Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson have both qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate in August. Seven GOP hopefuls spoke at a Cedar Rapids fundraising barbecue, discussing their vision for the future of the Republican party and their plans to unify the party. Candidates must hit the minimum threshold of 40,000 unique donors and the polling thresholds 48 hours prior to the debate to qualify for the debate.
Posts published in “Politics”
Mutinous soldiers in Niger have closed the country's airspace and are checking cars for weapons in anticipation of foreign intervention. The junta has rejected the ECOWAS ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president and is convening on Thursday to discuss the political situation.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has broken with former President Donald Trump, saying that he is "self-centered, self-possessed, and self-consumed". Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged that Trump had lost the 2020 election, while Trump spokesperson Steve Cheung accused DeSantis of being "Joe Biden's biggest cheerleader". Christie has said that if Trump were to become president again, he would take him at his word, as the Republican party continues to grapple with Trump's legacy.
Former President Donald Trump's attorney, John Lauro, made the rounds on several news outlets to deny allegations that Trump knowingly spread lies about the 2020 election being stolen, arguing that Trump's attempts to pressure election officials were simply "free speech." Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called Lauro's argument "deranged," and CNN's Dana Bash laughed incredulously at Lauro's suggestion that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" following the 2020 election. Lauro's media blitz was met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some arguing that Trump's actions were a violation of the Constitution and others feeling that Lauro's attempts to downplay the former president's actions were misguided.
The Secret Service of Ukraine (SSU) has arrested a woman in connection with an alleged assassination plot against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia has launched more than 70 missiles and drones at Ukraine in recent weeks, resulting in two deaths and four injuries in a "large scale fire" in the northeast. The Ukrainian government has urged the international community to take action to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
John Lauro, Donald Trump's criminal defense attorney, argued on NBC's "Meet the Press" that any "technical violation of the Constitution" by Trump does not necessarily mean he broke any criminal laws. Former Attorney General William Barr said he would testify in the Jan. 6 criminal trial against Trump if called, and that he believed the case was legitimate. Lauro also claimed that Trump and Pence had merely disagreed over whether a vice president could constitutionally take actions.
Mike Pence has taken a dramatic shift in tone regarding the events of January 6th, 2021, speaking out against the attempted coup and affirming his loyalty to the Constitution. In an interview with Fox News and Face the Nation, Pence discussed his recent visit to New Hampshire, where he was confronted by Trump supporters, and his commitment to protecting the Constitution and the democratic process. His comments are a reminder of the importance of upholding the Constitution and a sign that he is committed to doing so, no matter the cost.
This article discusses an attack on a Russian tanker in the Black Sea near Crimea late Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a "terrorist attack" and the Ukrainian Security Service has claimed responsibility for the incident. This attack is part of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and its repercussions are yet to be seen.