Miller3 bak
capt
miller3925
10/21
evil pervert class action trifecta, phobes
LEGAL SHOP RECRUITED LIARS 47 MIZELLE
mofo dirty tricks VILLAIN
see mass deportation A LAWYER FLAT OUT LYING ABOUT SCOTUS ABREGO GARCIA, CHUCKLE?
SEE RULE OF LAW CONCEPT CHECKS
SEE FASCISM ANTI-COMMIE bs
DEMONIZATION
SEE PROJECTION EG DOMESTIC TERROR
MERRI OK
SEE FOX WATTERS
BANNON BACKS 5 25 RULE OF LAW HABEAS CORPUS
BRADLEY FUNDER
amicus allen v milligan gerry LOSS
SEE CPI
see big lie election integrity BS AZ
SEE NEWSMAX BOLLING
SEE 2025 PJT
created by david horowitz
tim dunn
wallnau NAR
GOTV
see gene hamilton pow baby jail
SEE GREAT REPLACEMENT RACISM BORDER bs XENO IMMIGRANT
SEE bak 7 24 has new
---
roy cohn 3 rules he bluster trump win after every fail? eg detroit econ club
---
JUST BLESSED SOMETHING ODIOUS? ARTL 3 DAVIS BABY JAIL 2025
---
an 9 25
In between his highly publicized designation of Antifa as a domestic terror organization and his indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, US President Donald Trump signed a little-reported national security memorandum that gives law enforcement new tools to target his critics.
Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) on Thursday. The directive, titled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,” focuses exclusively on “anti-fascist” or left-wing activities, and mandates a “national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence so that law enforcement can intervene in criminal conspiracies before they result in violent political acts.”
“I don’t want to sound hyperbolic but the plain truth is that NSPM-7 is a declaration of war on anyone who does not support the Trump administration and its agenda,” journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote in a piece raising alarm about the directive on Saturday.
Klippenstein argued that the memorandum was worrying on several fronts. For one, its focus on preventing crimes before they are committed opens the door to rights violations.
“In other words, they’re targeting pre-crime, to reference Minority Report,” Klippenstein wrote.
For another, the memorandum casts a very wide net, targeting groups, individuals, funders, and “entities” and listing several protected beliefs as “indicia” of extremism.
These include:
- “Anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity;
- Support for the overthrow of the United States Government;
- Extremism on migration, race, and gender; and
- Hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.”
What’s more, the memorandum entrusts enforcement to the FBI’s over 4,000-strong Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF), which removes the legal challenges to directing the National Guard or other military forces to quash domestic dissent.
“For the Trump White House, the beauty of using an already existing network is that it bypasses Congressional oversight and scrutiny and even obscures federal activity to governors and legislatures at the state level,” Klippenstein wrote.
The types of activities that will be targeted are also quite broad, with the document defining “organized doxing campaigns, swatting, rioting, looting, trespass, assault, destruction of property, threats of violence, and civil disorder” as “domestic terrorist acts.”
The memorandum also targets any individual or group who might fund activity the administration deems terrorism and directs the Internal Revenue Service to “take action to ensure that no tax-exempt entities are directly or indirectly financing political violence or domestic terrorism,” which could be a means of threatening the status of nonprofits.
Finally, as Drop Site Newspointed out, the memo authorizes the attorney general to designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations for the first time in US history.
“By targeting beliefs and protest activity, the directive positions dissent itself as a potential crime,” Drop Sitewrote.
The Trump administration’s focus on violence associated with left-wing beliefs and groups is not supported by the facts. National Institute of Justice data found that right-wing violence had led to 520 deaths since 1990 compared with 78 deaths due to left-wing violence. However, the administration removed that study from the Department of Justice website shortly after Charlie Kirk was killed, The Guardianreported earlier this month.
The administration’s efforts, while accelerated, build on processes that began during the US response to the September 11 attacks, as Klippenstein explained:
A “pre-crime” endeavor, preventing attacks before they happen, is core to the post-9/11 concept of counterterrorism itself. No longer satisfied to investigate acts of terrorism after the fact to bring terrorists to justice, the Bush administration adopted preemption. Overseas, that led to aerial assassination by drones and “special operations” kill missions. Domestically, it led to a counter-terrorism campaign whose hallmark was excessive and illegal government surveillance and the use of undercover agents and “confidential human sources” to trap (and entrap) would-be terrorists.
However, the Trump administration is expanding the War-on-Terror mandate with fewer guardrails.
“Now, with Donald Trump’s directive retooling the counter-terror apparatus to go after Americans at home, this means monitoring political activity, or speech, as an investigative method to discover ‘radicalism,‘” Klippenstein said, noting that the NSPM-7 breaks with post-Watergate national security documents by failing to mention the First Amendment rights to protest and organize.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is already eager to make use of the document.
“We are witnessing domestic terrorist sedition against the federal government,” he wrote on social media on Friday. “The JTTF has been dispatched by the Attorney General, pursuant to NSPM-7. All necessary resources will be utilized.”
In an interview with Greg Sargent for theNew Republic, Trump ally Steve Bannon confirmed that Miller and others in the administration were preparing to go after left-liberal groups and media whose criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could be interpreted as “goading” on violence against the agency.
Referring to Miller’s comments that calling ICE authoritarian incited violence and terrorism, Bannon responded, “Stephen Miller is correct—more importantly he’s in charge.
The threats of investigations put liberal and left-leaning organizations in a tough place. On the one hand, they want to prepare as best they can. On the other, they do not want to obey in advance.
“Officials at these groups tell me they must strike a balance between being clear-eyed about how bad this could get while not letting it discourage political activity,” Sargent wrote. “That latter form of surrender is exactly what Trump and Miller want. And under no circumstances should anybody willingly hand it over to them.”
---
---
rww
09/22/2025
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian @ MSNBC (https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/tom-homan-cash-contracts-trump-doj-investigation-rcna232568): Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump's DOJ shut it down.
The FBI and Justice officials closed the investigation, which a Justice Department appointee had called a “deep state” probe in early 2025.
J Oliver Conroy @ The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/20/charlie-kirk-martyr-christian-nationalist-movement): ‘The devil is not gonna win’: how Charlie Kirk became a Christian nationalist martyr
The rightwing pundit’s meteoric career was in some ways a microcosm of the rise of Trump-era Christian nationalism.
Sanjana Karanth and Li Zhou @ HuffPost (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-charlie-kirk-memorial-speech_n_68d08e62e4b00815ca12d012): Trump Proudly Separates Himself From Charlie Kirk As A Certified Hater
The president unabashedly said that he views his opponents very differently from how the conservative activist did.
Jack Jenkins @ Religion News Service (https://religionnews.com/2025/09/22/at-charlie-kirk-memorial-religion-politics-and-antagonism-toward-liberals-combine/): At Charlie Kirk's memorial, religion, politics and antagonism toward liberals combine
A who’s who of right-wing figures, conservative dignitaries, Trump administration officials and Trump himself regaled a sprawling crowd of tens of thousands with speeches that mixed religious appeals with personal remembrances of Kirk.
Robert McCoy @ The New Republic (https://newrepublic.com/post/200727/stephen-miller-charlie-kirk-tribute): Stephen Miller’s Charlie Kirk Tribute Was as Sinister as It Gets
Donald Trump’s adviser used the Charlie Kirk memorial to warn of the “wickedness” of “our enemies.”
Stephen Miller’s Charlie Kirk Tribute Was as Sinister as It Gets
Donald Trump’s adviser used the Charlie Kirk memorial to warn of the “wickedness” of “our enemies.”
Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland VID] security adviser, delivered a
at the Sunday memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona.
MAGA “patriots,” Miller claimed, have inherited a civilizing mission from their ancestors. To continue this mission, save humanity, and continue the legacy of Kirk, he said, they must vanquish the “forces of darkness,” their political opponents.
At the beginning of his remarks, Miller said Kirk’s widow, Erika, reminds him of a “famous expression”: “The storm whispers to the warrior that, ‘You cannot withstand my strength.’ And the warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’”
“Erika is the storm,” Miller declared. “We are the storm. And our enemies cannot comprehend our strength, our determination, our resolve, our passion.
“Our lineage and our legacy hails back to Athens, to Rome, to Philadelphia, to Monticello,” Miller continued. “Our ancestors built the cities. They produced the art and architecture. They built the industry,” he said, pulling “us out of the caves and the darkness into the light.
“We built the world that we inhabit now, generation by generation, and we will defend this world,” he later added.
Addressing “the forces of wickedness and evil,” Miller said: “You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness, you are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred. You are nothing. You can build nothing. You can produce nothing. You can create nothing. We are the ones who build. We are the ones who create. We are the ones who lift up humanity.
“You have no idea the dragon you have awakened,” he warned, as the MAGA movement will strive to “save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, because our children are strong, and our grandchildren will be strong, and our children’s children’s children will be strong. And what will you leave behind? Nothing, nothing.”
The speech was consistent with Miller’s white nationalist sympathies, penchant for unhinged rants against his political enemies, and apparent mission to use Kirk’s murder as a pretext for broader crackdowns. Last week, he vowed to avenge Kirk’s death by “go[ing] after the left-leaning organizations” that, he claimed, “are promoting violence in this country.”
Editor’s Pick:
It’s Happened: The United States of America Is No Longer a Democracy
Trump Shits All Over Message of Charlie Kirk’s Widow at His Memorial
Donald Trump gave an ominous message to America at Charlie Kirk’s memorial—guaranteeing more political violence to come.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
President Trump took the stage at Charlie Kirk’s memorial Sunday evening to promise more political violence and retribution against his enemies moments after Kirk’s wife, Erika, promised to forgive them. Both received similar applause.
“In a private moment on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was,” Trump said at the podium. “He was a missionary with a noble spirit, and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them.”
Then Trump went off script, turning the speech into something better suited for a campaign rally than a memorial.
“That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don’t want the best for them, I’m sorry,” he said as the crowd roared with laughter. “I am sorry Erika. But now Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that’s not right. But I can’t stand my opponent.”
Trump was referencing the slight 180 that Erika Kirk has done in her messaging since her husband’s killing. Initially, she
“the evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.… If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country.”
This messaging fit in snugly with the other calls for war and revolution against the left from people like Elon Musk and Steve Bannon. But on Sunday, Erika Kirk made a point to emphasize that she forgave Tyler Robinson, her husband’s suspected assassin.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.… On the cross, our savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.’ That young man. I forgive him,” she said, evoking the actions of Jesus, while he took his dying breaths, in the Bible.
Trump made it clear that he saw no value in that, and the crowd ate it up. Asking the president to embody Christlike qualities of forgiveness sounds like an insurmountable task, even for Erika Kirk.
GPAHE (https://globalextremism.org/post/kirks-murder-sparks-calls-for-civil-war-and-violent-retribution/): Charlie Kirk’s Murder Sparks Calls for Civil War And Violent Retribution Against Political Opponents
The murder of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus has ratcheted up political tension at home and abroad. Kirk, a far-right commentator and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while holding a question-and-answer session at an outdoor amphitheater. Kirk’s assassination, captured on video and rapidly disseminated online, has been weaponized by far-right activists, politicians, and extremist groups, many of whom are calling for retaliation and violent retribution. Some of those demanding action have millions of followers.
Sophia Tesfaye @ Salon (https://www.salon.com/2025/09/22/meet-the-white-house-reporter-egging-on-trumps-crackdown/): Meet the White House reporter egging on Trump’s crackdown
Brian Glenn, Trump’s favorite correspondent, is on a crusade to crush free speech.
---
---
rww
09/22/2025
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian @ MSNBC (https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/tom-homan-cash-contracts-trump-doj-investigation-rcna232568): Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump's DOJ shut it down.
The FBI and Justice officials closed the investigation, which a Justice Department appointee had called a “deep state” probe in early 2025.
J Oliver Conroy @ The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/20/charlie-kirk-martyr-christian-nationalist-movement): ‘The devil is not gonna win’: how Charlie Kirk became a Christian nationalist martyr
The rightwing pundit’s meteoric career was in some ways a microcosm of the rise of Trump-era Christian nationalism.
Sanjana Karanth and Li Zhou @ HuffPost (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-charlie-kirk-memorial-speech_n_68d08e62e4b00815ca12d012): Trump Proudly Separates Himself From Charlie Kirk As A Certified Hater
The president unabashedly said that he views his opponents very differently from how the conservative activist did.
Jack Jenkins @ Religion News Service (https://religionnews.com/2025/09/22/at-charlie-kirk-memorial-religion-politics-and-antagonism-toward-liberals-combine/): At Charlie Kirk's memorial, religion, politics and antagonism toward liberals combine
A who’s who of right-wing figures, conservative dignitaries, Trump administration officials and Trump himself regaled a sprawling crowd of tens of thousands with speeches that mixed religious appeals with personal remembrances of Kirk.
Robert McCoy @ The New Republic (https://newrepublic.com/post/200727/stephen-miller-charlie-kirk-tribute): Stephen Miller’s Charlie Kirk Tribute Was as Sinister as It Gets
Donald Trump’s adviser used the Charlie Kirk memorial to warn of the “wickedness” of “our enemies.”
GPAHE (https://globalextremism.org/post/kirks-murder-sparks-calls-for-civil-war-and-violent-retribution/): Charlie Kirk’s Murder Sparks Calls for Civil War And Violent Retribution Against Political Opponents
The murder of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus has ratcheted up political tension at home and abroad. Kirk, a far-right commentator and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while holding a question-and-answer session at an outdoor amphitheater. Kirk’s assassination, captured on video and rapidly disseminated online, has been weaponized by far-right activists, politicians, and extremist groups, many of whom are calling for retaliation and violent retribution. Some of those demanding action have millions of followers.
Sophia Tesfaye @ Salon (https://www.salon.com/2025/09/22/meet-the-white-house-reporter-egging-on-trumps-crackdown/): Meet the White House reporter egging on Trump’s crackdown
Brian Glenn, Trump’s favorite correspondent, is on a crusade to crush free speech.
---
---
rww
09/22/2025
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian @ MSNBC (https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/tom-homan-cash-contracts-trump-doj-investigation-rcna232568): Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump's DOJ shut it down.
The FBI and Justice officials closed the investigation, which a Justice Department appointee had called a “deep state” probe in early 2025.
J Oliver Conroy @ The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/20/charlie-kirk-martyr-christian-nationalist-movement): ‘The devil is not gonna win’: how Charlie Kirk became a Christian nationalist martyr
The rightwing pundit’s meteoric career was in some ways a microcosm of the rise of Trump-era Christian nationalism.
Sanjana Karanth and Li Zhou @ HuffPost (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-charlie-kirk-memorial-speech_n_68d08e62e4b00815ca12d012): Trump Proudly Separates Himself From Charlie Kirk As A Certified Hater
The president unabashedly said that he views his opponents very differently from how the conservative activist did.
Jack Jenkins @ Religion News Service (https://religionnews.com/2025/09/22/at-charlie-kirk-memorial-religion-politics-and-antagonism-toward-liberals-combine/): At Charlie Kirk's memorial, religion, politics and antagonism toward liberals combine
A who’s who of right-wing figures, conservative dignitaries, Trump administration officials and Trump himself regaled a sprawling crowd of tens of thousands with speeches that mixed religious appeals with personal remembrances of Kirk.
Robert McCoy @ The New Republic (https://newrepublic.com/post/200727/stephen-miller-charlie-kirk-tribute): Stephen Miller’s Charlie Kirk Tribute Was as Sinister as It Gets
Donald Trump’s adviser used the Charlie Kirk memorial to warn of the “wickedness” of “our enemies.”
GPAHE (https://globalextremism.org/post/kirks-murder-sparks-calls-for-civil-war-and-violent-retribution/): Charlie Kirk’s Murder Sparks Calls for Civil War And Violent Retribution Against Political Opponents
The murder of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus has ratcheted up political tension at home and abroad. Kirk, a far-right commentator and founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while holding a question-and-answer session at an outdoor amphitheater. Kirk’s assassination, captured on video and rapidly disseminated online, has been weaponized by far-right activists, politicians, and extremist groups, many of whom are calling for retaliation and violent retribution. Some of those demanding action have millions of followers.
Sophia Tesfaye @ Salon (https://www.salon.com/2025/09/22/meet-the-white-house-reporter-egging-on-trumps-crackdown/): Meet the White House reporter egging on Trump’s crackdown
Brian Glenn, Trump’s favorite correspondent, is on a crusade to crush free speech.
---
MMA MEDIA PART OF TERROR NETWORK MILLER
NOTE JDV CANCELLED A 911 APPEARNCE TO DO KIRK GUEST HOST?!
Megyn Kelly claims “leftist media” discussion of culture war issues “stirs up hatred” (https://www.mediamatters.org/megyn-kelly/megyn-kelly-claims-leftist-media-discussion-culture-war-issues-stirs-hatred)
09/22/25
---
---}:
SEEMS LIKE ANTI-LEFT JIHAD IN WORKS FOR A WHILE, KIRK IS REICHSTAG PRETEXT?
AN 9 25
On Tuesday, September 16, prosecutors announced that Tyler Robinson — the 22-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of MAGA activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — is being charged with aggravated murder and said they will seek the death penalty.
The New York Times' Michael Barbaro discussed the case with reporters Jack Healy and Kenneth P. Vogel in a podcast posted on September 17 (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/podcasts/the-daily/charlie-kirk-suspect-left-wing.html?smid=re-share). While Healy talked about the suspect's possible motives, Vogel got into what Barbaro described as a "rational for cracking down on left-wing groups across the country."
Vogel noted recent comments by Vice President JD Vance and White House adviser Stephen Miller calling for a crackdown on left-wing groups.
READ MORE: 'I'm the one asking the questions': CNN host cuts off Ted Cruz after he shouts over her (https://www.alternet.org/cnn-host-ted-cruz/)
The Times reporter told Barbaro, "Miller (made) a really impassioned proclamation about how he and the federal government was going to use every resource at their disposal to go after and disrupt and dismantle and destroy these networks that he says, on the left, are making America unsafe."
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.721.0_en.html#fid=goog_47443689)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.721.0_en.html#fid=goog_47443690)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.721.0_en.html#fid=goog_47443691)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.721.0_en.html#fid=goog_47443692)
When Barbaro asked Vogel if there is "a sense" of "which groups specifically" Vance and Miller "are referring to," Vogel responded, "I think there are a number of groups that could probably fit into this category based on my conversations with people around the White House, around Trump's orbit."
"Two organizations specifically have come up," Vogel told Barbaro. "One of them is Open Society Foundations, and that's George Soros' philanthropic organization. And the other is the Ford Foundation. Now, they don't really do programming of their own. So, what seems to be at issue here is the organizations that they fund and what those organizations, in turn, are doing."
When Barbaro asked Vogel what groups Open Society and the Ford Foundation fund, the Times reporter explained, "Open Society, for instance — and, I believe, the Ford Foundation — were big funders of sort of racial justice groups around the Black Lives Matter movement. And some of those groups clearly were involved in organizing protests."
READ MORE:'Undisputed idiot king': Former NBC journalist calls Eric Trump 'the epitome of stupidity' (https://www.alternet.org/eric-trump-stupidity/)
Vogel continued, "And it is theoretically possible that at some of the protests where some of these groups were involved in the organization, there may have been vandalism or violence…. But for people around the White House, it's really about what they think of as a broader network of liberal nonprofit groups and firms that administer them that they believe are stoking violence through really extreme rhetoric and polarization. And they attribute to these groups other seemingly disconnected acts of vandalism."
READ MORE:'Didn't work for you': CNN analyst confronts Trump's favorite pundit on political violence (https://www.alternet.org/scott-jennings-kirk-trump/)
*Listen to the full New York Times podcast at this link (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/podcasts/the-daily/charlie-kirk-suspect-left-wing.html?smid=re-share) (subscription required).
---
// BONDI ON HATE SPEECH
Trump’s AG scrambles to do 'damage control' after conservatives rage against free speech threat (https://www.alternet.org/bondi-kirk-katie-miller/)
AN 9 25
Senior Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration officials on Monday made fresh threats to crack down on a nonexistent left-wing “domestic terror movement” following last week’s assassination of Charlie Kirk—a move that critics called an attempt to exploit the far-right firebrand’s murder to advance an authoritarian agenda targeting nonviolent opposition.
Even as investigators work to determine the motive of Kirk’s killer, members of Trump’s inner circle and supporters have amplified an unfounded narrative of a coordinated leftist movement targeting conservatives.
According to (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/jd-vance-charlie-kirk-show.html) The New York Times:
On Monday, two senior administration officials, who spoke anonymously to describe the internal planning, said that Cabinet secretaries and federal department heads were working to identify organizations that funded or supported violence against conservatives. The goal, they said, was to categorize left-wing activity that led to violence as domestic terrorism, an escalation that critics said could lay the groundwork for crushing anti-conservative dissent more broadly.
Appearing on the latest episode of “The Charlie Kirk (https://www.commondreams.org/tag/charlie-kirk) Show” podcast—which was guest hosted (https://thecharliekirkshow.com/podcasts/the-charlie-kirk-show/vice-president-jd-vance-remembers-charlie-kirk) by US Vice President JD Vance—White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said that “we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks and make America safe again for the American people.”
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1590042062)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1590042063)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1590042064)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1590042065)
“It will happen, and we will do it in Charlie’s name,” Miller vowed.
Vance said during the podcast that he wanted to explore “all of the ways that we’re trying to figure out how to prevent this festering violence that you see on the far left from becoming even more and more mainstream.”
“You have the crazies on the far left who are saying, ‘Oh, Stephen Miller and JD Vance, they’re going to go after constitutionally protected speech,‘” the vice president said. “We’re going to go after the network that foments, facilitates, and engages in violence.”
Vance, who like Trump and numerous supporters claim to champion free speech, also took aim at “people who are celebrating” Kirk’s killing.
Another unnamed administration official told (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/jd-vance-charlie-kirk-show.html) the Times Monday that government agencies would be investigating people, including those accused of vandalizing Tesla electric vehicles and dealerships and allegedly assaulting federal immigration agents, in an effort to implicate US leftists in political violence.
Vance and Miller’s threats ignored right-wing violence—which statistically outpaces (https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/comparison-political-violence-left-wing-right-wing-and-islamist-extremists-united) left-wing attacks—including the recent assassinations of Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, who were murdered (https://www.commondreams.org/news/democratic-state-rep-assassinated-in-minnesota) in June by a right-wing masked gunman disguised as a police officer.
Investigative reporter Jason Paladino reported (https://jpaladino.substack.com/p/kash-patels-doj-scrubbed-study-showing) last week that the US Department of Justice apparently removed an academic study previously published (https://web.archive.org/web/20250911012550/https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/what-nij-research-tells-us-about-domestic-terrorism) on the National Institute for Justice’s online library showing that “since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, including 227 events that took more than 520 lives” versus “42 ideologically motivated attacks that took 78 lives” committed by “far-left extremists.”
Responding to Miller’s remarks, New Republic staff writer Greg Sargent noted (https://bsky.app/profile/gregsargent.bsky.social/post/3lyvljstm4c2c) on social media that “Stephen Miller was directly involved in one of the largest acts of organized domestic political violence the United States has seen in modern times, the January 6 [2021] insurrection.”
Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) weighed in Monday on Miller’s attempt to exploit Kirk’s murder, writing (https://bsky.app/profile/degette.house.gov/post/3lyvofdn4yg2w) on the social media site Bluesky that “it’s never acceptable to kill someone for their political beliefs. But the Trump [administration] exploiting the shooting of Charlie Kirk to follow their authoritarian instincts and crack down on the left is incredibly disturbing.”
“We must end any form of political violence—and reject those who try to exploit it,” she added.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom noted (https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1967689247085015268) Monday on social media that Miller “has already publicly labeled the Democratic Party as a terrorist organization.”
“This isn’t about crime and safety,” Newsom added. “It’s about dismantling our democratic institutions. We cannot allow acts of political violence to be weaponized and used to threaten tens of millions of Americans.”
The progressive Working Families Party (WFP) said (https://x.com/WorkingFamilies/status/1967719676374597935) Monday on social media that “JD Vance and Stephen Miller want to use the horrifying murder of Charlie Kirk to target and dismantle pro-democracy groups.”
“Their comments call to mind some of the darkest periods in US history,” WFP continued. “They’re dividing people based on what box we ticked on our voter registration.”
Vance and Miller “want to stoke fear and resentment to justify their un-American crackdowns on free speech, mass abductions of working people, and military takeovers of our cities,” WFP added. “This isn’t going to fly. We’ve survived crises like this before as a country, and we can choose to live in a place where our political freedoms are protected, where we settle disagreements with words not weapons, and where no one has to fear losing a loved one to gun violence.”
:{:{---}:
---
RWW
09/15/2025
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
David Badash @ The New Civil Rights Movement (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/09/vance-hosts-stephen-miller-on-kirks-show-to-preach-real-unity-while-blaming-the-left/): Vance Hosts Stephen Miller on Kirk’s Show to Preach ‘Real Unity’ — While Blaming the Left
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was Vice President JD Vance’s guest on Monday’s edition of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” just days after the right-wing political commentator was assassinated. The suspected gunman’s motives and political beliefs remain unclear, but the vice president pinned the blame for Kirk’s murder on “left-wing extremism.”
Jennifer Bowers Bahney @ Mediaite (https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-declares-hes-already-investigating-people-on-the-left-who-share-blame-for-charlie-kirks-murder/): Trump Declares He’s ‘Already Investigating’ People On The Left Who Share Blame for Charlie Kirk’s Murder
President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that radical leftists and Democratic supporters were responsible for the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, while taking questions from reporters on the tarmac at Morristown Airport in Morris County, New Jersey, on Sunday evening.
Cameron Adams @ The Daily Beast (https://www.thedailybeast.com/kari-lake-blames-college-indoctrination-for-charlie-kirks-death/): MAGA Star Uses Prayer Vigil to Launch Charlie Kirk Killer Conspiracy
The adviser actually pleads for parents to pull their kids out of university.
Anna Merlan @ Mother Jones (https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/the-full-weight-of-the-federal-government-is-being-used-to-memorialize-charlie-kirk/): The Full Weight of the Federal Government Is Being Used to Memorialize Charlie Kirk
After the shocking murder of MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk on Wednesday afternoon, tributes and expressions of grief poured in from conservative politicians and activists, along with expressions of sympathy and denunciations of political violence from both sides of the aisle. Now, however, numerous government and elected officials are taking their protection of Kirk’s legacy a step further, indicating they’ll use the power of their offices to discourage, punish, or, in some cases, fire anyone who speaks ill of him.
Moira Donegan @ The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/14/charlie-kirk-killing): Charlie Kirk’s killing was a tragedy. But we must not rewrite his life
In the wake of horror, honest accountings of his life have not only become rare – they have also become dangerous.
Paige Skinner @ HuffPost (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/brian-kilmeade-apology-homeless_n_68c6ece1e4b0539d2b98de2b): 'Fox And Friends' Host Apologizes For 'Callous' Remark About Homeless People
Brian Kilmeade has a history of saying insulting things while on the air.
Aaron Parnas @ MediaTouch Network (https://meidasnews.com/news/exclusive-how-the-trump-administration-is-breaking-the-law-and-wasting-taxpayer-dollars-with-giant-banners-of-donald-trump): How the Trump Administration is Breaking the Law and Wasting Taxpayer Dollars with Giant Banners of Donald Trump
An exclusive report from Senator Adam Schiff exposes a coordinated misuse of federal funds for political propaganda.
---
---
AN 9 25 CLAIM NO SUPPORT
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was Vice President JD Vance’s guest on Monday’s edition of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” just days after the right-wing political commentator was assassinated. The suspected gunman’s motives and political beliefs remain unclear, but the vice president pinned the blame for Kirk’s murder on “left-wing extremism.”
“While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies,” Vance declared (https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1967652690114343274), “it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far-left.”
IFrame Content (https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5155643920455169&output=html&h=280&slotname=1486667796&adk=3466119729&adf=3781990557&pi=t.maas.1486667796&w=728&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1757964372&rafmt=1&format=728x280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com%2F2025%2F09%2Fvance-hosts-stephen-miller-on-kirks-show-to-preach-real-unity-while-blaming-the-left%2F&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&aieuf=1&uach=WyJtYWNPUyIsIjE1LjYuMSIsImFybSIsIiIsIjE0MC4wLjczMzkuMTMzIixudWxsLDAsbnVsbCwiNjQiLFtbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTQwLjAuNzMzOS4xMzMiXSxbIk5vdD1BP0JyYW5kIiwiMjQuMC4wLjAiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNDAuMC43MzM5LjEzMyJdXSwwXQ..&abgtt=11&dt=1757964371852&bpp=1&bdt=360&idt=179&shv=r20250911&mjsv=m202509110101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6b7aabd9f24c7d0%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DALNI_MaSMy_CEd4P2hDyXSNExPzhnJgkWg&gpic=UID%3D000011283246fbac%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DALNI_MZvM1J-zb8VYEwYZdyMXj3bRDGRRg&eo_id_str=ID%3Dfeb9cfa65f129c0e%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DAA-AfjYO88A_o139NymRz09BC-rt&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280&nras=1&correlator=5119673569457&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-240&u_his=1&u_h=900&u_w=1440&u_ah=807&u_aw=1440&u_cd=30&u_sd=2&dmc=8&adx=206&ady=1476&biw=1440&bih=686&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31094369%2C31094533%2C31094652%2C95370519%2C95370627%2C95370775%2C31094674%2C95371477%2C95368428%2C95371230&oid=2&pvsid=7999630381114816&tmod=1296390593&uas=0&nvt=1&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C25%2C0%2C25%2C1440%2C25%2C1440%2C807%2C1440%2C686&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDFd&nt=1&pgls=CAEQAxoGMS4wLjgx&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=1&fsb=1&dtd=183)
The vice president did not define “lunatics,” but statistics from the Cato Institute (https://www.cato.org/blog/politically-motivated-violence-rare-united-states) show that the vast majority of political violence comes from the far-right.
Guest-hosting for the late organizer and activist, Vice President Vance viewers, “I wanted to zoom out and talk with Stephen [Miller] a little bit, and talk about all of the ways that we’re trying to figure out how to prevent this festering violence that you see on the far-left from becoming even more and more mainstream.”
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1635577744)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1635577745)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1635577746)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.720.0_en.html#fid=goog_1635577747)
READ MORE: Homeschooling, Religion and Politics Trump Science in Parents’ Vaccine Resistance (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/09/homeschooling-religion-and-politics-trump-science-in-parents-vaccine-resistance/)
IFrame Content (https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5155643920455169&output=html&h=280&slotname=4673045042&adk=4067496009&adf=3026799915&pi=t.maas.4673045042&w=728&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1757964372&rafmt=1&format=728x280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com%2F2025%2F09%2Fvance-hosts-stephen-miller-on-kirks-show-to-preach-real-unity-while-blaming-the-left%2F&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&aieuf=1&uach=WyJtYWNPUyIsIjE1LjYuMSIsImFybSIsIiIsIjE0MC4wLjczMzkuMTMzIixudWxsLDAsbnVsbCwiNjQiLFtbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTQwLjAuNzMzOS4xMzMiXSxbIk5vdD1BP0JyYW5kIiwiMjQuMC4wLjAiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNDAuMC43MzM5LjEzMyJdXSwwXQ..&abgtt=11&dt=1757964371852&bpp=1&bdt=360&idt=210&shv=r20250911&mjsv=m202509110101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6b7aabd9f24c7d0%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DALNI_MaSMy_CEd4P2hDyXSNExPzhnJgkWg&gpic=UID%3D000011283246fbac%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DALNI_MZvM1J-zb8VYEwYZdyMXj3bRDGRRg&eo_id_str=ID%3Dfeb9cfa65f129c0e%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757713886%3AS%3DAA-AfjYO88A_o139NymRz09BC-rt&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C728x280&nras=1&correlator=5119673569457&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-240&u_his=1&u_h=900&u_w=1440&u_ah=807&u_aw=1440&u_cd=30&u_sd=2&dmc=8&adx=206&ady=2089&biw=1440&bih=686&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31094369%2C31094533%2C31094652%2C95370519%2C95370627%2C95370775%2C31094674%2C95371477%2C95368428%2C95371230&oid=2&pvsid=7999630381114816&tmod=1296390593&uas=0&nvt=1&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C25%2C0%2C25%2C1440%2C25%2C1440%2C807%2C1440%2C686&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDFd&nt=1&pgls=CAEQAxoGMS4wLjgx&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=2&fsb=1&dtd=213)
The vice president—who placed blame at least in part on the left for Kirk’s death—said (https://x.com/Ronxyz00/status/1967625658282156510), “we have to talk about this incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism that has grown up over the last few years, and I believe is part of the reason why Charlie was killed by an assassin’s bullet.”
“We’re gonna talk about how to dismantle that,” he continued, “and how to bring real unity, real unity that can only come when we tell the truth and everybody knows that they can speak their mind about the issues of the day without being cut down by a murderer’s gun.”
Miller, who is considered by many—including some highly respected conservatives (https://x.com/greggnunziata/status/1939093162816839936)—a skilled propagandist, on Friday spoke out against what he called left-wing violent extremism.
IFrame Content (https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5155643920455169&output=html&h=280&slotname=4673045042&adk=4067496009&adf=2885311927&pi=t.maas.4673045042&w=728&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1757964374&rafmt=1&format=728x280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com%2F2025%2F09%2Fvance-hosts-stephen-miller-on-kirks-show-to-preach-real-unity-while-blaming-the-left%2F&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&aieuf=1&uach=WyJtYWNPUyIsIjE1LjYuMSIsImFybSIsIiIsIjE0MC4wLjczMzkuMTMzIixudWxsLDAsbnVsbCwiNjQiLFtbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTQwLjAuNzMzOS4xMzMiXSxbIk5vdD1BP0JyYW5kIiwiMjQuMC4wLjAiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNDAuMC43MzM5LjEzMyJdXSwwXQ..&abgtt=11&dt=1757964371853&bpp=1&bdt=362&idt=274&shv=r20250911&mjsv=m202509110101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6b7aabd9f24c7d0%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DALNI_MaSMy_CEd4P2hDyXSNExPzhnJgkWg&gpic=UID%3D000011283246fbac%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DALNI_MZvM1J-zb8VYEwYZdyMXj3bRDGRRg&eo_id_str=ID%3Dfeb9cfa65f129c0e%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DAA-AfjYO88A_o139NymRz09BC-rt&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C728x280%2C728x280%2C320x250%2C320x250%2C1005x124&nras=2&correlator=5119673569457&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-240&u_his=1&u_h=900&u_w=1440&u_ah=807&u_aw=1440&u_cd=30&u_sd=2&dmc=8&adx=206&ady=2206&biw=1440&bih=686&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31094369%2C31094533%2C31094652%2C95370519%2C95370627%2C95370775%2C31094674%2C95371477%2C95368428%2C95371230&oid=2&psts=AOrYGsny3nM6bNM5nrhYCpp6N69WCl_vjVP-E_P3wvi_5wsUKc3co0QqSSFsUZ5370JlrMERCCE1FHjagtA2jf2CRIeYJdxF6aeCUpVk8-xbiumt&pvsid=7999630381114816&tmod=1296390593&uas=0&nvt=1&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C25%2C0%2C25%2C1440%2C25%2C1440%2C807%2C1440%2C686&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDFd&nt=1&pgls=CAEQAxoGMS4wLjgx&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=6&fsb=1&dtd=2856)
“I’ve not shared with anybody, but the last message that Charlie Kirk gave to me before he joined his Creator in heaven was, he said that we have to dismantle and take on the radical left organizations in this country that are fomenting violence.”
“That was the last message that he sent me before that assassin stole him from all of us.”
