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☆ These 5 former House candidates might've been the next AOC, but entrenched politicians blocked their path
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam competed in this year's Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District. And we need to have an infrastructure like that on the Democratic Party side. Former House candidate John Isemann faced ex-state lawmaker Tom Kean Jr. in the Republican primary for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. Jay Nixon and also worked for the Missouri Democratic Party — decided to jump into the race himself. "We talk about the Democratic Party being a big-tent party," she said.

Then-U.S. Rep. Kelli Ward (R-AZ) greets then-U.S. President Donald Trump as he arrives at Yuma International Airport in Yuma, Arizona, U.S., August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward to block a subpoena by the congressional panel probing the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, clearing the way for the committee to access her phone records. Ward, a former Arizona state senator and chair of the state Republican Party, was among them. She has previously said the demand for the phone records violated her constitutional rights. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kanishka Singh in WashingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Special interest groups representing Amazon to Uber oppose possible crypto regulation in California
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Caroline Haskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Industry groups representing Amazon, Apple, Block, Coinbase, Genesis, Google, GrubHub, Lyft, Facebook/Meta, Uber, and other companies wrote to the state assembly opposing the law. Nine organizations representing consumers and advocating for economic justice wrote to the state assembly expressing support for the law. Several tech industry groups representing major companies and venture capital firms wrote in to oppose the law. Several organizations advocating for consumers and economic justice wrote to the state assembly expressing support for the law. Interest groups argued that regulation presents an "undue burden"on crypto companiesBlockchain Advocacy CoalitionThe Blockchain Advocacy Coalition wrote to Assemblymember Grayson on August 26.

☆ Democrats are focus-grouping Fetterman’s health. Swing voters think he’s getting sharper.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Jonathan Allen | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

The consensus, according to two people familiar with the responses given to Democratic operatives, was that persuadable voters believe Fetterman is fit to serve and getting sharper. Four months after the stroke, Fetterman has not released his medical records. But Oz has made sure that Fetterman’s health problems remain a top topic of political conversation. Michelle Gustafson / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesEarlier this summer, Pennsylvania Democrats privately expressed concerns about Fetterman’s health and lack of transparency, but Fetterman seems to have eased their fears. That helps explain why Republicans have been split on how much to focus on Fetterman’s health.

☆ Florida migrant-moving company gave GOP cash, has ties to DeSantis' immigration 'czar' and Rep. Matt Gaetz
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Marc Caputo | Marc Caputo Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Vertol is based in the Florida Panhandle city of Destin, in Gaetz’s congressional district, and near Keefe’s home city as well. State and federal campaign finance data show Vertol contributed $2,500 to the North Florida Neighbors super PAC backing Gaetz’s first congressional bid in 2016. After DeSantis was elected, Vertol in 2019 contributed another $10,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, which is ultimately controlled by the governor. And Vertol contributed another $1,000 in June to state Rep. Jay Trumbull Jr.’s state Senate campaign. His father, Jay Trumbull Sr. had been appointed by DeSantis to the Florida Transportation Commission, which oversees the Florida Department of Transportation, the agency in charge of the Vertol contract.

☆ Martha's Vineyard lawmakers call for federal investigation of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 'political stunt' of flying Venezuelan migrants there
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Martha's Vineyard lawmakers want DOJ to investigate Ron DeSantis' transport of migrants to the island. They say the Venezuelan refugees seeking asylum were deceived and their rights were violated. Ron DeSantis' transport of migrants to the Massachusetts island, saying the Venezuelan refugees seeking asylum were deceived and their rights were violated. They were promised employment and assistance in Boston, but they ended up stranded in the dark on the tarmac on Martha's Vineyard with nowhere to go. As soon as he learned the news, he got on the first boat to Martha's Vineyard and found people who were "incredibly terrified" and "confused."

☆ House Homeland Security chair Bennie Thompson calls for federal probe of Ron DeSantis over Martha's Vineyard migrants stunt
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Bennie Thompson wants DOJ and DHS to investigate Ron DeSantis' migrant trafficking. Thompson urged both agencies to investigate the Florida governors' activities ASAP. Ron DeSantis might have broken while flying unsuspecting migrants around the country, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson urged the Biden administration on Thursday. The chair of the House Homeland Security Committee called DeSantis' behavior into question in a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security leaders. Gavin Newsom has also urged Garland to investigate DeSantis.

On key issues like abortion and election denialism, Tim Michels, the Republican nominee for governor of Wisconsin, is not moving toward the political middle down the homestretch to Election Day. Michels, following a pattern of other Republican candidates in governor’s races in states like Arizona and Pennsylvania, has not done so. "A change on the abortion issue might even be counterproductive, doesn’t help him with the base and doesn’t help him with moderates or independents." It lets him speak to the base and to independents at the same time.”Michels is locked in a close race with Gov. Michels campaign adviser Chris Walker did not respond to questions about Michels’ strategy on abortion or election issues.

