The Republican Party is facing a divide as it prepares for the 2024 presidential nomination process, with former President Donald Trump headlining the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis skipping the event for the Club for Growth's private donor retreat. Adding to the turmoil is a lawsuit filed against Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the CPAC. These events will likely provide further insight into the party's future.
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Florida lawmakers are introducing a bill, S.B. 1248, that would require the state's Division of Elections to cancel the filings of any political party that has previously advocated for or been in support of slavery or involuntary servitude. The bill would also change the voter registration of those affected to “no party affiliation” and provide procedures for them to update their affiliation. The bill is part of a larger effort by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to score headlines ahead of a potential 2024 presidential campaign launch and has been met with criticism from some who argue that it is an attempt to suppress the votes of certain groups. The bill is currently being considered by the state legislature and is expected to be voted on in the coming weeks.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney has joined the University of Virginia's Center for Politics as a professor of practice, praised by the center's director for her courage and willingness to pay the price for her principles. Cheney hopes to contribute to finding lasting solutions that strengthen democracy in the face of many threats.
Attorney General Merrick Garland is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to discuss the Justice Department's accomplishments over the past year, including combating violent crime and hate crimes, working with Ukraine against Russia, and protecting reproductive freedom. He will also be asked to explain the department's stance on a variety of issues, including civil rights, immigration, and gun control. The hearing is expected to last several hours and will be streamed live on the Senate Judiciary Committee's website.
The House of Representatives convened a select committee on China, made up of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, to investigate the technological, economic, and military threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois both stressed the importance of bipartisanship in order to effectively address the issue. The committee is expected to continue its investigation into the CCP's activities in the coming months.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office has reached an agreement with Fox News to view 41,000 hours of police videos documenting the events of Jan. 6, 2021. House Republicans are also planning to provide Jan. 6 rioters and other defendants access to internal Capitol security footage. Rep. Barry Loudermilk stated that this access would be granted on a "case-by-case basis" to ensure due process. This agreement is part of a larger effort to provide access to evidence for those accused of crimes related to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is launching a five-figure billboard campaign targeting five freshman Republicans who accepted donations from Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who has been accused of financial fraud. The billboards will focus on Santos's financial issues and Rep. LaLota, who previously served on the Suffolk County, New York, board of elections, has called for Santos's expulsion from Congress. The DCCC hopes to make Santos a major liability for the GOP in key swing districts in the upcoming election.
The Club for Growth is hosting a closed-press donor retreat for 2024 hopefuls, three miles away from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The retreat is seen as a sign that the Club for Growth is looking to move the GOP past Trump, who was not invited. Early Republican presidential hopefuls have been reluctant to draw a contrast with the former president, and it is unclear who will be attending the retreat.