READ MORE: Trump Teases Threat to Defund NYC After Governor’s Endorsement for Mayor (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/09/trump-teases-threat-to-defund-nyc-after-governors-endorsement-for-mayor/)
“And we are gonna do that,” Miller vowed. “Under President Trump’s leadership, I don’t care how—it could be a RICO charge, a conspiracy charge, conspiracy against the United States, insurrection—but we are going to do what it takes to dismantle the organizations and the entities that are fomenting riots, that are doxing, that are trying to inspire terrorism, and that are committing acts of wanton violence.”
IFrame Content (https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5155643920455169&output=html&h=280&slotname=4673045042&adk=4067496009&adf=989754194&pi=t.maas.4673045042&w=728&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1757964375&rafmt=1&format=728x280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com%2F2025%2F09%2Fvance-hosts-stephen-miller-on-kirks-show-to-preach-real-unity-while-blaming-the-left%2F&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&aieuf=1&uach=WyJtYWNPUyIsIjE1LjYuMSIsImFybSIsIiIsIjE0MC4wLjczMzkuMTMzIixudWxsLDAsbnVsbCwiNjQiLFtbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTQwLjAuNzMzOS4xMzMiXSxbIk5vdD1BP0JyYW5kIiwiMjQuMC4wLjAiXSxbIkdvb2dsZSBDaHJvbWUiLCIxNDAuMC43MzM5LjEzMyJdXSwwXQ..&abgtt=11&dt=1757964371853&bpp=1&bdt=361&idt=282&shv=r20250911&mjsv=m202509110101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6b7aabd9f24c7d0%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DALNI_MaSMy_CEd4P2hDyXSNExPzhnJgkWg&gpic=UID%3D000011283246fbac%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DALNI_MZvM1J-zb8VYEwYZdyMXj3bRDGRRg&eo_id_str=ID%3Dfeb9cfa65f129c0e%3AT%3D1751312727%3ART%3D1757964372%3AS%3DAA-AfjYO88A_o139NymRz09BC-rt&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1200x280%2C728x280%2C728x280%2C320x250%2C320x250%2C1005x124%2C728x280&nras=2&correlator=5119673569457&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=-240&u_his=1&u_h=900&u_w=1440&u_ah=807&u_aw=1440&u_cd=30&u_sd=2&dmc=8&adx=206&ady=2655&biw=1440&bih=686&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31094369%2C31094533%2C31094652%2C95370519%2C95370627%2C95370775%2C31094674%2C95371477%2C95368428%2C95371230&oid=2&psts=AOrYGsny3nM6bNM5nrhYCpp6N69WCl_vjVP-E_P3wvi_5wsUKc3co0QqSSFsUZ5370JlrMERCCE1FHjagtA2jf2CRIeYJdxF6aeCUpVk8-xbiumt%2CAOrYGskY-axVFTzU9ogXgyPP8vhWbPhjqoVvelxuwdgMflZrF-rkTCm7vx_ryV2gEPXS4gFpt4ba-5GDMnP3qHkN51QD9SORxHdCnRQzuytaWRhsN4d2lurH2MszOfznqaPevB0&pvsid=7999630381114816&tmod=1296390593&uas=0&nvt=1&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C25%2C0%2C25%2C1440%2C25%2C1440%2C807%2C1440%2C686&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1&td=1&tdf=2&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDFd&nt=1&pgls=CAEQAxoGMS4wLjgx&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=7&fsb=1&dtd=3458)
“It has to stop,” he declared, “and my message is to all of the domestic terrorists in this country spreading this evil hate? You want us to live in fear? We will not live in fear, but you will live in exile. Because the power of law enforcement under President Trump’s leadership will be used to find you, will be used to take away your money, take away your power, and if you’ve broken the law, to take away your freedom.”
---
---
last wd lawrence no dep cos ever spoke longer than vp 8 25
an 8 25
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/?s=Stephen+Miller) lashed out at Washington, D.C. residents protesting President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and his deployment of more than a thousand federal agents — including FBI, DEA, DHS, ATF, and ICE — to patrol the Capital’s streets. In striking remarks, Miller cast the demonstrators as white and the victims of crime as Black. His charges conflict with a new survey just released that shows the vast majority of D.C. residents oppose the Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration’s takeover and feel safe in their neighborhoods.
Miller told reporters that the people protesting the Trump administration’s federal takeover of the city’s streets are “elderly white hippies,” “stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap because they’re all over 90 years old,” and, “crazy communists” who “have no roots, they have no connections to the city, they have no families they are raising in this city, they have no one that they are sending to school in this city, they have no jobs in this city, they have no connections to this community at all.”
Those people, Miller alleged, are “the ones who’ve been advocating for the one percent: the criminals, the killers, the rapists, the drug dealers.”
READ MORE: Trump’s Border Wall to Get $500M+ ‘Hot’ Makeover Experts Say Won’t Work (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/trumps-border-wall-to-get-500m-hot-makeover-experts-say-wont-work/)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.715.0_en.html#fid=goog_486214004)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.715.0_en.html#fid=goog_486214005)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.715.0_en.html#fid=goog_486214006)
Whereas, Miller claimed, “residents who lived in Washington, D.C. their entire lives, their parents lived here, their grandparents lived here, and they have lived for generations in intolerable conditions of crime and decay.”
“There are hundreds of residents of this city who are shot in street violence every single year, making [it] one the most violent cities on planet Earth,” he claimed, which is not supported by evidence.
“And by the way, most of the citizens who live in Washington, D.C are Black,” Miller alleged, inaccurately. About 43 percent (https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/district-of-columbia/county/district-of-columbia/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) of D.C.’s residents are Black.
“This is not a city that has had any safety for its Black citizens, for generations,” he claimed. “And President Trump is the one who is fixing that with the support of the Metropolitan Police Department to support the National Guard and our federal law enforcement officers.”
“So we’re going to ignore these stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap because they’re all over 90 years old, and we’re going to get back to the business of protecting the American people and the citizens of Washington, D.C.,” Miller said.
READ MORE: ‘They Want Control’: Pirro Slammed for Ending D.C. Rifle Law Enforcement (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/they-want-control-pirro-slammed-for-ending-d-c-rifle-law-enforcement/)
A damning Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/20/dc-poll-trump-crime-police/) poll released Wednesday, however, found 79 percent of D.C. residents oppose Trump’s decision to take over the Metropolitan Police, and to deploy National Guard troops and federal law enforcement agents onto D.C. city streets.
“On Monday, Trump said Washington had been ‘the most unsafe place anywhere,’ but 78 percent of residents say they feel very or somewhat safe in their neighborhoods,” the Post reported.
Watch the video below or at this link (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/stephen-miller-casts-trumps-d-c-takeover-as-race-issue-in-fiery-tirade/).
---
// BIG LIE
NOTE PROJECTION RUBBER REVERSE 2x
an 8 25
Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) is reviving his years-old plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the U.S. census, which legal scholars say is in direct conflict with the Constitution’s requirement to count all persons.
“I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024,” Trump wrote Thursday morning. “People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The President’s remarks appear to align with his plan to redistrict red states to deliver more GOP-controlled seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority.
READ MORE: Governor Wants Maps to Reflect State’s ‘Christian Conservative Majority’ Says GOP Lawmaker (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/governor-wants-maps-to-reflect-states-christian-conservative-majority-says-gop-lawmaker/)
Absent court orders, it is extremely rare for a state, outside of the census window, to redistrict with the direct goal of providing more seats to a particular party, and the United States has never conducted a decennial census officially excluding undocumented immigrants.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.710.0_en.html#fid=goog_1196697415)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.710.0_en.html#fid=goog_1196697416)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.710.0_en.html#fid=goog_1196697417)
The Fourteenth Amendment states that “the whole number of persons in each State” is to be counted.
On Wednesday night, Trump White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed that during the first Trump presidency, Democrats “rigged” the 2020 census by including undocumented immigrants, causing them to gain an extra 20 to 30 seats in the House.
“At every level this country—Illinois, Chicago, New York, Massachusetts—Democrats have gerrymandered the vote beyond recognition to try to maintain their advantage in the House elections,” Miller alleged.
READ MORE: ‘Wildly Irresponsible’: Tuberville Torched for Blame Game After Fort Stewart Shooting (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/08/wildly-irresponsible-tuberville-torched-for-blame-game-after-fort-stewart-shooting/)
“Democrats rigged the 2020 census by including illegal aliens,” he charged, despite every census in U.S. history, per the U.S. Constitution, having done so.
Independent analysis contradicts Miller’s claim.
“A Pew Research Center analysis (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/07/24/how-removing-unauthorized-immigrants-from-census-statistics-could-affect-house-reapportionment/) found that if unauthorized immigrants were excluded from the 2020 apportionment count, three states could have each lost a congressional seat,” Axios (https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/trump-new-census-commerce-department) reported.
Watch the video below or at this link.
---
NOTE PROJECTION RUBBER REVERSE
AN SN 7 25
Do you think concentration camps are cool?
Does your heart fill with mean-spirited joy at the thought of human beings stuffed into tents and FEMA trailers parked on a disused airstrip in the heart of the Everglades in the middle of a Florida summer?
Do you get off on the idea of alligators and snakes killing people and admire bully capitalism hawking camo beverage coolers, stickers, and T-shirts with grinning reptiles proclaiming, “Nowhere to Run; Nowhere to Hide”?
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/06/30/floridas-leaders-are-swapping-class-for-crass/) certainly does: He’s raising campaign cash on his own little merch site.
Other paid-up members of the Cruelty is the Point cult do, too.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_479085875)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_479085876)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_479085877)
Celebrating the erection of Florida’s own gulag, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” the state Republican Party bosses trilled, “Don’t forget to pick up your swag to support our efforts to undo all of Joe Biden’s failures!”
We are ruled by sociopaths.
This prison, parked in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve, has already received hundreds of detainees, packed into rough-and-ready structures that have not had to meet any building or environmental codes and may not be able to withstand a tropical storm.
Cult leaders can’t decide if the place is Devil’s Island or a charmingly rustic resort.
Showing Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) around the place, Ron DeSantis pointed to the razor wire, iron bunk beds, and bright new Astroturf on the ground.
The first batch of detainees don’t seem especially grateful. Those who’ve managed to make a phone call to the outside world say the guards have served them maggot-laced food, refused them medical attention (http://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/alligator-alcatraz-detainees-allege-inhumane-conditions-at-immigration-detention-center/), kept bright lights on all night, and either crank up the air conditioning until the detainees freeze or cut it off and let them swelter.
One alleged foreign malefactor says guards confiscated his Bible.
Gators in ICE caps
Trump loves this. He fantasizes about terrified detainees chased by Burmese pythons and “cops that are in the form of alligators (http://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-joke-alligator-alcatraz-history-rcna216562).”
The White House has put out a Trump meme with a gaggle of gators in ICE caps.
The Trump administration is proud of this latest monument to hatred and gets very upset if anyone criticizes it.
Stephen Miller, architect of Trump’s immigration policy, flew into a tantrum the other day when a reporter told him inhabitants of the human world were calling the South Florida stalag “dehumanizing.”
“American citizens are stripped of their rights and their liberties by the invasion of illegal aliens!” he replied. “What’s ‘dehumanizing’ is when Democrats let illegal alien rapists (http://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-aide-stephen-miller-melts-down-over-dehumanizing-alligator-alcatraz-criticism/)into the country to attack our children. That is ‘dehumanizing’!”
He failed to explain exactly how people fleeing murderous dictatorships in Venezuela, El Salvador, and Nicaragua take rights and liberties from citizens.
As for those hideous assaults alleged by Miller, American citizens commit far more crimes (http://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/immigrants-and-crime)than undocumented immigrants.
The administration knows this. Until a few weeks ago, a Department of Justice website contained information confirming it.
Attorney General Pam Bondi shut down the website for “review” in “accordance with recent Executive Orders and related guidance.”
Why let data get in the way of propaganda?
‘Not safe’
Miller, Trump, and DeSantis insist the people ICE rounds up are “the worst of the worst, the most heinous of the most heinous.”
Again, the data show this is not true. Only 8% (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-detentions-non-criminal-immigrants-violent-crime-convictions-analysis/)of undocumented detainees have been convicted of violent crimes.
This country is still — nominally — a nation of laws, and everyone thrown into an ICE dungeon is entitled to due process.
Even our supine Supreme Court agrees.
But Florida’s tropical tent prison makes it nearly impossible for detainees to consult with attorneys, meaning they could be deported without fair hearings.
A group of lawmakers, including Rep. Anna Eskamani and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, tried to visit the facility a couple of weeks ago. Inmates from the Orange County jail — which is in Eskamani’s and Smith’s districts — had been transferred there without being charged with anything.
Legislators pointed out Florida Statute 944.23 allows them to visit state facilities “at their pleasure.”
But DeSantis’ people insist the Everglades prison camp is not technically a state facility, not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections.
Even though the state of Florida’s paying for it.
‘Emergency’ powers
Actually, the Trump administration admits it’s a state facility.
In a filing asking a federal judge to deny a request by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biodiversity to halt construction in Big Cypress, the administration argues the plaintiffs’ claim depends on showing a final federal “agency action,” which they can’t because the feds haven’t “implemented, authorized, directed or funded Florida’s temporary detention center.”
Indeed, they insist, “Florida is constructing and operating the facility using state funds on state lands. (http://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2025-07-03/feds-push-back-environmental-challenge-alligator-alcatraz-immigrant-everglades)”
DeSantis, Uthmeier, and Pam Bondi need to get their stories straight.
By last Saturday, legal problems had been overcome and the gulag had miraculously become “safe.”
A group of legislators got a curated tour, during which what you saw depended on who you were—and whether you gave a damn about the human beings locked up in there.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) took a thermometer with her, reporting an indoor temperature of at least 83 degrees.
Another Democratic lawmaker said some detainees were shackled to benches.
Republican state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia insisted it’s pretty nice: “I actually laid down in one of the beds and it was really comfortable (http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/07/12/alligator-alcatraz-everglades-detention-center-democrats-tour/).”
Sure. And everybody’s talked to a lawyer, there are no mosquitoes, and tropical storms? No problem!
Meanwhile back in reality, DeSantis’ vanity project has already flooded at least once (http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/07/05/alligator-alcatraz-immigrants-detention-florida/).
Big Cypress is 96% wetlands. It’s wetlands’ job to flood.
When Ron DeSantis, claiming “emergency” powers, seized (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/first-immigration-detainees-arrive-at-alligator-alcatraz-in-florida-everglades) 39 square miles of Everglades land (nearly 25,000 acres) he claimed, “The environmental impact will be zero.”
DeSantis and the attorney general contend they’re merely taking over what Uthmeier calls “an old, virtually abandoned” airstrip.”
That airstrip is abandoned for a reason. It’s a relic of one of the most boneheaded ideas anyone in Florida ever had.
The Phoenix’s own Craig Pittman (https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/06/26/floridas-alligator-alcatraz-everglades-prison-ignores-both-environment-and-history/)recently recounted how in 1968 a really stupid plan to build a huge airport in the Everglades galvanized support for preserving Florida’s River of Grass.
Fun fact: It was Florida’s then-Gov. Claude Kirk and his top aide Nathaniel Reed — who went on to help pass the Clean Water Act in 1972 and co-write the Endangered Species Act in 1973 — who led the fight to save Big Cypress.
Both were Republicans.
Vandals
Back then, some conservatives wanted to conserve, not destroy.
DeSantis and Uthmeier belong to a new generation of environmental vandals.
They want us to believe Big Cypress is wasted space with a few snakes, some bugs, a cadre of demonic alligators programmed to chase brown folks.
Inconsequential. Nothing to see there.
The ignorance is embarrassing.
To the Miccosukee and the Seminoles, the land is holy (https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/06/26/tribal-nations-denounce-building-alligator-alcatraz-on-sacred-land-florida/84331407007/): “We live here. Our ancestors fought and died here. They are buried here,” said one tribal leader. “The Big Cypress is part of us, and we are a part of it.”
The land is not empty, or “abandoned.”
Manatees and dolphins give birth to their young in the estuaries on the eastern side. Mullet, trout, grouper, silver perch, spiny lobster, oysters, and clams thrive amongst the mangrove roots.
The mangrove branches harbor herons, pelicans, and egrets; there are red cockaded woodpeckers, fox squirrels, and Florida panthers in the pinelands, and some of the world’s rarest orchids (http://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/nature/ghost-orchid.htm)in the cypress swamps.
The land is a vital ecosystem for plants and animals and humans, too. Its water flows are essential to the aquifer on which South Floridians depend for their drinking water.
DeSantis likes to cast himself as the savior of the River of Grass and waxes petulant if you suggest his pet prison will damage the ecosystem: “I’m the governor who’s poured more money into Everglades restoration than anyone!”
And now he’s poured more money into Everglades destruction than anyone.
The camp will cost $450 million (http://www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/us/what-is-alligator-alcatraz-florida)a year to run.
Don’t be gaslit
Don’t let the man gaslight you: Claims they’re not desecrating Big Cypress are complete rubbish.
Friends of the Everglades has aerialphotographs (https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/07/07/photos-show-new-paving-in-everglades-detention-center-environmental-groups-seek-to-stop/) showing the building of new roads and paving once-wild areas.
Runoff from asphalt pollutes. The huge trucks lumbering in and out of the site, carrying construction materials, also pollute.
You can’t house and feed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, without terrible damage to already fragile nature.
They’ll need pesticides to keep the Everglades’ vigorous mosquitoes at bay; they’ll need generators and microwaves and machinery to pump out the sewage.
The gulag is even sullying the night sky.
One of the lawsuits (https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/groups-sue-to-protect-everglades-from-reckless-detention-center)filed by conservation groups points out the huge prison lights make the place “look like Yankee Stadium, visible from 15-miles away.”
Big Cypress has been designated an International Dark Sky Place. You used to be able to see the Milky Way arching over the marshes and hammocks like a necklace of diamonds and pearls.
Trumpists probably don’t look up at the heavens. They don’t look down at the wonders of the earth.
So why would they care if one of Florida’s greatest treasures gets trashed?
Florida Phoenix (https://floridaphoenix.com/) is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
---
---
an 7 25
IFrame Content (https://buy.tinypass.com/checkout/template/cacheableShow?aid=qTtryucXpu&templateId=OTN8J0G81H69&offerId=fakeOfferId&experienceId=EXG7PAAT1UJ0&iframeId=offer_38e7753c3126506ae6f0-0&displayMode=inline&pianoIdUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fid.tinypass.com%2Fid%2F&widget=template&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alternet.org%2Ftrump-chief-of-staff%2F)
Stephen Miller’s latest anti-immigrant rant is drawing attention, including from a well-known Catholic Jesuit priest, who appeared to liken the White House Deputy Chief of Staff’s remarks to those made by Hitler’s notorious Reich Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, in 1941.
Miller, one of the most powerful members of the Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration, is seen as the principal architect of the President’s anti-immigration and deportation policies.
“U.S. Marines on the streets of Los Angeles. Masked immigration officers at courthouses and popular restaurants. Bans on travelers from more than a dozen countries,” Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/white-house-aide-driving-trumps-aggressive-immigration-agenda-2025-07-11/) reported on Friday. “For senior White House aide Stephen Miller, the architect of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, things were going according to plan.”
READ MORE: ‘Dumb-Dumb’: Fox News Host Declares Rising Democrat a ‘Mental Deficient’ Amid Senate Buzz (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/07/dumb-dumb-fox-news-host-declares-rising-democrat-a-mental-deficient-amid-senate-buzz/)
Denouncing the city government of Los Angeles as “waging a campaign of insurrection against the federal government,” Miller on Friday painted a scenario without undocumented immigrants in remarks made to Fox News.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_985006812)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_985006813)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.705.0_en.html#fid=goog_985006814)
“Let’s be very clear,” he said. “What would Los Angeles look like without illegal aliens?”
“Here’s what it would look like: You would be able to see a doctor in the emergency room right away, no wait time, no problem. Your kids would go to a public school that had more money than they know what to do with. Classrooms would be half the size. Students who had special needs would get all the attention that they needed.”
“There would be no violent transnational gangs. There would be no cartels. There would be no Mexican Mafia. There would be no Sureños. There would be no MS-13 There would be no TdA.”
“You would be living in a city that would be safe, that would be clean, there would be no fentanyl, there would be no drug dens,” he alleged. “That could be the future Los Angeles could have, but the leaders in Los Angeles have formed an alliance with the cartels and their criminal aliens.”
READ MORE: Record Majority of Americans Support Immigration in Massive Blow to Trump Agenda (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/07/record-majority-of-americans-support-immigration-in-massive-blow-to-trump-agenda/)
Some of Miller’s claims are incorrect. For example, public schools often receive state funding in part based on the number of students and their attendance rate. Fewer students in classrooms means fewer dollars. And federal funding is tied to the number of low-income students and students with disabilities.
Miller’s claims about fentanyl and “drug dens” also don’t hold up. Most fentanyl comes into the U.S. via U.S. citizens, according to the Cato Institute (https://www.cato.org/blog/us-citizens-were-80-crossers-fentanyl-ports-entry-2019-2024).
Father James Martin, editor-at-large for America Magazine, which is published by the Jesuits, responded to Miller’s remarks by posting a quote from Goebbels:
“The enemy is in our midst. What makes more sense than to at least make this plainly visible to our citizens?”
It’s not the first time Father Martin has responded to Miller’s anti-immigrant rants with a quote.
In April, he quoted the Bible (https://x.com/JamesMartinSJ/status/1911781689132535905):
“‘I was a stranger and you did not welcome me’ (Matthew 25).”
See Martin’s post and video of Miller’s remarks below or at this link (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/07/stephen-millers-latest-rant-prompts-priest-to-cite-goebbels-propaganda/).
---
// INGR ON HYPE FEARM SHE HAS HOMAN
July 7, 2025, edition of Fox News' *Jesse Watters Primetime
STEPHEN MILLER (GUEST): Why is it that Democrats are so insistent that unlimited numbers of illegals from countries that are incapable of managing their own affairs come here? Countries like Somalia, countries like Haiti, countries that have no history of successful self-government, and they want unlimited numbers of illegals from those countries and refugees from those countries to come here with no chance -- at the pace, the scale, the scope of arrivals -- at being able to assimilate and integrate into the American way of life.
What has it done to our schools? What has it done to our hospitals? What has it done to just traffic in our cities? Every issue that affects our quality of life, Jesse -- public safety, drugs, crime, education, health care, waiting in the emergency room -- are all exacerbated, worsened, and undermined by mass illegal immigration. ICE officers are heroes and they need the support of the American people. President Trump is liberating our towns just as he was promised, just as the American people overwhelmingly voted to give him a mandate to do just five months ago.
JESSE WATTERS (HOST): It's straight up treason and everybody knows it, and we shouldn't be afraid to say it. AFRAID OF WHO?
---
---
an ===
no lnx
The cost of criticizing the Trump administration's most notorious member
Lindsay Beyerstein June 22, 2025
Terry Moran is out at ABC thanks to a White House pressure campaign. Donald Trump campaigned on free speech, but in office, he persecutes media companies with frivolous lawsuits and threats of punitive regulation. ABC is cowed. The broadcaster announced that they weren’t renewing Moran’s contract, because they felt his deleted tweet about deputy chief of staff Steven Miller being a hater violated their standards of objectivity and professionalism.
“Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He’s a world-class hater,” Moran tweeted and later deleted, early Sunday. “You can see this just by looking at him, because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.”
“ABC is gonna have to answer for what their so-called journalist put out on Twitter ... we have reached out to ABC,” said Leavitt. “They have said they will be taking action, so we will see what they do ... hopefully this journalist will either be suspended or terminated."
No doubt the White House is still mad at Moran for exposing Trump’s demented conviction that the labelled symbols M-S-1-3 on a photograph of deported Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia were tattoos.
Miller is, objectively, a hater. The mainstream media says so all the time. “[Miller] is extremely hostile to immigrants. He has always, as far back as high school, rejected the idea that immigration is a net positive for America, and he's been very consistent in that,” Jonathan Swan, a White House reporter for The New York Times said on the Daily podcast.
“This is all I care about,” Miller said of his uncontrollable zeal to eject migrants during Trump’s first term. “I don’t have a family. I don’t have anything else. This is my life.” That was before he met his wife Katie on a junket to watch children being separated from their parents at the border. Now, Miller has a partner who bragged that “DHS sent me to the border to see the separations for myself – to try to make me more compassionate – but it didn’t work.”
Anyone who has watched one of Steve Miller’s twitchy podium-pounding rants knows the truth. Miller repeatedly recommended Camp of the Saints, a polemic about a black giant called Turd Eater whose minions rape a white woman to death.
Trump reportedly said that if Miller had his way, there’d only be 100 million Americans and they’d all look like Steve. It’s hard to think of a human being whose hateration is better documented than Miller’s. It’s a cornerstone of his public image. The MAGA base loves his Peewee German persona.
There is a vast literature documenting Miller’s hatefulness stretching all the way back to elementary school. Moreover, he’s the architect of an immigration policy that sends innocent people to foreign torture prisons and rounds up random brown guys outside Home Depot for looking foreign. He slanders judges who rule against the Trump administration as communists and rails against the enemy within.
ABC claims that Moran showed a lack of objectivity in his blunt and critical assessment of Miller. In fact, Moran’s analysis of character and motive is in line with all the Trump/Musk breakup pieces that dominated straight news coverage for days.
What makes this person tick? What role do they play in the administration? How does their ideology inform their actions?
These are analytical questions that lie at the heart of journalism.
Disallow them and you reduce journalists to stenographers who merely transcribe what powerful people say. Moran erred only in taking the tweet down.
Now read: So much for Trump's big promise to America
---
06/10/2025 RWW
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
Nina Golgowski @ HuffPost (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ileana-garcia-condemns-trump-immigration-policies_n_6846ea24e4b0ee4cf20cef74): Latinas For Trump Co-Founder Rips Trump Immigration Policies As ‘Unacceptable And Inhumane’
“This is not what we voted for," said Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia (R), while accusing Trump of undermining “the sense of fairness and justice.”
Gabe Ortiz @ Combating Natavist Narratives (https://americasvoicecnn.substack.com/p/stephen-millers-brutal-obsessions): Stephen Miller’s Brutal Obsessions Are On Full Display In Workplaces, Courthouses, and Neighborhoods
The mass deportation architect-in-chief's lifelong, maniacal preoccupation with vilifying immigrants has reached new autocratic heights.
Hemant Mehta @ Friendly Atheist (https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/an-oklahoma-city-employee-moonlights): An Oklahoma City employee moonlights as a pastor who preaches death for LGBTQ people
During the work week, Dillon Awes secures city data. But at the church he runs, he has a history of despicable sermons.
Jessica Mason Pieklo @ Rewire (https://rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/06/10/trump-wants-these-two-culture-warriors-to-be-federal-judges/): Trump Wants These Two ‘Culture Warriors’ to Be Federal Judges
If confirmed for lifetime appointments, Whitney Hermandorfer and Josh Divine could be more loyal to the president than they are to the U.S. Constitution.
Molly Olmstead @ Slate (https://slate.com/life/2025/06/trump-elon-musk-news-fight-woke-right.html): Why Conservatives Are Calling Each Other “Woke” Now
Here we have a fight between those who are concerned about the radicalization of young white men, and those who see it as an asset.
Anna Merlan @ Mother Jones (https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/leland-lehrman-make-america-healthy-again-institute-antisemitism-september-11/): The Head of a New RFK-Backing Group Promoted 9/11 Conspiracy Theories and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Leland Lehrman is a key figure in the MAHA world, despite decades of pushing extremist ideas.
---
terry moran abc fired for saying miller 3 hateful, driving LA ICE home depot raids
PRESS SUPPRESSION}:
---
AN 6 25
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is now being raked over the coals in response to her call for ABC to censor a journalist who criticized President Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
In a Sunday tweet (https://x.com/PressSec/status/1931687759447556395), Keavitt posted a screenshot of a now-deleted post by ABC News' Terry Moran — who
(https://youtu.be/GBwCUPttprw) — and called on his employer to punish him over his "unhinged and unacceptable" critique of the administration. Moran opined in the post that Miller was not "the brains behind Trumpism" but a "world-class hater" whose "bile" is his "spiritual nourishment." He then said that Trump was also a "world-class hater" whose own "spiritual nourishment" was "his own glorification."
"We have reached out to @ABC (https://x.com/ABC) to inquire about how they plan to hold Terry accountable," Leavitt tweeted, while mentioning the network's official handle on X.
READ MORE:'Destroyed their credibility': MAGA turns on Trump officials unable to prove conspiracies (https://www.alternet.org/maga-turns-trump-officials/)
Leavitt's tweet was quickly met with widespread condemnation, prompting Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis to ask: "What happened to the First Amendment? (https://x.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1931711396917469524)" Cybersecurity expert Robert Graham opined (https://x.com/ErrataRob/status/1931706689280946496) that Leavitt's call for ABC to "censor" Moran reflected that Trump's second term was "not the 'free speech presidency,' but quite the opposite." And Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) First Amendment litigator J.T. Morris observed (https://x.com/jtmorristx/status/1931725437522104439) that criticizing people in power is "as American as apple pie – and vital for freedom."
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.700.0_en.html#fid=goog_664646577)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.700.0_en.html#fid=goog_664646578)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.700.0_en.html#fid=goog_664646579)
"That's why the First Amendment protects it from thin-skinned officials who would shut it down," he added. "Hopefully, ABC responds with 'get bent.'"
"\Moran] shouldn't have taken the post down," [tweeted (https://x.com/gtconway3d/status/1931706935398580358) Never Trump conservative attorney George Conway. "He's a reporter. And he was reporting facts."
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann also weighed in (https://x.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1931725465623892098), saying that Trump and Miller were "everything Moran described." Calling Leavitt "anti-democracy" and "anti-American," Olbermann added that Leavitt "needs to stick to her lane," which he characterized as "covering up the emergence of a dictatorship."
READ MORE:'Not going to buckle': Republican warns Senate he'll tank Trump's bill over this provision (https://www.alternet.org/republican-tank-trump-bill/)
---
---
an 6 25
One of our highest priorities in this darkness must be to protect the people who are doing the most right now to push back against Trump’s tyranny: our judiciary.
In some 180 judicial rulings (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html) so far, federal judges have at least temporarily stopped Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) from (1) deporting and/or imprisoning people without due process, (2) firing federal workers and closing agencies and departments without congressional approval, (3) forcing law firms to not represent people or causes Trump dislikes, (4) forcing universities, their faculties, and their students not to say or write things Trump dislikes, and (5) imposing worldwide tariffs without congressional authority.
Most of these court rulings have been temporary until the merits of the cases are fully heard, but increasingly they’re final decisions.
The Trump regime is appealing many of them. A few will almost certainly end up in the Supreme Court.
Our laws and the Constitution allow a president to contest such rulings in these ways.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1298279553)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1298279554)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1298279555)
But Trump and his lackeys are also using a second tactic: trying to undermine public confidence in the judiciary — even inviting threats to the safety of judges and seeking to intimidate them.
Last week, Trump on social media rebuked what he called “USA HATING JUDGES WHO SUFFER FROM AN IDEOLOGY THAT IS SICK.”
On Thursday, Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, wrote on social media that the decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. trade court striking down Trump’s tariffs as exceeding his authority was a “judicial coup.”
Miller added: “We are living under a judicial tyranny.”
Miller then reposted photos of the three trade court judges. (Two of the judges, incidentally, were Republican appointees, one named to the bench by Trump.)
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters that the judges had “brazenly abused their judicial power,” seeking to “usurp the authority of President Trump to stop him from carrying out the mandate that the American people gave him.”
This is dangerous nonsense. As J. Michael Luttig, a conservative retired federal appeals court judge, says (https://newrepublic.com/post/195906/judicial-coup-miller-trump-judges):
“This was a planned war that [Trump] had been planning since he lost the last election. From Day 1, the president, the vice president and then eventually his entire Cabinet have been attacking the courts and the judiciary because they knew to a certainty that the courts would strike down his initiatives.”
It should be no surprise that personal threats against the safety of federal judges have risen dramatically since Trump took office.
Data compiled by the U.S. Marshals Service (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/politics/federal-judges-threats.html) shows that in the five-month period leading up to March 1 of this year, 80 individual judges had received threats.
Then, over the next six weeks, an additional 162 judges (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/us/politics/federal-judges-threats.html) received threats.
That spike coincides with increasingly harsh rhetoric — often from Trump himself — against judges who have ruled against the regime.
What should be done to protect our judges?
- The simplest solution would be for Trump and his White House lackeys to avoid such vitriol in the first place.The problem is, they won’t. So:
- Chief Justice John Roberts must strongly rebuke Trump, Miller, Leavitt, and any other members of the Trump regime who use inflammatory language against federal judges. Roberts should say that there is no place in our constitutional system of government for accusations by an administration of “USA hating judges,” “judicial tyranny,” or “usurping” presidential authority.
He should explain why administrations must respect checks and balances built into the Constitution, why judges must be fearless and independent in their roles, and why such accusations by an administration against the judicial branch are dangerous. He should also signal that he will continuously speak out whenever the president or his White House violates these norms.
- The Judicial Conference of the United States — the national policymaking body for the federal courts — must also speak out strongly against such provocations.
- Congress must increase the number of marshals assigned to protect judges, boost funding for courthouse security, and strengthen legislation to shield judges’ home addresses from public view. Roberts and the Judicial Conference should demand these, and the speaker of the House and majority leader of the Senate must agree to seek them.
- What canyoudo?
— Call the Supreme Court and leave a message for Chief Justice John Roberts that he must speak up against Trump’s attacks on judges. Here’s how you can reach the Supreme Court: Call the general information phone 202-479-3000, or public information office 202-479-3211 (press 1 when calling this number), or write: Chambers of Justice John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 1 First Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20543.
— Call the Federal Judicial Center and leave a message saying that the chief justice must speak out against the Trump regime’s efforts to intimidate the courts with threats and that judges need more protection. The phone number is 202-502-4000. Address is Federal Judicial Center, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE, Washington, D.C., 20002-8003.
— Tell your members of Congress they must protect our judges by increasing the number of marshals assigned to protect them, boosting funding for courthouse security, and shielding judges’ home addresses from public view. Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121.
— Whenever you hear anyone criticize the federal courts, explain their critical role in our system of government.
— You can also express your gratitude for our judges. More than 30 retired judges have formed a group known as “Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition” to defend the independence of the court system and advocate for sitting judges. You can donate to them here (https://keepourrepublic.org/).
Never underestimate the power of the people, especially at a time like this. We must make our voices heard.
NOW READ:'Unhinged elephant in the room': Jim Acosta warns Trump is 'spiraling further into incoherency' (https://www.alternet.org/trump-cognitive-decline-2672244709/)
---
an 5 25
In a Thursday, May 29 post on X (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1928065122657845516), formerly Twitter, President Donald Trump's White House adviser, Stephen Miller, angrily wrote, "We are living under a judicial tyranny." Miller's post was in response to a U.S. Court of International Trade ruling (https://www.alternet.org/stephen-miller-trump-tariffs/) that blocks — at least temporarily — most of the tariffs Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) is imposing on the United States' trading partners.
But Miller isn't the only MAGA Republican who is using the phrase "judicial tyranny" to attack federal judges who are blocking Trump's executive orders. Trump and his MAGA allies, from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Vice President JD Vance, claim that federal courts are failing to respect the president's executive powers — and Trump's critics are responding that in fact, the courts are playing the role they are supposed to play in the United States' system of checks and balances.
In an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark (https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-crocodile-tears-judicial-tyranny-universal-injunctions) on May 30, attorney Paul Rosenzweig — a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official — lays out the flaws and contradictions of the "judicial tyranny" arguments coming from Trump and his MAGA allies.
