Federal authorities are investigating whether former Rep. George Santos profited from Kalshi bets on his own State of the Union attendance after publicly saying he planned to attend. Santos told NPR, “I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no,” when asked whether he had a Kalshi account.
Posts tagged as “The State of the Union”
Former President Donald Trump has appointed Alice Marie Johnson, whose life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense he previously commuted, as the new "pardon czar," highlighting the potential for second chances and the impact of clemency. Johnson, now an advocate for criminal justice reform, expressed her gratitude and commitment to her role, emphasizing the transformative power of clemency. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Oyer continues to oversee the clemency process as the U.S. pardon attorney, ensuring fairness and transparency, while political tensions remain high with incidents such as Rep. Al Green's removal from the House chamber and interactions between Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts drawing attention.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has expressed his disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Palestinian sovereignty issue, criticizing his "extreme" and "racist" policies. Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib responded with a video featuring pro-Palestinian protests and remarks from President Joe Biden, ending with a call to remember in 2024. Sanders concluded by expressing his hope that Israeli voters will "get rid of" Netanyahu and elect a government that understands the severity of the crisis.
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas has condemned Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on hundreds of military promotions, calling it a "paralyzing" move and a "national security problem." GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley also weighed in, calling the policy "a national security problem" and promising to end it if elected. The hold on military promotions has been ongoing for months, creating a national security issue.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has suggested that former President Donald Trump should withdraw from the 2024 Republican presidential race due to his legal troubles, which Cassidy believes will lead to a conviction. Cassidy believes that any of the GOP candidates expected to participate in the first debate would be better equipped to beat Joe Biden than Trump, and that Trump will lose to Biden if the current polls are accurate. Trump has yet to officially announce his candidacy, but his legal troubles may be a major obstacle in his path to the White House.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has officially launched his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, joining Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the race. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy commented on the race, saying that Donald Trump cannot win a general election in 2024. Scott and DeSantis are the first two candidates to officially enter the race, with more expected to join in the coming weeks. It is unclear who will emerge as the party's nominee, but the race is heating up.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the number of migrants crossing the US southern border has dropped by 50% since the expiration of pandemic-related asylum restrictions, crediting harsher penalties for unlawful entry. Mayorkas also said the Biden administration is working with Mexico and Central American countries to address the root causes of migration and providing access to medical care, food, and shelter for migrants. The decrease in crossings is a welcome sign for the Biden administration, though it remains to be seen if it will be sustained.
Mitch McConnell is set to return to the Senate on Monday to decide whether to remove Dianne Feinstein from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a decision which could have major implications for President Biden's plans and the 2022 Senate race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has defended Feinstein's ability to serve in the Senate, saying that a senator should be able to make their own judgments about when they're retiring. McConnell's decision is expected soon.