens, Tom Williams, Antonin Scalia, Barack Obama, Sen, Rick Scott of, McConnell, don’t, Trump, Cornyn Organizations: Republican, , Washington CNN, Senate, GOP, CNN, Harris Supreme, Harris, South Dakota Republican, Republican Senate, ”, Texas Republican, Inc, Getty, Florida — Locations: Washington, Texas, South Dakota, Washington, Rick Scott of Florida, Florida, Republican Senate

☆ Senate Democrats launch first multimillion-dollar TV investments in Texas and Florida as map grows more daunting
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida, with additional TV investments likely to come, according to the committee. “Senate Democrats are expanding the map and going on offense. That’s where Florida and Texas – which have been seen as relative long shots – come into play. Of the two states, Texas – which is at No. 9 on CNN’s ranking of flippable Senate seats – has been seen as a more viable target.

Persons: Ted Cruz of, Rick Scott of, Scott’s, Gary Peters, Cruz, Scott, Sen, Joe Manchin, Donald Trump, Trump, Larry Hogan, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Montana Sen, Jon Tester, overperform Harris, Nathan L, Gonzales, Amy Walter, –, Colin Allred, Cruz –, Beto O’Rourke, Allred, Ted Cruz, ”, University of Texas –, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Biden, Democratic Sen, Bill Nelson, Debbie Mucarsel, Powell, he’s, “, Republicans ’, Val Demings, GOP Sen, Marco Rubio, CNN’s David Wright Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Democratic Senatorial, Republican Sens, Sens, Michigan Democrat, Democrats, GOP, White, Republicans, That’s, Democratic Rep, NFL, Senate, Baylor University, Texas Politics, University of Texas, Rep, Social Security Locations: Texas, Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, Sens, Cruz, Michigan, West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, Maryland, Montana, Dallas, AdImpact, Ecuador

☆ Republicans still haven't found their footing on the abortion issue: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Bernie Moreno, Republican Senate candidate for Ohio, at the RNC in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 16. “Honestly I think Bernie is heading in the right direction but handed Sherrod an opening with that.”Democrats have been hammering Republicans across the country on the abortion issue. Some Republicans warned that the party’s failure to counter abortion attacks cost them crucial seats that year. In 2022, exit polling found Democrats had an 11-point advantage on the issue of abortion. And in this new NBC poll, Harris’ advantage was just under 20 points.

Persons: Chuck Todd, Kamala Harris, Roe, Bridget Bowman, Adam Edelman, Henry J, Gomez, Bernie Moreno’s, Bernie Moreno, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Sherrod Brown, “ Bernie oof, ”, Moreno, Bernie, Sherrod, Democratic Sen, Jacky Rosen of, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Gail Gitcho, “, Sam Brown, Pennsylvania’s Dave McCormick, Larry Hogan —, Sen, Rick Scott, hasn’t, Trump, Joe Biden, Republican Bill McInturff, Jeff Horwitt, Biden, I’d, Trump’s, it’s, Chuck → That’s Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Gomez Republicans, Ohio, Republican, RNC, Bloomberg, Getty, Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, NBC News, GOP, didn’t, Trump, Hart Research, Biden Locations: Milwaukee, Wis, Ohio, Spanish, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Florida

Some lawmakers have called for more Secret Service funding, while others said the Secret Service could be more effective by shifting resources. But if it's signed into law, Trump and Harris would be granted the same standard of Secret Security protection as President Joe Biden. Biden said this week that the Secret Service "needs more help" and called on Congress to act. And both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have committed to getting the Secret Service what they need. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he wants the Secret Service to provide “clarification of what the current practices are” to confirm that.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Kamala Harris, Mike Lawler, Ritchie Torres, it's, Harris, Joe Biden, “, ” Lawler, ”, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, ” Scott, Sen, John Cornyn, President Trump, Cornyn, Dick Durbin, ” Torres, Durbin, Torres, Joe Raedle, Ryan Wesley Routh, Ronald Rowe, Rowe Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Service, GOP, FBI, Scott's, Act, “, Democratic, Senate, Trump International Golf, Secret, Trump, Secret Service Locations: U.S, —, Rick Scott of Florida, America, Texas, Butler , Pennsylvania