READ MORE: QAnon follower gets 3 years for threatening to ‘execute’ AZ governor Katie Hobbs (https://www.alternet.org/katie-hobbs-qanon/)
"Trump wants you to think that he is the victim of district court judges gone crazy enjoining his actions," Rosenzweig explains. "To make that case, he also wants you to think that what is happening to him is the same thing that happened to (former President Joe) Biden's policies — district court judges interfering with executive prerogative. But that's just not the case. And diving into the facts makes it clear that this argument really isn't about universal injunctions — cases where a district court judge grants interim equitable relief that applies across the entire country."
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1846625342)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1846625343)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.699.0_en.html#fid=goog_1846625344)
Rosenzweig continues, " The argument is really about forum-shopping and judicial gerrymandering…. The facts on the ground are that the universal injunctions against Trump are truly universal. As of today, more than 20 different federal district court judges have issued injunctive relief in at least 180 different cases. And the number goes up with every passing day. There is no good evidence that Trump's opponents are forum-shopping — bringing cases before courts where there is the greatest expectation of having judges who will rule in their favor."
MAGA Republicans, Rosenzweig stresses, have a long history of seeking "universal injunctions" against Democratic policies they don't like — including far-right Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"By March 2023," the former DHS official observes, "Paxton's office had filed 28 lawsuits against the Biden Administration in federal district courts in Texas; of those, 18 were filed in single-judge divisions, including Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's division and a single-judge division held by another Trump appointee, Judge Drew Tipton…. In a world in which we could have confidence in the good faith of an administration and a presumption as to its regularity of operation, universal injunctions would be a little-used safety-valve check on executive authority. But today, we live in a different world — one where MAGA gamesmanship and judicial forum-shopping were instrumental in frustrating various Biden initiatives."
READ MORE:Behind the half-baked arguments flailing bully Trump uses to attack public media (https://www.alternet.org/trump-public-media/)
Rosenzweig adds, "Now that the shoe is on the other foot, it seems quite possible that the Court will depower judicial opposition in the service of conservative policy."
READ MORE:Inside Ron Johnson's barrage of baffling lies (https://www.alternet.org/inside-ron-johnson-s-barrage-of-baffling-b-s/)
*Paul Rosenzweig's full article for The Bulwark is available at this link. (https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-crocodile-tears-judicial-tyranny-universal-injunctions)
---
---
NO LNX
Home | 'Trump's tactics are in fact communist': Former Tea Party congressman busts MAGA for what it is
:{:{John Stoehr May 22, 2025}:
The last time we talked about the communist tactics of Donald Trump, it was in the context of economics. In an interview with me, Patrick W. Watson, a senior analyst for Mauldin Economics, explained how the policies we are seeing coming out of the White House are the policies that would normally be associated with command economies.
“The way business leaders are frantically begging Trump for favors and the almost openly corrupt way in which he is granting them is, in effect, government taking control of the means of production,” he said.
“Pure Marxism there.”
But those communist tactics go beyond economics. The president’s assault on free speech, a free press, the legal profession and private enterprise – put these together, as US Senator Chris Murphy has, and you have an enormous contraction of individual rights and liberty, and an enormous expansion of what conservatives used to called statism.
“If journalists are constantly looking over their shoulders and unable to report on the truth; if protest is suppressed, even moderately, at universities; if lawyers start providing cover, instead of uncovering corruption and illegality; if companies start being mouthpieces for the regime as a price of doing business – if all that happens, we are not a real democracy,” Murphy said last month. “We are a fake democracy.”
Murphy isn’t alone. His GOP colleague, US Senator Rand Paul, appears to be in the throes of recognizing what’s going on. After a tariff meeting with Donald Trump, he told NOTUS that “most of it was Republican senators congratulating him, wishing him well as the industrial czar and pleading for exemptions to the tariffs for their people.”
“It reminded me of a meeting on industrial policy in the Soviet Union, where you have to be nice to the czar, because if you are not nice to the czar, they’ll bequeath exceptions to the iron fist,” Paul said.
Making matters worse is the upside down, backwards and prolapsed nature of the president’s propaganda. Here, for instance, is that White House putz Stephen Miller, explaining why the regime must use communist tactics – enforcing correct words and correct thinking and correct values – in order to fight, wait for it, “communist ideology.”
“Children will be taught to love America,” Miller said. “Children will be taught to be patriots. Children will be taught civic values for schools that want federal taxpayer funding. So as we close the Department of Education and provide funding to states, we’re going to make sure these funds are not being used to promote communist ideology.”
Then there’s the fact that the “communist ideology” they don’t like isn’t communism at all. It is the set of values etched into the Declaration of Independence, namely that “all men are created equal.” That’s the problem for Miller. He doesn’t want the government and the law to serve everyone equally, to treat everyone equally. For him, there are in-people deserving of protection and there are out-people deserving of punishment. Any attempt to bridge the difference is “communist.”
For more, I reached out to Joe Walsh, the radio host and podcaster who is entitled to the claim of being the most anti-Trump conservative of all anti-Trump conservatives in America. He has recently gotten into the habit of sharing posts from the Editorial Board. So I got in touch and he kindly accepted an invitation to a brief interview with me.
JS: Is there a market for limited government or is that principle too old-fashioned these days? Maybe liberals should take it up again?
JW: I think there’s an opening for, and a market for, efficient government. Government that works. Philosophically, I’m a limited government guy, and I believe a smaller government is more efficient and works better, but in today’s world where both the left and now the MAGA right advocate an expansionist, activist government, I think the push should be for efficient, effective government that works.
JS: Trump called for government ownership of coal mining. If that isn’t “taking control of the means of production,” I don’t know what is.
JW: Trump represents the MAGA right view of big government. Your direct ownership of coal mining is just one example. Trump and the MAGA right want to use and expand government to achieve their aims. Which is antithetical to a libertarian like me. Heck, MAGA wants to use government to turn America formally into a Christian nationalist country. Scary stuff.
JS: Maybe the Cold War never ended?
JW: No, I think Russia lost the Cold War, then laid low for years, and waited for one of our two major political parties to become an arm of the Russian government. And because of that, because Trump is at best a useful idiot and at worst a Russian asset, Russia is ascending. The authoritarian impulse animates this Republican Party, hence a lot of Republican support for Putin.
JS: Republicans have spent 40 years using the word “communist.” Is that why no one can see that Trump’s tactics are communist?
JW: Spot on about communism. Trump’s tactics are in fact communist. Many Republican elected officials do see this but turn the other way. Because the base of the party embraces these communist tactics. Again, so much of this can be attributed to the fact that the right had always had a thing for authoritarianism.
JS: Solzhenitsyn said the lie is the pillar of the state. Sounds right to me.
JW: Completely agree with “the lie is the pillar of the state.” I’ve said for years now that Trump’s greatest legacy is the destruction of truth. We now have a situation where one of our two major political parties is completely untethered to truth. Trump succeeded. He succeeded in 2020. Even though he lost the election, he won in that he convinced the vast majority of Republicans that he won.
---
---}:
OMFG
MMA
“It needs to stop.” Ben Shapiro calls out Trump's “skeezy stuff” like the crypto scheme and accepting a plane from Qatar. (https://www.mediamatters.org/ben-shapiro/it-needs-stop-ben-shapiro-calls-out-trumps-skeezy-stuff-crypto-scheme-and-accepting)
05/12/25
- ### Charlie Kirk: “These are members of Congress that stormed into a federal ICE facility despite warnings. They should absolutely be charged for this.” (https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-these-are-members-congress-stormed-federal-ice-facility-despite-0)
05/12/25
- ### Fox’s comically pathetic spin for a foreign government gifting Trump a $400 million plane (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/foxs-comically-pathetic-spin-foreign-government-gifting-trump-400-million-plane)
05/12/25
Steve Bannon: “Certain members of Congress should be arrested this afternoon for their activities on this situation up in Newark” (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/steve-bannon-certain-members-congress-should-be-arrested-afternoon-their-activities)}:
:{:{05/12/25}:
May 12, 2025, edition of Real America's Voice's War Room
STEVE BANNON (HOST): This hurtling towards a constitutional crisis, which we are hurtling towards, it must be resolved by the end of June. When the Supreme Court leaves for the summer, they're not back until October. This cannot fester over the summer. This issue, particularly about the deportations.
Something else, I believe certain members of Congress should be arrested this afternoon for their activities on this situation up in Newark. The mayor was already arrested.
I think Stephen Miller, as we started here on the show with Rogan O'Handley, DC Draino, to talk about the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus like President Lincoln did during the Civil War, that this is something that has to be on the table.
I believe that this is going to be even a bigger part of the controversy. I think it's gonna become part of the conversation. I know Stephen Miller and the crack team over there, he's deputy White House counsel — chief of staff for policy, I think Stephen and his team are all over this. Remember Stephen ran America First Law, which is outstanding, did so much of the great work.
This is the convergence of the crises, right? You have the constitutional crisis on the mass deportations and really President Trump's power under Article 2. The judge in San Francisco on Friday said he doesn't have the ability to either cut costs of personnel at 21 separate federal agencies, so the whole Article 2 powers of the president now being challenged by, let's face it, radical Marxist — neo-Marxist, a judicial supremacists in the federal judiciary, it's got to be taken care of.
They asked me at the Financial Times situation on Saturday night, what happens to the Supreme Court's rules? I said, hey, we're going to see at the time. It's that open a question.
---
RWW
05/20/2025
by
Kyle Mantyla (https://www.peoplefor.org/post_author/kyle-mantyla)
Michele Bachmann reveals (https://rumble.com/v6tljtt-ep-250516-china-iran-gaza-and-dc-dont-despair-everyone-has-a-purpose-w-mich.html?start=6007) that she gave current White House adviser Stephen Miller his first job in Congress, based on a recommendation from David Horowitz.
Jackson Lahmeyer says (https://www.youtube.com/live/kTv6dbDB9qo?si=10TDxWU_Ilpp0z5i&t=1761) that Alexander Soros and Huma Abedin are "like Ahab and Jezebel in a modern-day equivalency."
Reacting to the news (https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/18/politics/joe-biden-prostate-cancer) that former President Joe Biden has cancer, Cheryl Chumley declares (https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/may/20/joe-biden-cancer-democrat-party-cancer/) that "the Democrat Party itself has become a cancer to American society."
After losing his job (https://religionnews.com/2025/05/13/calvin-robinson-priest-who-lost-license-after-nazi-like-salute-gets-temporary-license-from-acna-jurisdiction/) for throwing a Sieg Heil-like salute earlier this year, far-right priest Calvin Robinson was still invited (https://x.com/ryanvisconti/status/1915987645349417284) to the White House (https://x.com/BasedPastorTrav/status/1915830034088030372) in April.
Finally, Joel Webbon is urging (https://bsky.app/profile/friendlyatheist.com/post/3lpmll2mook2e) right-wing Christian business owners to "crush their enemies" by refusing to hire non-Christians.
---
never hear about wiles?
msnbc legal guy? says nothing she does resembles lawyering; signed off on Q jet?
an 5 25
President Donald Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller is reportedly unofficially running the Department of Justice (DoJ), despite having no law degree.
The New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/pam-bondi-trump-justice-dept.html) Monday that Attorney General Pam Bondi "is still finding her footing, as evidenced by her setback with the Epstein files."
According to the report, Bondi sees her role as that of a surrogate. She considers herself "a faithful executor and high-volume messenger, compelled to cede ground to empowered players in the West Wing, and in her own building, who exercise significant authority that rivals her own."
READ MORE:Trump's new greed deal the ultimate act of destruction the prophets have predicted (https://www.alternet.org/the-republican-president-s-rampant-mining-and-drilling-could-potentially-be-the-ultimate-act-of-destruction-that-the-prophets-have-predicted/#)
Bondi reportedly advocated for a limit to clemency for Jan. 6 rioters to those not accused of acting violently. Ignoring her suggestion, Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) extended pardons to even violent offenders.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_676103458)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_676103459)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_676103460)
According to the current and former Trump aides the Times interviewed, it was clear from the start that Miller would exercise control inside the department. The report cited 20 current and former officials, who were not named.
Elizabeth Oyer, the DoJ's former top pardon lawyer who was fired for her refusal to give gun ownership rights to the actor Mel Gibson, told the Times: “The decisions are being made at the White House, and then they’re being pushed down to the Department of Justice, which is very, very atypical."
“It feels like she is just performing a part,” Oyer added. She is like an actor, in a way.”
READ MORE: 'Embarrassment:' Trump admin asks judge to hide it's tactics for mass layoffs (https://www.alternet.org/trump-doge-layoffs-judge/)
"If there is a script, it has come in the form of prescriptive executive orders and memos from the White House. The agenda has largely been set by Mr. Trump, his adviser Stephen Miller and other officials — hashing out details with two former criminal defense lawyers for Mr. Trump who run day-to-day operations in the department, along with the attorney general," the Times report said.
It further noted that Bondi has "flattered Trump lavishly, if not always factually." [vid]
When Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump)
(https://youtu.be/jCB6vBF-QQQ) a day after he crossed the 100-day mark of his time in office last month, members of the cabinet took turns to praise the president.
Although everyone offered glowing reviews, Bondi stood out by telling Trump that he was genuinely the best president of all time.
"President, your first 100 days has far exceeded that of any other presidency in this country. Ever. Ever. Never seen anything like it. Thank you," she said during the Cabinet meeting.
---
---
sunday show? kirsten asked trump if const guarr due process and he said i do not know i have smart lawyers to figure it out?! 5 25
an 525
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/?s=%22Stephen+Miller%22) says the White House is “actively” examining suspending habeas corpus, a constitutional protection that supports the right to due process. Critics, including legal experts, reacted strongly, with some noting that this right has only been suspended in the United States four times.
“Well, the Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land—that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion,” Miller, the architect of Trump’s child and family separation policy during his first term, told reporters on Friday.
“So I would say that’s an option we’re actively looking at,” Miller declared, before attacking the judicial branch.
“Look, a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.”
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1592151760)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1592151761)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1592151762)
READ MORE: ‘Bystander’ Trump Keeps Saying ‘I Don’t Know’ — Critics Ask ‘Who’s in Charge?’ (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/05/bystander-trump-keeps-saying-i-dont-know-critics-ask-whos-in-charge/)
Habeas corpus is a cornerstone of Western democracies, with roots tracing back to the Magna Carta (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/habeas_corpus) of 1215, which first established the principle that no person could be imprisoned arbitrarily by the king.
Miller, who has no law degree and is not an attorney, went on to give reporters his understanding of constitutional law.
“So,” Miller concluded, “it’s not just the courts aren’t just at war with the executive branch, the courts are at war with these radical judges, with the legislative branch as well, too,” he opined.
“So all of that will inform the choice of the president ultimately makes, yes.”
Critics blasted the extreme suggestion that President Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) has the authority to suspend habeas corpus—Congress does—and that he would attempt to do so when there is no invasion or rebellion, prerequisites mandated by the Constitution.
“Habeas corpus has been suspended only 4 times,” wrote (https://x.com/AaronBlake/status/1920921923946418655) The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake. 1) Civil War 2) When Congress authorized it to combat Ku Klux Klan vigilantism during Reconstruction 3) In the Philippines during a 1905 insurrection 4) In Hawaii after Pearl Harbor.”
“The President lacks the power to suspend habeas corpus under Article II. That power is exclusive to Congress under Article I,” explained (https://x.com/pjaicomo/status/1920932686853472354) civil rights attorney Patrick Jaicomo.
READ MORE: ‘Barely Literate’: Education Secretary’s ‘Deranged’ Letter Gets Major Red Ink Corrections (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/05/barely-literate-education-secretarys-deranged-letter-gets-major-red-ink-corrections/)
“Too bad he never went to law school and doesn’t understand the law,” remarked (https://x.com/JoyceWhiteVance/status/1920928752688635928) Professor of Law Joyce Vance, the well-known MSNBC legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney.
“Suspending habeas corpus,” noted (https://x.com/JamesSurowiecki/status/1920933111077933231) The Atlantic’s James Surowiecki, “would suspend the right for everyone, not just for undocumented people. So what Stephen Miller is saying here is that Trump is thinking about asserting the right to throw Americans in prison while giving them no opportunity to use the courts to get out.”
“The U.S. Constitution guarantees due process to everyone within the United States, not just citizens. They’re inventing a fake ‘invasion’ to call for an emergency and give themselves more power,” added (https://x.com/MaxFlugrath/status/1920929190796226728) political strategist Max Flugrath, Communications Director at Fair Fight Action.
“Don’t even think about it,” remarked (https://x.com/EdMarkey/status/1920938010218025098) U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
The well-known attorney George Conway, saying it “can’t be overstated,” called (https://x.com/gtconway3d/status/1920927539754614790) Miller “deeply, deeply disturbed.”
“Suspending habeas corpus. Let that sink in,” commented (https://x.com/ProjectLincoln/status/1920935458894213564) The Lincoln Project.
Former Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison described (https://x.com/harrisonjaime/status/1920917697556021753) Miller’s threatening remarks as “dictatorial b——.”
Watch the video below or at this link (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/05/let-that-sink-in-suspending-habeas-corpus-is-on-the-table-says-stephen-miller/).
---
NO LNX
AM 1ST LEGAL SUING ROBERTS PERSONALLY AS HEAD OF LEGAL CoNF? 5 25 ggl
[### Group Founded by Trump Ally Stephen Miller Sues John ...
Democracy Docket
https://www.democracydocket.com › News](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-ally-stephen-miller-sues-john-roberts-control-courts/)
1 day ago — A legal group founded by White House aide Stephen Miller sued Chief Justice John Roberts in a brazen but unlikely attempt to seize control ...
Missing: AM PERSONALLY
[### Trump Allies Sue John Roberts To Give White House ...
Talking Points Memo
https://talkingpointsmemo.com › Category: News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-allies-sue-john-roberts-to-give-white-house-control-of-court-system)
22 hours ago — Stephen Miller, the longtime Trump aide, founded the America First Legal Foundation in April 2021, describing it as the “long-awaited answer ...
Missing: 1ST | Show results with: 1ST (https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=d9f7a720ad400a91&q=miller+AM+%221ST%22+LEGAL+SUING+ROBERTS+PERSONALLY+AS+HEAD+OF+LEGAL+CoNFERENCE&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiexeiZgYiNAxUvODQIHapwFQEQ5t4CegQIKBAB)
[### The Weirdness Grows: Stephen Miller Group Sues John ...
Daily Kos
https://www.dailykos.com › stories ›](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/2/2320228/-The-Weirdness-Grows-Stephen-Miller-Group-Sues-John-Roberts-To-Give-Trump-Power-Over-The-Judiciary)
15 hours ago — Chief Justice John Roberts is named personally as a defendant in his capacity as the Presiding Officer of the Judicial Conference of the ...
This one is really out there. Via Talking Points Memo (https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-allies-sue-john-roberts-to-give-white-house-control-of-court-system): The America First Legal Foundation, a group formed by nefarious Trump aide Stephen Miller, has brought a lawsuit in D.C. federal court, styled as a FOIA request but which actually “asks the courts to cede massive power to the White House,” by arguing that “the bodies that make court policy and manage the judiciary’s day-to-day operations should be considered independent agencies of the executive branch,” which would give “the President . . .the power to appoint and dismiss people in key roles.”
The two groups sued include (i) the Judicial Conference of the United States, and (ii) the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Chief Justice John Roberts is named personally as a defendant in his capacity as the Presiding Officer of the Judicial Conference of the United States. The case, hysterically, complains that “the media and liberal lawmakers have sought to undermine the political independence of Article III courts,” and seeks to enforce FOIA requests concerning Congressional inquiries into inappropriate financial dealings by Justices Alito and Thomas. The Amended Complaint is here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dH0bJWLKcBIdGuvhOOlySfGxbMY6MbUH/view), and the best summary of this convoluted case is set forth in the short TPM article (https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-allies-sue-john-roberts-to-give-white-house-control-of-court-system), which includes this observation:
Multiple legal scholars and attorneys TPM spoke with reacted to the suit with a mixture of dismay, disdain and laughter. Though the core legal claim is invalid, they said, the suit seems to be a part of the fight that the administration launched and has continued to escalate against the courts over the past several months: ignoring a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of a wrongly removed Salvadoran man, providing minimal notice to people subject to the Alien Enemies Act, flaunting an aggressive criminal case against a state court judge.
Without being cynical, I’ll wager that this “laughable” case will turn out to raise issues that are statutorily ambiguous, and that long established practice has been largely driven by norms. This will then consume time and suspense with lower court and appellate decisions, and TPM already notes speculation that naming Chief Justice Roberts as a party was designed to force his recusal in eventual Supreme Court litigation. If that is the case, I don’t see why Alito and Thomas would not need to recuse also given their prominent role in the lawsuit’s subject matter. So, let's see the remaining three liberal justices square off against the three Trump appointees over a matter integral to the Supreme Court’s and judiciary’s own power. You can already see the Trump/Miller machinations designed to denigrate the Supreme Court and create a circus for chaos’s own sake,
But I also see a benefit to the Trump people increasingly turning their ham-fisted tactics directly against the Supreme Court itself. I think this is a typically strategic blunder by the Trump crew. For all of the Supreme Court’s recent outrageous decisions, for the most part they have aggrandized the Supreme Court’s power. A Republican Congress has decided to prostrate itself before Executive power, but this Republican Supreme Court has been interested mainly in increasing its power. All of that, however, is dangerous speculation on my part.
---
[### Trump Ally Stephen Miller Sues John Roberts in Bid to ...
Reddit · r/politics
170+ comments · 23 hours ago](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1kd99ys/trump_ally_stephen_miller_sues_john_roberts_in/)
Neo-Nazi racist xenophobe Stephen Miller founded the group which filed the lawsuit, America First Legal (AFL). How convenient, the acronym ...
Suing America First Legal Foundation : r/Ask_Lawyers ... (https://www.reddit.com/r/Ask_Lawyers/comments/1kd7zal/suing_america_first_legal_foundation/)
7 posts
May 2, 2025
Stephen Miller Sues John Roberts In WH Bid To Control ... (https://www.reddit.com/r/thebulwark/comments/1kdt4jh/stephen_miller_sues_john_roberts_in_wh_bid_to/)
3 posts
May 3, 2025
More results from www.reddit.com (https://www.google.com/search?q=miller+AM+1ST+LEGAL+SUING+ROBERTS+PERSONALLY+AS+HEAD+OF+LEGAL+CoNFERENCE+site:www.reddit.com&sca_esv=d9f7a720ad400a91&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiexeiZgYiNAxUvODQIHapwFQEQrQIoAnoECCAQAw)
Missing: 1ST | Show results with: 1ST (https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=d9f7a720ad400a91&q=miller+AM+%221ST%22+LEGAL+SUING+ROBERTS+PERSONALLY+AS+HEAD+OF+LEGAL+CoNFERENCE&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiexeiZgYiNAxUvODQIHapwFQEQ5t4CegQILBAB)
[### 'Taunt the judiciary': Legal scholars slam 'invalid' MAGA ...
Alternet
https://www.alternet.org › trump-stephen-miller-roberts...](https://www.alternet.org/trump-stephen-miller-roberts-lawsuit/)
1 day ago — 'Taunt the judiciary': Legal scholars slam 'invalid' MAGA lawsuit against John. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attends ...
Missing: AM CoNFERENCE
[### Josh Marshall: "Stephen Miller's 'American First Legal ...
Bluesky
https://bsky.app › profile › joshtpm.bsky.social › post](https://bsky.app/profile/joshtpm.bsky.social/post/3lo74bwos6c2j)
1 day ago — Stephen Miller's 'American First Legal Foundation' has sued Chief Justice John Roberts arguing the White House should run the court system.
[### Conservative Legal Group Sues For Federal Judiciary ...
Law360
https://www.law360.com › pulse › courts › articles › co...](https://www.law360.com/pulse/courts/articles/2329089/conservative-legal-group-sues-for-federal-judiciary-records)
Apr 23, 2025 — The suit came after America First Legal said the officials — who were sued in their official capacities — denied FOIA requests for records of ...
[### Stephen Miller's Org SUES Chief Justice Roberts to Get ...
YouTube · Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin
15.7K+ views · 1 day ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8IxAbplziQ)
BREAKING: Stephen Miller's Org SUES Chief Justice Roberts to Get Trump Control of Courts! · Comments183.
[### Trump ally Stephen Miller's legal group sues Chief Justice ...
Facebook · Democracy Docket
620+ reactions · 22 hours ago](https://www.facebook.com/democracydocket/posts/new-trump-ally-stephen-millers-legal-group-sues-chief-justice-roberts-as-part-of/979020501067633/)
NEW: Trump ally Stephen Miller's legal group sues Chief Justice Roberts as part of an attempt to give the executive branch control over ...
Missing: AM PERSONALLY CoNFERENCE
[### America First Legal
America First Legal
https://aflegal.org](https://aflegal.org/)
America First Legal is the long-awaited answer to the ACLU. We are committed to an unwavering defense of true equality under law.
Center for Legal Equality (https://aflegal.org/center-for-legal-equality/)America First Legal Sues the... (https://aflegal.org/america-first-legal-sues-the-u-s-government-accountability-office-in-case-of-first-impression-to-defend-the-presidents-constitutional-authority-to-remove-executive-officers/)About (https://aflegal.org/about/)Press Releases (https://aflegal.org/category/press/)
---
A really bizarre aspect of the second Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration and its extreme actions is its choice of the face of its immigration policies—and now other policies too.
That face is Stephen Miller’s, a man who offers loud, hateful bromides to the media, all of which you expect to end with, “Heil Hitler!” This guy is pure evil, salivating over “deporting” brown-skinned 4-year-old American citizens with stage-four cance (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g8yj2n33yo)r.
And now they’re putting him out front on tariffs too, and government funding. It makes no sense—but I’m here for it!
This morning he turned up for a White House press briefing, a wannabe Joseph Goebbels (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Goebbels), commanding, “"Children will be taught to love America. Children will be taught to be patriots. Children will be taught civic values.”
Here we have Trump collapsing in the polls (https://www.signorile.com/p/weekend-report-whats-happening-480), with the worst approval numbers of any president in history in his first 100 days. And as I wrote, it’s a perfect opportunity for Democrats to kick him while he’s down. (https://www.signorile.com/p/time-for-democrats-to-kick-trump) For the GOP, it’s a potential political wipeout in the making, as Americans are waking up to what is happening.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1547665400)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1547665401)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.1_en.html#fid=goog_1547665402)
A poll conducted by the widely respected Public Religion Research Institute (https://www.axios.com/2025/04/29/prri-poll-most-americans-trump-dangerous-dictator) found that a majority of Americans now believe Trump is a “dangerous dictator.”
Seriously. When asked if they agree Trump is "a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy," 52% said yes.
But even more startling,17% of Republicans agree with it.
That means a bunch of people who voted for Trump now think he’s a dangerous dictator who should be stopped, which, even if only partially accurate, is a five-alarm fire for Republicans in Congress going into the mid-terms.
Most of those who backed Trump say it was because of the economy and immigration, which were Trump’s strengths. But the tariffs and the brutal deportations of people who committed no crimes, sent to a torture prison overseas or elsewhere, have sent Trump’s numbers into a nosedive.
Faced with the polling plummeting on those issues and the majority believing Trump is a dictator, you’d think they’d turn to the many smiling, robotic blonde women they have as officials—though, admittedly, Pam Bondi is pretty scary. But they’re putting the grating and horror-movie-ready Miller—a guy who looks like a defendant at the Nuremberg trials—out to defend a president now believed to be a dictator by most Americans.
And, at least on immigration, when it’s not Miller it’s the really creepy-looking Tom Homan, the so-called border czar, who talks like he has marbles in his mouth and looks like he gives off the scent of three-day-old clothes and cheap bourbon.
Sure, Trump’s economic adviser Peter Navarro and RFK Jr. are no day at the beach, off the rails and batty as all hell in their beliefs, as are many others in the administration. But you literally cannot understand what Tom Homan is saying half of the time as he gobbles up his own words and slurs on national television.
And the half you do understand is his saying that he and Trump will defy judges and court orders and round up whoever they decide is a “terrorist”—which appears to be every undocumented immigrant and even some American citizens—based on absolutely no solid proof and with no due process.
Between Homan and Miller, the Trump administration is only reinforcing that on immigration they are engaging in violent, lawless actions against people, clearly intending to traumatize the targets and terrorize everyone.
It shows how much power Miller has amassed—because you know there are those in the administration who must loathe him—and how out of touch Trump is to make them the face of policies he’s cratering on. But hey, bring it on.
---
AN 525
NO LNX
Trump’s clown car cabinet is driving off a cliff
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reacts as she walks towards the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Sabrina Haake, Raw Story May 03, 2025
UPS, the United Parcel Service, just announced that it is laying off 20,000 employees and closing 73 of its buildings by the end of June. It attributes the downturn to reduced shipping volume from its largest customer, Amazon, due to Trump’s tariffs.
When a division of Amazon considered telling consumers the truth, by posting the costs tariffs added to the price of each imported product, the mere possibility set the White House on attack mode. Trump immediately called Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, who reassured him Amazon would never do such a thing, while Karoline Leavitt accused Bezos of a “political and hostile” act just for thinking about it.
When a presidential team of incompetent egoists calls truth-telling a “hostile act,” we’re in trouble.
Ruinous economic indicators prompt ruinous deflection
Trump’s first quarter report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis reflects a sharp contraction in the economy, showing an annual decrease in the GDP of 0.3 percent. Compared to Biden’s last quarter, when “real GDP increased 2.4 percent,” the data suggest that perhaps Trump isn’t the economic genius he claims to be.
These are not partisan data; that the Bureau falls under the US Department of Commerce suggests Trump may soon hobble its reporting capacity. For now, the data show economic contraction, reflecting a colossal reversal from Biden’s expansion. Wall Street sums up Trump’s first 100 days in office as the “worst for the stock market in half a century.”
On brand, when faced with these data, Trump lied, deflected, and blamed his predecessor, posting,“This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s. I didn’t take over until January 20th. This… has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that (Biden) left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!”
Trump continues to manufacture Biden’s “bad numbers”
Trump can’t stop parroting his own campaign lies about Biden’s economy. During the 2024 presidential campaign, when he wasn’t manufacturing a border invasion to enrage people, Trump repeatedly attacked Biden’s economy. It worked. While remaining mum on how his own COVID-19 mismanagement worsened the economy, he convinced 49% of voters that they were impoverished, despite economic indicators to the contrary.
After commerce reports came out this week, Trump doubled down. During an embarrassing televised cabinet meeting orchestrated to praise himself, Trump confirmed that he sought to undo everything Biden did to improve the economy, stating, “We came in and I was very against everything that Biden was doing in terms of the economy. … We took over his mess in so many different ways.”
Trump and his cabinet may drink their own economic Kool-Aid, but Wall Street is abstaining. Multiple indicators confirmed that Biden delivered the strongest post-COVID economic recovery in the world, including: growth and job creation that exceeded G7 and other advanced economies' growth in 2024; inflation control despite global inflationary pressures; avoidance of the post-COVID recession predicted by many; wage gains; strong market performance with record S&P 500 highs; and stellarinfrastructure investment that Trump, in a toddler-esque pique of jealousy, is scrambling to unravel.
During Biden’s term, the U.S. added 16 million jobs, low earners were experiencing wage growth, inflation levels approached the Federal Reserve’s target, and unemployment hit a 54-year low. By these metrics, Biden performed economic jujitsu, delivering an economy that The Economist called “the envy of the world.”
Teaching Trump media how to lie better
After Trump officially blamed Biden this week for economic contractions caused by his own ill-conceived tariffs, he went further, instructing right-wing media how to spin bad economic news of the future. During his televised “Praise Dear Leader” cabinet meeting, Trump told his preferred outlets (Fox, Newsmax, OAN) that they should also blame any economic downturns in the second quarter on Biden.
Trump showed similar intransigence during an interview with Terry Moran of ABC News about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man Trump is keeping in an El Salvador prison despite a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return. Trump insisted during the interview that an obviously photoshopped picture showed Garcia with “MS13” tattooed on his knuckles. When Moran told Trump that the image was clearly photoshopped, Trump acted like a tyrant. He first suggested Moran owed him something – it was thanks to Trump that Moran got the interview at all. Frustrated by Moran’s continuing refusal to lie, Trump told him, “you’re not being very nice,” before pivoting to attacking media as a whole, saying this “is why people no longer believe the news … It’s such a disservice…”
Discussing the Supreme Court order to facilitate Garcia’s return, Moran stated the obvious — that Trump could simply pick up the phone, call El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, and get him back. Trump confirmed that he is, indeed, flouting the Supreme Court’s authority, stating, “I could…. And if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that.”
In one interview, Trump vacillated between being the all powerful Oz, and the cheap salesman behind the curtain. When Moran reminded him that the high court ordered him to return Garcia, Trump deflected, incredibly: “I'm not the one making this decision. We have lawyers who don't want to do this.”
Trump’s clown car cabinet is driving off a cliff
After the Supreme Court slapped the administration and ordered Garcia’s return with a 9-0 decision, White House adviser Stephen Miller simply lied about it. Miller claimed on Fox News that the administration had “won” the case, “clearly,” prompting a conservative columnist to retort, “Nope, you lost. Unanimously.” Fox viewers, of course, won’t hear that rejoinder as Fox anchors continue to throw falsehoods at the wall to see what sticks.
As Team Trump continues governing the country like a made-for-Fox-TV reality show, real-life consequences are piling up. China just canceled orders for American pork, soybeans, and lumber, putting US farmers in “full-blown crisis” mode.
Maybe, like dolls for Christmas, farmers can make do with selling one or two hogs instead of 30. As Trump put it during a town hall Wednesday night, he plans to defeat public skepticism over his tariffs through deception. “I just think that I’ll be able to convince people how good this is.”
NOW READ: Trump's rampage is out of control — but there's one way to stop it
Sabrina Haake is a 25+ year federal trial attorney specializing in 1st and 14th A defense. Her columns are or have been published in Alternet, Chicago Tribune, MSN, Out South Florida, Raw Story, Salon, Smart News, State Affairs, and Windy City Times. Her Substack, The Haake Take, is free.
---
---
AN 4 25
Discussing the history of conservatism in the United States, veteran Washington Post columnist George Will used the word "bookish" to describe Republicans of the past. And Will, who is very much a Never Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) conservative, meant that in a good way.
Will was applauding those conservatives of yesterday for, as he saw it, their detailed focus on policy. And he is no fan of the performative theatrics of the MAGA movement.
Salon's Amanda Marcotte cites three recent examples of such theatrics in an article published on April 28 (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/), calling out "performative temper tantrums" by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-Georgia), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller (https://x.com/Acyn/status/1915214753863262514).
READ MORE:Meet Ed Martin: The Missouri lawyer weaponizing the DOJ for Trump (https://www.alternet.org/ed-martin/)
"If there were an Oscar for the category 'hard to watch,'" Marcotte argues (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/), "I'd have to nominate the video of Rep. Nancy Mace (https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:7upoypvlxudsiv4pzbi5jtwf/post/3ln7hdkx4k22i?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.salon.com%252F2025%252F04%252F28%252Fmaga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication%252F), R-S.C., barking expletives at a constituent after he asked her if she would have a town hall soon. It's produced in a beauty supply store instead of a movie studio, but in a brief minute and 42 seconds, the video finds its place in the canon of horror films shot from the villain's perspective…. Most adults who act like Mace in public immediately wish to disappear off the face of the Earth in shame. But not our Nancy! No, she's the one who posted this video online, proud of her emotional incontinence."
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.0_en.html#fid=goog_867819048)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.0_en.html#fid=goog_867819049)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.695.0_en.html#fid=goog_867819050)
Marcotte adds (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/), "She even offered a homophobic gay panic defense, by describing the man as 'wearing daisy dukes, at a makeup store'….. To people outside the MAGA bubble, it's a baffling choice. She's not even a fun villain."
Marcotte laments that (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/) "what most adults find embarrassing, the MAGA base will eat right up."