☆ Dozens of Trump’s phony electors, many under investigation, still hold powerful GOP jobs in key states
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Kaitlyn Francis | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

Law enforcement activity has not pushed these false electors from their political perches. Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAll told, 23 of those false electors hold positions of power within their Republican parties. Then there are additional actors that didn’t serve in the slate of false electors themselves but were instrumental in the scheme. Others hold positions of power within the state GOP, including Shafer, who is chair; Joseph Brannan, state GOP treasurer; Vikki Consiglio, the state party’s assistant treasurer; and Ken Carroll, the assistant secretary. On June 21, federal agents scattered across key states to deliver subpoenas to those who acted as Trump electors.

☆ Lawmakers who represent Martha's Vineyard says they've gotten death threats for supporting the migrants flown there by DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two lawmakers say they've gotten death threats over their support of the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard. Last week, 50 migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard in a move planned by Florida Gov. Cyr was quoted by Axios saying that he's taking the backlash he has gotten over his advocacy for the migrants "in stride." Last week, DeSantis sparked a firestorm of criticism after he had the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard on two chartered planes in what attorneys for the immigrants called a "shameful political stunt." Fernandes told WGBH's Greater Boston that the threats he's gotten "is nothing compared to what these people have gone through."

☆ Factbox: Five states have abortion initiatives on their U.S. midterms ballot
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Abortion rights protesters demonstrate after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization abortion case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 29, 2022. In August, voters in conservative Kansas defeated a ballot measure aimed at eliminating abortion rights from the state's constitution. VERMONTVermont residents also will vote on a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights. Conservative Republicans in the state had sought to allow a 1931 abortion ban to be enforced once Roe v. Wade was overturned. Other conservative states have enacted similar legislation in recent years.

☆ A Massachusetts state lawmaker representing Martha's Vineyard is seeking a federal human trafficking probe after DeSantis relocated migrants to the island
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis chartered two planes to send 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard. A Massachusetts state lawmaker called on the DOJ to launch a human trafficking probe into the relocation. The move comes after lawyers representing the migrants said they want a criminal investigation into DeSantis. The move from the Massachusetts state legislator comes after lawyers representing the migrants said they want a criminal investigation into DeSantis over the "stunt" in letters to Rollins and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Texas authorities opened a criminal probe into DeSantis' operation, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar announced Monday, saying the migrants were victims of a crime after being "lured under false pretenses."

☆ A judge might force Elon Musk to buy Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Alex Kantrowitz | Big Technology | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The trial between Twitter and Elon Musk will begin on October 17 at the Delaware Chancery Court. The Delaware judge hearing Twitter's case vs. Elon Musk listened incredulously as Musk's lawyers asked her to postpone the trial. The DecoPac deal, like many acquisitions, had a clause called "specific performance," which allows the courts to force the deal to close. It didn't take long for McCormick's life at the Chancery Court to get interestingElon Musk agreed to buy Twitter in April 2022. And Twitter then sued Musk for specific performance in Delaware Chancery Court later that month.

☆ From Jay-Z to Elon Musk: Inside the rise of Quinn Emanuel partner Alex Spiro, one of the lawyers helping the billionaire break out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Elon Musk has fired many lawyers but hired Alex Spiro for at least five cases, with a mixed record. But there's at least one lawyer who Musk seems to get along with: Alex Spiro. Spiro had been working behind the scenes for the billionaire when he was trying to buy Twitter. But they are hardly the "hardcore street fighters" Musk wants in a lawyer, according to a recent tweet of his. It's not clear how Spiro and Musk connected in the first place, but they seem to operate on the same wavelength.

☆ Veterans criticize Doug Mastriano for wearing 'the uniform of traitors' after a photo of him in a Confederate outfit surfaces
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nearly 60 veterans signed a letter criticizing Doug Mastriano for wearing a Confederate uniform. Mastriano, a Pennsylvania Republican, wore the uniform in a faculty photo for the US Army War College. As Reuters reported in August, Mastriano — a state senator running for governor – chose to wear the Confederate uniform for a faculty photo at the US Army War College. Mastriano has battled claims of extremism since winning the GOP nomination with the help of former President Donald Trump. Mastriano paid the site $5,000 and praised its founder, Andrew Torba, an anti-Semite who identifies as a Christian nationalist.

☆ Meet Matt Krause, the man who critics say helped make Texas a national leader in book bans
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Texas now has the highest number of book bans in the US. Texas is now a leader in book bans, and one influential politician — along with pressure from the GOP — may have been the driving force, a Houston Chronicle investigation found. By April 2022, a PEN America analysis found that Texas had 713 bans, nearly half of all book bans in the US. Some politicians and parent groups disagreed with the inquiryKrause denies any political motivations behind the book list, but critics disagree. For Foote, the book bans represent GOP political motivations, citing school board officials and lawmakers who have begun their own book challenges.

Tens of thousands of people are scrambling for homeowners insurance in Louisiana at the peak of hurricane season after recent storms drove their carriers out of business. Massive claims from those storms drove large national insurance companies to scale back their coverage and remaining companies to jack up rates. The strategy seemed to work: Rates eventually stabilized, although Louisiana remained one of the most expensive states for homeowners insurance. That pushed the small insurance companies to their financial limits and squeezed reinsurers, who raised their rates. The state insurer’s rolls, which totaled 34,500 in August 2020, ballooned to about 110,000 last week.

