Democrat News

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During a hearing on President Biden’s 2025 request for the Department of Justice, Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) seemed more interested in MAGA gotchas rather than the less clickbaity but more substantive work of delving into the appropriation request.

Unfortunately for Cline, Attorney General Merrick Garland failed to give him the made-for-Fox-News soundbite that was Cline’s likely objective.

First, Cline played the conservative victim card: He claimed there’s “a crisis of confidence” in the Department of Justice “created by the dual treatment of American citizens depending on their viewpoints or their political positions or their political offices.” He was trying to suggest that Donald Trump is being unfairly prosecuted for stealing classified documents and refusing to return them when Biden’s completely different behavior was not. Never mind that the Trump-appointed special counsel was the one who decided against prosecuting Biden for his inadvertent retention and prompt return of the documents.

“I’m assuming you personally declined to take action against President Biden for his role for mishandling of classified documents,” Cline said accusingly to Garland.

Garland didn’t take the bait. He said special counsel Robert Hur’s report “speaks for itself” and that any questions about it could have been asked of Hur when he testified before Congress not long ago.

So, Cline tried for another gotcha. This time, he tried the “Biden is senile” ploy that Hur inserted into his report for that oh-so-unfair DOJ: “So, you won’t agree that Biden would have come across to a jury as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory?” Cline “asked.” When Garland swatted away that “question,” Cline asked, “Have you ever seen evidence of impairment in your meetings with the president?”

“I have seen the president effectively guide the members of the department of his cabinet and his military – “ Garland began.

Cline interrupted to suggest Garland was dodging the question. “But you won’t say you’ve [n]ever seen any impairment on his part,” he badgered.

“The president has no impairment,” Garland said. “The president – “

“You’ve never seen any?” Cline interrupted again.

Finally, Garland had had enough. “I don’t know how many ways I can say this. I have complete confidence in the president and I reject your characterization.”

Cline moved on.

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A FOIA request to the National Park Service uncovered documents where Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy (hand picked by Trump, IIRC) apologized and asked for leniency in 2015 after he said a gun he kept in his vehicle for bear protection fell and discharged, striking him in his right forearm in Glacier National Park. Why does this matter? Read on!Via the Washington Post:

The new documents, which provide additional detail about an incident first reported by The Washington Post this month, include a detailed written statement from Sheehy to a law enforcement officer regarding Sheehy having accidentally shot himself on Oct. 18, 2015 — an account that he now says was a lie.

“As a highly trained and combat experienced wounded veteran, I can assure you this was an unfortunate accident and we are grateful no other persons or property were damaged,” Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, said in the 2015 statement apologizing for illegally discharging his weapon in the park. “Due to my ongoing security clearance and involvement with national defense related contracts, I request leniency with any charges related to this unfortunate accident.”

Sheehy, who has told voters he has a bullet in his arm from his time serving in Afghanistan, told The Post he made up the 2015 accidental gunshot story on that October day to cover up a wound he says he received in a 2012 firefight in Afghanistan.

Sure, because that makes total sense. Who among us has not pretended to cover up a war wound with a story about accidentally dropping a gun instead?

A National Park Service summary of the incident, which was also included in the newly released documents, says an unidentified park visitor reported an accidental gun discharge in Logan Pass. That differs from Sheehy’s current account, that law enforcement was first contacted by personnel at a hospital that treated him for wounds that he now says he received from falling during a hike. The summary does not identify the park visitor who made the report of a gun discharge.

That must be part of the coverup. He recruited a nearby park visitor to pretend he heard a gunshot, knowing he would one day run for the Senate and admit he really got his wound in the Afghanistan war.

Boy, Trump sure can pick ’em! Montana, I know you can be MAGA cray-cray, but come on. Don’t vote for this loser!

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Delusional Kari Lake told her supporters they can “strap on a Glock” to be prepared for the intensity of the 2024 campaign and urged military and law enforcement veterans to be “ready,” as her race heats up in a key battleground state. Via NBC News:

“We need to send people to Washington, D.C., that the swamp does not want there,” Lake said toward the end of a Sunday speech to a crowd of Arizonans in Mohave County. “And I can think of a couple people they don’t want there. First on that list is Donald J. Trump; second is Kari Lake.”

Sure, Kari. Because you’re so brave. And revolutionary!

She described standing up to the “swamp” in Washington, saying: “They can’t bribe me, they can’t blackmail me. That’s why they don’t want me in Washington, D.C. And that’s exactly what President Trump wants me – they’re fighting with him.”