"Despite this effort, Mace didn't even come close to nabbing last week's gold star for the most histrionic MAGA performance," Marcotte observes (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/). "She was outdone by Stephen Miller (https://x.com/Acyn/status/1915214753863262514), whose usual register on TV is 'verge of a nervous breakdown,' but got so shrill on Fox News Tuesday that Lauren Tousignant at Jezebel worried she'd soon have to 'look at Stephen Miller's face as he pops a dozen blood vessels as his brain explodes'…. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:aunpu65mdrhwfie7ynymlzeh/post/3lnfpmf456o2p?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.salon.com%252F2025%252F04%252F28%252Fmaga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication%252F) turned in two performances that would cause Al Pacino to tell him to settle down."
READ MORE:'Ready to fight': How one major firm refuses to be bullied by Trump (https://www.alternet.org/bullied-by-trump/)
Marcotte adds (https://www.salon.com/2025/04/28/maga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication/), "While carping about "the fake news media" during the White House Easter egg roll (https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t6ubj2wlhc34awzcymh3qpur/post/3lndd7umtac26?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.salon.com%252F2025%252F04%252F28%252Fmaga-loves-a-tantrum-how-public-meltdowns-became-the-preferred-method-of-communication%252F), Hegseth's whining got so pitched his voice started to crack, while his children stood behind him, embarrassed at the spectacle….. All this yelling and bellyaching serves a pragmatic purpose: to distract from how what they're saying makes no sense.
READ MORE:'Was it?' Republican CNN analyst rendered speechless when challenged on Trump spending (https://www.alternet.org/was-it-gop-insider-scott-jennings-rendered-speechless-when-challenged-on-trump-spending/?utm_source=push_notifications)
*Amanda Marcotte's full article for Salon is available at this link.
---
---
new rep
4 25
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller gave an outrageous ultimatum during a rant attacking U.S. federal judges for upholding the rule of law in the face of Donald Trump’s mass deportations.
During an appearance (https://x.com/Acyn/status/1915214753863262514) on Fox News’s Hannity Wednesday, Miller railed against federal judges who told Trump that he couldn’t suspend due process in order to deport undocumented immigrants who the government alleged are members of foreign gangs.
“This is the choice facing every American: Either we all side, and get behind President Trump to remove these terrorists from our communities, or we let a rogue, radical left judiciary shut down the machinery of our national security apparatus,” Miller ranted.
Of course, the supposedly “rogue” judiciary is one that acts as a system of checks and balances on the executive branch, and the purported “radical left” lean simply refers to the courts’ independence from Trump’s abhorrent immigration agenda. Miller likes to pretend (https://newrepublic.com/post/194065/donald-trump-deportations-due-process-stephen-miller?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Autofeed) that he doesn’t understand what due process is, putting him at odds with the courts charged with upholding that, and other rights.
The Supreme Court has ordered (https://newrepublic.com/post/194291/judge-destroys-trump-team-kilmar-abrego-garcia-case) the U.S. government to comply with a federal court order to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador due to an admitted “administrative error.” On Wednesday, a federal judge ordered (https://newrepublic.com/post/194345/judge-orders-return-second-deported-immigrant-el-salvador) the return of another immigrant whose deportation to El Salvador violated a previous court settlement.
Earlier this week, Miller argued (https://newrepublic.com/post/194261/stephen-miller-new-attack-birthright-citizenship) that birthright citizenship also presented a threat to national security, claiming that it had been “used by foreign governments to conduct espionage against the United States.” He provided no evidence for this claim but used it to defend Trump’s executive order upending the right outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court is expected to weigh the president’s bid to curtail birthright citizenship in May.
---
AN 4 25
Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, got into a heated argument on Friday with political podcaster Jon Favreau, who served as an advisor to former President Barack Obama.
In response to a post by Favreau on the social platform X, Miller said, "Jon: your contribution to this world will have been shilling for an Administration that mass imported illegal alien rapists, terrorists and murderers to prey on innocent Americans. Are you incapable of remorse?"
Favreau responded to the Trump aide (https://x.com/jonfavs/status/1915749621671854448) with a similar question. "Stephen: are you incapable of being honest?" he wrote.
ALSO READ:'What on Earth?' GOP Senate chiefs of staff left puzzled by Stephen Miller’s 'arrogant' presentation (https://www.alternet.org/the-right-wing/trump-stephen-miller/)
"Stop defying the courts. Stop defying Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) judges. Stop violating the Constitution. Stop disappearing people to foreign prisons. Deport who you want by following the law. Your performative hysteria isn’t doing your boss any favors," Favreau continued.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.692.0_en.html#fid=goog_665740853)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.692.0_en.html#fid=goog_665740854)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.692.0_en.html#fid=goog_665740855)
The original post of Favero to which Miller had responded was a reaction to Miller's earlier post (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1915381785950609742)in which he accused "the corporate media" of "waging an information warfare campaign against deportation."
The Trump administration's recent deportations have been criticized and many legal experts say they don't follow due process.
"The top agenda item of the corrupt ruling class in this country is to nullify the election result and enshrine mass migration," Miller wrote in his post.
ALSO READ:'Desperate': Ex-White House staffer rips Miller for saying J6ers were denied 'due process' (https://www.alternet.org/stephen-miller-due-process/)
Several commentators have raised alarms over the Trump administration's refusal to comply with recent court orders regarding deportations.
Earlier this month, former United States attorney Joyce Vance said (https://www.alternet.org/trump-us-attorney-immigration/#)the Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration's wrongful deportation (https://www.alternet.org/senator-deported-man/)of a Maryland man to El Salvador isn't a foreign policy issue, where the president has some "latitude," but a violation of due process.
"The fight we are about to have is whether or not the president can strip people — citizens or not — of fundamental constitutional rights," she said during an appearance on MSNBC Wednesday.
Vance said the Trump administration has unwittingly put a face on its mass deportation, which is that of a dad of three kids with special needs, and who his wife wants back home for Easter celebrations (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-wife-plea-return-hearing-1235318442/) in their own household. "That I think is not what this administration anticipated," she said.
ALSO READ:'Don’t you see what’s happening?' Experts call Trump’s latest moves 'full blown fascism' (https://www.alternet.org/trump-full-blown-fascism/)
---
CALLED A JUDGE COMMUNIST?! THE ONE ARRESTED?
---}:
AN? --> 4 25
Trump’s recent escalating rhetoric and actions across multiple fronts have alarmed political experts, who are now warning that the United States is not just drifting but accelerating toward fascism—and may have already crossed the threshold.
“He’s threatening media companies who are critical of him,” warned (https://x.com/sarahlongwell25/status/1911822292566286784?s=12) Republican Sarah Longwell, a political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark. “He’s talking about sending Americans to foreign prisons. He’s signing executive orders to investigate former staff members who spoke out against him. Don’t you see what’s happening here?”
Trump on Sunday night attacked CBS and its “60 Minutes” newsmagazine, a top-rated and esteemed broadcast for more than five decades. The President, apparently angered by its reporting, called for (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114333660655935996) CBS’s broadcast license to be revoked. He also called on his hand-picked head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior,” namely, reporting facts he did not like.
On Monday, Trump told reporters he has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate sending U.S. citizens to foreign gulags, as The New Republic (https://newrepublic.com/post/193979/donald-trump-deport-us-citizens-homeland-security) reported, without due process, something he floated last week, which experts say is illegal (https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/04/10/trump-deportation-us-citizens-legal/).
READ MORE: Trump Rages Against Critics, All But Silent on Alleged Terror Attack on Dem Governor (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/trump-rages-against-critics-all-but-silent-on-alleged-terror-attack-on-dem-governor/)
“Trump is denying due process to foreign nationals here legally — ripping them from their families and deporting them. Do we really believe this regime will follow any sort of due process for American citizens before he tries to deport them? Call it what it is: fascism,” declared (https://x.com/RBReich/status/1911868075332272526) U.C. Berkeley Professor of Public Policy and former Cabinet secretary Robert Reich.
“If Trump can claim a ‘national emergency’ to disappear legal residents without due process, what’s to stop him from doing the same to U.S. citizens who oppose him?” asked Professor Reich. He warned (https://x.com/RBReich/status/1911562589353488817): “No one is safe — not even people legally in the country, possibly not even American citizens. Fascism is here.”
Reich pointed to a conversation (video below) between Trump and Bukele, caught on camera, where the U.S. president says, “Home-growns are next. The home-growns. You gotta build about five more places.”
Also sounding the alarm, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer on Monday warned: “The Constitutional Crisis Is Here (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/04/bukele-trump-court-order/682432/).”
“Between the path of outright defiance of the Supreme Court and following its order to ‘facilitate’ the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador’s infamous Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), the Trump administration has chosen a third way: pretending it is complying while refusing to do so.”
Abrego Garcia is the legal U.S. resident the Trump administration admits it wrongly “deported” to the notorious El Salvador mega-prison. Trump officials have made clear, through word and deed, they have no desire to right that wrong.
“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” Attorney General Bondi told reporters. “That’s not up to us. If they want to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
RELATED: ‘Dystopian’: Miller Makes ‘Outrageous’ Claim as El Salvador Refuses to Return US Resident (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/dystopian-miller-makes-outrageous-claim-as-el-salvador-refuses-to-return-us-resident/)
El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, backing up the Trump administration, declared on Monday he has no intention of returning the 38-year old Abrego Garcia to the United States.
“This morning, however,” Serwer wrote, “Trump’s adviser Stephen Miller claimed on Fox News (https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Fatrupar.com%2Fpost%2F3lmrobxubic23) that the acknowledgement that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported had been made by a ‘saboteur,’ in the Department of Justice and that ‘he was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador’; he added that ‘this was the right person sent to the right place.’ This is a lie (https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%2Fprofile%2Frparloff.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3lmrtppdfus2w)—the admission of error was made by an ICE official (https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.courtlistener.com%2Frecap%2Fgov.uscourts.mdd.578815%2Fgov.uscourts.mdd.578815.11.3_2.pdf) in a court filing.”
The Atlantic’s Dr. Norman Ornstein, a well-known political scientist, warned (https://x.com/NormOrnstein/status/1911841477308690676): “Defying the Supreme Court, planning to spirit American citizens to El Salvador and saying that the courts have no role since it is a foreign country and the president has all foreign policy powers. We have entered the realm of fullblown fascism.”
Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, wrote (https://x.com/malcolmkenyatta/status/1911888055759237244): “Disappearing people without any due process is fascism — full stop. I’m sick to my stomach and we all should be.”
Thomas Kennedy, who works with the Florida Immigrant Coalition, responded to the video of Trump and Bukele.
“Referring to citizens as ‘home-growns’ while asking a foreign country known for prisons that operate like black sites to build more of those prisons so he can send those ‘home-growns’ is fascist stuff and it needs to be called as such.”
Watch the video below or at this link (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/call-it-what-it-is-trumps-latest-moves-are-full-blown-fascism-experts-warn/). RUPAR
---
---
Defenders of Kilmar Brego Garcia, the Salvadoran man and Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, are demanding that he be released from a maximum-security prison in that country — as he had no involvement with the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. Some allies of President Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) are alleging that Garcia was involved with El Salvador's M3-13 gang, but defenders are countering that in fact, he feared MS-13 and made a concerted effort to avoid them.
Moreover, human rights activists warn, Garcia was deported without due process.
Trump ally Stephen Miller, however, is defending the deportation. During a Monday, April 14 appearance on Fox News (https://x.com/atrupar/status/1911773414139871257), Miller argued that removing Garcia from that prison would be a violation of El Salvador's sovereignty — an argument that Miller later doubled down on during a White House meeting that including visiting Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others in the Trump Administration.
READ MORE:'What is she taking about?' Ex-RNC chair rips press sec's defense of Trump's 'incoherent capitulation' (https://www.alternet.org/trump-tariffs-michael-steele/)
"He is a citizen of El Salvador," Miller stressed during the White House meeting.
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_1159449711)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_1159449712)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_1159449713)
Miller's comments during the Fox News interview (https://x.com/atrupar/status/1911773414139871257) are receiving a plenty of reactions on X, formerly Twitter.
Journalist Aaron Rupar tweeted (https://x.com/atrupar/status/1911773414139871257), "Stephen Miller claims on Fox News that returning the Maryland father who was wrongly deported to El Salvador would constitute a 'kidnapping' and 'invasion of El Salvador's sovereignty.' 'He was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador,' Miller lies. 'This was the right person sent to the right place.'"
Politico's Kyle Cheney posted (https://x.com/kyledcheney/status/1911795191943463029), "Miller contradicts both DOJ and ICE by suggesting Kilmar Brego Garcia was sent to the right place. Multiple officials from both agencies have acknowledged the deportation to El Salvador was erroneous in sworn declarations to the courts."
READ MORE:John Roberts is to blame for Trump challenge of federal courts: analysis (https://www.alternet.org/trump-john-roberts-salon/)
Civil rights lawyer Patrick Jaicomo noted (https://x.com/pjaicomo/status/1911799045938425895) that even the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledges that Garcia's deportation was a mistake.
Jaicomo tweeted an April 10 Supreme Court document (https://x.com/pjaicomo/status/1911799045938425895) saying that Garcia's "removal to El Salvador was….. illegal." And he commented, "The U.S. Solicitor General told the Supreme Court it was a mistake for goodness sake!"
X user Anna Baxter also referenced (https://x.com/MsAnnaBaxter/status/1911780983453495530) the High Court's ruling and tweeted, "How is this facilitating the return of a guy the admin admitted was wrongfully deported? It wasn't a divided SCOTUS ruling, it was 9-0! Very rare with this court. Miller’s in need of anger management!"
Another X user Timothy Bellman tweeted (https://x.com/Timothy_Bellman/status/1911796922827816994), "It just goes to show that the world Stephen Miller lives in is completely fictional and extremely detached from reality."an 4 25
//
Backing up the Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) administration, the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, says he has no intention or ability to return an unlawfully removed Maryland legal resident, Kilmar Abrego García, to the United States. Abrego García was wrongly deported to a notorious maximum security “mega-prison” for terrorists in El Salvador.
“How can I return him to the United States?” President Bukele said to reporters on Monday, during a meeting with President Donald Trump and his top officials in the Oval Office, as reported by The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/14/trump-presidency-news-tariffs-deportations/). “I smuggle him into the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it.”
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a949_lkhn.pdf) in an apparent unanimous opinion (https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470) ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” the return of Abrego García to the United States.
Minutes before President Bukele’s remarks, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, on-camera in the Oval Office, delivered what is being called an “outrageous misinterpretation” of the Supreme Court’s opinion, which was quickly condemned.
READ MORE: Trump Rages Against Critics, All But Silent on Alleged Terror Attack on Dem Governor (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/trump-rages-against-critics-all-but-silent-on-alleged-terror-attack-on-dem-governor/)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_746704055)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_746704056)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_746704057)
“I promise you, if he was your neighbor, you would move right away,” Miller, who was the architect of the first Trump administration’s child separation policy, told reporters.
“What was the ruling in the Supreme Court, Steve, was it nine to nothing?” President Trump interjected.
“Yes, it was a 9-0, in our favor,” Miller wrongly claimed. “against the district court ruling, saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States.”
“As Pam said,” Miller continued, referring to Attorney General Pam Bondi, “the ruling solely stated that if this individual—at El Salvador’s sole discretion—was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time.”
“No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here, because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller claimed, before pointing reporters to Bukele.
“That is the president of El Salvador. Your questions about it per the court can only be directed to him,” said Miller.
Attorney Michael Kasdan responded (https://x.com/michaelkasdan/status/1911815313877819717) to Miller’s remarks: “We have reached the point where the White House openly lies on television about what a unanimous Supreme Court ruling against them says. The stuff of dystopian novels.”
“This is a blatant lie. The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 AGAINST Trump,” wrote (https://x.com/peoplefor/status/1911817977412104491) the progressive nonprofit People For the American Way.
READ MORE: ‘Apocalyptic’: Trump Plan Would Be ‘Science Demolition Derby’ Experts Warn (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/apocalyptic-trump-plan-would-be-science-demolition-derby-experts-warn/)
“This is deeply Orwellian. The Court ruled against the Trump administration 9-0,” observed (https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/1911816440581378118) the MeidasTouch Network.
Conservative legal activist and political commentator Ed Whelan, who clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, weighed in (https://x.com/EdWhelanEPPC/status/1911822588612846073).
“Outrageous misrepresentation of Supreme Court ruling,” Whelan declared, serving up a somewhat technical legal analysis. “The unanimous Court ruled that the district-court order ‘properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.’ Yes, the Court also stated that the “intended scope of the term ‘effectuate’ in the District Court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the District Court’s authority,” and it told the district court to ‘clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.’ But: (1) ‘due regard’ doesn’t mean that the district court couldn’t give any teeth to ‘effectuate’; (2) in any event, the district court dropped ‘effectuate’ from its revised order, so this is all irrelevant. Duty to ‘facilitate’ continues.”
Commenting on the video, immigration attorney Allen Orr Jr. Esq. wrote (https://x.com/allenorresq/status/1911826246616695081): “When you tell yourself the story you want to believe even when it is fiction.”
Watch the video below or at this link (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/04/dystopian-miller-makes-outrageous-claim-as-el-salvador-refuses-to-return-us-resident/).
---
---
AN 4 25
Update, April 15: Fox News deleted its story and published a new one late Monday with the headline “Arizona to verify up to 50K people from voter rolls who failed to prove citizenship.*”
This article was originally published (https://www.votebeat.org/arizona/2025/04/14/fox-news-report-50000-noncitizen-voting-claim-false/) by Votebeat (https://www.votebeat.org/), a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.*
Arizona has not identified up to 50,000 noncitizens on its voter rolls, nor have counties begun canceling any voter registrations, despite news reports over the weekend suggesting otherwise.
The misleading claims showed up in reports by Fox News and other outlets that mischaracterized a recent legal settlement between Arizona counties and the grassroots organization Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona, known as EZAZ.org (http://ezaz.org/).
Sunday’s Fox News story carried the headline “Arizona to begin removing as many as 50K noncitizens from voter rolls following lawsuit.” It said that the settlement led to all counties beginning “the process of verifying and removing noncitizens from their voter rolls, including nearly 50,000 registrants who did not provide proof of U.S. citizenship.”
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_788706530)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_788706531)
IFrame Content (https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.693.0_en.html#fid=goog_788706532)
“The story is wrong,” said Sam Stone, spokesperson for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, which led settlement negotiations on behalf of all 15 counties.
What county officials are doing as a result of the settlement, Stone said, is asking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide an additional way for county officials to check voter citizenship.
Counties are not yet sharing voter information with DHS. Maricopa County will not do so unless it can submit the information securely and ensure that the citizenship checks are accurate, Stone said.
The settlement involves a case in which the conservative group America First Legal sued Arizona counties on behalf of EZAZ.org (http://ezaz.org/), claiming that election officials were not using all available databases to check voter citizenship, as required by state law. The settlement required counties to send a letter to DHS expressing their intent to submit voter information to get help checking citizenship; reminding the agency of its obligation under federal law to share database information with states; and requesting information about how to submit the voter information, said Merissa Hamilton, founder and chairwoman of EZAZ.org (http://ezaz.org/).
Still, Republican leaders such as Kari Lake, the State Department aide and 2024 Arizona Senate candidate, seized on the Fox report to claim that large numbers of noncitizens were voting in Arizona. Lake posted on the social media platform X that “it’s a pyrrhic victory knowing Arizona had to be sued into submission before agreeing to follow the law, & take upwards of 50K illegal voters off its rolls.”
Fox News and Lake did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Fox News headline still appeared on its website with the same language as of midday Monday.
Election officials in Arizona counties already check a person’s citizenship (https://www.votebeat.org/arizona/2024/03/07/arizona-law-requiring-citizenship-residency-checks-upheld-federal-judge/) in multiple ways under state laws that require proof of citizenship to register to vote in state and local elections.
Only a handful of other states have passed such laws requiring proof of citizenship for registering to vote. Federal law requires only that a voter attest to their citizenship — under penalty of perjury — by checking a box on their voter registration form.
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on elections, as well as the SAVE Act (https://www.votebeat.org/2025/02/03/save-act-proof-of-citizenship-voting-law-mitch-mcconnell/), which passed the U.S. House last week, call for requiring citizenship proof nationwide.
In Arizona, around 49,000 active or inactive voters are eligible to vote only in federal elections (https://www.votebeat.org/arizona/2024/12/13/arizona-voter-citizenship-proof-law-shows-groups-struggling-to-provide-it/) because they did not prove their citizenship. Another 200,000 longtime residents (https://www.votebeat.org/arizona/2025/03/31/arizona-voters-receive-letters-asking-for-proof-of-citizenship/) will need to verify their citizenship status in the coming months because they were affected by a state error in tracking citizenship that was disclosed last summer.
Stone said most of these voters are likely U.S. citizens who simply haven’t submitted the necessary documents.
There’s no national database of U.S. citizens, so county officials in Arizona currently check driver’s license numbers, birth certificates, immigrant IDs and other documents to verify citizenship. The Department of Homeland Security can verify the citizenship status of potential voters individually, Stone said, but isn’t set up to check large groups of voters at once.
The request from Arizona county officials to the federal agency “is really for the creation of a system that would allow for an accurate comparison between county databases,” Stone said.
Trump’s executive order also called for DHS to share database information with states upon request.
America First Legal’s news release about the settlement between the counties and EZAZ.org (http://ezaz.org/) did not imply that Arizona had 50,000 noncitizens on its voter rolls.
James Rogers, senior counsel for America First Legal, wrote in the release that the settlement will help recorders “find and remove any aliens on their voter rolls.”
“It will also potentially enfranchise federal-only voters whose citizenship is confirmed,” Rogers wrote, “which would allow them to vote in State and local elections.”
*Jen Fifield is a reporter for Votebeat based in Arizona. Contact Jen atjfifield@votebeat.org (mailto:jfifield@votebeat.org).
---
AN 4 25
Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller reportedly disrupted a lunch gathering Thursday for GOP Senate chiefs of staff to defend Trump's controversial tariff policy with a confusing and "arrogant" presentation.
Politico (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/04/03/trade-war-on-the-world-00268074) reported that the arguments made by Miller, who is also Trump's homeland security adviser, alluded to the British Empire and left the aides asking one another, “What on Earth was that?".
However, members of the GOP have warned the decision to impose tariffs would be bad not just for the economy but for their chances in future elections.
READ MORE: 'Ulterior motive': 'Frequent filer' Trump has long history of FOIA requests — here’s why (https://www.alternet.org/trump-foia-requests-bloomberg/)
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who benefited from the backlash against former President Barack Obama during the 2010 and 2014 midterms, cautioned that Republicans could face a similar outcome in 2026, the year he is due for re-election.
In aninterview (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/republicans-midterm-backlash-fears-030290) with Politico published Thursday, Tillis said the GOP may be up against a "storm" next year due to President Donald Trump's decision to impose sweeping tariffs on United States imports.
“What we don’t want to do is overreach,” he said.
“We’ve got to be careful not to do the same thing. And I think that these elections are going to be proxies, or almost like weather devices for figuring out what kind of storm we’re going to be up against next year," Tillis added.
READ MORE: 'This. Will. Not. End. Well': George Will slams Trump’s 'fanciful assumptions' on economy (https://www.alternet.org/trump-economy-george-will/)
Some of Tillis' fellow Republicans are drawing comparisons to even earlier historical events, expressing concern that voters, who are already unsettled by Trump's reductions in essential government services, may hold the GOP accountable for the consequences of the tariffs.
Miller was sent to encourage Republican aides to have faith in the president and maintain their position, per Axios.
He recognized that their superiors were facing criticism over tariffs but claimed that these taxes would generate $6 trillion in revenue over the next decade.
Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) has strongly reacted to this criticism from Tillis and three other Republican senators, saying that they are suffering from "Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) Derangement Syndrome."
Still, the four senators held firm (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-canada-senate-democrats/) in their resistance to the tariffs, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-K.Y) aligned with the Democrats to support a bill aimed at overturning Trump's emergency declaration that authorized the imposition of tariffs on Canada.
READ MORE: 'My policies will never change': Trump says 'it’s going very well' after market meltdown (https://www.alternet.org/trump-2671675849/)
---
NYT NO LNX
Some of the Lawyers Who May Fill a Second Trump Administration
Donald Trump’s allies are hoping to install a different species of legal gatekeeper throughout the federal government. Here are some of the potential prospects.
Donald Trump walks in a suit outside the White House heading to the Oval Office.
Former President Donald J. Trump with John McEntee, one of his most trusted aides.Credit...Pool photo by Chris Kleponis
Jonathan SwanCharlie SavageMaggie Haberman
By Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman
Nov. 1, 2023
Election Day is a year away, but key allies of former President Donald J. Trump are already thinking about staffing a potential administration, including by filling White House and agency legal positions with aggressive and ideologically like-minded lawyers.
Trump allies are preparing to populate a new administration with a different breed of lawyer — a departure from the type that stymied part of his first-term agenda and that despite their mainstream conservative credentials are seen as too cautious by people close to the former president. They are seeking lawyers in federal agencies and in the White House committed to his “America First” ideology and willing to use edgy theories to advance his cause.
It is too early to say with any certainty whom Mr. Trump would select were he to win a second term starting in 2025. But several conservative nonprofits, staffed by people who are likely to take on senior White House positions if there is a second Trump administration, have been putting together lists of prospects.
Inside Trump’s 2025 Plans
If Trump Wins, His Allies Want Lawyers Who Will Bless a More Radical Agenda
At Project 2025, a well-funded effort by the Heritage Foundation to prepare personnel and policy for the next conservative administration, John McEntee, one of Mr. Trump’s most trusted aides, is part of a team searching for potential lawyers.
A person familiar with the Heritage 2025 project said it was listing multiple options for every position. Some of the names under early and unofficial consideration are:
Joseph E. Schmitz as the Pentagon’s top lawyer. A Bush-era Pentagon inspector general, he argued after the 2020 election that the Supreme Court or the vice president, Mike Pence, should intervene to overturn Mr. Trump’s loss.
Image
Joseph E. Schmitz looks to the side of the camera as he stands in a suit with an orange tie.
Joseph E. Schmitz in 2004.
Sarah B. Rogers in the Homeland Security Department. She is a former tobacco lawyer who brought a lawsuit against New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, on behalf of the National Rifle Association as state prosecutors were investigating its finances.
Noah B. Peters in the Labor Department. He is a former solicitor for the Federal Labor Relations Authority who is also representing the N.R.A. in its legal troubles in New York. He has written columns critical of Big Tech for conservative websites like The Daily Caller and The Federalist.
James R. Lawrence III in the Health and Human Services Department. He is a critic of regulations and vaccine mandates whom Mr. Trump installed as acting chief counsel at the Food and Drug Administration in the waning days of his presidency.
Adam Candeub in the Commerce Department. He is a Michigan State University law professor and a critic of Silicon Valley. The Trump White House tried to install Mr. Candeub atop the Justice Department’s antitrust division in 2020, a move the attorney general at the time, William P. Barr, blocked, believing he lacked relevant experience, according to people familiar with the matter. He was later tapped for another role in the Justice Department.
A similar personnel effort is being led by Stephen Miller, a former top policy aide in the Trump White House. He has since founded a nonprofit group, America First Legal, and has told colleagues that one of its goals is to spend several years evaluating conservative lawyers to find those who have the “spine” to be effective in an ideologically like-minded 2025 administration.
The lawyers on Mr. Miller’s list, according to a person familiar with it, include:
Chad Mizelle, who as former acting general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration worked closely with Mr. Miller to enact hard-line immigration policies.
Jonathan Mitchell, a former solicitor general of Texas who is considered a key architect of a state law that allowed private citizens to enforce anti-abortion restrictions.
Aaron Reitz, the chief of staff for Senator Ted Cruz and a former deputy attorney general under Mr. Miller’s ally in Texas, Ken Paxton, who challenged many Biden policies in court. On a conservative podcast in late 2021, Mr. Reitz said that “the sort of hyper-caution that I think too often Republicans demonstrate, not just in the legal space but political and elsewhere, the time for that is over,” and that on Mr. Paxton’s team, “our soldiers are lawyers and our weapons are lawsuits and our tactic is lawfare.”
Brent Webster, first assistant deputy attorney general in Texas under Mr. Paxton who has been deeply involved in the office’s antitrust cases, and who helped Mr. Paxton file a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn President Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Reed Rubinstein, who worked in the Trump administration in various roles at the Justice, Education and Treasury departments, and is now at Mr. Miller’s group.
John Zadrozny, a former legislative counsel at the Federation for American Immigration Reform who worked in several politically appointed roles in the Trump administration, where he was considered a Miller ally. He is now at America First Legal.
Jonathan Swan is a political reporter who focuses on campaigns and Congress. As a reporter for Axios, he won an Emmy Award for his 2020 interview of then-President Donald J. Trump, and the White House Correspondents’ Association’s Aldo Beckman Award for “overall excellence in White House coverage” in 2022. More about Jonathan Swan
Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. More about Charlie Savage
Maggie Haberman is a senior political correspondent and the author of “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” She was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for reporting on President Trump’s advisers and their connections to Russia. More about Maggie Haberman
A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 2, 2023, Section A, Page 19 of the New York edition with the headline: Prospects for a Second Term. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
See more on: Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, John McEntee, Heritage Foundation, Republican Party, 2024 Elections: News, Polls and Analysis
---
1 25
CNN's Jake Tapper cornered far-right White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, as he tried to justify the Trump administration's discretionary freeze on federal grants (https://www.rawstory.com/robert-reich-2671013776/?utm_source=smartnews)announced by the Office of Management and Budget — and blame the media for the public's confusion on whether they're about to lose access to critical support programs.
"So let's just walk through this, because obviously there's confusion," said Tapper. "Is this pause going to affect Medicaid?"
"It does not affect any service that the government is required to provide, does not affect any entitlement, does not affect any service to citizens, does not affect any individual benefit, any public assistance program or anything of that nature," said Miller. "So we found, after the president had issued a pause on funding to [non-governmental organizations] that were settling illegal immigrants, we found that bureaucrats at HHS were trying to funnel billions of more dollars to those resettlement agencies and try to get around the executive order. It became clear that bureaucrats were still trying to funnel unapproved discretionary grants of funds to their pet projects."
Want more breaking political news? Click for the latest headlines at Raw Story. (https://www.rawstory.com/?utm_source=smartnews)
ALSO READ: Top GOPer's ‘most immediate’ priority for new committee includes probing a MAGA conspiracy (https://www.rawstory.com/raw-investigates/j6-committee/?utm_source=smartnews)
"So let's get into that, because a number of government-funded organizations — so these are organizations like Meals on Wheels (https://www.rawstory.com/trump-meals-on-wheels/?utm_source=smartnews), right? Their job, their mission — it's a private organization, they get grants from the federal government, they feed seniors. Meals on Wheels is currently in the dark. They don't know, does this order affect us? Does this mean we're not going to have any more funding coming in? They feed like 2 million seniors. So I'm just wondering, first of all, why a pause? An investigation, sure, I get that. Auditing? Sure. Why a pause?"
Miller dodged the question, redirecting back to his complaints about the civil service directing grants.
"Joe Biden gave just one NGO responsible for resettling illegal aliens $3 billion, with a B. $3 billion! President Trump, when he said drain the swamp, he meant it."
"Okay. I don't think anybody's taking issue with, if you find money that is being disbursed in an inappropriate way, halting it," said Tapper. "I think what the confusion is, is this seemed to a lot of groups and a lot of states, Republicans, Democrats, independents, like a very sweeping order. And there is confusion ... we just talked to Congressman Don Bacon, a Republican, a Trump supporter. We just interviewed him. He said that there was a lot of confusion."
"Created by the media, Jake," insisted Miller.
But Tapper insisted that much of the confusion and anger is within Trump's own party.
"Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said, quote, 'nobody really knows how long,' unquote, this review of these federal funds is going to last. And she said it's, quote, 'been a big challenge,' unquote, to get answers from the Trump administration. So here's an opportunity. How long is this review going to take? And when does the federal funding for these programs resume?"
Miller once again refused to answer. As Tapper repeatedly asked this question, Miller finally said, "I am sorry that the media has falsely reported on this story."
"I don't know what you're talking about in terms of false reports," shot back Tapper. "It was a broadly written executive order."
Watch the video below or at the link here (https://www.rawstory.com/stephen-miller-2671015498/?utm_source=smartnews).
---
---
an 1 25
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is under fire after appearing repeatedly to attempt to whitewash the Office of Management and Budget memo that ordered a funding freeze on “all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”
The OMB memo (https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/deb7af80-48b6-4b8a-8bfa-3d84fd7c3ec8.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_2), which was not publicly rolled out but rather discovered by journalist Marisa Kabas (https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3lgr2gf5uzk27), appears to have led to the shuttering on Tuesday of the Medicaid portals in all 50 states (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/medicaid-freeze.html). There were also reports that in addition to the Medicaid portal, the portal for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as “food stamps,” also went down on Tuesday, along with other sources or recipients of federal funding.
Miller declared that the massive nationwide concern and confusion were a media creation. //KARO BS
“I can’t help it if left-wing media outlets published a fake news story that caused confusion,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/01/stephen-miller-blames-fake-news-for-confusion-over-trumps-federal-funding-freeze/). The confusion, Miller insisted, was a “false story” that was “created by the media.”
READ MORE: ‘Despair and Violence’: RFK Jr. Is a ‘Predator’ Says Caroline Kennedy in ‘Damning’ Video (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/01/despair-and-violence-rfk-jr-is-a-predator-says-caroline-kennedy-in-damning-video/)
Later on Tuesday Miller doubled down, declaring on social media (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1884366093533241734), “Welcome to the first dumb media hoax of 2025. OMB ordered a review of funding to NGOs, foreign governments and large discretionary contracts. It explicitly excluded all aid and benefit programs. Leftwing media outright lied and some people fell for the hoax.”
OMB was forced to issue an explainer Tuesday after media outlets accurately reported what the OMB memo stated. But some say that the FAQ was an opportunity for OMB to backtrack after massive, nationwide anger, fear, and confusion — which was somewhat quieted after a federal judge issued a temporary partial pause (https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pause-federal-grants-aid-f9948b9996c0ca971f0065fac85737ce) on the OMB memo.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) responded to Miller’s remarks, writing (https://x.com/SethMagaziner/status/1884438014727733684): “They are back-tracking because we spoke up. Good. But make no mistake: their OMB memo ordered a freeze of all grants. The Medicaid and SNAP portals went dark. Head Start providers couldn’t draw funds. This was not a coincidence. It was their plan. And they screwed up bigly.”
Despite Miller’s repeated claims that the memo was clear and did not affect a wide array of federally-funded programs, The Boston Globe (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/28/metro/rhode-island-nonprofits-react-trump-federal-funding-freeze/) reported that “Children’s Friend, a Head Start program in Rhode Island, said it was unable to draw down $500,000 for this week’s payroll,” and “Open Door Health, an LGBTQ+ health clinic (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/08/metro/some-gay-bisexual-men-monkeypox-vaccine-gives-them-both-hope-anxiety-past/?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link), said it could not access its federal funds on Tuesday.”
Congressman Magaziner also posted a list of organizations that he says are being blocked from receiving funding by the Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) Department of Homeland Security. “This is a gift to terrorists and our adversaries across the world. Trump needs to stop this madness and resume funding now,” Magaziner, the Homeland Security Ranking Member for Counterterrorism, wrote:
IFrame Content (https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1884345272269963657&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alternet.org%2Fthe-right-wing%2Fstephen-miller-omb%2F&partner=rebelmouse&sessionId=f011a98289fb5d2df642240157490976d293cbac&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px)
Outrage at Miller’s remarks calling the massive public upset and confusion over OMB’s memo a “dumb media hoax” was extensive.
