U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

A lot of work still to do, but the latest data shows that COVID deaths are down 90% since President Biden
 took office -- in part due to his vaccine and booster efforts, and our world-leading deployment of Paxlovid. 

On the day President Biden took office, we had over 4,000 deaths per day and nearly 400,000 infections due to Trump's covid disaster. What a remarkable turnaround with covid deaths down 90%.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html

[Rick Plant]

DeSantis spokeswoman belatedly registers as foreign lobbyist after DOJ scrutiny

Christina Pushaw the spokeswoman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has belatedly registered as a lobbyist for a foreign politician over work she did in the country of Georgia two years ago.

The Washington Post reports that Pushaw did work for former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili between 2018 and 2020 that earned her roughly $25,000.

“Her efforts included writing op-eds, reaching out to supporters and officials, and advocating on his behalf in Georgia and in the United States,” said attorney Michael Sherwin, who is representing Pushaw. “The work ended in 2020."

Sherwin also said that she made the decision to register amid scrutiny from the United States Department of Justice.

"Ms. Pushaw was notified recently by the DOJ that her work on behalf of Mr. Saakashvilli likely required FARA registration," he said. "Ms. Pushaw filed for the registration retroactively as soon as she was made aware.”

Pushaw has openly talked on social media about her work for Saakashvilli in Georgia and will most likely not face any penalty for waiting for years to register as a foreign agent.

https://www.rawstory.com/christina-pushaw-georgia/

[Rick Plant]

Fox News-hyped New Jersey gym owner gets crushed by yacht-building rival in GOP primary



On Wednesday, NJ.com reported that Ian Smith, a New Jersey gym owner who became a star on Fox News for illegally defying COVID-19 lockdown rules, lost his bid for Congress in last night's Republican primary.

Smith had also caused controversy in March for telling a police officer about his congressional run to try to get out of a DUI arrest.

"Gyms, casinos, and movie theaters were ordered to shut in March 2020 as the virus first spread, but Ian Smith, co-owner of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, reopened the establishment in May and then defied arrest and fines in a losing battle to keep it open," noted the Daily Beast's Phillippe Naughton. "Smith was handily beaten by businessman Bob Healey in the Republican primary for New Jersey’s 3rd District, with Healey taking 53 percent to Smith’s 28 percent."

Smith became a Trump fan favorite, appearing on Fox News and offering free gym memberships to people who refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Healey, meanwhile, is best known for running a family yacht manufacturing business, the Viking Yacht Company, which he took over from his late father.

He will now go on to face Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, who was first elected in 2018 in a surprise upset against a Republican lawmaker who played a key role in trying to pass repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

https://www.rawstory.com/ian-smith-gym/

[Rick Plant]

DeSantis gets blasted after scrapping another Cabinet meeting: It is 'an insult' to Floridians
https://www.rawstory.com/desantis-gets-blasted-after-scrapping-another-cabinet-meeting/

[Rick Plant]

'How dare you?' Katie Porter clashes with Republican witness at gun violence hearing



Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) clashed with Amy Swearer of the conservative Heritage Foundation at a hearing on gun violence in the United States.

While appearing as a witness for the minority at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, Swearer insisted that Porter had accused her of perjury regarding assault weapons legislation.

"Would you like the explanation?" Swearer asked.

"I have not yielded, Ms. Swearer."

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) interrupted to complain that Swearer was not permitted to speak. But the chair ruled that Biggs was out of order.

"I have been accused of falsely testifying under oath and I would like to address it!" Swearer demanded.

"Earlier today, you testified you hope this is the last time you have to testify before this Congress," Porter pointed out. "For the sake of our nation and the integrity of this Congress, I do too."

"I said after a mass shooting," Swearer shot back, "trying to figure out how to solve a problem that we are heavily invested in solving."

"How dare you?" the witness asked.

"Reclaiming my time," Porter said. "How dare you misstate the law?"

"How dare you ask questions that you do not even want the answer to?" Swearer gasped.

"Ms. Swearer, I'm moving on," Porter remarked as the witness grimaced.

Watch the video below:

[Rick Plant]

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Bill Pascrell, Jr. @BillPascrell

If you paid a fortune at the pump this weekend, we recently voted to crack down on gas price gouging and every single republican voted no.



https://twitter.com/BillPascrell/status/1533803445454610434

[Rick Plant]

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Bill Pascrell, Jr. @BillPascrell

Children at Uvalde were *decapitated.* Decapitated. That is what war weapons do. Republicans are ok with decapitated kids to keep these instruments of death on your streets.

https://twitter.com/BillPascrell/status/1534571748607373312


CBS News @CBSNews 

Doctor who treated Uvalde victims recalls the massacre: "2 children whose bodies had been pulverized by bullets fired at them, decapitated, whose flesh had been ripped apart that the only clue as to their identities was the blood-spattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them."

Watch: https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1534552507598483456