☆ Senate GOP blocks IVF bill again as Democrats spotlight issue ahead of elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Clare Foran | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday pressed for Republicans to join Democrats in voting to advance the IVF bill. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon objected, and instead urged their colleagues to support Democrats’ bill during Tuesday’s vote. Another Senate GOP bill aimed at addressing concerns about IVF was introduced earlier this year. On Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray blocked a uninamous consent request to pass Britt and Cruz’s IVF bill, ahead of the vote on the Democrats’ broader IVF package. “Our bill is the only bill that protects IVF access while safeguarding religious liberty,” Britt said.

Persons: Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, “ We’re, ” Schumer, “, John Thune, ”, Democratic Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Patty Murray, Cory Booker of, GOP Sen, Rick Scott, Ron Wyden, Kat Cammack, Katie Britt, Ted Cruz’s, Britt, Murray, Cruz, ” Britt, we’ve, ” CNN’s Aaron Pellish Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republicans, Democrat, GOP Sens, Republican, Democratic, Illinois, Alabama’s, GOP, Oregon, Democrats, Health Savings Locations: Washington, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Florida

☆ ‘20th Hijacker’ Is Denied Transfer From Federal Supermax to French Prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Carol Rosenberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Justice Department has denied a request by Zacarias Moussaoui, the only prisoner ever convicted in the United States of having ties to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, to serve the remainder of his life sentence in his native France. Mr. Moussaoui had made the application from the supermax prison in Colorado, using a process that is routinely available to foreign nationals held as U.S. prisoners. Then on Wednesday afternoon, two relatives of people killed in the attacks said they were notified by the Justice Department that the request was denied. “Our office appreciates your concerns and comments regarding Zacarias Moussaoui,” the email said. “I am notifying you that Mr. Moussaoui’s application to transfer to France was denied by the United States on July 26, 2024.”No explanation was offered for the delay in notification.

Persons: Zacarias Moussaoui, Moussaoui, Zacarias, “, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Biden, General Merrick B, Garland Organizations: Justice Department Locations: United States, France, Colorado, Florida

☆ Words Used at the Republican National Convention
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jonathan Corum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

J. Scott Applewhite/Associated PressWords Used at the Republican National ConventionSpeakers at the Republican National Convention used more than 110,000 words over four boisterous days. The selection of speakers and their choice of words reflected both the pointed campaign rhetoric and the rewritten platform of the Republican Party in 2024. Excluding common and routine words, the most frequently spoken words were:Words on the EconomyJoe Raedle/Getty ImagesEconomic concerns were a recurring theme of the convention. Frequently used words when talking about the economy included:Words on ImmigrationReuters/Brian SnyderSpeakers described “millions of illegal aliens” crossing the southern border, promoting the idea of a migrant crime surge with descriptions of “murderers and rapists” and “criminals and terrorists.”Some of the words frequently used when discussing immigration:Words From Notable SpeakersCircles show the number of times that these selected speakers used the following words. The only known Republican acceptance speech with a comparable word count was William Howard Taft’s in 1908.

Persons: Scott Applewhite, Joe Raedle, Rick Scott of, Biden, Brian Snyder, ”, Ted Cruz Nikki Haley Ron DeSantis Donald Trump Jr, J.D, Vance Donald J, – –, Harris, –, Kenny Holston, Donald J, Trump, William Howard Taft’s, William Howard Taft, Michael M, Mr Organizations: Republican, Republican National Convention, Republican Party, Immigration Reuters, Trump, Biden, –, Israel –, Afghanistan –, Iran, Putin, Health, New York, American, of, Affordable, The Democratic, Convention Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, China, Chicago

☆ Trump Isn’t Choosing a V.P. He’s Casting a Reality Show. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Ramin Setoodeh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The public jockeying by various candidates to become Donald Trump’s running mate has taken on the air of a circus. Vance of Ohio; Senator Rick Scott of Florida; Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama; the businessman and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; and others. Mr. Trump’s search is playing out more like an open cattle call audition. But Mr. Trump is always governing for the cameras — his favorite constituency. Mr. Trump was America’s first reality-TV president, and now he’s reviving the hits: He’s turned the veepstakes into a reboot of “The Apprentice.”