READ MORE: ‘Hostage Note’: Trump’s Funding Freeze Will Deliver ‘Greatest Harm’ Says OMB Veteran (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/01/hostage-note-trumps-funding-freeze-aims-to-extract-greatest-harm-says-omb-veteran/)
“Completely false. Your first lie of the year. Payment Management Services (PMS), through which states get Medicaid funds from the federal government, had a banner saying payments were stopped because of Trump’s order. Stop lying,” wrote (https://x.com/_rotimia/status/1884395696897548671) MSNBC columnist Rotimi Adeoye, whose bio says he is a former congressional aide and advisor for the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
“Sure there are dumb media hoaxes but if you accidentally turn off Medicaid people notice,” observed (https://x.com/matthewstoller/status/1884576639348052294) Matt Stoller, a political commentator, author, and the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project.
“Another familiar messaging strategy from the White House – cause confusion and blame it on a ‘media hoax.’ In reality, Programs like Medicaid, Meals on Wheels, etc were locked out of funding today. Either White House made errors or they aren’t telling the truth,” wrote (https://x.com/paschutz/status/1884369178750296464) Fox 32 Chicago Political Correspondent Paris Schutz.
“Republicans send out a vague, sloppy, unclear memo that gives everyone the impression that aid to orgs are under attack, Medicaid and other services stop working, Republicans go on AIR supporting this, but Democrats are blamed for pushing a hoax? C’mon get a new playbook,” wrote (https://x.com/tahrajirari/status/1884466785992212737) Tahra Jirari, Director of Economic Analysis at Chamber of Progress.
“No…you complete clowns put out a sweeping vaguely worded executive order that ORDERED ALL FEDERAL GRANT AND LOAN FUNDING TO CEASE, were called out by the public and the media for the disaster this would present, and are now blaming everyone else. You overstepped and got caught,” declared (https://x.com/AmoneyResists/status/1884375698141233286) political commentator Andrew Wortman.
“Yeah, it was so explicit that OMB had to release another document in an attempt to clarify,” said Tad DeHaven, a Cato Institute policy analyst.
“Dude you guys literally shut off Medicaid. Which part of that were Democrats or the media involved with?” asked (https://x.com/Paul_Iskajyan/status/1884389467265380683) Paul Iskajyan, the Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).
READ MORE: Trump DOJ Fires ‘More Than a Dozen’ Prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Team (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2025/01/trump-doj-fires-jack-smiths-lawyers-who-prosecuted-trump-opens-j6-investigations/)
Long-standing American principle of birthright citizenship under attack from Trump allies (https://www.alternet.org/birthright-citizenship/)
AN 12 24
---
---
mma
the Trump administration is planning on deporting millions and millions of immigrants. Fox News is pretending the focus will be much narrower.
“Border Czar” Tom Homan: “If you’re in the country illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder. The bottom line is: Every illegal alien is a criminal.”
Written by Charis Hoard (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/charis-hoard), Torri Lonergan (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/torri-lonergan), Pete Tsipis (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/pete-tsipis) & Chloe Simon (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/chloe-simon)
Published 11/18/24
Fox News is downplaying President-elect Donald Trump’s planned “mass deportations” by saying the effort will prioritize migrants with “criminal records.” But two of his top picks to oversee immigration policy have echoed what he and the vice president-elect have threatened: The deportations will include all undocumented immigrants in addition to migrants here legally and mixed-status families.
Trump has announced that his former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, Tom Homan, will oversee immigration policy in his second administration and his former senior adviser Stephen Miller will serve as his deputy chief of staff on policy. Both Homan and Miller have expressed support for Trump’s plan to enact mass deportations of immigrants from the United States, with Miller recently proclaiming at a Trump rally that America is for “Americans only.”
Tom Homan and Stephen Miller have experience enforcing draconian immigration policy for Trump and plan to further his agenda in the second term
Trump has pledged to deport all undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants as well.This policy could impact more than 22 million people who live in the country's 5.8 million mixed-status families, where one or more family members are undocumented. The mass deportations could also target the 530,000 people who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which offered protections for “young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, temporarily shielding them from deportation and providing them work authorization with possible renewal every two years.” The Guardian 11/8/24 (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/08/trump-mass-deportation-plan); Pew Research Center, 7/22/24 (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/#::text=Unauthorized%20immigrants%20live%20in%206.3,spouse%20is%20an%20unauthorized%20immigrant.); Poynter, 11/13/24 (https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2024/journalists-immigration-is-about-to-become-a-huge-topic-heres-help-covering-trumps-second-term/); Immigration Forum, 5/21/24 (https://immigrationforum.org/article/fact-sheet-on-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca/); Media Matters, [11/15/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/immigration/right-wing-media-are-celebrating-trumps-impending-mass-deportations)]
As part of his deportation agenda, Trump is expected to end an asylum parole program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela which allowed “qualified nationals” to apply for temporary stay in the U.S. if they were sponsored by someone who had U.S. citizenship or legal status. Trump is also expected to begin his plans of mass deportation in his first 100 days in office, and he has backed calls for a “national emergency” plan to secure military resources to carry out the mass deportations. Global Refuge, 10/23/24 (https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/what-is-the-chnv-parole-program/); Politico, 11/18/24 (https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/18/immigration-100-days-trump-executive-action-00189286?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=ebc94e30-6f43-49e0-a159-a17d886118d2&nlid=630318); Newsweek, [11/18/24 (https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-national-emergency-mass-deportations-1987415)]
During a campaign rally, Vice President-elect JD Vance said, “Our message to illegal aliens is, ‘Pack your bags, because in four months you’re going home.’”Vance has also cast doubt on the status of legal migrants, calling thousands of Haitians who are in the United States legally “illegal aliens” and suggesting they will be deported under Trump. YouTube,
(https://youtu.be/sFQ0JeyDOfc); Cleveland.com, [9/19/24 (https://www.cleveland.com/nation/2024/09/jd-vance-doubles-down-attacking-haitians-legal-status-as-illegal-jd-vance-in-the-news.html)]
Trump has named Tom Homan “border czar” for his second term.Homan served as acting director of ICE in the first Trump administration and is credited as the “intellectual father” of the Trump administration’s family separation policy; he has since stated that he didn’t “give a shit” about being sued due to the policy. Homan has long pushed anti-immigrant rhetoric and misinformation on Fox News, where he became a paid contributor in 2018. NPR, 11/11/24 (https://www.npr.org/2024/11/11/nx-s1-5186522/tom-homan-border-czar-trump); Media Matters, 6/14/19 (https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/trump-announced-he-bringing-foxs-tom-homan-back-administration-border-czar-heres-what), 8/8/22 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-contributor-tom-homan-intellectual-father-family-separation), 10/11/23 (https://www.mediamatters.org/tom-homan/fox-news-contributor-tom-homan-appears-hitler-praising-antisemites-show-and-pushes-great), 8/11/19 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/foxs-tom-homan-informing-immigrants-their-rights-means-more-women-are-going-be-raped); The Hill, [3/3/23 (https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3882377-former-trump-ice-director-on-border-separations-they-chose-to-separate-themselves/)]
Stephen Miller will be Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy in his upcoming administration. Miller served as a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and was the architect of the administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that led to thousands of immigrant children being separated from their families. Miller also advocated for separating immigrant families going through civil court proceedings, which would have added 25,000 more immigrant children to the 3,000 who were already separated. NPR, 11/11/24 (https://www.npr.org/2024/11/11/g-s1-33741/trump-stephen-miller-deputy-chief-of-staff-immigration-policy-deportations); NBC News, 8/20/20 (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-cabinet-officials-voted-2018-white-house-meeting-separate-migrant-n1237416); CNN, [11/11/24 (https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/11/politics/stephen-miller-trump-administration/index.html)]
Fox News figures and guests have claimed Trump’s policy will primarily or initially focus on undocumented people with criminal backgrounds
Fox correspondent Griff Jenkins claimed that “border czar Tom Homan says the priority will be those with criminal records.” However, Jenkins also noted that “Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Nanette Barragán tells Fox News, ‘The president-elect has even admitted that innocent women and children could get caught up in the operations.’” Fox News, Special Report with Bret Baier, [11/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4025901)]
Former Border Patrol chief Raul Ortiz said Trump “is going to focus on those security threats, those, you know, folks with terroristic ties, those national security threats, the folks that are bringing in narcotics, and criminal aliens first” before moving to the “migrant population that we see all over this country.”Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, [11/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4025903)]
Fox anchor Dana Perino attempted to downplay mass deportations by saying that “Homan has been very clear the criminals come first,” but former Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott said that “no one will be off the table.” Perino asked, “Criminals, if that's the first target for people who broke the law who are here that are violent, why wouldn't a governor like her [Massachusetts’ Maura Healey] want them out of her state?” Scott referred to the crime of “illegally coming into the U.S.” and said that “no one will be off the table, meaning that when ICE goes in to arrest those individuals and they stumble on other illegal immigrants, other crimes at the same time, agents will be able to take care of all those crimes at the same time.” [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 11/12/24]
Fox host Sean Hannity talked about deporting “millions of criminal illegal immigrants,” listing “gang members, cartel members, drug dealers, people that we know are murderers and rapists, and those that are known terrorists.”He did not mention the nonviolent undocumented migrants who would be deported alongside them. Fox News, Hannity, [11/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4025908)]
Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker said terrorists and criminals “should expect to leave the country immediately,” dodging a question from Fox anchor Martha MacCallum about people who are “afraid that their families will be separated.” Fox News, The Story with Martha MacCallum, [11/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4025907)]
Homan has claimed that that “no one is off the table” and that the “biggest deportation in U.S. history” is “coming soon"
Homan has repeatedly said that the “biggest deportation in U.S. history” is “coming soon.”Homan claimed that those who “clearly” don't “qualify for asylum,” families who “arrive without authorization,” and people “sneaking in” will be deported. Twitter/X, 12/12/23 (https://x.com/RealTomHoman/status/1734592495248413015), 2/1/24 (https://x.com/RealTomHoman/status/1753046665710252268), 11/16/23 (https://x.com/RealTomHoman/status/1725165464152617179), [12/2/23 (https://x.com/RealTomHoman/status/1731069517579669979)]
When asked on60 Minuteswhether there was any way to conduct deportations without separating families, Homan stated, “Of course there is. Families can be deported together,” suggesting that legal migrants or even U.S. citizens in mixed-status families could be deported too. CBS News’ Cecilia Vega pressed Homan for specifics, asking, “So you are carrying out a targeted enforcement operation. Grandma's in the house. She's undocumented. Does she get arrested too?” Homan replied that “it depends,” saying, “Let the judge decide.” CBS News, [10/27/24 (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mass-deportation-plan-cost-consequences-60-minutes-transcript/)]
Homan suggested that “the vast majority” of undocumented migrants will be deported. Homan: “When you have an historic illegal immigration crisis, where millions enter the country illegally and the vast majority will be ordered removed by a judge because they either don’t show up in court or they simply don't qualify for asylum, it will result in an historic deportation operation.” Twitter/X, [11/20/23 (https://x.com/RealTomHoman/status/1726771780130422792)]
Homan asserted that “nine out of 10” undocumented immigrants will “get an order of removal based on immigration court data.” Homan also claimed, “A judge orders them to be removed. We’re going to find them and we’re gonna remove them.… If there’s no consequence, we can’t fix the border. We’re going to have a consequence in the Trump administration.” Twitter/X, [11/19/23 (https://twitter.com/RealTomHoman/status/1726353860610974192)]
On The Charlie Kirk Show, Homan claimed that “90% of these people crossing the border would not qualify for asylum” and would be “removed by a federal judge.” He continued: “So what is the option? If they stay, millions more come. We have to enforce the law, no apologies.” He also once again claimed that he will “run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Salem Radio Network, The Charlie Kirk Show, [12/18/23 (https://www.mediamatters.org/tom-homan/fox-contributor-tom-homan-im-going-run-biggest-deportation-operation-country-has-ever)]
Homan recently encouraged migrants, including noncriminals, to self-deport because “we know who you are, and we’re going to come and find you.” After he was announced as Trump’s pick for “border czar,” Homan appeared on Fox News’ Hannity and claimed, “While we’re out prioritizing the public safety threats and national security threats, if you want to self-deport, you should self-deport because, again, we know who you are, and we’re going to come and find you. … But for those others, the noncriminals, you want to self-deport, I’m all for it. Because when they self-deport, they can put their orders — everything in order – their family business, if they have homes or whatever – they can put all that in order and leave with their family all together.” Fox News, Hannity, [11/11/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4025913)]
Homan claimed, “If you’re in the country illegally, it’s not OK. If you’re in the country illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.”While appearing at the Heritage Foundation’s Policy Fest in 2024, Homan said, “No one’s off the table. If you’re in the country illegally, it’s not OK. If you’re in the country illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder. The bottom line is: every illegal alien is a criminal. They enter the country in violation of federal law. It's a crime to enter this country illegally.” Media Matters, [7/16/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/tom-homan/heritage-policy-fest-tom-homan-pledges-mass-deportations-under-another-trump)]
Miller has promoted “mass arrests and mass deportations,” which he said would include deporting “everyone coming and everyone Biden resettled”
Miller has repeatedly called for mass deportations, often framing them as the opposite of Democrats' supposed “mass importation.” In February 2024, Miller said that the U.S. should “deport everyone coming and everyone Biden resettled.” Twitter/ X, 2/20/24, 2/29/24 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1763397655307182225?s=20), 9/14/24 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1835134449673031852), [10/6/24 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1843098446196293779)]
At Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, Miller said, “America is for America and Americans only.”Politico, [10/28/24 (https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/28/trump-madison-square-garden-rally-tony-hinchcliffe-00185793)]
During an interview, Miller suggested that the U.S. military be used to help carry out mass deportations.Miller also advocated for building mass detention facilities that “hold upwards of 50, 60, 70 thousand illegal aliens while you are waiting to send them someplace, somewhere that would be willing to accept them.” Media Matters, [9/28/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/stephen-miller/stephen-miller-calls-military-deport-undocumented-immigrants-under-future-trump)]
Miller posted that “the only public policy solution is mass arrests and mass deportations” when retweeting a video of pro-Palestine protesters kicking a door. Miller also wrote, “One-third of NYC residents are foreign-born, so one can imagine the proportions in this mob.” Later on, Miller wrote “Mass Deportation” when retweeting a video of a pro-Palestine protest. Twitter/X, 11/11/23 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1723377051858505958), [11/29/23 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1730040123025248420)]
- Miller suggested that the only way to avoid an Islamic State group terror attack is to deport undocumented immigrants.Miller tweeted, “Biden let ISIS terrorists into America. Now, no one can find them. Only a matter of time until they attack — unless Trump is elected to launch mass deportations.” Twitter/X, [6/26/24 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1805988273988243537)]
//
- ### Right-wing media are celebrating Trump’s impending mass deportations (https://www.mediamatters.org/immigration/right-wing-media-are-celebrating-trumps-impending-mass-deportations)
11/15/24
- ### Newsmax host: “I am very excited to watch Tom Homan execute the largest deportation the world has ever seen” (https://www.mediamatters.org/newsmax/newsmax-host-i-am-very-excited-watch-tom-homan-execute-largest-deportation-world-has-ever)
11/13/24
Charlie Kirk tells Tom Homan: “I would love to meet with you privately about a communications strategy” (https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-tells-tom-homan-i-would-love-meet-you-privately-about-communications)
11/12/24
---
---
alternet no lnx
Citizenship cannot save you from fascism
Donald J. Trump, joined by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and U.S. Attorney General William Barr, meets with states attorneys general on protecting consumers from social media abuse Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)
John Stoehr October 31, 2024
The debate over Donald Trump’s fascist rally at Madison Square Garden has focused primarily on fallout from insulting Puerto Ricans with a “joke” about the US territory being an “island of garbage.”
“That is the October surprise,” GOP strategist Mike Madrid told Greg Sargent. “Surprise, Donald Trump, you blew yourself up. Yes, it could absolutely bring Pennsylvania into the win column for [Kamala] Harris."
But something’s missing from the debate.
Why did this backfire?
I mean, Trump hasn’t been campaigning for president so much as leading a vengeance movement against alleged “enemies from within” – ie, anyone who displeases him. He has vowed to purge America of “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of the country. Last weekend’s rally was merely a culmination of a year’s worth of prejudice porn. Speakers there assailed immigrants, Jews, Black people and more.
But somehow Trump seemed to have taken a lot of people by surprise, particularly Puerto Ricans. Puerto Rican celebrities seemed especially revolted. Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin endorsed Harris only after the “island of garbage” line blew up. Musician Nicky Jam had actually endorsed Trump, but rescinded his endorsement afterward.
“I never thought in my life that a month later a comedian would come along and criticize my country [sic], speak poorly of my country [sic], therefore I renounce any support for Donald Trump," Jam wrote.
How is this possible?
The answer might be rooted in the complicated nature of Latino identity and the hierarchies within it that have emerged in relation to white-power politics in America. Put plainly, some Puerto Ricans are white or can pass for white. Most of them speak English. Because the island is a US territory, all Puerto Ricans are US citizens who can vote.
Compared to Latinos who are not white, who do not speak English and who cannot vote, Puerto Ricans have a lot going for them in a country like ours that’s still shaped and formed largely by the cultural and political preferences of white people. Some Puerto Ricans might have even believed that no matter how bad Trump gets, it won’t affect them much. After all, they have the rights and privileges of citizenship.
I don’t want to undervalue the fact that lots of people just don’t pay attention to politics. Nicky Jam said he had endorsed Trump, because “I thought that was the best for the economy in the US, where many Latinos live, including myself, where many immigrants are suffering because of the economy, and him being a businessman I thought that was the best move." I would guess that Jam had other things to do.
But I don’t think Jam and others were shocked by “island of garbage” because they were preoccupied. I suspect they were shocked because they realized something profound – that their assumptions were wrong. They presumed that citizenship was an issue of legal status. Once a citizen, always a citizen, no matter how you look. But Trump’s hate-rally undermined that understanding. It revealed that his fascists will not honor the letter of the law, much less the spirit of it. They will target you if you’re illegal. They will target you if you “don’t look legal” – and “don’t look illegal” isn’t a matter of law. It’s a matter of whiteness.
I don’t mean to suggest Puerto Ricans don’t experience racism. That would be stupid. I do mean to suggest that some, including perhaps Nicky Jam, underestimate what it means when someone says, as Stephen Miller did, that “America is for Americans and Americans only.” It means there’s nothing legally special about being Puerto Ricans. From Miller’s view, they’re all “Mexicans” and all “Mexicans” need to go. If Trump wins, Miller would likely be in charge of executing a massive operation to arrest and detain everyone who doesn’t “look American.”
That operation is usually described as a “deportation program,” but I don’t see any reason why such an undertaking would be restricted to “illegal immigrants.” The point of the exercise is to purge the “vermin” who are “poisoning the blood” of the country. It is to “cure the disease” and eradicate “the enemies within.” Things like legal status and citizenship won’t stop fascists from pursuing those goals once they have power. Nothing will, not even another white person’s whiteness.
This is why the “island of garbage” line should be profoundly shocking to more than the Puerto Rican population of the United States. It should shake everyone to their core. Its message is as simple as it is horrifying - the rights and privileges of citizenship cannot save you.
To achieve the goal of dominance and control – of making America for Americans only – fascists in power need only define “American” according to the most restrictive terms possible. But these terms would never be static. They would change according to need.
So even if you meet the fascist definition of “American,” you might not be white enough or male enough or Christian enough. This is what happened to the GOP. No one could say Mitt Romney wasn’t a Republican, but to the fascists, he would never be Republican enough. He didn’t belong and over time, they purged him from the party.
As it stands, the debate over Trump’ fascist rally is centered on the outrage felt by Puerto Ricans who are now remembering Donald Trump’s treatment of the island after Hurricane Maria ravaged it in 2017. They are remembering that he called them dirty, that he threw paper towels at them, and that he held up scores of millions in relief until the last days of his term. The story now is about how Trump alienated voters he needs to win. The story is about PR payback.
There’s more to the story. If native-born citizens can be dehumanized as “garbage,” anyone can be. If anyone can be, no one is truly safe.
---
---
rww
10/25/2024
by
Peter Montgomery (https://www.peoplefor.org/spokespeople/peter)
The New York Times profiled (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/us/politics/donald-trump-campaign-america-first-policy-institute.html) the MAGA movement organization America First Policy Institute this week. AFPI was created as a sort of Trump administration in exile after voters dumped Donald Trump from office. AFPI has provided jobs and salaries to a lot of Trump loyalists, who are working to put Trump—and themselves—back into power. And they’re preparing to make the most of that power.
AFPI’s own version of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 agenda for a new administration reportedly includes nearly 300 executive orders for a returning Trump to sign. Right Wing Watch reported (https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/post/revolutionary-the-far-right-plan-to-seize-control-of-the-administrative-state) last year on an AFPI summit called “Laying the Groundwork for the Next America First Administration,” at which the group’s president Brooke Rollins bragged about the “revolutionary” nature of its ambitions to “seize control of the administrative state and use it—while also dismantling it,” describing “an America First confrontation against anti-conservative institutions.”
Now that there’s bad blood between MAGA insiders and the Heritage Foundation over the unfavorable publicity Project 2025 brought Trump’s campaign, AFPI is positioned to be in control of the transition team and domestic policy agenda if Trump wins. One example of what that could look like: the Times reports that AFPI’s plan to allow Trump to fire federal employees and replace them with political loyalists is even more radical than Project 2025’s proposal—it would essentially turn the entire federal workforce into a political patronage system.
One important aspect of AFPI’s work that this week’s Times story did not explore is AFPI’s partnership with dominionist Lance Wallnau (https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/post/taking-christian-nationalist-to-the-next-level-trump-supporters-merge-political-rallies-with-spiritual-revivals) and his “Courage Tour” to turn out conservative Christian voters in crucial swing-state counties in the upcoming election. As the Times noted, one of AFPI’s funders and board members is Texas pastor-billionaire Tim Dunn (https://www.propublica.org/article/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-texas-christian-nationalism-dominionism-elections-voting), whose funding and theocratic vision have been aggressively pushing the Texas Republican Party further to the far right.
Right Wing Watch has reported that the Courage Tour blends religious revivalism, spiritual warfare rhetoric, right-wing politics, and targeted voter turnout work all designed to overcome “demonic strongholds” and put Trump back into the White House. Some other media reports (https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-guardian-usa/20240803/281754159597359) on the Courage Tour have noted (https://washingtonspectator.org/michigan/) the partnership (https://religiondispatches.org/wheres-wallnau-a-nar-apostle-takes-aim-at-swing-counties-in-the-battle-for-the-mountain-of-government/) and described (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/eau-claire-tent-revival/680097/) the participation of America First Works—AFPI’s political action affiliate—and its voter registration efforts (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-evangelicals-calling-for-spiritual-warfare-to-elect-trump/ar-AA1rZtNf). Wallnau and AFPI have focused on 19 crucial counties in swing states that they believe could swing the election for Trump with increased turnout from MAGA-minded Christians.
The extent of the partnership between AFPI and New Apostolic Reformation dominionists like Wallnau is revealed in video (https://www.youtube.com/live/H6EWT3NMeA4?si=hwKB-kZsrXgReHlP&t=8643) from a Michigan stop on the Courage Tour in May. Wallnau described AFPI as “the group I work with,” adding that it “is holding the key appointment for the hoped-for Trump administration….They’ve got all the placeholders for who’s going in.”
Wallnau introduced Richard Rogers, who is affiliated with Georgia-based MAGA pastor Jentezen Franklin’s Free Chapel church, and who is serving (https://americafirstpolicy.com/team/dr-richard-rogers)as AFPI’s national director of faith engagement. He got that assignment, Rogers said, when AFPI called Franklin saying that the movement did not have enough resources on the ground to actually do the necessary voter registration and turnout in those targeted counties. Rogers went to work, he said, and now AFPI has a “faith department” that has been built “to put boots on the ground to motivate the voters in those states to turn the tide on the election in 2024—and we’re doing it.”
Rogers said that AFPI has developed closer collaboration between other groups doing voter registration and turnout among conservative Christians, citing Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA and Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition as examples. Rogers also said AFPI has raised enough money to have paid attorneys ready to intervene in key precincts and counties.
Also reflecting the increasingly Christian nationalist orientation of the MAGA movement—and the agenda of AFPI funder Dunn—is the think tank’s effort to claim a scriptural basis (https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/biblical-foundations-ten-pillars-for-restoring-a-nation-under-god) for every part of its social, economic, and foreign policy agenda.
AFPI calls its policy agenda “10 Pillars for Restoring a Nation Under God (https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/biblical-foundations-ten-pillars-for-restoring-a-nation-under-god),” though some of its claimed scriptural foundations seem strained, to say the least. To buttress its opposition to “Marxist and Socialist ideology in our healthcare,” AFPI offers four Bible verses, including ones that describe our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and a prayer for good health.
AFPI’s “Biblical Foundations (https://americafirstpolicy.com/centers/biblical-foundations)” project was
(https://youtu.be/rjkpkih3fCc) at an event featuring Trump spiritual adviser and former White House aide Paula White, who chair’s AFPI’s Center for American Values. At the event, AFPI President Rollins said that in her White House role running Trump’s domestic policy agenda, “we saw the benefit of policy driven by faith.” Policy, said White, must be “guided by eternal truths, biblical truths.” Also speaking were Jentezen Franklin and New Apostolic Reformation figure Jim Garlow.
Goya CEO and AFPI board member Bob Unanue declared, “We are in a spiritual war.”
That kind of spiritual warfare rhetoric can also be found on the Biblical Foundations portion of AFPI’s website, which reads, “This fight is not just about the culture of America; it’s about the kingdom of God and the Church’s divine mission to be the salt and light of our day in an era of increasing darkness.”
---
FMR 2025 PARTNER?
mma 10 24 OMG
Project 2025 partner blog advocates for overturning New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
The Claremont Institute's American Mind: “President Trump should make the case for revisiting the Sullivan ruling a more prominent and recurring part of his public rhetoric”
Written by Madeline Peltz (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/madeline-peltz)
:{:{Published 10/25/24}:
The American Mind, a project of Project 2025 (https://www.mediamatters.org/project-2025/definitive-guide-project-2025) partner (https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/) The Claremont Institute, published (https://americanmind.org/features/what-trump-should-do-if-he-wins/constitutionalist-in-chief/) a piece on October 23 advocating for a second Trump administration to seek the Supreme Court to overturn New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a key decision protecting the First Amendment.
Legal scholars have described (https://knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-enduring-significance-of-new-york-times-v-sullivan) the Sullivan decision, which established the “actual malice” standard in libel law, as “one of the Supreme Court’s most significant First Amendment rulings.” As Oyez outlines (https://www.oyez.org/cases/1963/39): “When a statement concerns a public figure, the Court held, it is not enough to show that it is false for the press to be liable for libel. Instead, the target of the statement must show that it was made with knowledge of or reckless disregard for its falsity.”
The Claremont Institute’s Carson Holloway (https://americanmind.org/author/carson-holloway/) recently argued that “President Trump should seek the reversal of New York Times v. Sullivan,” casting (https://americanmind.org/features/what-trump-should-do-if-he-wins/constitutionalist-in-chief/) his argument as a continuation of the Dobbs decision that reversed the constitutional right to abortion. Holloway celebrates Trump as singularly responsible for Dobbs, describing it as his “signature accomplishment” in his “already impressive legacy” of the “restoration of self-government.” Continued:
If Trump is elected to a second term, he should build on this legacy by seeking the reversal of another egregious instance of judicial activism that continues to distort the Constitution and our nation’s politics: New York Times v. Sullivan. In this 1964 ruling, the Warren Court imposed a new doctrine of libel and the First Amendment on the nation.
Holloway then lays out a three point plan for how to accomplish this.
First, he suggests, “President Trump should make the case for revisiting the Sullivan ruling a more prominent and recurring part of his public rhetoric.” He has good reason to believe this is viable. In 2016, Trump promised (https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/donald-trump-libel-laws-219866) that if he won he would “open up our libel laws” to make it easier to sue the press, singling out The New York Times and The Washington Post. On the Supreme Court, Justices Thomas and Gorsuch have both signaled (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/us/supreme-court-libel.html) their openness to reconsidering Sullivan.
More recently, Trump has been ramping up (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/business/media/trump-media-broadcast-licenses.html) his attacks on journalists, advocating for revoking broadcasting licenses and launching other legal attacks. Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed member of the Federal Communications Commission that oversees broadcasting licenses, could be a key ally in this threat. Carr wrote (https://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/D8File/2024/03/26/2025_mandateforleadership_full.pdf) the chapter on the FCC in Project 2025’s policy book, Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.
Holloway’s next suggestion on stripping the press of legal protections is a given: “President Trump should continue his first-term policy of appointing serious constitutionalists to the Supreme Court and, indeed, to all federal judicial vacancies.”
Finally, Holloway states: “President Trump should direct his Department of Justice to seek the reversal of the actual malice doctrine and restore judicial respect for the original meaning of the First Amendment. This policy should include the regular filing, in appropriate cases, of amicus curiae briefs by the Justice Department urging the courts to revisit this question.”
This argument harmonizes with the vision of a weaponized Department of Justice outlined in Mandate. As Gene Hamilton (https://aflegal.org/leadership/gene-hamilton/), vice president and general counsel of former Project 2025 partner America First Legal (https://www.mediamatters.org/project-2025/stephen-miller-attempts-distance-himself-project-2025-after-appearing-recruitment), wrote (https://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/D8File/2024/08/08/fnl-project-2025.pdf) in his chapter on the Justice Department, DOJ policy “must always be consistent with the President’s policy agenda and the rule of law.” Project 2025 would gut (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/project-2025-the-plan-to-seize-power-by-gutting-americas-system-of-checks-and-balances/) the federal government’s system of checks and balances through a radical consolidation of executive power.
Project 2025’s emphasis on personnel would also bolster a second Trump administration’s attacks on free speech. Through the initiative, The Heritage Foundation has assembled a prevetted database (https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/08/02/project-2025-trump-inside-story-00172299) of Trump loyalists, which it calls a “conservative LinkedIn,” of potential administration hires that have taken loyalty tests (https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-loyalists-2024-presidential-election) to prove they’d be willing to stretch or even violate the law (https://apnews.com/article/social-media-donald-trump-8e6e2f0a092135428c82c0cfa6598444) in order to enact his agenda. Project 2025 also advocates for the implementation of a policy known as “Schedule F (https://www.nytimes.com/article/project-2025.html),” which would remove civil service protections for politically neutral career bureaucrats so they could be fired en masse and replaced with pro-MAGA sycophants. Remaking the federal workforce in this way would allow Trump to more easily exercise control over the Department of Justice and enact a retributional, anti-free speech agenda.
---
---
mma
How a lie about immigrants and FEMA disaster aid spread across Fox News
Fox’s Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity spread the lie on 5 and 6 straight broadcasts, respectively. Many shows on the network joined in to push similar claims at least once since October 3.
Written by Helena Hind (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/helena-hind) & Alicia Sadowski (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/alicia-sadowski)
Published 10/11/24 mma
Amid the right-wing media onslaught (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/right-wing-media-lies-about-federal-response-hurricane-helene) of hurricane-related misinformation, Fox News has latched onto the false claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s relief funds for hurricane victims have been drained by aid to undocumented immigrants. In reality, the funding is separate and unrelated.
Top-rated hosts Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity led the charge in repeating the false claim; Watters’ prime-time show repeated the lie in 5 consecutive broadcasts starting October 3, and Hannity managed 6.
Even though a Fox reporter obtained evidence debunking the lie, the narrative spread to the majority of the network’s opinion and “straight news” programs.
FEMA’s disaster relief fund has nothing to do with immigrant aid — and Fox knows it
FEMA maintains separate funds for disaster relief and aid for immigrants. As a FEMA spokesperson explained, “The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams." Newsweek, [10/4/24 (https://www.newsweek.com/fema-response-accusations-money-spent-migrants-1963702#::text=A%20Department%20for%20Homeland%20Security,Hurricane%20Helene%20and%20other%20disasters.%22)]
Donald Trump alleged that the Biden administration “stole the FEMA money” for undocumented immigrants during an October 3 campaign rally, prompting a fact check from FEMA. An October 3 entry in FEMA’s “Hurricane Rumor Response” page explained: “FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.” The Daily Beast, 10/3/24 (https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-freaks-out-about-migrants-as-fema-hurricane-funding-shortfall-looms); Federal Emergency Management Agency, [10/3/24 (https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response#::text=Rumor%3A%20Funding%20for%20FEMA%20disaster%20response%20was%20diverted%20to%20support%20international%20efforts%20or%20border%20related%20issues.)]
Fox News knows that FEMA disaster money is not going towards aid to undocumented immigrants. On October 8, senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram posted on X that Fox News obtained a GOP memo saying there is “no funding connection between” the migrant shelter program and the Disaster Relief Fund. When Pergram appeared on the network after posting about the memo, he failed to discuss the part of the document that debunks the lie that the federal government spent disaster relief funds on migrant aid. . Media Matters, 10/10/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-knows-its-lying-about-immigrants-and-disaster-aid), 10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-reporter-said-he-obtained-gop-memo-debunking-maga-hurricane-lies-he-still-hasnt), [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-report-gop-hurricane-fact-sheet-fails-mention-its-details-misinformation-fox-news)]
Jesse Watters's Fox show repeated the false claim in 5 consecutive broadcasts
Watters first repeated the smear on the October 3 edition of his eponymous show, saying “the Biden-Harris administration spent a billion dollars of FEMA money on illegal aliens,” without providing context about the separate funds. Watters continued, “When American citizens, the ones who were born here and pay taxes, deserve help, Biden and Harris are saying, ‘Ah, sorry, we gave it all away to the people who broke into the country.’” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024784)]
The next day, after FEMA published a fact-check debunking the claim on its webpage, Watters repeated the lie: “After blowing a billion dollars on migrants and with Mayorkas saying they ran out of money, FEMA clearly has been mismanaged, either through corruption or incompetence.” Watters then called for the immediate firing of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 10/4/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024783); FEMA, [10/3/24 (https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response#::text=Rumor%3A%20Funding%20for%20FEMA%20disaster%20response%20was%20diverted%20to%20support%20international%20efforts%20or%20border%20related%20issues.)]