“He’s willing to sacrifice everything I am. That’s why they’re coming after us with lawfare, they’re going to come after us with everything. That’s why the next six months is going to be intense. And we need to strap on our — let’s see. What do we want to strap on?” Lake asked as some in the crowd chuckled. “We’re going to strap on our, our seat belt. We’re going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We are going to put on the armor of God. And maybe strap on a Glock on the side of us just in case.”

UPDATE: Oops she did it again.

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The Democratic Party is focused on reelecting Biden as the top priority. Well over a billion dollars will be spent on that. We hope Biden divests himself from Netanyahu in time to save his presidency. But whichever way the presidential race goes— not a race that a small grassroots committee like Blue America can have much impact on— it is crucial that the House flips blue. A quick scan of congressional headlines tells us that it shouldn’t be that hard but…

“But” has a lot to do with some of the incredibly unappealing conservatives the DCCC has selected to run, in some cases corrupt state legislators like Rudy Salas and Adam Grey in California who were well known by voters and who already rejected them in blue districts in 2022.

We’ll just leave those kinds of races alone. Instead, we have a short, tight list of districts held by conservatives that can be flipped, not just for Democrats but for progressive Democrats. The ActBlue page is called, simply enough, Flip Congress. Right now we have an even dozen candidates in districts held by conservatives.

All of them are Republican districts and one, in blue, blue Broward County, Florida, is Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s seat, where progressive activist Jen Perelman is running to replace her in the Democratic primary.

“I think it’s important for people to understand that this is not simply about electing new Democrats,” said Jen today. “This is time for a complete paradigm shift from corporatism to collectivism. We can only be as great of a society as we treat the least of these. Our resistance to empire will only be successful when we all show up for each other. When the labor movement, the environmental activists, the anti-war movement, and the abolitionists show up for each other’s causes, is when we can truly push the needle. The representatives we elect must recognize the power of collectivism and want to facilitate the changes we all demand.”

Whatever happens in that primary, the district will remain blue— either in the hands of a disgraced corporate Democratic careerist who supports genocide and thrives on old style political corruption or in the hands of a movement progressive fighting for the values we believe in. The rest of these candidates, though, are fighting to take back seats from Republicans. None of them are the “easy” races that the DCCC is all over. These are winnable seats but only winnable because the candidates are so good and are working so hard. They deserve our support.

Probably the list’s toughest is the seat Ohio district Jerrad Christian is contesting. “We have the power to inspire change and shape the future,” he told us yesterday. “Together, we can create a wave of progress that echoes throughout this nation and beyond, building communities that thrive on empathy, respect, and understanding. By harnessing our collective strengths and embracing our diverse perspectives, we can tackle the grand challenges of our time, forging a path toward a more just, sustainable, and prosperous world for all. This power is what the far-right fears.”

Please consider checking out the Flip Congress page and contributing what you can to Jen, Jerrad and the 10 other candidates we think can make all the difference when the 119th Congress convenes next January. Whether Biden or, god forbid, Trump is in the White House, a progressive Democratic House is going to be essential to move the country in the right direction. You know that; we all know that, by looking at what a dysfunctional mess conservatives have made of Congress for the last two years.

Replacing GOP extremists like Scott Perry (PA), Rob Wittman (VA), Dave Schweikert (AZ), Jay Obernolte (CA) and John James (MI) hasn’t motivated the DCCC in the last couple of cycles and I don’t believe it will motivate them this year either.

It motivates us– and in a very big way. These are the kinds of seats Blue America is fighting to flip.

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Michigan Democrats in the state House of Representatives regained their majority with a pair of special election victories yesterday to represent metro Detroit-based districts left vacant after elections last year. And now they can do stuff again! Via the Detroit Free Press:

Democrat Mai Xiong — a current Macomb County commissioner — won the 13th state House district’s special election with 65% of the vote against Republican Ronald Singer who secured 34% of the vote to represent part of Detroit and part of Warren, according to unofficial results.

Democrat Peter Herzberg — a current Westland City Council member — won 60% of the vote in the 25th state House district’s special election against Republican Josh Powell — who won 38% of the vote — and U.S. Taxpayer candidate Robert Stano who secured 2% of the vote, per unofficial results. Herzberg will go on to represent all of Wayne along with parts of Canton Township, Dearborn Heights and Westland.