One of two state agencies responsible for pushing out millions of dollars in federal infrastructure funds said it could be at least mid-to-late 2023 before any allocations roll out. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, a Democrat, has said the price tag to overhaul the city’s water infrastructure could balloon into the billions. This year, the Mississippi Legislature created a $450 million water infrastructure funding program with money the state received through the Congressional Covid relief package that passed in 2021. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is administering the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. Sam Mozee, director of the Mississippi Urban Research Center at Jackson State University, says his team is tracking what happens with funding going forward.

☆ Republicans' next big play is to 'scare the hell out of Washington' by rewriting the Constitution. And they're willing to play the long game to win.
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-31 | by ( Grace Panetta | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

Whether it happens, he said, is highly dependent on Republicans' success winning state legislatures during the 2022 midterm elections. But not everyone in the conservative constitutional convention movement believes such a gathering is so imminent. Constitutional convention boosters include many of Trump's current and former allies, including conservative legal scholar John Eastman, Florida Gov. In 2012, the Republican National Committee went so far as to pass a resolution formally opposing the convention movement. A convention of states would be the first of its kind since the original Constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

They strategized on what they want to do next: elect their own candidates to school boards, pass state legislation and diminish the influence of teachers unions. “It’s been said we’re some political powerhouse,” said Tiffany Justice, who co-founded Moms for Liberty in January 2021 with Tina Descovich. Moms for Liberty founders Tiffany Justice, left, and Tina Descovich present the Liberty Sword to Gov. “When I’m going up there by myself, the school board overlooks you,” said Ken Davenport, a father from a chapter in Orange County, Florida, who is running for state representative. Ron DeSantis, is joined by her 5-year-old daughter, Madison, after a question and answer session at the Moms for Liberty Summit.

☆ Meta's limits on employee abortion conversations could easily backfire. Here's what leaders should do instead.
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-06 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Meta is limiting employee conversations about abortion on its internal platforms. The policy at Meta removes public employee posts on the company's internal platform with keywords like "abortion" and "Roe v Wade." Meta allows employees to talk about the topic only in private forums with up to 20 people, the Times said. The tech behemoth isn't the first company to monitor and control employee conversation around political issues and face pushback for it. Hasnas said that a company shouldn't single out one issue as being off limits, and that all political issues require consistency.

☆ Factbox: One last test for Trump's U.S. midterm election endorsements
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

But because neither candidate won 50% of the vote, they face off again on Tuesday in a run-off election. Following Trump's endorsement, he surged in opinion polls and easily defeated former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory in the May 17 primary. David Perdue* Went up against Georgia's incumbent Republican Governor Brian KempDespite Trump's endorsement, former U.S. Senator David Perdue did not come close to upsetting Georgia's incumbent Republican Governor Brian Kemp in the party's nomination contest. Kemp, who had angered Trump by dismissing the former president's false statements about election fraud in the 2020 presidential contest, won his re-election bid against Democrat Stacey Abrams.

☆ We found at least 25 ex-Gaetz staffers who don't mention the congressman by name on their LinkedIn page
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-20 | by ( Robin Bravender | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Gaetz's name is absent from McFaul's LinkedIn page, too, where he describes his duties during that time working as a chief of staff for an unnamed "congressman." At least 25 of Gaetz's former congressional staffers don't mention the Republican congressman by name on their LinkedIn pages, according to an Insider analysis. McFaul declined to comment about why Gaetz's name wasn't on his LinkedIn page or his Ballard bio page. She also worked for Miller, Gaetz's congressional predecessor, but doesn't name him on her LinkedIn page, either. Drew Angerer/Getty Images'Riding the wave'Some current and former Gaetz staffers continue to publicize their work for the congressman.

☆ We watched 11 hours of old Matt Gaetz videos where he pushed for sexual predator legislation. He had much to say.
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-26 | by ( Robin Bravender | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Matt Gaetz helped enact Florida legislation to toughen penalties for sex offenses against children. He said in 2014 that sex offenders who prey on children were "simply wired differently." Gaetz, then 31 years old, served as the chairman of the Florida House of Representatives' Criminal Justice Subcommittee. He cosponsored legislation that increased the mandatory prison time for convicted sexual offenders, calling it some of the most important work his subcommittee would do. Gaetz cosponsored legislation that year that would increase Florida's mandatory minimum sentence for violent sexual offenders to 50 years.

☆ Matt Gaetz's Florida sex game included a 'Harry Potter' challenge and 'extra points' for sleeping in sorority houses, a female Republican tells Insider
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-02 | by ( Robin Bravender | Kayla Epstein | Tina Sfondeles | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Rep. Matt Gaetz is accused of playing a sex "game" with a "Harry Potter" theme. People got points if they had sex with married colleagues or did sorority overnights, a source said. The sex competition even involved the "Harry Potter" book series, the GOP source told Insider. Anyone who had sex with a certain conservative woman "won the whole game regardless of points," she said. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images'I'm not a monk'During Gaetz's Tallahassee days, about two dozen male lawmakers participated in the sex competition, the GOP insider said.

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