Persons: Donald Trump’s, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Rick Scott of, Tommy Tuberville, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump, Tim Scott, unvarnished, He’s, ” Locations: Manhattan, Rick Scott of Florida, Alabama

☆ What Mitch McConnell's truce with Trump means
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have decided to play nice, again. According to reports at the time and since then, the longest-serving GOP Senate leader came close to voting to convict Trump of inciting the violence. Now, the longest-serving Senate leader in history, McConnell has said he will step down from the role after the election. AdvertisementAmid his pique, Trump pushed Sen. Rick Scott of Florida to challenge McConnell for the right to lead Senate Republicans. "Well, as the Republican leader of the Senate, it should not be a front-page headline that I will support the Republican nominee for president," McConnell said.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Trump, Kevin McCarthy, McConnell, McCarthy, Alex Burns, Jonathan Martin's, Biden, Sen, Mitt Romney, @realDonaldTrump, Ky, Tim Scott, Doug Mills, There's, Axios, he's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Elaine Chao, Chao, Joe Biden, Rick Scott of, 5Z2RX4DTbI — Jonathan Swan, Jonathan Swan Organizations: Service, Capitol, Business, America's, Republican, GOP, Politico, National Republican, Democratic, Trump, US, Republicans, Senate GOP, Labor Locations: Trump, Utah, Milwaukee, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Montana and Ohio, Georgia, Rick Scott of Florida

☆ These 38 GOP senators just voted against protecting contraception. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe Senate failed on Wednesday to advance a bill designed to protect access to contraceptives nationwide. Just two Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — voted with Democrats to advance the bill. Advertisement"Do people really think that even a significant minority of the Republican conference is against access to contraception?" AdvertisementBut still — if Republicans aren't against contraception, why won't they just vote for the bill? Glenn Youngkin of Virginia vetoed a bill to protect access to contraception, arguing that it violated principles of religious freedom.

Persons: —, — Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Alaska —, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, — Schumer, it's, Tillis, Griswold, Roe, Wade, Clarence Thomas, They've, James Lankford, Lankford, Sen, Rick Scott of, Glenn Youngkin, John Barrasso of, John Barrasso of Wyoming Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee John Boozman, Arkansas Ted Budd of, Carolina Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana John Cornyn, Texas Tom Cotton, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Mike Crapo, Idaho Ted Cruz of, Idaho Ted Cruz of Texas Steve Daines, Montana Joni Ernst, Iowa Deb Fischer, Nebraska Chuck Grassley, Josh Hawley, Missouri John Hoeven of, Missouri John Hoeven of North Dakota Cindy Hyde, Smith, Mississippi Ron Johnson, Wisconsin James Lankford, Oklahoma Mike Lee, Utah Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Roger Marshall of Kansas Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Rand Paul of Kentucky Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Jim Risch, Idaho Mike Rounds, South Dakota Marco Rubio, Eric Schmitt, Missouri Rick Scott, Florida Tim Scott of, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South Dakota Thoms Tillis, North Carolina Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Roger Wicker, Mississippi Todd Young, Mike Braun, Indiana Katie Britt, Alabama Lindsey Graham of, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Carolina Bill Hagerty, Tennessee John Kennedy, Louisiana Jerry Moran of, Louisiana Jerry Moran of Kansas Mitt Romney, Utah Dan Sullivan, Alaska JD Vance, Ted Budd Organizations: Service, Nine Republicans, Democratic, Republican, Business, Republicans, GOP, Oklahoma Republican, Democrats, Republican Gov, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North, Nebraska, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South Dakota, North, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Locations: — Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, North Carolina, . Connecticut, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Rick Scott of Florida, Virginia, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Arkansas, West, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Idaho, Idaho Ted Cruz of Texas, Montana, Missouri, Missouri John Hoeven of North Dakota, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Florida, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina, Florida Tim Scott of South Carolina John Thune of South, Alabama, Indiana, Alabama Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana Jerry Moran of Kansas, Ohio