Xiong and Herzberg celebrated their election. “Having had parents who fled war and persecution, to being born in a refugee camp where there was no electricity, clean running water, or medical care, I am immensely grateful for the journey that has led me to a position where I can now give back to the community that has given me and my family so much,” Xiong wrote post on Facebook.

Herzberg said he’s excited to start moving Democratic priorities once he’s sworn in as a state lawmaker. “The new majority gives room for Democrats to move forward several pieces of legislation regarding labor, healthcare and so much more that effects working families,” he said in a Facebook post.

This was not unexpected, but you never know what kind of last-minuter fuckery Republicans are going to pull. So celebrate every victory!

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Controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has continued to politicize the murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Lakin Riley, even though her family has requested that politicians stop doing that. I framed that too nicely. Lakin Riley’s father is pissed off, but that hasn’t stopped Republicans.

Greene looked angry on Tuesday when addressing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was appearing before the House Homeland Security Committee to testify on the budget. Yes, this isn’t to be confused with his appearances with Republicans trying to impeach him even though he has not committed any crimes.

The young Georgia student was killed by an undocumented immigrant while out jogging, but somehow, Greene said that she should have been deported.

“Like Lakin Riley?” a visibly angry Marge asked Mayorkas. “You’re familiar with her, right?”

“Congressman, our heart breaks,” Mayorkas said.

“Are you familiar with Lakin Riley?” Greene interrupted the Homeland Secretary to say.

“I am familiar with the case,” he said.

“You should have deported her so that she could be alive today,” Greene said. “Her parents would have appreciated that.”

She’s wrong, but at least she’s consistent. Just ask Lakin’s father, Jason Riley.

“I feel like she’s being used somewhat politically … It makes me angry,” Jason Riley told NBC News last month. “She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is.”

She is constantly seeking attention:

The Senate will not impeach Mayorkas. She knows that. This was just her show to get a Fox “News” clip on the evening “news.”

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We are only on Day Two of Donald Trump’s criminal trial for election interference (sometimes referred to as the “Hush Money Case” or the “Stormy Daniels Case”) and Donald Trump has already started intimidating the jury! In this case, he was allegedly muttering and gesturing within earshot of a potential juror who had just undergone direct questioning as part of the jury selection process.

Criminal counts: 34
Self control: 0
Naps: A lot

Here is how it went down:

One of Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche, was questioning a prospective juror, I think about social media posts she made.

All of a sudden, Judge Merchan cut him off.

Why? Because Trump was audibly saying something and wildly gesturing while in front of the jury. It is unclear what he saying or gesturing about, but clearly it was enough to get the judge’s attention.

Judge Merchan said: Your client was audibly uttering something…I won’t tolerate that. I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom. I want to make that crystal clear.”

I am sure Trump was pissed about being reprimanded. His attorney, Blanche, took a few minutes to speak to him in a calm and soothing voice that we all use when toddlers throw tantrums.

After giving Trump a binky and a juice box, Blanche returned to questioning the juror.

Twitter had thoughts about Toddler Trump throwing a tantrum:

Trump will never make it through this whole trial without getting up and screaming and running out of the room. He has zero self control, cannot stand not being in charge and hates that he is being treated like any old common criminal.

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PHOENIX — 

Abortion politics and policy are clashing here like in no other state as the Republican-led Legislature convenes Wednesday to sort out the aftermath of a ruling allowing a statewide ban to take effect within weeks.

It adds more uncertainty for a state that has sometimes felt like the center of the political universe since President Biden’s 2020 victory here helped seal his election, prompting the first false cries from former President Trump that the election was rigged.

Republicans here are anxious and divided over how to handle the newest political surprise, delivered last week when the state Supreme Court ruled that a nearly complete ban — which had been on the books since 1864, before Arizona became a state — could take effect. The state currently permits abortions until the 15th week of pregnancy.

The focus on abortion, already a rallying cause for Democrats, has bolstered that party’s belief that it can use its support for reproductive rights to overcome voters’ angst over the economy and immigration and win a state that has gone their way in only two presidential elections since 1948. But leaders of an abortion rights ballot measure are trying to keep the party at arm’s length because they believe they can win broader support from Republicans and independents.

Still, the increasing number of rallies, signature-gathering events and political speeches over the last week are making the November election feel much more urgent here than in other parts of the country, where campaigns do not normally draw attention until the early fall.