Watters doubled down the next Monday, October 7: “FEMA’s broke. … Where’d the money go? More than a billion dollars went to welcoming Biden's migrants.” Watters also said that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre “lied” after she debunked the claim on October 4. Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [10/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024629)]
On October 8, during a segment criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’ approach to Hurricane Milton relief, Watters’ guest Stephen Miller accused Harris of “divert[ing] all the FEMA funds to illegal aliens.” Miller ranted, “Now FEMA is broke, they can't help Americans. Why? Because Kamala cares about illegals more.” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [10/8/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024788)]
- As Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, Watters doubled down again: “Mayorkas said FEMA was going to run out of money for hurricane season. And FEMA admitted they wasted a billion on migrants. Now, I'm not great at math… but if you spend too much money on one thing and don't have enough money for another thing, that means you messed up.” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024791)]
- ### Sean Hannity repeated the lie in 6 consecutive broadcasts of his Fox News show
Hannity began repeating the lie on his prime-time show on October 3, alleging the Biden administration “took over $1 billion of FEMA funds supposed to be available for national emergencies to help you, the American people, … and they spent all of that money on their 11.5 million unvetted illegal immigrants from over 180 other countries.” Hannity falsely claimed disaster money was used for “free food, housing, health care, education, sex change surgeries, debit cards, four-star hotels for illegal immigrants.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024786)]
The next day, Hannity lamented that FEMA is “taking money for Americans and giving it to their illegal immigrants that they are obsessed with.” He added, “It is unconscionable. It is soulless,” and maintained that FEMA “should be focused on emergency management, not illegal immigration.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/4/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024789)]
The following Monday, October 7, Hannity persisted with the smear, saying that FEMA is “bankrupt” because “over a billion dollars went to Harris-Biden unvetted illegal immigrants.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024790)]
On October 8, Hannity demanded that the Biden administration “not steal the money from FEMA and give it to your unvetted illegal immigrants from 180 countries, because their illegal immigrants seem to be prioritized that are way more important than the American people.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/8/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024804)]
On October 9, Hannity complained that “the agency distributed more than a billion dollars to house and feed Harris and Biden unvetted illegal immigrants.” “Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas said, ‘Yeah, FEMA is apparently in shambles financially and we probably don't have enough money for hurricane season,’” Hannity ranted. “Then, we discovered on FEMA’s own website that the agency distributed more than a billion dollars to house and feed Harris and Biden unvetted illegal immigrants.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024755)]
On October 10, Hannity continued to claim that at FEMA, “over a billion dollars was diverted to help their unvetted illegal immigrants.” Fox News, Hannity, [10/10/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024805)]
After Watters and Hannity seeded the lie, the narrative then spread onto Fox’s opinion programming
On Fox & Friends First, former NFL player and conservative activist Jack Brewer cited “FEMA money going to illegal immigrants” as a reason that the Biden-Harris administration has to change the “way that we deal with natural disasters.” Fox News, Fox & Friends First, [10/8/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024785)]
While discussing Hurricane Helene relief, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy attacked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for allegedly having “millions and millions and millions of dollars” and choosing to spend the money not on Americans, but on “processing people who are in this country illegally.” Co-host Ainsley Earhardt responded that the money should instead “go toward these American families that have lost everything.” Doocy suggested the Biden administration should remedy the budget crisis by announcing a “pause on all the people coming into the country illegally” and should instead “reprogram that money to take care of the people here in the United States.” Fox News, Fox & Friends, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024794)]
Outnumbered* co-host Kayleigh McEnany falsely claimed that the “reason why” FEMA was facing a budget shortfall was because the agency spent “almost a billion dollars” on “illegal immigrants in migrant shelters.” Emily Compagno reiterated the sentiment by alleging that the “federal government wasted the taxpayer money that these Americans invested” and that Americans were entitled to the money over undocumented immigrants. “FEMA's funds are their funds that they paid into, that they are now being withheld from to pay for illegal migrants,” she complained. Fox News, Outnumbered, [10/4/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024796)]
The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld used a false analogy to compare FEMA funding to a bank account to allege aid to undocumented immigrants was taken at the expense of disaster relief aid: “It’s all the same thing. So, if you've got to spend money here, it is going to be taken away from here.” He asked, “Why do Americans have to wait in line for the stuff they pay for?” Fox News, The Five, [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024800)]
- Laura Ingraham stated that “Democrats are prioritizing the needs of noncitizens … ahead of the people that our leaders are supposed to be serving.” Ingraham called the allocation of money for undocumented immigrant aid “disgraceful” and claimed it resulted in Americans facing inflation and debt to “give gobs of money to liberal special interests.” Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024559)]
Repeat Gutfeld! guest and antisemitic right-wing media personality Bryan Sharpe complained The New York Times was not addressing “FEMA not having money because they spent it on illegal migrants” Fox News, Gutfeld!, 10/8/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024798); Media Matters, 9/9/22 (https://www.mediamatters.org/greg-gutfeld/antisemitic-social-media-troll-hotep-jesus-reportedly-set-appear-fox-news-gutfeld), [10/3/23 (https://www.mediamatters.org/diversity-discrimination/fox-news-guest-antisemitic-history-promotes-bizarre-blog-filled)]
Some of the network’s “straight news” programs spread the narrative or failed to contextualize FEMA appropriations for undocumented aid
Fox anchor Dana Perino highlighted DHS Secretary Mayorkas’ “warning” that “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through hurricane season” despite “Mayorkas' DHS having $640 million — now that’s designated money — to help communities support illegal migrants.” Fox correspondent Chad Pergram took the blame off Congress: “Congress made sure FEMA had more than $20 billion in last week's emergency spending bill ahead of the storm.” Fox News, America’s Newsroom, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024803)]
Even though the Shelter and Services Program is distinct from FEMA’s disaster response, Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway said that “they want us to believe that that’s not so and those funds wouldn't be fungible anyway.” Fox News, The Faulkner Focus, 10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024802); Media Matters, [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/maria-bartiromo/after-citing-house-gop-report-noting-femamigrant-lie-false-foxs-maria-bartiromo)]
Fox anchor John Roberts asked why the federal government did not use the $66 billion FEMA spent “taking care of the illegal immigration problem” to pay for hurricane relief. Fox News, America Reports, [10/3/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024801)]|}:
Former Vivek Ramaswamy communications director Tricia McLaughlin claimed, “We know that $670 million have gone to efforts under FEMA's umbrella to house migrants.” She asked, “Why is the focus on noncitizens in this country and not on the recovery efforts for Americans?” Fox News, Fox News @ Night, [10/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024793)]
---
sexual matador made ayman hurl
alpha male wear trump gear
---
an 10 24
Suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris (https://www.rawstory.com/kamala-harris/) “isn’t competent to run a bingo game at the community center,” Trump (https://www.rawstory.com/trump-news/) senior adviser Stephen Miller (https://www.rawstory.com/tag/stephen-miller)laid into a top Harris (https://www.rawstory.com/tag/white-house) spokesperson Monday night for suggesting that Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) backed out of a "60 Minutes" sit-down interview because the former president is “avoiding the media.”
The social media feud (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1843461243945828523) between Miller and Harris-Walz senior national spokesperson Ian Sams ensued shortly after the airing of the traditional “60 Minutes” candidate interview, which Trump (https://www.rawstory.com/trump-russia-2669136899/) was notably absent from despite originally agreeing to.
“Scott Pelley opens ‘60 Minutes’ outlining (https://www.rawstory.com/kamala-harris-2669347102/) in great detail how Donald Trump agreed to sit for an interview, including quoting Steven Cheung phone calls and text messages, before canceling,” Sams wrote on X. “Yikes. Why is Trump avoiding the media? Why won't he answer questions from real outlets?”
“Hey liar, Trump has done dozens of hours long press conferences with adversarial media,” Miller wrote in a reply to Sams. “Kamala has never done one adversarial interview in any setting anywhere and never done one single solitary press conference. Kamala isn’t competent to run a bingo game at the community center.”
Sams left his position as a Biden administration spokesman for oversight and investigations in August to join the Harris-Walz campaign as a top spokesperson, the Washington Post reported (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/16/ian-sams-leaving-white-house-expected-join-harris-campaign/). He previously served as national press secretary on Harris' 2020 presidential campaign, according to the publication.
Miller is a longtime Trump adviser and architect of the Trump (https://www.rawstory.com/rs-exclusive/stephen-miller-furious-as-biden-moves-to-protect-undocumented-spouses-of-us-citizens/)administration's “zero tolerance” family separation policy.
---
---
mma
Right-wing media falsely insist there is no federal response to Hurricane Helene, while praising Trump for visiting victims in Georgia
The MAGA crowd is claiming that the administration is purposely ignoring Southern Appalachia, despite extensive aid efforts
Special ProgramsClimate & Energy (https://www.mediamatters.org/climate-energy)
Written by Ilana Berger (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/ilana-berger)
Research contributions from Allison Fisher (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/allison-fisher)
Published 10/01/24
Right-wing and MAGA influencers are falsely insisting that the Biden administration is ignoring the millions of Americans who have been impacted by intense flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, while lauding Trump for visiting and bringing aid to those affected in Georgia on September 30.
After Helene made landfall (https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Helene2024) in Florida on September 26 as a Category 4 storm, the Biden administration approved federal assistance to supplement state and local efforts in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia.
Dismissing these efforts, right-wing media have argued that the administration is more interested in giving aid to Ukraine than Appalachia, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is too concerned with equity to handle the aftermath, and that the Biden administration isn’t doing more for hurricane victims because they are primarily white, Republican voters.
The storm has caused mass destruction and killed at least 133 people (https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-asheville-f02869c7d01e68f2d7f0553abb82252f) across six states, while as many as 600 (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/30/helene-north-carolina-missing-people-social-media/75454034007/) haven’t been accounted for. In Western North Carolina (https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/09/29/helene-carolinas-tennessee-floods-communication-destruction/), many residents do not have power, cellular service, or drinking water.
Vice President Kamala Harris is planning to visit Georgia (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/01/harris-helene-damage-georgia-north-carolina/75469698007/) on October 2, while Biden said he is planning to visit (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/30/biden-north-carolina-hurricane-helene-damage/75458286007/) North Carolina on the same day.
The Biden administration has approved disaster declarations in affected states and counties that are allowing them to receive additional federal aid.
In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, Biden has approved Major Disaster Declarations, making a number of federal assistance programs available to those states. In the most impacted counties in these states, both public assistance and individual assistance programs are available. This could mean up to $750 of federal aid for families or individuals with serious needs like food, shelter, or medication. Public assistance, according to FEMA, is also for “state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.” FEMA.gov, accessed \9/30/24 (https://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/factsheets/dad_disaster_declaration.pdf); FEMA.gov, 9/29/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240930/how-apply-fema-assistance-florida-after-hurricane-helene); SCEMD.org, 9/30/24 (https://www.scemd.org/news/gov-henry-mcmasters-federal-major-disaster-declaration-approved/); FEMA.gov, 9/29/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240929/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-major-disaster-declaration-north); Alabama Reflector, [10/1/24 (https://alabamareflector.com/2024/10/01/hundreds-missing-in-southeast-states-after-hurricane-helene-federal-officials-say/)]
In North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia, Biden also approved Emergency Declarations that are meant to “supplement state and local efforts in providing emergency services."While Major Disaster Declarations are only for natural disasters, Emergency Declarations can provide more federal assistance for any occasion that governors and the president feel poses a threat to public health, safety, or property. FEMA.gov, accessed \9/30/24 (https://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/factsheets/dad_disaster_declaration.pdf); GEMA.georgia.gov, 9/26/24; (https://gema.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-09-26/georgia-receives-federal-emergency-declaration-hurricane-helene) FEMA.gov, 9/29/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240929/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-emergency-declaration-virginia); The Tennessean, 9/28/24 (https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2024/09/28/helene-aftermath-tennessee-flood-rescue-biden-fema-emergency-declaration/75427479007/); FEMA.gov 9/26/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240927/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-emergency-declaration-alabama#::text=Approves%20Emergency%20Declaration%20for%20Alabama,-English&text=WASHINGTON%20%2D%2D%20FEMA%20announced%20today%20that,beginning%20Sept.%2022%20and%20continuing.); FEMA.gov, 9/27/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240927/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-emergency-declaration-south-carolina); FEMA.gov, 9/26/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240926/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-emergency-declaration-north-carolina); FEMA.gov; [9/25/24 (https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240925/biden-harris-administration-makes-emergency-federal-assistance-available)]
On September 29, the Biden administration released a fact sheet outlining the administration’s “continued response efforts to Hurricane Helene,” noting that tens of thousands of state and federal personnel are helping victims of the storm across several states.The administration wrote that 50,000 personnel from across the country and Canada traveled to help fix power outages, 3,300 personnel are helping allocate federal resources and carry out search and rescue, and 200 medical responders are providing health services. Whitehouse.gov, [9/29/24 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/29/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-administrations-continued-response-efforts-to-hurricane-helene/)]
Biden has said he may ask Congress to pass additional disaster aid that was excluded from the recent stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.According to Politico, the bill, which passed on September 25, did not include “a $10 billion supplemental infusion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency after congressional leaders capitulated to the House’s most conservative fiscal hawks.” The New York Times, \9/30/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/us/politics/biden-helene-congress.html); Politico, [9/26/24 (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2024/09/26/hurricane-helene-is-here-more-disaster-aid-is-not-00181214)]
MAGA influencers made the baseless claim that the federal response to the hurricane is lacking.
Newsmax host and MAGA influencer Todd Starnes has repeatedly claimed that the federal government has abandoned those impacted by Hurricane Helene, saying that “many towns and cities have yet to see any disaster relief.” He also suggested that the so-called lack of response is because those impacted are mostly Republican, saying that “Western North Carolina is just too Conservative and too Caucasian for FEMA to care” and asking if the reason the government hasn’t done more is “because most of the people there are not Haitians or … because they are mostly are Republicans?” Twitter/X, \9/30/24 (https://x.com/toddstarnes/status/1840758590455308430), 9/30/24 (https://x.com/toddstarnes/status/1840797296981610737), [9/30/24 (https://x.com/toddstarnes/status/1840768361719837125)]
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and former Fox News writer Blake Neff told viewers that Harris would favor Black communities in disaster recovery and promoted speculation that “the feds are doing nothing” because the voters affected are Republican. Neff, who was fired from Fox for posting racist and sexist content online, falsely said that Harris “believes that the aid that you offer should be doled out, as you say, based on characteristics like skin color rather than destruction.” Kirk then said, “It’s tempting to say the federal government’s doing nothing — I mean, they’re doing something. They did issue some warnings. However, this is definitely being underplayed by the media.” Finally, Kirk read a message purportedly from a “friend in North Carolina” who claimed that the “feds are doing nothing.” The message also noted that “90% of the impacted voters here are Republican voters. Makes you wonder if they’re being forgotten for a reason.” Real America’s Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, \9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024364); CNN, [7/11/20 (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/10/media/tucker-carlson-writer-blake-neff/index.html)]
Attacking a photo of Harris shared by her campaign along with a response to the devastation in North Carolina, InfoWars host Owen Shroyer wrote on X: “This photo is the epitome of the Biden Harris Hurricane response. Blank pieces of paper, headphones not plugged in, a halfass photo opp to appear like they're doing something when they really aren't.” Twitter/X, [9/30/24 (https://x.com/OwenShroyer1776/status/1840772753177063755)]
Right-wing account Libs of TikTok suggested that the federal response to Helene “has been a disaster” because on FEMA’s website, the agency lists as one of its goals instilling “equity as a foundation of emergency management.”“In case you’re wondering why the response to Hurricane Helene has been a disaster… Fema’s goal 1 is to instill equity as a foundation of emergency management. This is real.” Twitter/X, [9/30/24 (https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1840637517172768777)]
The X accounts RNC Research and I Meme Therefore I Am shared a video clip falsely suggesting that the Biden administration was not providing federal aid to victims.The post suggested that when asked about additional aid for those impacted, Biden simply said, “No.” In reality, he approved aid and also said, “We have pre-planned a significant amount of it even though they didn’t ask for it yet.” Twitter/X, \9/29/24 (https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/1840580469009661960), 9/29/24 (https://x.com/ImMeme0/status/1840589073989128616), [9/29/24 (https://x.com/patriottakes/status/1840601673573519482)]
On X, the Trump War Room account falsely claimed Biden “told reporters today that the people impacted were not going to receive any additional aid from the government.”The account wrote: “Kamala Harris addresses the horrific damage of Hurricane Helene from a campaign stop 2,000 miles away in Las Vegas. Joe Biden told reporters today that the people impacted were not going to receive any additional aid from the government. Absolutely disgusting.” Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1840589082201669890)]
Right-wing influencer Raw Egg Nationalist suggested on X that “victims of Hurricane Helene aren’t getting the aid they need” because “Kamala Harris thinks that aid for floods, hurricanes, tornados, & fires should be distributed based on race.”The account was amplifying a post from End Wokeness, which featured a clip of Harris talking about disaster aid and equity. Twitter/X, \9/30/24 (https://x.com/Babygravy9/status/1840689292349165692), [9/27/24 (https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1839649759365128696)]
Referring to a 2023 fire on the island of Maui that left 100 people dead, far-right conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich claimed that “North Carolina is being abandoned like it’s Maui.” He added: “This is the Biden administration at work. Kamala Harris wants it to continue for four more years.” Twitter/X, \9/29/24 (https://x.com/Cernovich/status/1840490329100968288); The New York Times, [2/6/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/maui-fire-investigation-deaths.html#::text=Six%20months%20after%20a%20firestorm,island%20town%2C%20killing%20100%20people.)]
Cernovich also wrote, “They let Maui burn, they let Asheville drown, can the country survive four more years of this?” Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/Cernovich/status/1840503901679911408)]
Former Trump adviser and frequent Fox News guest Stephen Miller: “Kamala used every available government resource to airlift and evacuate 500 thousand Haitian illegals to the United States. But she couldn’t lift a finger to rescue drowning Americans in Asheville.” Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/StephenM/status/1840513958001914180)]
Far-right commentator Jack Posobiec shared a video depicting the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, asking, “Where is the military in any of these videos to help the people of North Carolina?” Twitter/X, [9/30/24 (https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1840722713997951403)]
Posobiec also wrote, “Maybe the mayor of Asheville, NC can put on a green sweatsuit so the Harris-Biden admin actually sends them some aid,” referring to an outfit donned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he visited Congress in 2022.Twitter/X, \9/29/24 (https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1840603447399211349); The New York Times, [12/22/22 (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/style/volodymyr-zelensky-washington-army-green-clothes.html)]
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh wrote: “Unfortunately the North Carolina flood victims are citizens of the USA, not Ukraine, so the Biden Administration sees no reason to help them.” The post has a community note labeling it false. Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1840516075462558110)]
Right-wing MAGA and conspiracy account End Wokeness complained that Biden has “no more aid for Hurricane Helene,” ignoring the aid that has been approved. It posted: "$2.4 billion aid to Ukraine" vs “No more aid for Hurricane Helene” - 3 days apart.”Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1840597990760649031)]
Sharing a video of a wreckage in North Carolina, Truth in Media founder Ben Swann wrote on X: “How quickly do you think we could rebuild North Carolina and Tennessee if the nearly $400 BILLION we’ve sent Ukraine could be spent here in America instead?” Twitter/X, [9/29/24 (https://x.com/BenSwann_/status/1840595167075528895)]
QAnon-supporting Telegram account BioClandestine, which is run by conspiracy theorist Jacob Creech, claimed, “The US Government are willing to send trillions of our tax dollars to fund conflicts all around the globe. But when the American People desperately need aid, the Biden regime are nowhere to be found…Anyways, here is a completely unrelated painting from the French Revolution.”Telegram, \9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024407); Vice, [4/12/22 (https://www.vice.com/en/article/ukraine-biolabs-war-clandestine-tucker-carlson/)]
A post on the far-right social media platform Gab claimed that North Carolina has received “$0” while Israel and Ukraine have received billions. Gab, [9/30/24 (https://gab.com/PatriotsDotWin/posts/113226396285791136)]
Right-wing media praised Trump for visiting Georgia and criticized Biden and Harris for not going.
Meanwhile, emergency management experts say that when politicians swoop in directly after a disaster, it’s disruptive and diverts media attention and key resources. In 2016, when Trump visited Baton Rouge after major flooding, Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator at the time, told CNN, “We still have response operations going on. To move the president into a disaster area actually takes away some time from the response and the focus on” saving people. Emergency management expert Samantha Montano wrote on X, “When the president comes to town (even on a good day) everything has to shut down -- air space, roads, etc. First responders & other officials are reassigned to secure & facilitate the president's arrival. In a disaster that means search & rescue stops, help to survivors stops.” Twitter/X, \9/30/24 (https://x.com/SamLMontano/status/1840729577779347661); Politico, 8/19/16 (https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/john-bel-edwards-trump-louisiana-visit-227194); Fortune, [8/19/16 (https://fortune.com/2016/08/19/donald-trump-baton-rouge/)]
On Fox News’ The Five, co-host Jesse Watters criticized Harris for not going to North Carolina and said because of Trump’s visit to Georgia, “when they ask in these polls which candidate cares more about people like you, he has completely closed the gap.”“She should have been in North Carolina,” said Watters of Harris. “Donald Trump is down there looking and occupying the presidential space. He is saying the right things, he’s delivering goods and services, he’s even calling on Elon Musk to restore the internet.” Fox News, The Five, [9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024382)]
On Newsmax’s The Right Squad, former Trump White House official Mercedes Schlapp called Trump the comforter-in-chief for going to an impacted area in Georgia:“And I think for Donald Trump to basically say we're going to put politics aside. He joined forces with Rev. Franklin Graham from the Samaritan Purse to bring supplies and to really be what I call the comforter-in-chief. That is a critical role for a president. And I think the one thing you see with Kamala Harris and with Joe Biden, time and time again, is that they are completely out of touch with the American people." Newsmax, The Right Squad, [9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024383)]
Fox’s Sean Hannity praised Trump for going to Georgia while criticizing Biden and Harris for not being in the disaster zone. He said, “This is by every measure a national emergency and today Donald Trump, he flew to Valdosta, Georgia, to witness the devastation up front and personal and firsthand and meet with disaster relief specialists from Franklin Graham himself and Samaritan’s Purse. … Noticeably missing on the ground, the current president, Joe Biden, vice president, Kamala Harris." Fox News, Hannity, [9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024384)]
On Fox’s Jesse Watters Primetime, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller suggested that because Trump went to Georgia, “for millions of Americans, President Trump is still the leader of this country.”He added: “It's not Joe Biden. He's at the beach. It's not Kamala Harris. She's in San Francisco at a fundraiser, raising money. The person who showed up, partnered up with Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse, fantastic organization, someone who is actively helping to raise money online for these victims right now, is President Trump. We need a leader back in the White House.” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024385)]
Fox’s Laura Ingraham claimed that Trump is the real leader for going to Georgia while Biden and Harris managed the crisis from afar.“Harris couldn't give up a day on the trail to pretend to care. Yet hours after Trump showed up with truckloads of supplies, speaking to responders and volunteers, Kamala showed up at work. …Of course, the government should be mobilized to help. But that does not change the fact that Biden and Kamala Harris were not at the White House driving our federal preparedness.” Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, [9/30/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4024386)]
---
---
mma 9 24
Fox News raises false alarm about noncitizen voting
This narrative, which has saturated Fox News, was echoed by Donald Trump on the debate stage
Written by Alicia Sadowski (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/alicia-sadowski), Isabella Corrao (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/isabella-corrao) & Jane Lee (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/jane-lee)
Research contributions from Pete Tsipis (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/pete-tsipis), Sage Hodil (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/sage-hodil) & Casey Wexler (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/casey-wexler)
Published 09/16/24
At the September ABC News presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump falsely claimed (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harris-trump-presidential-debate-transcript/story?id=113560542) that there are “illegal immigrants coming” and that “they’re trying to get them to vote” in United States elections. Trump’s “great replacement” (https://www.mediamatters.org/new-york-times/trump-pushed-replacement-theory-during-debate-mainstream-media-fact-checks-sanitized) racist conspiracy theory (https://www.npr.org/2022/08/23/1117993012/january-6th-hearings-race) echoes a far-right dog whistle blown repeatedly (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/list-fox-hosts-and-personalities-who-have-pushed-great-replacement-theory) by Fox News hosts, contributors, and guests in recent months.
Even though noncitizen voting is both illegal and rare, Fox News has attempted to instill panic by suggesting that droves of noncitizens are voting as a result of the Biden administration’s immigration policies and political strategy and the legal ability of noncitizens to acquire driver’s licenses.
Noncitizen voting is a nonissue
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Violators of the law face possible fines and imprisonment for up to a year, as well as deportation. While some districts allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, no state allows noncitizens to vote in statewide elections. Communities that allow noncitizens to vote in local elections “maintain processes to ensure that a registered noncitizen voter cannot receive a ballot for state or federal races.” The Associated Press, 9/2/24 (https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/illegal-voting-by-noncitizens-is-rare-yet-republicans-are-making-it-a-major-issue-this-election/); Bipartisan Policy Center, [3/13/24 (https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/four-things-to-know-about-noncitizen-voting/)]
Voting by noncitizens is extremely rare.The Brennan Center for Justice conducted research in 2017 on noncitizens voting, reviewing 42 jurisdictions in the 2016 election, and reported that, of 23.5 million votes cast, “election officials only found about 30 cases of potential noncitizen voting that they referred for prosecution or further investigation.” NPR, 3/13/24 (https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238102501/noncitizen-voting-immigration-conspiracy-theory); The Associated Press, 9/9/24 (https://apnews.com/article/noncitizens-voting-republicans-election-2024-immigration-09b86e6768f755fd875f3c51b0e8ea70), 10/19/22 (https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-noncitizens-voting-question-d720a6d02e066700d86812dc717906e5); Brennan Center for Justice, [5/5/17 (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/noncitizen-voting-missing-millions)]
There are many measures in place to prevent noncitizens from voting.Election administration experts have said that reviewing voter rolls has successfully helped to “flag noncitizen voters” and explained that states are “required to conduct regular list maintenance to remove ineligible voters from the rolls.” Brennan Center for Justice, 3/1/24 (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/noncitizen-voting-illegal); The Associated Press, [9/9/24 (https://apnews.com/article/noncitizens-voting-republicans-election-2024-immigration-09b86e6768f755fd875f3c51b0e8ea70)]
There is no evidence that large numbers of unauthorized migrants are registering to vote or that expanded license eligibility for noncitizens increases fraudulent noncitizen voting.Election officials in Arizona, Texas, and Pennsylvania have debunked claims that Social Security Administration data shows a surge in the number of voters registering without a photo ID. As far as the impact of expanded license eligibility is concerned, according to the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, 17 states and the District of Columbia have expanded license eligibility and “have not reported non-citizens being illegally permitted to vote.” The Associated Press, 4/4/24 (https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-migrants-voter-registration-skyrocketing-905290261987), [10/17/22 (https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-elections-voting-immigration-licenses-872467507455)]
Congressional Republicans argue the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility — or SAVE — Act will put an end to noncitizen voting, even though the issue is virtually nonexistent. The bill has been described as the “‘great replacement’ theory … in legislation form.” Civil rights groups have also condemned the bill, saying it “seeks to intimidate members of immigrant communities and communities from exercising their lawful right to vote.” The Washington Post, 7/9/24 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/09/save-act-republican-voting-immigration/); Media Matters, [9/4/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/justice-civil-liberties/rep-chip-roy-says-election-deniers-and-project-2025-contributors-helped)]
Even data compiled by The Heritage Foundation shows that noncitizen voting is not a major problem. The Heritage Foundation maintains a database of 1,546 “proven instances of voter fraud.” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick examined the database for Immigration Impact and found that most involve U.S. citizens. “A close review of the cases in Heritage’s database reveal that the organization has documented just 68 total cases of noncitizen voting going back to the earliest cases documented in the 1980s. That’s less than 5% of the cases in their database, total. The remaining cases all involve U.S. citizens.” Immigration Impact, [8/1/24 (https://immigrationimpact.com/2024/08/01/myths-about-noncitizen-voting-heritage-foundation-data/)]
Fox News pushes a false narrative that illegal immigrants are coming in droves to vote in United States elections
Fox host Laura Ingraham and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) discussed the SAVE Act’s supposed purpose of preventing the “very serious problem” of noncitizen voting.Ingraham said, “Illegal immigrants pouring into the country — like we've lost that story in the last couple of weeks — but millions have come in, and let's say even a small, small percentage manages to vote — because they think they can, reasonably believe they're allowed to.” Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, [7/10/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023721)]
Host Sean Hannity claimed that in “states where you don't need proof of citizenship to get a license,” you “never have to require proof of citizenship” to register to vote. Former Trump adviser and frequent Fox guest Stephen Miller responded: “This is a conscious choice to let illegal aliens vote.” Fox News, Hannity, [7/10/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023722)]
Miller alleged that the Biden administration has “resettled” undocumented immigrants in “American cities and towns” to “interfere in the electoral process of the United States.”Miller further called it a “conspiracy” to “undermine the franchise rights of every American as the Biden administration fights relentlessly against verifying the citizenship of voters.” Fox News, Life, Liberty & Levin, [7/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023719)]
Fox News host Maria Bartiromo cited a debunked video she claimed “reveals 14 percent of illegal immigrants admitted that they are registered to vote.” The video, posted by The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, was described by The New York Times as “one of several misleading videos that the Heritage Foundation has pumped into social media feeds this year.” Despite the video’s claims, the Times reported that “state investigators found no evidence that any of the seven people on the tape had ever registered to vote.” Fox News, Sunday Morning Futures, 8/4/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023723), Twitter/X, 7/31/24 (https://x.com/OversightPR/status/1818762206806217099); Brennan Center for Justice, 9/10/24 (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/people-who-brought-you-project-2025-manufactured-evidence-voter-fraud); The New York Times, [9/7/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/07/us/politics/heritage-foundation-2024-campaign-immigration.html)]
- Ingraham, Miller, and Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich complained about Tim Walz signing a bill expanding driver’s license eligibility to undocumented immigrants, claiming it was a campaign strategy to receive more votes. Miller ranted, “When he talks about a legal pathway, what he is talking about is bringing in millions of illegal aliens with full amnesty, full government benefits, free health care.” Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, [8/6/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023724)]
Hannity asked: “If you have illegal immigrants given legal driver's licenses like Walz will give illegal immigrants in the sanctuary state that he loves of Minnesota, and free health care and free college education and you can get a license — once you have a legal license, can’t you register to vote?” Fox News, Hannity, [8/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023725)]
Fox News co-host Jeanine Pirro baselessly claimed that migrants are “lining up to vote right now, given driver's license, which is a point of identification where you can register to vote, and there are jurisdictions that actually want them to vote.”Fox News, Hannity, [8/9/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023717)]
Ingraham spread “great replacement” theory rhetoric, claiming that the Biden administration was naturalizing immigrants as citizens quickly in the hopes that they would be “repaid” by new citizens who “end up voting Democrat.”When asked about “the real objective” of the Biden administration, guest Stephen Miller stated, “Maximum migration with maximum speed. Their hope is that having a massive amount of unvetted migration into this country, it will tilt the scales to the left.” Miller then accused the Biden administration of naturalizing “criminal illegal aliens,” declaring, “They want illegal aliens to vote.” Fox News, The Ingraham Angle, 8/14/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023718); Media Matters, [9/11/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/new-york-times/trump-pushed-replacement-theory-during-debate-mainstream-media-fact-checks-sanitized)]
On his Premiere radio show, Hannity speculated about whether Democrats allowing undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses in Minnesota would “also allow them perhaps to maybe use that as ID to go and register to vote.”He also asked, “Why would any one major political party not want proof of citizenship? Because you need proof of citizenship for everything else in life.” Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, [8/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023720)]
Host Jesse Watters exaggerated the supposed threat of migrant voting by citing Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R-VA) and Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) respective announcements that they had purged voter rolls of thousands of ineligible voters in their states, complaining, “They keep saying it's illegal and it doesn't happen. But now Virginia and Texas have just found thousands of them.”In Virginia, after Youngkin signed an executive order that removed 6,303 noncitizens from the voter rolls, he did not clarify whether that number represented “noncitizens who actually voted or if there was an error and they later turned out to be citizens.” In Texas, Abott claimed to have removed 6,500 noncitizens, but as the Houston Chronicle noted, “Many of the governor’s 6,500 ‘potential noncitizens’ are most likely new U.S. citizens who didn’t verify their new status with the county’s election office within 30 days.” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 8/26/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023716); NBC News, 8/23/24 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/virginia-governor-youngkin-voter-purge-noncitizens-errors-election-rcna167925); Houston Chronicle, [9/4/24 (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/greg-abbott-voter-rolls-purge-fraud-noncitizen-19731078.php)]
Fox Business host Sean Duffy claimed, without evidence, that “there's been reports of illegals registering to vote, and there's help coming from the federal government, the state government, and NGOs.”Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller responded by pushing “great replacement” theory rhetoric: “And if you wonder — people always say, ‘Why did Kamala Harris allow 20 million illegals into the country?’ It's to try to get to this and to have them vote. Keep in mind, Sean, that in a lot of places around the country, Democrats are pushing to allow noncitizens to actually go and vote in local elections.” Fox News, Sunday Morning Futures, [9/1/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023715)]
Miller declared that the “illegal voting issue” was “a national crisis.”Miller claimed, “In all 50 states, illegal aliens can vote by checking a box on a federal form that says, ‘I'm a citizen.’ That attestation is not validated in any way — not with ID, not with a nationalization record, not with a birth certificate, not with a passport, not with anything. It is on the honor system.” Fox News,One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, [9/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/%E2%80%9Dhttps%3A//www.mediamatters.org/media/4023714%22)]
After 198 Democrats voted against the SAVE Act, Trump campaign senior adviser and Fox News guest Alina Habba stated: “The Democrats can't win lawfully, so they're trying to make sure that they turn their cheek the other way instead of enforcing the laws that require citizens to vote.” Fox News, Sunday Morning Futures, [9/8/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023728)]
Outnumbered co-host Emily Compagno suggested that undocumented immigrants are voting, saying, “And if you’re illegal, you’re voting a million times, too.”Fox News, Outnumbered, [9/11/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023713)]
After host Sandra Smith called the SAVE Act “pretty reasonable,” Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz inaccurately cited Texas to claim that “there have been thousands of instances” of noncitizen voting. In response to guest and former New York Democratic state senator David Carlucci noted that noncitizen voting is extremely rare, with even the right-wing Heritage Foundation documenting only 25 instances of prosecution for voter fraud in the last 20 years, Chaffetz cited Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) controversial removal of alleged noncitizens from the voter roll. Abbott did not provide any evidence that the alleged noncitizens had voted. Fox News, America Reports, 9/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023870); CNN, 9/12/24 (https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/12/politics/undocumented-immigrants-voting-what-matters/index.html); Houston Chronicle, [8/26/24 (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abbott-decries-noncitizen-voters-activists-19723919.php)]
---
rep. Chip Roy says election deniers and Project 2025 contributors helped draft SAVE Act
Civil rights groups have condemned the bill that would prohibit noncitizen voting, which is already illegal
Written by Madeline Peltz (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/madeline-peltz)
Research contributions from Sophie Lawton (https://www.mediamatters.org/author/sophie-lawton)
Published 09/04/24 mma
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), author of the SAVE Act — a bill that would (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-gop-hardliners-threaten-shutdown-over-voting-bill_n_66ba5d36e4b04b3eb251f670) bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something which is already illegal — appeared on Steve Bannon’s War Room and claimed he drafted the bill in collaboration with election deniers and Project 2025 allies. The House of Representatives is reportedly considering (https://punchbowl.news/article/house/johnson-cr-save-act-government-funding/) attaching the SAVE Act to a continuing resolution to fund the government, an effort that is unlikely to succeed.
Noncitizen voting is already illegal (https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/five-things-to-know-about-the-save-act/) and exceedingly rare (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/noncitizens-are-not-voting-federal-or-state-elections-heres-why). Civil rights groups have condemned (https://civilrights.org/resource/civil-rights-groups-letter-in-opposition-to-save-act-2/) the SAVE Act as “both unnecessary and dangerous”, saying the bill “seeks to intimidate members of immigrant communities and communities from exercising their lawful right to vote.”
“I drafted that bill in the spring alongside our good friends Stephen Miller, our good friends Hans Von Spakovsky, Cleta Mitchell, other good friends of President Trump and patriots across the country who have been fighting for election integrity for years,” he told guest host and former Trump staffer Kash Patel.
Video
CitationFrom the September 3, 2024, edition of Real America's Voice's War Room
Miller, Von Spakovsky, and Mitchell are all directly tied to Project 2025 (https://www.mediamatters.org/project-2025/definitive-guide-project-2025), the extreme right-wing initiative led by the Heritage Foundation that would provide policy and personnel to the next Republican administration.
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller is one of Trump’s longest serving advisers and speechwriters. He was behind (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/stephen-miller) some of the administration’s most notorious policies, including the so-called Muslim ban and family separation policy. After Trump’s defeat, Miller launched America First Legal (https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-millers-right-wing-lawsuit-machine-must-be-stopped?ref=scroll), a legal nonprofit attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion policies as part of the conservative culture wars.
Miller was directly involved in Project 2025 before recently attempting to distance himself (https://www.mediamatters.org/project-2025/stephen-miller-attempts-distance-himself-project-2025-after-appearing-recruitment). America First Legal was a member (https://www.heritage.org/press/2025-presidential-transition-project-forms-advisory-board-leading-conservative-partners) of the advisory board, and Miller appeared in a Project 2025 promotional video (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021691) for its Presidential Administration Academy, an effort to recruit MAGA activists into government service, which was posted in September 2023.
