U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

Thanks to President Biden's "American Rescue Act" states all over the country now have the necessary money for law enforcement to fight violent crime. Let's not forget that every single Republican voted against the "American Rescue Act" and they did not fund the police.

DeWine awards $3.7 million in grants to 21 Ohio law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime
Columbus police will receive nearly $414,000 and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office will receive $338,000.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine awarded more than $3.7 million to 21 law enforcement agencies across the state on Monday to help combat violence in their communities.

The Columbus Division of Police and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office are two of the agencies receiving the grant money.

Columbus police will receive nearly $414,000 and the state says the division will use the money to increase the solvability of violent crimes, including homicide and felonious assault.

The money will be used on a new digital forensics unit responsive vehicle, which will be used to quickly go to serious crime scenes to recover video evidence from local businesses, residences, community crime cameras and traffic cameras. The state says this will allow Columbus police detectives to more quickly follow up on leads.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is receiving nearly $338,000 of the grant money, which will go to the office's Central Ohio Violence Eradication Response Team. The group is responsible for preventing violent crimes, including murder, robbery and aggravated assault.

COVERT will also work to bring mentorship and counseling services to at-risk youth.

The money is coming from the Ohio Violent Reduction Grant Program, which was created last year to give law enforcement officials more tools to hold the small number of criminals responsible for the most violent crime in the state.

“This is just the beginning of our concentrated efforts to give local law enforcement the specific tools they need to combat crime through localized strategies,” Governor DeWine said. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to fighting crime, and I am dedicated to helping our local agencies prevent violence using the methods they know will make the most difference in their local neighborhoods.” 

The program originally launched with $8 million from the state's operating budget, but it was increased to $58 million with additional money from the American Recovery Plan.

To see a list of all 21 law enforcement agencies and how much money they are receiving, click the link below.

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/state-awards-37-million-grant-money-21-ohio-law-enforcement-agencies-to-combat-violent-crime/530-07fa73e7-d513-4bec-890f-c00aa9eea3dd

[Rick Plant]

Biden doubles availability of COVID therapeutic pills

President Joe Biden's administration said Tuesday it is doubling the number of outlets where at-risk Americans can obtain free Covid-19 therapeutic pills.

Oral therapeutics such as Pfizer's Paxlovid pill are seen as an important new weapon in the struggle to knock out a virus that at its peak a year ago killed more than 3,000 people a day in the United States alone and disrupted economic activity around the globe.

While sharply reduced in lethality, the latest Omicron variant continues to spread and the White House hopes the growing combination of vaccinations, natural immunity and therapeutics will help Americans finally turn the corner on the pandemic.

"One of the most effective available treatments is Pfizer's oral antiviral pill, Paxlovid, which has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by about 90 percent," a senior government official told reporters.

With 20 million pill packs ordered for government purchase, they are now "in ample supply" and distribution will be ramped up from the current 20,000 locations to close to 40,000, the official said.

The pills are available in pharmacies, community health centers, hospitals, and government medical facilities, including those run by Veterans Affairs. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the medicine for use by people 12 and older who are at high risk after Covid infection.

The official said that so far, about half a million courses of antivirals had been used and that the rate is on the increase.

"I think in recent weeks, you know, I think through about a month ago, we were at around 22,000 courses, recorded as used in a week. And I think last week, we were over 55,000," the official said.

"We're trying to dramatically increase the footprint of the ways treatments are available."

The Biden administration's strategy for the long-term assault on Covid-19 -- including domestic programs and a large-scale foreign vaccine donation drive -- is at risk, however, with Congress so far deadlocked on approving more funding.

A package currently close to approval would inject $10 billion into fighting Covid-19, with half of that going to therapeutics, although none for foreign vaccine programs.

The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was already funding to buy all the promised 20 million packs of therapeutics, but what "we're really worried about, going forward, are future treatments. And so we need funding from Congress to secure the essential needs."