It’s just the latest sign that the pilgrimage to Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a new litmus test for Trump loyalty inside the GOP ahead of November. Then, the GOP members joined Trump in his motorcade – including the Republican candidate challenging GOP Rep. Bob Good, who has tried to cozy up to Trump after initially endorsing Florida Gov. President, we’ve got your back,” GOP Rep. Andy Ogles said outside the courthouse. Gaetz along with Boebert and GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who were all in New York on Thursday, missed the vote. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage when she went after Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s appearance and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, with the committee meeting devolving into a heated sparring match.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump’s, Trump, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Mike Johnson – who’s, “ There’s, It’s, it’s, Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Ralph Norman of, ”, Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Rick Scott, Vivek, Ramaswamy, Todd Blanche, Sen, We’ve, Eric, Bob Good, Ron DeSantis –, “ Mr, we’ve, Andy Ogles, ” Norman, “, Matt Gaetz, Stormy Daniels, Andrew Kelly, Reuters Legislating, Merrick Garland, Joe BIden’s, Robert Hur –, Andy Biggs, Biden, Anna Paulina Luna, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jasmine Crockett’s, devolving, haven’t, “ Greene, johnny, suzy, latelys, Greene –, –, Boebert, Greene, “ Lauren Boebert, ” Boebert Organizations: CNN, Trump, he’s, GOP, Republicans, ”, North Dakota Gov, Manhattan Criminal, Caucus, Capitol, White House, Republican, Florida Gov, US Capitol Police, U.S, Reuters, Judiciary, Democratic Rep Locations: Manhattan, New York, Rick Scott of Florida, Colorado, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Ohio, New York City, Trump, U.S, Capitol Hill, Israel, Gaza, Gaetz, Alexandria

☆ Donald Trump's allies are doing his dirty work while tiptoeing around his gag order
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Geoff Weiss | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But while the former president has been uncharacteristically restrained recently, a cast of Republican lawmakers and Trump surrogates have traveled to court to rail about the proceedings. It's raised questions about whether the "surrogates" could be violating Trump's gag order. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who has been floated as a potential VP pick, told Newsmax one reason he attended was to "overcome this gag order." Under the gag order, Trump is not allowed to comment about Cohen. But Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told BI that "practically speaking," Judge Merchan can do little to stop lawmakers from speaking on Trump's behalf.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, It's, Mike Johnson, JD Vance, Ohio, Rick Scott of, Vivek Ramaswamy, Vance, Doug Burgum, Matt Gaetz, Michael M, Trump, Juan Merchan's, Andrew Rice, he'd, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Lauren Boebert, Cohen, Boebert, Donald J, Andrew Lieb, Lieb, ANGELA WEISS, Laurie Levenson, Neama, Merchan, Rahmani, Jeff Modisett Organizations: Service, Republican, Trump, Business, Sens, Gov, Republicans, MSNBC, Caucus, Loyola Law, Former Indiana Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, Florida, Alabama, Colorado, Manhattan

☆ All the GOP politicians who've flocked to Trump's Manhattan trial to support him
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Sen. Rick Scott was the first elected Republican to show up. He ended up missing a vote. Florida Sen. Rick Scott walks behind Trump at the trial on May 9. Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via APOn Thursday, May 9, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida became the first elected Republican to show up to the trial. The Florida senator, who's up for reelection in November, ended up missing a procedural vote on the bill later that day.

Persons: Sen, Rick Scott, Florida Sen, Jeenah, Rick Scott of, Scott, who's, Debbie Mucarsel Powell Organizations: Republican, Trump, Federal Aviation Administration, Democratic Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, Florida

☆ Live Updates: Cohen Will Continue Testifying at Trump Trial After Steady Turn on Stand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Michael Wilson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Cohen said that, according to Mr. Trump, she recommended calling it “locker-room talk” to explain it away. Mr. Cohen brought many of those moments to life, describing Mr. Trump’s micromanagement and his campaign’s panic after the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Mr. Cohen also bolstered testimony by David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, establishing a deal to suppress unflattering stories about Mr. Trump. “Once I received the money back from Mr. Trump, I would deposit it and no one would be the wiser,” Mr. Cohen said. He also held a news conference blasting Democrats, whom he and Mr. Trump blame for the case, and Mr. Cohen.