Miller, an anti-immigrant extremist (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/stephen-miller), has been a longtime proponent (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/non-citizens-are-not-voting-here-are-facts) of the myth of noncitizen voting. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Miller pushed (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/14/stephen-miller-is-fraud-who-should-just-go-away-already/) Trump’s fake electors scheme. In a December 2020 appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, he said, “We have more than enough time to right the wrong of this fraudulent election result and certify Donald Trump as the winner of the election.”
Hans Von Spakovsky
Hans von Spakovsky is a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025 author, who The Guardian has described (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/jul/10/voter-fraud-hans-von-spakovsky-project-2025) as having “decades-long career,” going back to the 2000 presidential contest, promoting “unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud.” According to ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/no-democrats-allowed-a-conservative-lawyer-holds-secret-voter-fraud-meetings-with-state-election-officials), von Spakovsky “is a leading purveyor of the notion that voter fraud is rampant, claims that have been largely discredited.”
During the 2000 election, he advised a group that was advocating for purging voter rolls and honored a company “responsible for erroneously scrubbing thousands of disproportionately minority voters from Florida’s rolls.” In 2008, von Spakovsky withdrew (https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2008/05/hans-von-spakovsky-withdraws-fec-nomination-008856) from consideration from an appointment to the Federal Elections Commission under President George W. Bush after Democrats refused to bring up his nomination for a vote due to his controversial and politicized views on election administration. According to The Guardian, several former colleagues at the Justice Department objected to his nomination, claiming he “played a major role in the implementation of practices which injected partisan political factors into decision-making on enforcement matters and into the hiring process”.
Von Spakovsky wrote (https://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/D8File/2024/03/26/2025_mandateforleadership_full.pdf#page=893) the chapter on the Federal Election Commission in the Project 2025 policy book Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise and has frequently appeared (https://www.podchaser.com/search/episodes/q/%22Hans%20von%20Spakovsky%22%20%22Project%202025%22) in the media to promote the project. He also has promoted (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4023318) the SAVE Act on War Room, claiming the Democrats’ answer that non-citizens voting is already a felony is a weak position by sarcastically saying, “I guess that means all our federal prisons must be empty because fear of the law is keeping all these criminals and other people from violating the law.”
Cleta Mitchell
Cleta Mitchell is a prominent election denier (https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/cleta-mitchell-couldnt-overturn-the-2020-election-so-now-shes-suppressing-voters/) and contributor to Mandate for Leadership (https://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/D8File/2024/03/26/2025_mandateforleadership_full.pdf). She was previously a lawyer (https://theintercept.com/2023/09/13/trump-indictment-cleta-mitchell-election/) for former President Donald Trump, and has been described (https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/11/politics/trump-allies-project-2025/index.html) as one of two “legal architects” of Trump’s “failed bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” She is also the founder of the Election Integrity Network (https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/cleta-mitchell-couldnt-overturn-the-2020-election-so-now-shes-suppressing-voters/) and a senior legal fellow at Conservative Partnership Institute. The Conservative Partnership Institute is a Project 2025 partner (https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/) organization, and Election Integrity Network was originally founded (https://documented.net/investigations/the-conservative-partnership-institutes-election-integrity-network-attack-on-voting-rights) as a project of CPI.
According to The Intercept (https://theintercept.com/2023/09/13/trump-indictment-cleta-mitchell-election/), Mitchell “played a central role” in Trump’s attempt to block Georgia’ certification of the 2020 presidential election.
Mitchell was reportedly (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/30/us/politics/republican-poll-monitors-election-activists.html) responsible for recruiting discredited lawyer John Eastman to Trump’s campaign in August 2020. Eastman went on to draft (https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/20/politics/trump-pence-election-memo/index.html) the memo that created the predicate for Trump to contest the election in the House of Representatives on January 6, 2021.
She also reportedly (https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/politics/trump-mitchell-georgia-election/index.html) “helped funnel money to groups working on the partisan Arizona ballot review that Trump and his allies have twisted to advance their false narrative” about voter fraud.
On a February 2024 appearance (https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238102501/noncitizen-voting-immigration-conspiracy-theory) on a right-wing radio program, Mitchell said Democrats want to garner votes in the presidential election through undocumented people voting, baselessly claiming it is “one of the reasons the Biden administration is allowing all these illegals to flood the country.”
The SAVE Act passed (https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/house-gop-advances-nationwide-proof-of-citizenship-and-d-c-noncitizen-voting-bills/) the House in July 2024. President Joe Biden has promised to veto the bill.
---
Rep. Chip Roy says election deniers and Project 2025 contributors helped draft SAVE Act (https://www.mediamatters.org/justice-civil-liberties/rep-chip-roy-says-election-deniers-and-project-2025-contributors-helped)
09/04/24 mma
---
---
an 8 24
Former Donald Trump (https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump) senior adviser Stephen Miller made baseless claims about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's record on immigration during an interview with Fox News Tuesday.
"He is the biggest booster in the whole country for unlimited refugee resettlement," Miller, who helped to shape the Trump administration's immigration policies, said. "That means under the Harris/Walz plan, they’re going to turn the entire Midwest into Mogadishu."
Miller added, "That's their plan. That's their policy. I don't think there's a market for that in the United States of America."
READ MORE:Fox News host schools panel on Walz’s record: 'Something Vance wishes he were' (https://www.alternet.org/tim-walz-jd-vance/)
Responding to a video of the interview on social media, MSNBC's Katie Phang replied: "Wut?"
USA Today columnist Rex Huppke replied (https://x.com/RexHuppke/status/1820971464104755591): GOOD MESSAGING! DEFINITELY GO WITH THIS, PERSON WHO FOR SURE DOESN'T HAVE AN ATTIC FULL OF EXTREMELY CREEPY DOLLS!
Mehdi Hasan wrote: (https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1821006748183933098) "Under the Trump Miller plan, they’re going to turn the entire United States into a fascist dystopia."
Last June, Vanity Fair noted (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/06/stephen-miller-migrant-boats) that Miller "was the architect (https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/23/politics/stephen-miller-immigration-family-separation/index.html) of the Trump administration’s family-separation plan," managed "a program in which literal infants were taken from their parents (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/10/trump-administration-child-separation), a policy the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics said amounted to 'government-sanctioned child abuse (https://thehill.com/latino/392790-american-academy-of-pediatrics-president-trumps-family-separation-policy-is-child/)'," and was even "said to 'actually enjoy (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/06/stephen-miller-family-separation-white-house)' seeing photos of families being separated at the border."
READ MORE:'Are you guys gonna get this guy the help?' Experts raise alarm over Trump’s latest off-the-rails post (https://www.alternet.org/trump-truth-social-biden/)
Furthermore, earlier this year, Axios reported (https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/trump-reverse-racism-civil-rights) that if Trump wins the White House in November, Miller plans to head a program that would "focus on 'anti-white racism' rather than discrimination against people of color."
Watch the video below or at this link (https://www.alternet.org/stephen-miller-midwest-mogadishu/).
---
new democ docket
how-stephen-miller-is-using-america-first-legal-to-assail-voting-rights (https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/how-stephen-miller-is-using-america-first-legal-to-assail-voting-rights/)
when Stephen Miller, a notorious top advisor to former President Donald Trump, launched America First Legal (AFL) in April of 2021, he didn’t mince words about the nascent organization’s mission.
“For too long, conservative and traditionalist Americans have been outflanked, outspent, out-organized, and outmaneuvered by radical progressive legal organizations,” Miller wrote in a statement (https://aflegal.org/senior-trump-officials-launch-america-first-legal-foundation/) announcing the group’s launch. “Those looking to hold the new administration in Washington to account finally have their answer. Our self-imposed policy of legal disarmament is now over.”
In the last three years, Miller and AFL have made good on their promise to wage a legal war against all things progressive: the group has filed (https://aflegal.org/litigation/) dozens of legal actions against “woke corporations,” civil rights, LGBTQ rights, abortion rights and just about any other cause championed by the left. These include a myriad of lawsuits against some of the world’s biggest corporations — like their lawsuit against Nike (https://aflegal.org/america-first-legal-slams-nike-files-federal-civil-rights-complaint-for-alleged-racial-and-sex-discrimination-against-white-males/) that alleges the company discriminates against white males, or their Mattel (https://aflegal.org/america-first-legal-files-federal-civil-rights-complaints-against-americas-largest-toy-companies-for-illegal-racial-discrimination-and-promoting-a-radical-lgbt-agenda/) lawsuit that accuses the massive toy company of “promoting a radical LGBT+ agenda” — whose success rate is hard to measure.
As the New York Times put it in a recent profile (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/us/politics/stephen-miller-america-first-legal.html) of the group, “assessing its success rate is more complicated, partly because many of the group’s cases are still pending, while the [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] does not publicize which complaints it investigates.”
But suing corporations, colleges and other organizations over “woke” policies is just part and parcel of AFL’s large-scale, well-funded legal operation. Apart from the buzzy lawsuits inspired by the latest right-wing bogeymen, Miller and his legal team have launched an all-out assault against President Joe Biden (https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/14/politics/stephen-miller-america-first-legal-biden-initiatives/index.html), suing the administration over its border and immigration policies (https://aflegal.org/litigation/texas-v-walensky-et-al-title-42-case/), economic initiatives (https://aflegal.org/afl-files-a-motion-for-a-preliminary-injunction-and-class-certification-in-usda-racially-based-debt-relief-program/) and Second Amendment restrictions (https://aflegal.org/litigation/cargill-v-atf/).
More recently, and more concerning, AFL has quietly set their sights on challenging election and voting policies in Arizona and Pennsylvania — two key states whose election results could flip the overall presidential election one way or another. In Pennsylvania, the group filed lawsuits in 2022 challenging the use of dropboxes in Chester (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/pennsylvania-chester-county-drop-box-challenge/) and Lehigh (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/pennsylvania-lehigh-county-drop-box-challenge/) Counties. Though both lawsuits were eventually dismissed, they’re prime examples of AFL’s attempts to find opportunities to legally disrupt the elections process.
In Arizona, however, AFL is currently engaged in a legal pursuit challenging the election administration procedures (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/arizona-counties-election-administration-challenge/) in three key Arizona counties — Coconino, Maricopa and Yavapai. The lawsuit alleges that election officials in all three counties are violating numerous state laws and regulations concerning signature verification, voter registration cancellation and drop boxes, among other alleged election administration infringements.
The lawsuit caught the attention of two pro-voting groups — the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans (AARA) and Voto Latino — who filed (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-04-09-Arizona-Alliance-for-Retired-Americans-and-Voto-Latinos-motion-to-dismiss.pdf) a motion to intervene and have the lawsuit dismissed. They’re serious allegations that, should their lawsuit succeed, could potentially disenfranchise two-thirds of Arizona voters, the groups warned.
The Right-Wing Answer to the ACLU
Adorned on the homepage of America First Legal’s website is a stern photo of Miller (https://aflegal.org/), Trump’s former advisor who allegedly has white nationalist ties (https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/12/trumps-newest-senior-adviser-seen-ally-white-nationalists/) and is said to be the mastermind behind some of the former president’s harshest (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316816-scarborough-singles-out-stephen-miller-for-power-trip-with-handling/) immigration (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/us/politics/family-separation-trump.html) policies (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/politics/refugees-revenue-cost-report-trump.html). Next to the photo is a quote from Miller, describing AFL as the “long-awaited answer to the ACLU” and promises “relentless litigation and oversight [to] America First, Last, and Always.”
For such lofty ambitions, AFL stacked its leadership with a rogue’s gallery of former Trump officials and prominent conservative figures when it launched in 2021, according (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862190372/202213199349322976/full) to its founding year tax filing. In addition to Miller, there’s Gene Hamilton, a Department of Justice counselor during the Trump administration, former Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, former Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) CEO and President Ed Corrigan and CPI Chief Operating Officer Wesley Denton.
And then there’s former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who’s been indicted in both Arizona (https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-allies-indicted-in-arizona-for-attempting-to-overturn-2020-election/) and Georgia (https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/former-president-donald-trump-indicted-for-the-fourth-time-this-time-in-fulton-county-georgia/) for his role in Trump’s plot to overturn the 2020 election. Both Denton and Meadows were no longer listed as key employees in AFL’s 2022 tax filing (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862190372/202323199349307967/full), though the organization added venture capitalist and failed Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters as a director, who is listed as working for one hour a week with no compensation.
With such a deep roster of noted former Trump officials and well-connected right-wing figures, AFL has devoted its resources to delivering on its promise to be the right-wing answer to the ACLU. That includes its myriad lawsuits challenging the “woke” policies of corporations like Disney (https://aflegal.org/america-first-legal-files-federal-civil-rights-complaint-against-the-walt-disney-company-for-illegal-race-and-sex-discrimination/), Amazon (https://aflegal.org/litigation/bolduc-v-amazon/), Meta (https://aflegal.org/litigation/harker-v-meta-platforms-inc-et-al/) and Target (https://aflegal.org/litigation/brian-craig-v-target-corporation-et-al/). But its main focus has been Biden, and the group has proved to be a thorn in the administration’s side, with a few key court wins that reversed a few important Biden policies.
The most notable lawsuit is one that AFL filed (https://aflegal.org/america-first-legal-sues-biden-admin-to-end-racial-discrimination-against-farmers-and-ranchers/) in 2021 against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) over a debt relief program for minority farmers. A part of Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 earmarked (https://sewell.house.gov/debt-relief-for-black-farmers#::text=DEBT%20PAYMENTS%20FAQs-,Debt%20Relief%20for%20Black%20Farmers,ARP%20%28as%20of%20May%202021%29&text=The%20American%20Rescue%20Plan%20includes,for%20certain%20USDA%20farm%20loans.) $4 billion in debt forgiveness for Black and Indigenous farmers, along with $1 billion set aside for training and technical assistance to Black and other farmers of color. But AFL sued the USDA over the policy, alleging that the policy discriminates against farmers by race. The lawsuit eventually led to an injunction (https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/politics/florida-usda-debt-relief-farmers-of-color/index.html) that blocked eligible farmers from receiving debt relief payments.
Elsewhere, AFL has succeeded in suing to halt some Covid-19 relief funds (https://aflegal.org/biden-administration-caves-in-response-to-afl-lawsuit-will-end-unconstitutional-racial-preferences-in-the-restaurant-revitalization-fund/) specifically for women, veteran and minority business owners, as well as disbanding (https://aflegal.org/major-victory-biden-administration-disbands-illegal-and-partisan-parents-council-after-afl-sues/) a Department of Education council created to facilitate the relationship (https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-creates-national-parents-and-families-engagement-council-help-ensure-recovery-efforts-meet-students%E2%80%99-needs) between schools and parents.
To fund such a widespread legal effort isn’t cheap. In 2021, its first year of existence, AFL pulled in a little over $6 million in revenue, according (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862190372/202213199349322976/full) to its tax filing for that year. That number ballooned to more than $44 million in 2022 (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862190372/202323199349307967/full). Because AFL is registered as a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, it does not have to disclose its donors but, as Mother Jones reported (https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/bradly-impact-fund-michael-flynn-stephen-miller-culture-war-project-veritas-american-first-legal-cpi/), a majority of the group’s revenue that year — $27 million — came from a single donor: The Bradley Impact Fund (https://www.monitoringinfluence.org/org/bradley-foundation-bradley-impact-fund/), a major right-wing donor group that, over the years, has given more than a billion dollars to help fund conservative political efforts.
Setting Sights on Arizona
Of the hundreds of lawsuits and legal actions AFL filed in its three years of existence, it’s only been involved in four election-related lawsuits — the two drop box challenges in Pennsylvania, the Arizona lawsuit, and a denied petition (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Cert-denied.pdf) in a lawsuit (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/pennsylvania-impasse-litigation/) to ensure Pennsylvania’s new congressional districts were in place for the 2022 midterm elections. Which makes its current lawsuit in Arizona all the more interesting — and concerning
In early February, AFL filed (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/arizona-maricopa-county-elections-administration-challenge/) a curious lawsuit in Maricopa County on behalf of the civic action nonprofit organization Strong Communities of Arizona, Inc. The lawsuit challenged (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-02-06-Complaint.pdf)the county’s election administration procedures, alleging that election officials violated a number of state election laws and regulations.
Weeks after filing the lawsuit, AFL voluntarily dismissed (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Strong-Communities-Foundation-v-Maricopa-County-Notice-of-Dismissal.pdf) it and filed (https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/arizona-counties-election-administration-challenge/) an almost identical one, though broadening the scope to include Coconino and Yavapai Counties. Like the previous lawsuit, the new one alleged (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-02-23-Complaint-for-Special-Action-Relief34.pdf) that election officials in all three counties violated state laws and regulations in their election administration procedures. The new lawsuit was filed in the more conservative Yavapai County instead of Maricopa County, a tactic known as “forum shopping” (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/forum_shopping) to increase the chances of a more favorable ruling.
According to AFL’s lawsuit (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-02-23-Complaint-for-Special-Action-Relief34.pdf), 55% of Arizona voters “believe it is likely that problems with the 2022 election in Maricopa County affected the outcome,” and that the 2022 election “was marred by ‘widespread failures’ and ‘technical problems’ that led to ‘the anger and frustration of voters who were subjected to inconvenience and confusion at voter centers’” in all three counties. The lawsuit then goes on to describe a litany of alleged election violations made by election officials in the three counties related to chain of custody procedures, ballot reconciliation, signature verification, ballot curing, voter registration cancellations and drop boxes.
The lawsuit also alleges that Maricopa County allowed voters to cast ballots in 2022 at illegal voting centers situated across Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, which put white and Native American voters at a disadvantage. Finally, the lawsuit claims (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-02-23-Complaint-for-Special-Action-Relief34.pdf) officials in Coconino and Yavapai Counties “expressly stated they do not intend to follow the letter of the law in the administration of the 2024 election. The Coconino and Yavapai Defendants unlawfully maintain unstaffed drop boxes. They do not follow proper curing procedures. They have been unlawfully canceling voter registration of qualified Coconino and Yavapai County electors. And their signature verification procedures are unlawful. Such brazen violations of Arizona’s law undermine public confidence in the administration of elections.”
They’re big claims, but so far AFL has been somewhat unsuccessful in their attempt to have them heard in a more sympathetic court. On May 1, the Maricopa County defendants asked the Arizona Court of Appeals to let the lawsuit play out in their jurisdiction, rather than in Yavapai County. The appeals court granted (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-05-30-Memorandum-Decision.pdf) the request, essentially thwarting AFL’s attempt to forum shop. But AFL appealed that decision to the Arizona Supreme Court, in hopes they’ll agree to let the lawsuit continue in Yavapai County.
So why all the effort just to get this lawsuit heard by a judge in the more conservative district? Because, should AFL succeed, it could have vast implications in the election come November. In their motion to intervene in AFL’s lawsuit, the pro-voting groups AARA and Voto Latino wrote (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pages-from-2024-02-29-Proposed-Intervenor-Defendants-AARA-and-VLs-MT-Intervene10-2WM.pdf) that AFL’s claims are “wholly without merit” and “hinge on the groundless suggestion that Arizona county election officials are systematically violating state law, and they assume, based on nothing more than pure conjecture, that these invented problems will persist in the 2024 elections.”
It sets a dangerous precedent, the groups argue, and most concerningly, should AFL’s lawsuit prove successful, “many of Arizona’s most fundamental election procedures will be declared unlawful, enjoined, and significantly changed.”
---
:
mma 7 24
During the June 27 CNN presidential election debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Trump made false and misleading claims about immigration and migrants seemingly drawn straight from the right-wing media echo chambers.
Trump falsely claimed that Biden “wants open borders” and “wants our country to … be destroyed,” as migrants are supposedly violent criminals stealing American jobs. He also pushed the “great replacement” theory, saying Biden wants to import migrants to vote Democratic.
Below are some of Trump’s debate claims and recent instances of right-wing media making the same points.
Claim: Biden has opened up the border
During the debate, Trump claimed that Biden “decided to open up our border, open up our country” and said he wants “open borders.” CNN [6/27/24 (https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/27/politics/read-biden-trump-debate-rush-transcript/index.html)]
Numerous debunks have explained that the U.S. border is not open.NPR, 6/28/24 (https://www.npr.org/2024/06/28/nx-s1-5021996/presidential-debate-fact-check-immigration); The Nation, 11/22/23 (https://www.thenation.com/article/world/biden-mexico-border-detention/); Axios, 10/17/23 (https://www.axios.com/2023/10/17/us-mexico-border-open-borders-myth); Newsweek, [1/24/22 (https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-doesnt-have-open-border-policy-so-why-do-republicans-say-otherwise-1672356)]
Fox News host Sean Hannity claimed that “there are terror cells here because of [Biden’s] wide-open borders — 11 million unvetted people from countries with terrorist ties and our top geopolitical foes.” Hannity also said Biden has “blood on his hands.” Fox News, Hannity, [6/24/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021530)]
After the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed, Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo suggested it could be due to a “wide-open border.” Although she acknowledged that the White House issued a statement “saying that there is no indication of a nefarious intent,” she went on to discuss “the potential for wrongdoing or potential for foul play given the wide-open border.” Fox Business, Mornings with Maria, [3/26/24 (https://x.com/atrupar/status/1772619621457154389?s=20)]
Fox guest T.W. Shannon said that Biden’s “open border” is “poisoning the bloodline in this country because we’re allowing illegals to vote.” Fox News, The Faulkner Focus, [4/10/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-guest-bidens-border-policies-are-poisoning-bloodline-country)]
Fox guest Sheriff Mark Dannels said that we’ve had “three and a half years of leaving the border open.”He continued, “People come into the country that don't respect our cultures, our rule of law, and the people within.” Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, [6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/charles-payne/fox-business-charles-payne-says-immigrants-should-be-somewhere-building-their-own)]
The Real America’s Voice X account posted, “Joe Biden and his administration, along with Obama, are using the open border as a tool to allow millions of immigrants and God only knows how many terrorists in to the country.” Twitter/X, [6/19/24 (https://x.com/RealAmVoice/status/1803620033081590073)]
Fox News contributor Larry Kudlow penned a Fox News online op-ed titled “Biden's open border is killing innocent Americans.” Kudlow claimed, “Brutal gang warfare has come across the southern border into our sanctuary cities where blue state mayors and governors will not, in most cases, cooperate with border authorities to deport them.” Fox News, [6/18/24 (https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/larry-kudlow-bidens-open-border-killing-innocent-americans?intcmp=tw_fbn)]
Claim: Biden wants to import migrants as voters
At the debate, Trump claimed Biden “wants open borders. He wants our country to either be destroyed or he wants to pick up those people as voters."CBS News, [6/28/24 (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-presidential-debate-2024-fact-check/)]
In recent years, right-wing media have been pushing the xenophobic “great replacement” conspiracy theory, which alleges that “elites” encourage illegal immigration to bring nonwhite people into the country to “replace” white voters. This false narrative has led to real-world violence, including mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Media Matters, 5/15/23 (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-uses-end-title-42-spread-great-replacement-theory-rhetoric), 1/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/immigration/election-ramps-right-wing-media-increasingly-turn-racist-and-antisemitic-great); Southern Poverty Law Center, [5/12/23 (https://www.splcenter.org/news/2023/05/11/buffalo-massacre-year-later)]
Fox News contributor Paul Mauro asked, “Does it not seem like we’ve hit a point where somebody in Washington has made a decision that there is an acceptable level of collateral damage in order to get a permanent Democratic voting bloc into this country?”The discussion was around the killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray that led to the arrest of two recent Venezuelan migrants. Mauro also suggested that if migrants “were calculated to vote Republican, the [border] wall would be 60 feet high.” Fox News, Outnumbered, 6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021381); The New York Times, [6/25/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/us/houston-venezuelan-immigrants-murder-jocelyn-nungaray.html)]
Turning Post USA’s Charlie Kirk claimed that “the left” “won't stop until you and your children and your children's children are eliminated.”Kirk also said, “They hate those of you that own land and have guns and believe in a better country, and they have a plan to try and get rid of you.” Real America’s Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, [3/1/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-pushes-great-replacement-conspiracy-they-wont-stop-until-you-and-your)]
Fox host Jesse Watters alleged that the “far left” wants an “illegal alien nation where they can blow up the welfare state and just increase their political power. Same with the corporate class.” Fox News, The Five, [6/12/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021373)]
Pro-Trump troll Laura Loomer claimed that “to the radical left, the replacement of the American core is essential to their ideology and their communist takeover of America.” She went on to say that Biden and the radical left view “traditional America” as something to be “destroyed and relegated to the dustbin of history.” Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, [6/6/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021385)]
Claim: Migrants are violent criminals, and millions are coming from jails and mental institutions in South America
Trump said at the debate, “Because of his [Biden’s] ridiculous, insane and very stupid policies, people are coming in and killing our citizens at a level we’ve never — we call it migrant crime. I’d call it Biden-migrant crime.” The New York Times, [6/27/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/27/us/biden-trump-debate-fact-check#he-allowed-millions-of-people-to-come-in-here-from-prisons-jails-and-mental-institutions-to-come-into-our-country-and-destroy-ou)]
Trump also said that Biden “allowed millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails, and mental institutions — to come into our country and destroy our country.” Trump made similar claims on at least three occasions in 2023, according to CNN, which reported that he “claimed the leaders of unnamed South American countries are deliberately emptying their ‘insane asylums’ and ‘mental institutions’ to send the patients to the United States as migrants.” His campaign was unsuccessful in finding evidence for the claim. Trump made a similar claim in February, saying that “jails … throughout the world” are “emptying out” because countries are “dumping” migrants here and that others are coming from “mental institutions and … insane asylums.” The New York Times, 6/27/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/27/us/biden-trump-debate-fact-check#he-allowed-millions-of-people-to-come-in-here-from-prisons-jails-and-mental-institutions-to-come-into-our-country-and-destroy-ou); CNN, 4/29/23 (https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/29/politics/fact-check-trump-mental-institutions-migrants-doctor/index.html), [2/29/24 (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/politics/fact-check-trump-biden-border-speech/index.html)]
Studies show no link between immigration and high levels of crime, and evidence shows immigrants are less likely to commit crime than U.S.-born citizens. According to the Brennan Center, “Numerous studies show that immigration is not linked to higher levels of crime, but rather the opposite. Studies [also show] … immigration is associated with lower crime rates and an increase in structural factors — such as social connection and economic opportunity — that are linked to neighborhood safety.” NPR, 3/8/24 (https://www.npr.org/2024/03/08/1237103158/immigrants-are-less-likely-to-commit-crimes-than-us-born-americans-studies-find); Brennan Center for Justice, [5/29/24 (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/debunking-myth-migrant-crime-wave)]
Border security expert Adam Isacson told PolitiFact that “‘millions’ would mean one in eight was someone released from a jail or a mental institution, a claim too ridiculous to dignify.”He also said that it “‘strains belief’ … that someone with serious mental illness could navigate the route to the U.S. after release from an institution.” Politifact, [6/6/24 (https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/jun/06/donald-trump/fact-check-trumps-ridiculous-claim-that-millions-o/)]
Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller claimed on Fox that migrants are “above the law” and “being dumped into this country by the millions as they rape and pillage and murder.”Miller continued, “Joe Biden’s flying them in day after day, busing them in, escorting them in to rape and pillage and murder more Americans.” Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, [6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021230)]
Loomer said the migrant “invaders” “just disappear … only to be seen again when their faces are plastered on the news after they commit heinous crimes like murder, rape, human trafficking, assault, and drug dealing.” Loomer also suggested that Democrats embrace immigration because they want “white America” to be “punished by being replaced.” Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, [6/7/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021385)]
Tomi Lahren of Fox’s OutKick said that migrants including men from “Venezuelan gangs” in the U.S. are “preying on young women” and targeting them because they are “the most vulnerable among us.” Fox News, Outnumbered, [6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021380)]
Watters said Biden is “catching and releasing killers and rapists,” saying they’re “serial sexual predators, they’re serial killers, and they don't belong here.These are third world animals.” Watters also claimed, “Biden migrants are exploding all inside our country like IEDs. It feels like a terror attack to me.” Fox News, The Five, [6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021356)]
In a discussion about the killing of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose alleged attackers were migrants, Fox news host Lawrence Jones claimed, “They’ve emptied the jails and now we have to deal with it.” Fox News, Fox & Friends, [6/26/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021493)]
Jones also complained that people are calling “the former president crazy for saying they were emptying their jails, and what do you know, Venezuela, crime rate is going down.” While talking about the killing of Rachel Morin, allegedly by an immigrant, Jones continued, “There is actual proof of people that have criminal records, that have committed murders in their country now coming to our country to do the same thing.” Fox News, Fox & Friends, [6/21/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021492)]
Fox News contributor Tyrus claimed,“They are emptying their jails and their psych asylums to America and we don't have asylums for anybody.”He added: “The floodgates are wide open.” Fox News, Gutfeld!, [6/24/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021491)]
Claim: Migrants are stealing jobs from Americans
In the debate, Trump claimed that migrants “are taking Black jobs and they’re taking Hispanic jobs. And you haven’t seen it yet.” The New York Times, [6/27/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/27/us/biden-trump-debate-fact-check#he-allowed-millions-of-people-to-come-in-here-from-prisons-jails-and-mental-institutions-to-come-into-our-country-and-destroy-ou)]|}:
Research is mixed on the impacts of migrants on jobs, but some research shows that “immigrants raise wages and boost the employment of U.S.-born workers.” Forbes reported on research that looked at 2000-2019, also noting: “Even simulations for the most recent 2019-2022 period suggest small positive effects on wages of non-college natives and no significant crowding out effects on employment.” Additionally, as Brookings senior fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown explained in 2017, “Undocumented workers often work the unpleasant, back-breaking jobs that native-born workers are not willing to do.” The New York Times’ fact check of the debate says that “whether or not immigrants depress wages or displace some workers has been examined by economists for decades, and there is no clear conclusion.” Forbes, 5/1/24 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2024/05/01/immigrants-raise-wages-and-boost-employment-of-us-born-workers/); Brookings Institution, 8/24/17 (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/do-immigrants-steal-jobs-from-american-workers/); The New York Times, [6/27/24 (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/27/us/biden-trump-debate-fact-check#he-allowed-millions-of-people-to-come-in-here-from-prisons-jails-and-mental-institutions-to-come-into-our-country-and-destroy-ou)]
Right-wing media have been lying for at least a decade about migrants stealing jobs from U.S. workers.Media Matters reports from 2013 and 2015 gathered right-wing media commentary claiming migrants steal U.S. worker jobs, countering that “there is no evidence that immigrants crowd out U.S.-born workers in either the short or long run.” Media Matters, 2/1/13 (https://www.mediamatters.org/lou-dobbs/10-myths-conservative-media-will-use-against-immigration-reform#anchor4), [10/27/15 (https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/memo-cnbc-debate-moderators-dont-fall-these-right-wing-media-myths-about-economic)]
Right-wing influencer Amuse posted that “military aged” Chinese migrants “are here to steal our jobs, our information, our welfare benefits, our elections, and our freedom.” Twitter/X, [2/5/24 (https://x.com/amuse/status/1754484865511137707)]
Fox Business host Sean Duffy said, “The Biden White House keeps bragging about the strong economy, pointing to the job market as evidence, … but a closer look under the hood reveals that all those job gains — they’re going to immigrants.” Duffy’s co-host Dagen McDowell further added: “Why are all the jobs going to these people and not people born here in the United States? Hmm. Is it DEI? Maybe.” Fox Business, The Bottom Line, [2/14/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4016646)]
The Center for Immigration Studies’ Steven Camarota wrote a piece for The New York Post complaining that “job gains are going to immigrants, and keeping young US-born men out of the workforce.”Camarota further claimed, “Allowing millions of immigrants into the country to fill lower-wage jobs means we have little incentive to undertake the difficult task of getting more men back into jobs.” The New York Post, [2/13/24 (https://nypost.com/2024/02/13/opinion/job-gains-are-going-to-immigrants-and-keeping-young-us-born-men-out-of-the-workforce/)]
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo said, “When you look at the jobs numbers, they look really strong -- they do -- every month. We seem to have a strong jobs market. But when you peel back the onion, a lot of those jobs are going to noncitizens; a lot of those jobs are part time.” Fox News, America’s Newsroom, [6/20/24 (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/4021494)]
---
---
Hamilton’s relationship with the Heritage Foundation has continued. In March, he participated (https://www.heritage.org/immigration/event/virtual-event-battling-the-biden-border-crisis) in a panel discussion on the “Biden border crisis” hosted by Carafano, alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. ToHamilton’s relationship with the Heritage Foundation has continued. In March, he participated (https://www.heritage.org/immigration/event/virtual-event-battling-the-biden-border-crisis) in a panel discussion on the “Biden border crisis” hosted by Carafano, alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Tom McClintock of California.m McClintock of California.
resources:
https://www.americanoversight.org/investigation/stephen-millers-influence-on-immigration-policy-and-throughout-the-administration
---
SIO ATTACK
ggl 6 24
Trump adviser Stephen Miller's law firm filed a First Amendment lawsuit in May 2023 against the Observatory, Stamos, DiResta and others; it is still pending. In a joint statement, Stamos and DiResta said that their work involved much more than elections and that they had been unfairly maligned.Jun 14, 2024
Stanford's top disinformation research group collapses under ...
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com › ... › Tech Policy
The Stanford Internet Observatory's future is uncertain
NPR
https://www.npr.org › 2024/06/14 › a-major-disinform...
Jun 14, 2024 — Stanford University pushed back against the idea that SIO is being ... First Legal, an organization run by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller.
Stanford Internet Observatory wilts under legal pressure
The Register
https://www.theregister.com › 2024/06/14 › stanford_in...
Jun 14, 2024 — Last summer the panel demanded documents from SIO related to its online speech moderation efforts and threatened legal action for non-compliance ...
The Destruction of a Research Group at Stanford Marks ...
NYU
https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu › quick-take › the-destruction-...
Jun 17, 2024 — Two ongoing lawsuits and two congressional inquiries into the Observatory have cost Stanford millions of dollars in legal fees, one [source] ...
G.O.P. Targets Researchers Who Study Disinformation ...
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com › 2023/06/19 › technology
Jun 19, 2023 — The group behind the class action, America First Legal, named as defendants two researchers at the Stanford Internet Observatory, Alex Stamos ...
Future unclear for Stanford disinformation research group ...
San Francisco Chronicle
https://www.sfchronicle.com › Bay Area
Jun 14, 2024 — Stanford University denies reports that it has shut down a research group that studied internet disinformation and election interference ...
Jim Jordan Celebrates Reported Shuttering of Stanford ' ...
National Review
https://www.nationalreview.com › news › free-speech-...
Jun 14, 2024 — The Stanford Internet Observatory, a group that studies so ... Miller, filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the observatory in May 2023.
America First Legal Files Landmark Federal Class-Action ...
America First Legal
https://aflegal.org › america-first-legal-files-landmark-fe...
May 2, 2023 — This historic lawsuit alleges that these parties conspired with the federal government to conduct a mass surveillance and censorship operation ...
Case 3:23-cv-00571 Document 1 Filed 05/02/23 Page 1 of ...
America First Legal
https://aflegal.org › 2023/05 › Doc-1-Complaint
May 2, 2023 — Stanford Internet Observatory, and of its director and staff. 15. Defendant Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University is ...
88 pages
The Stanford Internet Observatory is being dismantled
Election Law Blog
https://electionlawblog.org › ...
Jun 14, 2024 — Stanford disputes the characterization, but if this report is true, that's a disturbing and unfortunate loss to the study of online ..