© 2022 AFP

[Rick Plant]

Pro-Trump Republican running for Michigan Speaker expelled from GOP caucus



On Tuesday, Bridge Michigan reported that Matt Maddock, a pro-Trump Michigan state representative angling to be speaker of the state House of Representatives, has been expelled from the Republican Party for violating caucus rules.

"Sources say current House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Wentworth, booted Maddock for 'violating caucus rules.' He allegedly discussed confidential caucus matters publicly, prompting his removal," reported Jonathan Oosting. "Maddock did not immediately return a voicemail seeking comment. As of Tuesday evening, the Milford lawmaker's page on the Michigan House Republican website was no longer active."

Maddock recently gained attention for proposing a bill that would force journalists involved in "fact-checking" to register with the state of Michigan and pay $1,000 in daily fines if they "mistakenly" call a politician's claim false.

According to WWMT, the decision to expel Maddock from the caucus is highly unusual.

"The last Michigan state Rep. to be removed from caucus was in 2019, when Grand Traverse Co. Republican Rep. Larry Inman was removed after being charged with bribery, extortion and lying to an FBI agent," said the report. "In 2015, Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat of Plainwell was removed from the House Republican Caucus after being accused of breaching caucus confidentiality rules by posting on Facebook about legislation, an accusation Gamrat denied at the time."

This comes after Michigan Republicans moved to nominate hardline extremists and conspiracy theorists for statewide office at their party convention, including Matt DePerno for attorney general and Kristina Karamo for Secretary of State — both of whom have espoused Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/matt-maddock-trump-favorite-ousted-michigan-gop-caucus

[Rick Plant]

Tennessee GOP operative at center of corruption scandal taken to court – by GOP attorney general



The Republican attorney general in Tennessee is taking the one-time chief of staff to a former GOP Speaker of the state General Assembly to court for failing to comply with subpoenas in an investigation into "shadowy" political action committee, Fox 17 Nashville reports.

"Attorney General Herbert Slatery asked a Nashville judge late last week to order Cade Cothren to explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for not obeying the subpoenas in the investigation of the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. Cothren worked for Rep. Glen Casada before both resigned their top leadership roles in 2019 amid scandals," the network reported. "Ahead of the 2020 GOP primary election, the PAC attacked then Rep. Rick Tillis, who is the brother of North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. Rick Tillis lost to Republican Rep. Todd Warner, who was among those subject to FBI searches at the legislative building and other addresses in January 2021, alongside Casada, Cothren and ex-Republican Rep. Robin Smith."

Casada announced he would not seek re-election; Smith resigned and pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

"Neither Casada nor Cothren has been charged in the case, though both were referred to in Smith's charging documents as Individuals 1 and 2," the Tennessean reported. "Smith's plea deal in the case indicates federal prosecutors will recommend a lesser sentence in exchange for her cooperation in an ongoing investigation, which involved a shrouded grand jury in late March."

https://fox17.com/news/local/state-turns-to-court-after-ex-house-aide-refuses-subpoenas

[Rick Plant]

Perdue invokes Trump election lies in Georgia GOP primary



Former U.S. Sen. David Perdue is building his campaign around Donald Trump and veering to the right as he tries to unseat Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in a May 24 GOP primary.

Perdue is trying to stitch together a coalition of Republican malcontents, emphasizing debunked election fraud claims. Critics say that's a change from the millionaire in a denim jacket who won a Senate seat in 2014.

One example of Perdue's path is his embrace of the group VoterGA, which has been protesting Georgia's election systems for years. Perdue also supports a vote on a white-majority neighborhood seceding from Atlanta.

The two candidates squared off in a debate on Sunday.

“The only reason I’m not in the United States Senate is because you caved in and gave the elections to Stacey (Abrams) and the liberal Democrats in 2020,” Perdue said.

Kemp, who denounced calls of election fraud while defending election officials, fired back at Perdue's loss in the 2020 senate race.

"Weak leaders blame everybody else for their own loss instead of themselves,” Kemp said.

Abrams is once again seeking the Democratic nomination to go against either Perdue or Kemp in November. She narrowly lost to Kemp in 2018.