Persons: Michael D, Cohen, Donald J, Trump’s, ”, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Daniels, Melania, “, Todd Heisler, ” Mr, Karen McDougal, ” Cohen, Mr, Trump’s micromanagement, David Pecker, Keith Davidson, Daniels’s, ‘, ’, Allen Weisselberg, J.D, Vance of, Vance, Rick Scott of, Ken Paxton, Tommy Tuberville, Michael Cohen, — Organizations: ., New York Times, Playboy, National Enquirer, Republican, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Vance of Ohio, Rick Scott of Florida, Texas, Alabama

Cohen’s testimony ties together the prosecution’s allegations that Trump broke the law by falsifying business records to reimburse Cohen and conceal the hush money payment that Cohen said he made at Trump’s direction. Cohen described his conversations with Trump during the Daniels hush money negotiations, which prosecutors backed up using Cohen’s phone records to show when the two had spoken. Trump,” Cohen said. “Reimbursement of my money,” Cohen said. They joined Trump for the high-profile Cohen testimony, sitting in the gallery behind the former president at the defendant’s table.

Persons: CNN — Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, Trump, Cohen, Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, Todd Blanche, perjurer, David Pecker, Keith Davidson, Karen McDougal, Pecker, Davidson, Dylan Howard, Hope Hicks, “, ” Cohen, ”, Hoffinger, ” Hoffinger, “ Mr, Michael Cohen's, Melania, CNN “, Trump’s, reimbursements Cohen, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, “ David Dennison ”, Peggy Peterson ”, would’ve, ” –, McDougal, glanced, Hicks, Madeleine Westerhout, Cohen’s, wasn’t, Juan Merchan’s, Eric Trump, Susie Wiles, Sen, Rick Scott, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville, Nicole Malliotakis, Alina Habba Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Enquirer, Melania Trump, New York, Republican Locations: Yom Kippur, –, Trump, Cohen’s, Republic, Manhattan, Florida, Alabama, Staten, Iowa

CNN —President Joe Biden is facing backlash from lawmakers in both parties over his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons. “So if you’re worried about Palestinian casualties, the stated policy here actually doesn’t make a ton of sense,” Vance said. The president’s announcement amounted to a turning point in US-Israeli ties since the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. Still, the president’s aides said the message shouldn’t have been a surprise to their intended recipients in Israel given repeated warnings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think President Biden has taken forceful action – so much so there’s been a lot of blowback for his recent public statement.”CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, Republican Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Dana, ”, Biden, ” Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu, Burnett, Israel, Lindsey Graham of, Graham, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Israel ”, Josh Gottheimer, Adam Smith, Erin Burnett, –, Netanyahu, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Bash, Murphy, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Chris Van Hollen, Margaret Brennan, Van Hollen, ” Van Hollen, ” Murphy, ” Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, Van Hollen’s, there’s, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Union, Hamas, Fox News, Democrats, House Democrats, Rep, Congress, Democratic, Connecticut, “, CBS, Ministry, Health, State Department, ” Democratic Locations: Rafah, Ohio, “ State, Israel, Rafah —, Gaza, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, New Jersey, Washington, ”, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Maryland, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ Trump Summons Entourage for Moral Support During Mortifying Testimony
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jonathan Swan | Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

As he walks into the courtroom at 9:30 a.m. each day of his trial, Donald J. Trump scans the benches for familiar faces. He has glared at George Conway, an antagonist who is reporting on the former president’s criminal case for The Atlantic magazine. He smiled at Greg Kelly, a reliably pro-Trump host on Newsmax, who was in court on Thursday. Several days ago, Mr. Trump was accompanied by Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, and David McIntosh, the head of the anti-tax Club for Growth. During excruciating testimony about a story of extramarital sex, Mr. Trump’s son Eric was one of his sources of support, sitting behind him in court.

Persons: Donald J, George Conway, Greg Kelly, Rick Scott of, Trump, Ken Paxton, David McIntosh, Trump’s, Eric Organizations: Trump, The, Growth Locations: Rick Scott of Florida, Texas

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