“This is a huge political situation,” said state Sen. Anna Hernandez, a Democrat from Phoenix, who said she has heard from constituents in both parties who are upset with the near-total ban.

A Tuesday morning rally on a highway beside a strip mall, one of dozens around the state in the last week, drew more than 30 people waving “Remember in November” signs and carrying handcuffs to underscore the 1864 abortion statute’s threat of arrest for people who perform or help a woman obtain one. One man held a picture of Trump’s face covered by a red slash.

“It’s horrifying. It’s absolutely dangerous for all women — whether they want to be pregnant, whether they don’t want to be pregnant,” said Nancy Gillenwater, 63, a Scottsdale resident who said she had an abortion when she was 14 and another at 41, after having children.

Gillenwater, who became an active Planned Parenthood volunteer and storyteller when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion rights in 2022, said she worries that her daughter can’t safely start a family and that her son-in-law, an emergency room physician, will face criminal prosecution for saving women’s lives.

Mari Urbina, national managing director of Indivisible, the anti-Trump group that organized the rally, had flown in from Washington to support state efforts. She said that since the state Supreme Court’s decision, her group had signed up hundreds of volunteer organizers here who agreed to contact friends and neighbors. Other left-leaning groups reported similar spikes in fundraising and activism.

The Legislature is looking at a pair of issues that will shape the short-term and long-term future of abortion here: whether to repeal the 1864 law, and whether to add more ballot questions to put before voters in the November election to compete with the abortion rights measure.

But Republicans, who hold one-vote majorities in Arizona’s House and Senate, are internally conflicted between the desire to impose strict abortion restrictions and the political reality that the issue could cost them elections, including the presidency.

Those dynamics erupted into a chaotic session last Wednesday, the day after the state Supreme Court ruling, with cries of “Shame! Shame!” and no action.

Since then, Republicans have been strategizing behind closed doors, with public pressure from Trump, who had previously said states should decide abortion law on their own, “to remedy what has happened.”

Repealing the 1864 measure would draw unanimous support from Democratic lawmakers and need the votes of only two Republicans in each chamber.

Even before the court ruled last week, abortion rights proponents said they had gathered enough signatures to put a statewide measure on the ballot that would lift virtually all abortion restrictions, including the current legal ban after 15 weeks. Two of the state Supreme Court justices who supported last week’s ruling will also be on the November ballot, which could draw more interest from abortion rights voters.

Abortion is the top issue for suburban women in seven swing states, according to a Wall Street Journal poll in March, in which 39% of those respondents cited the issue, far surpassing immigration (16%) and the economy (7%) in the seven states polled, including Arizona.

“I’m not saying that’s the deciding factor. But it’s the biggest factor, because we women vote,” said Nancy Musser, a 69-year-old Democrat who works an administrative job in the Maricopa County probation department.

Republicans are worried about that abortion rights measure and are considering how to counter it.

An internal GOP strategy presentation, first reported by NBC, showed Republicans were considering placing one or two competing measures on the November ballot that would draw down support from the abortion rights measure.

One idea under discussion would ask voters to consider what the presentation called “a 14-week law disguised as a 15-week law.” The Legislature can place measures on the ballot directly, and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has no legal right to veto them.

Dawn Penich, communications director for Arizonans for Abortion Access, which is sponsoring the abortion rights measure, accused the Legislature of “deception and political game-playing.”

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is powerless to stop the Republican-led Arizona Legislature if it decides to put an antiabortion measure or two on November’s ballot.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Republican House Speaker Ben Toma said in a statement: “The document presents ideas drafted for internal discussion and consideration within the caucus. I’ve publicly stated that we are looking at options to address this subject, and this is simply part of that.”

Even if the issue of abortion helps Democrats, there is no guarantee it will help Biden win the state, where many voters cite the economy as their top concern. The same Wall Street Journal poll of swing state voters found Trump leading in Arizona by 5 percentage points, and receiving much higher marks on the economy and immigration.

“Women should be able to decide,” said Nick Tsontakis, a 68-year-old architect. But he will vote for Trump, he said, feeling satisfied with Trump’s position that abortion laws should be up to the states.

Jose Salvador, a 42-year-old Democrat, agrees, calling the Supreme Court’s decision a mistake. But after voting for Biden in the last election, he has decided to vote for Trump, largely due to immigration and the economy, he said.

“Right now, the country is hurting financially,” he said. “And we need to take care of that first before we focus our resources on on this other issue.”

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