Since the election defeat, Abrams has been an active voting-rights advocate, which caused many Democrats to credit her for President Joe Biden's victory in Georgia in 2020.

https://www.wcpo.com/news/national/perdue-invokes-trump-election-lies-in-georgia-gop-primary

[Rick Plant]

Rep. Madison Cawthorn caught bringing loaded gun through airport security
This was the second offense for the congressman.

Madison Cawthorn, a Republican congressman from North Carolina, was caught trying to go through security with a loaded gun at Charlotte Douglas International Airport Tuesday morning, according to multiple sources.

This was the second time the controversial congressman has been stopped trying to bring a weapon through airport security.

TSA officers spotted the gun at the checkpoint and called airport police.

Cawthorn was issued a citation for possession of a dangerous weapon on city property by Charlotte Mecklenburg police.



He was later released, and the CMPD took possession of the firearm, which is normal procedure, police said.

Individuals can face fines up to $13,000 for a second offense, according to TSA.

The congressman's office did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for comment.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-madison-cawthorn-caught-bringing-loaded-gun-airport/story?id=84322678

[Rick Plant]

McCarthy said Gaetz was ‘putting people in jeopardy’ with remarks post-Jan. 6

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) aired frustration with members of his own party for making disparaging comments about GOP colleagues, saying lawmakers such as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) were “putting people in jeopardy.”

The comments, disclosed in newly released audio from The New York Times, show McCarthy frustrated by the tenor of some of those comments in the days after Jan. 6, 2021 — a feeling that appears to have faded as GOP lawmakers continue to disparage the two Republicans who sit on the committee investigating the riot.

“These members calling out other members, that stuff’s got to stop,” McCarthy can be heard saying in a Jan. 10, 2021 recording on a call with a small group of members of House GOP leadership.

“The tension is too high. The country is too crazy. I do not want to look back and think we caused something. … I don’t want to play politics with any of that,” he added.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) also called out Gaetz, with another member chiming in to say he had made comments about Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), now the vice chairwoman of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

“This is serious stuff. It has to stop,” he said. “It’s potentially illegal what he’s doing.”

McCarthy agreed, saying Gaetz was “putting people in jeopardy.”

“And he doesn’t need to be doing this. We saw what people would do in the Capitol, you know, and these people came prepared with rope, with everything else,” he added.

Gaetz lashed out at McCarthy and Scalise in a statement Tuesday evening, bashing them for their “sniveling calls with Liz Cheney” and that “they disparage Trump and the Republicans in Congress who fight for him.”

“This is the behavior of weak men, not leaders,” Gaetz said. “They deemed it incendiary or illegal to call Cheney and [Rep. Adam] Kinzinger ‘Anti-Trump,’ a label both proudly advertise today.”

Later in the call, McCarthy and Scalise went over “incendiary remarks” from other lawmakers, noting remarks from Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and others who spoke at the Jan. 6 rally.

“Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking *ss,” Brooks said at the rally near the White House.

“If you think the president deserves to be impeached for his comments that almost even goes further than the president did,” McCarthy responded.

Scalise said that some members had brought up stripping Brooks of his committee assignments “in the vein of Steve King.”

McCarthy later grimaced over a tweet from Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) commenting on a police shooting involving a Black police officer shooting a white female veteran.

“You know that doesn’t fit the narrative,” he tweeted, and then later deleted.

“Can’t they take their Twitter accounts away too?” McCarthy responded, a nod to Trump’s then-recent booting from the platform.

But McCarthy’s reservations in the days after Jan. 6 seem at odds with many of his actions since.

He did not take any actions to strip Republican members from their committees.

Instead it was Democrats who booted far-right Republicans from their posts, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) for tweeting an animated video of him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for endorsing conspiracy theories, racist dogma and violence against Democratic politicians.

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/3466595-mccarthy-said-gaetz-was-putting-people-in-jeopardy-with-remarks-post-jan-6/

After new tapes were released yesterday of Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise critical of Matt Gaetz’ behavior after Jan 6, Gaetz released a statement trashing McCarthy and Scalise last night.