---
https://aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Doc-1-Complaint.pdf}:
AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
/s/ Gene P. Hamilton
Gene P. Hamilton, GA Bar No. 516201*
:{:{Reed D. Rubinstein, DC Bar No. 400153 cause of action koch whore}:
Nicholas R. Barry, TN Bar No. 031963* nicholas-barry-65991229 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229/)
Michael Ding, DC Bar No. 1027252*
Juli Z. Haller, DC Bar No. 466921* DISBAR dc?
:{:{James K. Rogers, AZ Bar No. 027287}:
:{:{Andrew J. Block, VA Bar No. 91537 andrew-block-4a911044 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044/) LI}:
611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #231
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 964-3721
gene.hamilton@aflegal.org
reed.rubinstein@aflegal.org
nicholas.bary@aflegal.org
michael.ding@aflegal.org
juli.haller@aflegal.org
james.rogers@aflegal.org
andrew.block@aflegal.org
JAMES OTIS LAW GROUP, LLC
/s/ D. John Sauer
D. John Sauer, Mo. Bar No. 58721*
Justin D. Smith, Mo. Bar No. 63253*
13321 North Outer Forty Road, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri 63017
(314) 562-0031
John.Sauer@james-otis.com
pro hac vice forthcoming
GGL 6 24
D. John Sauer}:
The Federalist Society
https://fedsoc.org › contributors › d-john-sauer](https://fedsoc.org/contributors/d-john-sauer)
[
John Sauer has served as the Solicitor General of Missouri since 2017. Before that, he served as a federal prosecutor for five years and spent time in civil ...
Missing: Bar 58721
[### D. John Sauer
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › D.John_Sauer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.John_Sauer)
Dean John Sauer (born November 13, 1974) is an American lawyer who previously served as Solicitor General of Missouri and Deputy Attorney General for ...
dean John Sauer (born November 13, 1974) is an American lawyer who previously served as Solicitor General of Missouri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solicitor_General_of_Missouri) and Deputy Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_Attorney_General) for Special Litigation in the U.S. state (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) of Missouri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri).
Education[
Sauer was born on November 13, 1974. He attended Saint Louis Priory School (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Priory_School), a Catholic secondary day school for boys in Creve Coeur, Missouri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creve_Coeur,Missouri), run by the Benedictine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedictine) monks of Saint Louis Abbey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Abbey). He then attended Duke University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_University), graduating in 1997 with a double Bachelor of Arts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts) in philosophy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy) and Bachelor of Science (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Engineering) in electrical engineering (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_engineering). He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_Scholarship) to attend the University of Oxford (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford), where he received a Bachelor of Arts in theology (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology) from Oriel College (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriel_College,Oxford),\1] and he then earned a Master of Arts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Arts) in philosophy from the [University of Notre Dame (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Notre_Dame).[2]
Sauer then attended Harvard Law School (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_School), where he was an articles editor of the Harvard Law Review (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_Review). He graduated in 2004 with a Juris Doctor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor), magna cum laude (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_honors#United_States).[3]
Legal career[
After law school, Sauer was a law clerk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_clerk) to Judge J. Michael Luttig (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Michael_Luttig) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Fourth_Circuit) from 2004 to 2005 and to Justice Antonin Scalia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonin_Scalia) of the Supreme Court of the United States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) from 2005 to 2006.
Sauer worked as a litigation associate at Cooper & Kirk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_%26_Kirk) and then became an Assistant United States Attorney (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_United_States_Attorney) for the Eastern District of Missouri (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Eastern_District_of_Missouri). He later reentered private practice.[4]
In 2015, Sauer defended a priest accused of sexually abusing children. Sauer helped the priest sue his accusers, including the alleged victim's mother.[5] Father Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang had been accused of two separate instances of sexual abuse, but prosecutors eventually dropped all charges in both cases. Sauer prevailed in the civil lawsuits related to the accusations.[6]
In January 2017, then-Missouri Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Attorney_General) Josh Hawley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hawley) appointed Sauer Solicitor General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solicitor_General) of Missouri.[7]
On December 10, 2020, as Solicitor General Counsel of Record, Sauer signed the "Motion of States of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, And Utah To Intervene And Proposed Bill of Complaint In Intervention" in an attempt to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election).\8] The motion sought to intervene and join the Texas Bill of Complaint (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Pennsylvania) (filed by Texas Attorney General [Ken Paxton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Paxton)), to prevent the selection of presidential electors based upon the November election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan.[9]
In January 2023, Missouri Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Attorney_General) Andrew Bailey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Bailey_%28politician%29) appointed Sauer Deputy Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_Attorney_General) for Special Litigation.[10][11] Sauer resigned from his post less than a month later, on January 27, 2023.[12]
In July 2023. Sauer testified before a U.S. House Subcommittee as the Louisiana Department of Justice Special Assistant Attorney General. ^[13]
Representing Donald Trump
On January 9, 2024, he represented former President Donald Trump (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump) in oral arguments before a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_District_of_Columbia_Circuit) regarding the issue of presidential immunity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_prosecution_of_Donald_Trump%28election_obstruction_case%29#Immunity_dispute) in the criminal case of United States of America v. Donald J. Trump (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_prosecution_of_Donald_Trump%28election_obstruction_case%29).[14]
At the hearing, in response to a hypothetical question posed by Judge Florence Y. Pan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Y._Pan) about whether a U.S. President could order SEAL Team Six (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAL_Team_Six) to assassinate a political rival and be immune from prosecution,[15] Sauer argued that the impeachment clause in Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution[16] implies that the Senate must first impeach and convict before a president can be criminally prosecuted, and that acquittal bars prosecution.[17] Sauer stated that this type of prosecution of a former president "would authorize, for example, the indictment of President Biden in the Western District of Texas after he leaves office for mismanaging the border allegedly". ^[18]
---
[### 18AC-CC00143
Missouri Press Association
https://mopress.com › uploads › 2021/03 › Requ...](https://mopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Request-for-Restraining-Order-Against-Missouri-AG.pdf)
/s/ D. John Sauer. D. John Sauer, Mo. Bar No. 58721. Michael Martinich-Sauter, Mo. Bar No. 66065. Missouri Attorney General's Office. Supreme Court Building.
People also ask
What happened to D. John Sauer?
Who is Trump's lawyer?
Feedback
[### D. John Sauer, Lawyer in Springfield, Missouri
Justia
https://lawyers.justia.com › ... › Springfield](https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/d-john-sauer-1666376)
(https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/d-john-sauer-1666376)
Springfield, Missouri attorney D. John Sauer. Research legal experience and education on Justia.
Missing: Bar No. 58721
[### SC96862 - Missouri Courts - MO.gov
Missouri Courts (.gov)
https://www.courts.mo.gov › file](https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=128618)
D. John Sauer, #58721. First Assistant and Solicitor. Michael Martinich-Sauter, #66605. General Counsel. Emily A. Dodge #53914. Assistant Attorney General.
[### 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ...
Equality Case Files
https://files.eqcf.org › uploads › 2023/07 › 86-D-I...](https://files.eqcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/86-D-I-Response-to-P-Supp-Auth_Gra-bowski.pdf)
by J Doe — /s/ Justin D. Smith__. D. John Sauer, Mo. Bar No. 58721. Justin D. Smith, Mo. Bar No. 63253. 13321 North Outer Forty Road, Suite 300. St. Louis, ...
---
OFF BS
James K. Rogers Phone: (602) 640-9340 | Email: jrogers@omlaw.com
James' legal experience includes representing clients in civil litigation, appellate, and professional liability matters. He originally joined Osborn Maledon in March 2009 and temporarily left the firm in August 2010 to clerk for Justice W. Scott Bales of the Arizona Supreme Court. James returned to Osborn Maledon in September 2011 following his clerkship.
James is a graduate of Harvard Law School and also has a Master of Laws degree from the University of Cambridge in England. When he's not working, James spends his time with his wife and two sons. He also enjoys running, traveling, and reading non-fiction.
Education l J.D., Harvard Law School, 2009; Journal of Law and Public Policy, Editor 2005-2006, Senior Editor, 2006-2007 l LL.M, University of Cambridge, 2008 l B.A., with Honors, Brigham Young University, 2005 Bar Admissions l Arizona, 2009
Court Admissions l U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 2009 l Arizona Supreme Court, 2009
Clerkships l Arizona Supreme Court, Justice W. Scott Bales, 2010 - 2011
NOTA WACKO ~ GOLDWATER INT PRO UNION
Scott Bales - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Bales)
VAXX MANDATE 9TH CIRCUIT
115666085 (https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/115666085.html)
MAYES 493 v. Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Fifty-Sixth Arizona Legislature, Intervenors. (2023)
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Kristin K. MAYES; State of Arizona; Al Reble; Phoenix Law Enforcement Association; United Phoenix Firefighters Association Local 493, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. Joseph R. BIDEN, in his official capacity as President of the United States; Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in his official capacity as Secretary of Homeland Security; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Troy A. Miller, in his official capacity as Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection; Tae Johnson, in his official capacity as Senior Official Performing the Duties of Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Ur Mendoza Jaddou, in her official capacity as Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services; Office of Personnel Management; Kiran Ahuja, in her official capacity as director of the Office of Personnel Management and as co-chair of the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force; United States General Services Administration; Shalanda Young, in her official capacity as Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget and as a member of the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force; Safer Federal Workforce Task Force; Jeffrey Zients, in his official capacity as co-chair of the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and Covid-19 Response Coordinator; L. Eric Patterson, in his official capacity as Director of the Federal Protective Service and member of the SFWTF; James M. Murray, in his official capacity as Director of the United States Secret Service and member of the SFWTF; Deanne Criswell, in her official capacity as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and member of the SFWTF; Rochelle Walensky, in her official capacity as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and member of the SFWTF; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council; Mathew C. Blum, in his official capacity as Chair of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and Acting Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget; Lesley A. Field, in her official capacity as a member of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and Acting Administrator for Federal Procurement at the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget; Karla S. Jackson, in her official capacity as a member of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and Assistant Administrator for Procurement at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Jeffrey A. Koses, in his official capacity as a member of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and Senior Procurement Executive at the General Services Administration; John M. Tenaglia, in his official capacity as a member of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and Principal Director of Defense Pricing and Contracting at the Department of Defense; United States of America; United States Department of Justice; Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, in his official capacity as Attorney General of the United States, Defendants-Appellants, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Fifty-Sixth Arizona Legislature, Intervenors.
No. 22-15518
Decided: December 28, 2023
Before: Richard R. Clifton, Mark J. Bennett, and Roopali H. Desai, Circuit Judges.
David L. Peters (argued), Anna O. Mohan, and Mark B. Stern, Appellate Staff Attorneys, Civil Division; Joshua Revesz, Office of the Attorney General Counsel; Shraddha A. Upadhyaya, Associate General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget; Arpit K. Garg, Deputy General Counsel; Daniel F. Jacobson, General Counsel; Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General;
for Defendant- Appellants. Alexander W. Samuels (argued), Principal Deputy Solicitor General; James K. Rogers, Senior Litigation Counsel; Drew C. Ensign, Deputy Solicitor General; Kristin K. Mayes, Arizona Attorney General; Joseph A. Kanefield, Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff; for Plaintiff-Appellees. Kory Langhofer and Thomas Basile, Statecraft PLLC, Phoenix, Arizona; Michael Bailey, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Phoenix, Arizona; for Intervenors Fifty-Sixth Legislature and Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
ORDER
On April 19, 2023, this court issued its opinion in which it reversed and vacated the district court's grant of a permanent injunction, which had enjoined President Biden's “Contractor Mandate,” including Executive Order 14042. Mayes v. Biden, 67 F.4th 921, 946 (9th Cir. 2023); 1 see also Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, 86 Fed. Reg. 50,985 (Sept. 14, 2021).
On May 9, 2023, after we issued our opinion but before the mandate issued, President Biden rescinded Executive Order 14042. See Executive Order 14099, Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers, 88 Fed. Reg. 30,891 (May 15, 2023). On June 15, 2023, because a judge of this court called for a vote to determine whether this case should be reheard en banc, the court directed the parties to file simultaneous briefs. The case remains pending....
---
CT RULED THAT ONLY PPL IN mc HAVE STanding, but afl gop wants outsiders to have influence?
2024-06-12-Strong-Communities-Petition-for-Review (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-06-12-Strong-Communities-Petition-for-Review.pdf)
MARICOPA COUNTY, BILL GATES [NOT THAT ONE] ; STEVE GALLARDO, THOMAS GALVIN, CLINT HICKMAN, JACK SELLERS, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, and STEPHEN RICHER, the Maricopa County Recorder Petitioners, v.
HON. TINA AINLEY, Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, in and for the County of Yavapai, Respondent, and STRONG COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA INCORPORATED, ERIC LOVELIS, WILLIAM JOSEPH APPLETON, LAURA HARRISON, YAVAPAI COUNTY, CRAIG L. BROWN, JAMES GREGORY, DONNA G. MICHAELS. MARY MALLORY, HARRY B OBERG, MICHELLE M. BURCHILL, COCONINO COUNTY, JERONIMO VASQUEZ, PATRICE HORSTMAN, ADAM HESS, JUDY BEGAY, LENA FOWLER, PATTY HANSEN, ARIZONA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS, and VOTO LATINO, Real Parties in Interest.
Leadership - Arizona (https://arizona.retiredamericans.org/leadership/) afl cio
No. Court of Appeals Division One 1 CA-SA 24-0086 Yavapai County Superior Court No. S1300CV202400175 REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST-PLAINTIFFS’ PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A SPECIAL ACTION DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
James K. Rogers AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION 611 Pennsylvania Ave., SE #231 Washington, D.C. 20003 James.Rogers@aflegal.org
Jennifer J. Wright (027145) JENNIFER WRIGHT ESQ., PLC 4350 E. Indian School Rd, Ste #21-105 Phoenix, Arizona 85018 jen@jenwesq.com
Attorneys for Plaintiffs/Real Party in Interest, Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona, Eric Lovelis, William Joseph Appleton, and Laura Harrison
---
scott pressler
Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona (https://givebutter.com/SCF)
STRONG COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF ARIZONA INCORPORATED
pro publ
ProPublica (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/830785301/202331709349200773/full)
ethel L Blankenship
Treasurer|40.00|0|0|0|
Jeffery Blankenship
Statutory Agent
0.00
0
0
0
Merissa hamilton
Chairperson of Board of Directors
0.00
0
0
0
Merissa L Hamilton
President CEO
---
li
Jennifer Wright Esq PLC
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
Greater Phoenix Area Contact info (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/overlay/contact-info/)
500+ connections
About
Elections Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Social Media, eFundraising, Political Strategy, Document Review, Training, Business Analysis, Legal Research and Writing, Litigation, Litigation Support, Video Production, Database ProgrammingElections Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Social Media, eFundraising, Political Strategy, Document Review, Training, Business Analysis, Legal Research and Writing, Litigation, Litigation Support, Video Production, Database Programming
Activity
1,013 followers1,013 followers
Loaded 1 Posts post
Jennifer Wright reposted this • 2mo2mo (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196766736887508992?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7196766736887508992%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29)I am a little late with this! But, great to see America First Legal, and none other than the great Jennifer Wright former Arizona Assistant Attorney General holding Coconino, Maricopa, and Yavapai (YavahPie)County in Arizona accountable in court seeking injunctive relief among others., Afl
I am a little late with this! But, great to see America First Legal, and none other than the great \Jennifer Wright (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/) (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196766736887508992?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7196766736887508992%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29) former Arizona Assistant Attorney General holding Coconino, Maricopa, and Yavapai (YavahPie)County in Arizona accountable in court seeking injunctive relief among others.…show more
(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196766736887508992?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7196766736887508992%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29)Afl 142 pages (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7196766736887508992?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7196766736887508992%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29)
4
1 repost
Show all posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/recent-activity/all/)
ExperienceExperience
AttorneyAttorney
Jennifer Wright Esq PLCJennifer Wright Esq PLCJan 2023 - Present · 1 yr 7 mosJan 2023 to Present · 1 yr 7 mos
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/38560/)
Assistant Attorney GeneralAssistant Attorney General
Arizona Attorney General's OfficeArizona Attorney General's OfficeAug 2019 - Dec 2022 · 3 yrs 5 mosAug 2019 to Dec 2022 · 3 yrs 5 mosPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Assistant Attorney General
Elections Integrity Unit
Solicitor General’s OfficeAssistant Attorney General Elections Integrity Unit Solicitor General’s Office…see more
- Government, Election Law and +3 skills (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/overlay/urn:li:fsd_profilePosition:%28ACoAAAEW00YB3Kt_iNvQ9awopamqlt5i3MJ_ltU,1502054988%29/skill-associations-details?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAEW00YB3Kt_iNvQ9awopamqlt5i3MJ_ltU)
Jennifer Wright Esq PLCJennifer Wright Esq PLC 6 yrs 11 mos6 yrs 11 mos (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Jennifer+Wright+Esq+PLC)
Coverage AttorneyCoverage Attorney Jul 2018 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr 2 mosJul 2018 to Aug 2019 · 1 yr 2 mosPhoenix, Arizona AreaPhoenix, Arizona Area (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Jennifer+Wright+Esq+PLC)
Experienced misdemeanor and felony criminal defense attorney for Maricopa County and surrounding communities.Experienced misdemeanor and felony criminal defense attorney for Maricopa County and surrounding communities.
AttorneyAttorney Oct 2012 - Aug 2019 · 6 yrs 11 mosOct 2012 to Aug 2019 · 6 yrs 11 mosPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Jennifer+Wright+Esq+PLC)
Litigation attorney primarily focused on family law and contested probate.Litigation attorney primarily focused on family law and contested probate.
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/15429938/)
Substitute TeacherSubstitute Teacher
PRINCE OF PEACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLPRINCE OF PEACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLNov 2016 - May 2018 · 1 yr 7 mosNov 2016 to May 2018 · 1 yr 7 mosCarrollton, TexasCarrollton, Texas
Grateful to have had the opportunity to make a positive impact on students from K-12th grade. It was a blessing to serve the school and to get to know the students.Grateful to have had the opportunity to make a positive impact on students from K-12th grade. It was a blessing to serve the school and to get to know the students.
AttorneyAttorney
Bain & Lauritano, PLCBain & Lauritano, PLCJan 2011 - Apr 2014 · 3 yrs 4 mosJan 2011 to Apr 2014 · 3 yrs 4 mos
Misdemeanor and felony criminal defense and family law attorney. Represented clients in and out of court, drafted legal pleadings, and negotiated settlements. Drafted felony appeal and post-conviction relief petitions.Misdemeanor and felony criminal defense and family law attorney. Represented clients in and out of court, drafted legal pleadings, and negotiated settlements. Drafted felony appeal and post-conviction relief petitions.
Show all 18 experiences (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/details/experience?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAEW00YB3Kt_iNvQ9awopamqlt5i3MJ_ltU)
Education
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State UniversitySandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University JD, LawJD, Law2004 - 20082004 - 2008 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/16172068/)
Activities and societies: Pedrick Scholar, Federalist Society Chapter President, Marshall-Brennan Fellow, New York University Journal of Law and Liberty Adjunct Editor, Legal Writing Teaching Assistant, Women’s Law Student Association Fundraising Co-ChairActivities and societies: Pedrick Scholar, Federalist Society Chapter President, Marshall-Brennan Fellow, New York University Journal of Law and Liberty Adjunct Editor, Legal Writing Teaching Assistant, Women’s Law Student Association Fundraising Co-Chair…see more
Phoenix Career CollegePhoenix Career College Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate, ParalegalPost-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate, Paralegal2003 - 20032003 - 2003 (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Phoenix+Career+College)
Activities and societies: ValedictorianActivities and societies: Valedictorian
Show all 3 educations (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjwright/details/education?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAEW00YB3Kt_iNvQ9awopamqlt5i3MJ_ltU)
Volunteering
[
Election Day Operations - Yuma Sector SupervisorElection Day Operations - Yuma Sector Supervisor
Arizona Republican PartyArizona Republican PartyOct 2014 - Nov 2014 · 2 mosOct 2014 - Nov 2014 · 2 mosPoliticsPolitics
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/3178417/)
Yuma Sector Ballot Security SupervisorYuma Sector Ballot Security Supervisor
Arizona Republican PartyArizona Republican PartyOct 2012 - Nov 2012 · 2 mos
...
Petition for Review of a Special Action Decision of the Court of Appeals.
Introduction
On the merits, the underlying claims here present straightforward
issues of statutory interpretation—that Maricopa, Coconino, and Yavapai
Counties are engaging in a host of unlawful practices in administrating
their elections. Since day one, the Petitioners1 (“Maricopa County”) have
made every effort to avoid the merits and delay adjudication of this case on
the merits. And now, in yet another attempt, Maricopa County filed a
special action in the Court of Appeals urging a novel interpretation of RPSA
4(b) (“Rule 4(b)”) that entirely disregards Arizona’s other venue statutes.
The Court of Appeals agreed, ignoring that those other statutes establish
that more than one county, and public officers from different counties, can
be sued in the same action. A.R.S. § 12-401(15) and (16).
1 Maricopa County; Bill Gates; Steve Gallardo, Thomas Galvin, Clint
Hickman, and Jack Sellers in the official capacities as members of the
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors; and Stephen Richer in his official
capacity as County Recorder ...
---
wiki 7 24
Jennifer Wright is an American lawyer and politician who served as an assistant Arizona attorney general (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Attorney_General) from 2019 to 2023. She headed the attorney general's election integrity unit.
Career
Wright did computer programing work for the city of Phoenix, Arizona (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,Arizona) and served as the director of a financial corporation.[1] She conducted policy research for the Goldwater Institute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater_Institute) and the Institute for Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Justice).[1] In 2010, she worked for U.S. representative J. D. Hayworth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.D._Hayworth).[2]
Wright was a Republican (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party%28United_States%29) and Tea Party (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement)-affiliated candidate in the 2011 Phoenix mayoral election (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Phoenix_mayoral_election).[3][4] Her candidacy was backed by the Arizona Freedom Alliance.[1] She garnered 16,739 votes (11.85%) and fundraised approximately US$54,000 (equivalent to $73,140 in 2023).[5] During the 2012 election, Wright was a ballot security supervisor and she co-chaired Verify the Vote Arizona which is associated with True the Vote (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_the_Vote).[6] In 2014, she managed election day (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Day%28United_States%29) operations.[6]
In August 2019, Wright joined the Attorney General's office as the assistant Arizona attorney general (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Attorney_General).[6] She headed the appeals and constitutional integrity section.[6][7] Her tweets during the 2022 Arizona elections (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Arizona_elections) generated controversy.[7] Wright's resignation letter was received on December 31, 2022, and she was removed from office on January 4, 2023.[8] On July 5, 2023, she submitted a US$2 million claim against the Attorney General's office and Kris Mayes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Mayes).[9]
7 abc15
Nov 30, 2022
PHOENIX — The head of Arizona's Election Integrity Unity is facing scrutiny over tweets she made immediately following the election.
In the early morning hours of November 9th, the day after the election, Jennifer Wright started taking aim at the Maricopa County Elections Department.
Read More
She tweeted from her private account, "Incompetence on top of Incompetence". In another tweet, Wright wrote, "In all my years doing election work, it has never taken Maricopa this long to report election day results. Never. Never. Ever."
Ten days later, in her capacity as an assistant attorney general, Wright sent a letter to Thomas Liddy, the Civil Division Chief at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Wright wanted an explanation of Maricopa's Election Day problems before the county certified its results.
Election Law and legal ethics expert Thomas Ryan believes at a minimum Wright should have recused herself from the investigation because her tweets amount to a conflict of interest. "It is highly inappropriate and unethical for such a person to be criticizing the county before they've been given a chance to respond to questions," Ryan said.
Then on November 25, Wright tweeted that her comments were out of frustration that no day-of votes were released in the hours after the polls closed.
"It's hard to condone a prosecutor's action when they tip their hand when they're supposed to be close to impartial as you can get," said former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
Goddard doesn't believe politics is determining what the Attorney General's Office chooses to investigate related to the 2022 election. But Goddard and former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley felt compelled to send a letter to Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Wright requesting they launch an investigation of Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Thomas Crosby.
IFrame Content (https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/b4/60/755f0f4944049d308519a72c42c3/221119-letter-to-maricopa-county-re-2022-general-election-administration.pdf)
Both refused to certify the county election results by the November 28 deadline as required by state law. "They don't have any wiggle room this is not the opportunity to have a factual hearing on whether or not there are election problems. they have other venues where they can do that. but this is not that and so they broke the law," Goddard said.
Goddard says the Attorney General's Office has not yet responded to the request to investigate the Cochise County Supervisors.
Katie Connor, the spokesperson for the Arizona Attorney General's Office did not respond to whether Wright should recuse herself from investigating the Maricopa County Election.
Connor did say, "General Brnovich insists all Attorney General employees perform their duties in a professional and ethical manner. He respects their first amendment rights that do not end just because they work for a government agency."
---
wiki fluff/ 6 24
Gene P. Hamilton is an American lawyer and policymaker who served within the U.S. Department of Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Justice) and Department of Homeland Security (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security)\1] during the presidency of Donald J. Trump (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Donald_Trump). In these positions, he played key roles in ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Childhood_Arrivals) program, creating the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" family separation policy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy),[2][3][4] and in revoking the [Temporary Protected Status (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_protected_status) of immigrants from Sudan and South Sudan.[5]
Hamilton currently serves as the Vice President of America First Legal,\6]\7] a legal action group founded by former Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_%28political_advisor%29). In this role, he has represented the state of Texas in a lawsuit aiming to reinstate Trump-era policies that bar unaccompanied migrant children from entering the United States.[8] He also serves as the treasurer for [Citizens for Sanity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_for_Sanity), a conservative [political action committee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee).[9]
Education and early career
Hamilton was raised in Arizona.\2] He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia), and a J.D. from the Washington and Lee School of Law (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_and_Lee_University_School_of_Law) in 2010.\10] While attending law school, Hamilton interned at the Krome [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement) (ICE) detention facility in [Miami (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami), Florida;[2][11] upon graduation he accepted a role as an Honors Attorney at the Department of Homeland Security (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security),[12] eventually returning to ICE in its Office of Chief Counsel in Georgia.
In 2015, Hamilton left the Department to become General Counsel to then-Senator Jeff Sessions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Sessions), under whom he would later work at the Department of Justice when Sessions became the United States Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Attorney_General).[2] In 2016, Hamilton joined the Trump transition team, ultimately leading its immigration policy efforts.
fedsoc bs
:{:{Gene Hamilton serves as Executive Director, Executive Vice President, and General Counsel of America First Legal Foundation. Prior to AFL, Gene served as Counselor to the Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice from 2017-2021—providing legal advice, counsel, and strategic guidance to the Attorney General and other officials throughout the Department of Justice.}:
While serving as Counselor to the Attorney General, Gene advised on and participated in litigation, regulatory actions, and policymaking on high-priority issues for the Trump Administration. Before his service at the Department of Justice, Gene served as Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security; as General Counsel to Senator Jeff Sessions on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary; as Assistant Chief Counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Secretary’s Honors Program for Attorneys at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which included work in the Office of General Counsel’s Operations and Enforcement Law Division, the Intelligence Law Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration.}:
Gene graduated from the Washington and Lee School of Law magna cum laude and Order of the Coif and has a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Georgia.
---
2024-05-13-Gene-Hamilton-Congressional-Hearing-Doc (https://accountable.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-13-Gene-Hamilton-Congressional-Hearing-Doc.pdf)
ACCOUNTABLE us 13 PP
---
disquaL TITLE 42 SUIT PAXTON
Brief in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Disqualify
KEN PAXTON AARON F. REITZ Attorney General of Texas Lead Counsel Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy BRENT WEBSTER Texas Bar No. 24105704 First Assistant Attorney General aaron.reitz@oag.texas.gov
LEIF A. OLSON OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Special Counsel P.O. Box 12548 Texas Bar No. 24032801 Austin, Texas 78711-2548 leif.olson@oag.texas.gov (512) 936-1700hired by----?
MATTHEW G. WHITAKER Counsel for the State of Texas Admitted pro hac vice America First Legal Foundation 300 Independence Avenue SE Washington, D.C. 20003 (202) 964-3721 info@aflegal.org
...and two of its lawyers, Gene Hamilton and Matt Whitaker, from that representation. There is no factual or legal foundation for doing so, which would substantially prejudice Texas.
More, the Defendants’ logic would also disqualify nearly all attorneys from working on subjects in which they used their expertise while in government service, including challenges to unlawful acts by their former government employers. That would be an absurd result, and the Court should deny the Motion.
Background
This case primarily involves a group of enactments collectively referred to as Title 42: a nearly century-old statutory authority, 42 U.S.C. § 265; a regulation promulgated to implement that authority, 42 C.F.R. § 71.40; and multiple orders issued by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under that authority, the latest in August 2021. 85 Fed. Reg. 65,806–12 (Oct. 13, 2020); 86 Fed. Reg. 42,828 (Aug. 5, 2021) (“replacing and superseding” the October 2020 order).
Among Texas’s counsel in this case are Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Whitaker, both of whom served at the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Hamilton served as Counselor to the Attorney General and provided legal advice and counsel for general policymaking matters related to Title 42 during that time. Some of that work related to other particular cases involving the Title 42 regime. Mr. Whitaker served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to the Attorney General and, later, as Acting Attorney
---
AFL-Amicus-Brief-stamped (https://media.aflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12170945/AFL-Amicus-Brief-stamped.pdf)
ga fani?
:{:{BRIEF OF AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION AS AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF APPELLEES CHRISTOPHER E. MILLS}:
GENE P. HAMILTON Spero Law LLC Ga. Bar No. 516201 557 East Bay Street}:
#22251 America First Legal Foundation Charleston, SC 29413 611 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (843) 606-0640 #231 cmills@spero.law (pro hac vice pending) Washington, DC 20003 (202) 964-3721 gene.hamilton@aflegal.org Counsel for Amicus Curiae
INTRODUCTION In accepting this appeal, the Court posed the question: “Does the Open Records Act apply to district attorneys’ offices?”
Dec. 27, 2023 Order. The only plausible reading of the statute is that it does. By its terms after its amendments in 2012, it applies to all state “offices.” Notwithstanding Appellant’s long digression about the judicial branch, the statute’s terms do not distinguish between offices that exercise executive and judicial functions. And the statute expressly exempts certain records maintained by prosecutors’ offices—underscoring that its default rule encompasses those offices. Thus, which branch of government district attorneys’ offices reside in—or what types of power they exercise—is irrelevant to this question of statutory interpretation. The only plausible reading of the text is that it applies to those offices. Because the text is clear and Appellant raises no constitutional challenge to the statute, that clear reading disposes of the Court’s statutory question. This reading also promotes the rule of law. To amicus’s knowledge, no similar...
---
COMPLAINT TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GEORGIA OPEN RECORDS ACT Plaintiff Bentley Media Group files this Complaint to ensure that the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office provides public access to documents in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 et seq. PARTIES 1. The Plaintiff, Bentley Media Group, operates “Just The News” (“JTN”), a web-based news organization with adjacent television and podcast operations. John Solomon is JTN’s Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief. He is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and digital media entrepreneur who has reported for The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and The Hill. JTN’s website may be found at https://justthenews.com. JTN has consistently reported on criminal investigations and trials of national significance.
---
fedsoc bs
koch legal shop cause of action // DANIEL EPSTEIN
Reed D. Rubinstein is Senior Counselor and Director of Oversight and Investigations for the America First Legal Foundation. He has extensive constitutional, administrative, and complex commercial trial and appellate experience, including Executive Branch and Congressional oversight, investigations, and enforcement.
Reed joined the Trump Campaign legal team in February 2016, supported Treasury, DHS, and DOD operations during the Presidential Transition, and entered Federal service in January 2017. As Deputy Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Education General Counsel (acting and delegated), and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury, Reed fought to protect free speech, religious liberty, and civil rights; combat anti-Semitism; expose Obama/Biden support for the Iranian regime; and defend the Trump Administration against Congressional overreach and leftist lawfare.
He played a material role in many Trump Administration actions and Executive Orders and between June 2019 and January 2021, initiated and led twenty-seven civil investigations of U.S. universities for colluding with the Chinese Communist Party, violating foreign money disclosure laws, misrepresenting free speech policies, failing to provide balance in Middle Eastern studies, making false non-discrimination assurances (the Princeton investigation), and consumer fraud.
Reed is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and has practiced law since 1985. A former AmLaw 10 shareholder, he spent thirty years in the private practice of law representing manufacturing and retail corporations, financial institutions, trade associations, and individuals in a wide range of matters. Notably, he represented the victims of the Fort Hood terrorist attack, overcoming the Obama Administration, the Pentagon, and House Speaker John Boehner to win them Purple Hearts and medical benefits.
2015 ~ dept of labor koch whore
/s/ Reed D. Rubinstein Reed D. Rubinstein D.C. Bar No. 400153 Cause of Action, Inc. 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 650 Washington, D.C. 20006 Telephone: (202) 499-4232 reed.rubinstein@causeofaction.org Attorney for Plaintiffs
---
nicholas-barry-65991229 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229/)
I am currently an Attorney working at America First Legal litigating cases across the country. Previously I was an attorney at Leader Law litigating cases throughout the State of Tennessee. Before that I was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee in the Healthcare division; I worked as an associate at Stites & Harbison in Nashville; and I was a Judicial Law Clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky for the Honorable William O. Bertelsman.
Experience
AttorneyAttorney
America First Legal · Full-timeAmerica First Legal · Full-timeFeb 2022 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mosFeb 2022 to Present · 2 yrs 5 mosNashville, TNNashville, TN
AttorneyAttorney
Leader Law, PLLC · Full-timeLeader Law, PLLC · Full-timeDec 2019 - Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mosDec 2019 to Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mosNashville, Tennessee, United StatesNashville, Tennessee, United States
Litigated complex medical malpractice cases throughout Tennessee. I sat second chair on two two-week jury trials in complex medical malpractice cases. I litigated a variety of cases on behalf of plaintiffs who suffered catastrophic injuries, including medical negligence, product liability, premises liability, and similar claims.Litigated complex medical malpractice cases throughout Tennessee. I sat second chair on two two-week jury trials in complex medical malpractice cases. I litigated a variety of cases on behalf of plaintiffs who suffered catastrophic injuries, including medical negligence, product liability, premises liability, and similar claims.…see more
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/523103/)
Assistant Attorney GeneralAssistant Attorney General
Tennessee Attorney General's Office · Full-timeTennessee Attorney General's Office · Full-timeDec 2017 - Dec 2019 · 2 yrs 1 moDec 2017 to Dec 2019 · 2 yrs 1 moNashville, TNNashville, TN
I worked in the Health Care Division for the Office. I primarily represented the Division of TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) in litigation. For example, in claims involving alleged violations of the ADA integration mandate, 504 Rehabilitation Act, as well as claims that various State Plan Amendments and State Rules are invalid. I also represented the Department of Health in litigation, to include the various Boards of Health. I also managed discovery and subpoena document production.I worked in the Health Care Division for the Office. I primarily represented the Division of TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) in litigation. For example, in claims involving alleged violations of the ADA integration mandate, 504 Rehabilitation Act, as well as claims that various State Plan Amendments and State Rules are invalid. I also represented the Department of Health in litigation, to include the various Boards of Health. I also managed discovery and subpoena document production.…see more
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/31661/)
AttorneyAttorney
Stites & HarbisonStites & HarbisonSep 2014 - May 2017 · 2 yrs 9 mosSep 2014 to May 2017 · 2 yrs 9 mosNashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Drafted, edited, and argued all types of litigation motions, to include, discovery motions, dispositive motions, pre-trial motions, and post-trial motions. Defended and took depositions. Litigated a variety of business litigation cases, to include: RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, and TCPA claims; UCC issues from the sale of goods to secured transactions; business torts; check kiting; warranty issues; bad-faith claims; and claims to enforce arbitration clauses. Drafted, edited, and argued creditor-oriented bankruptcy motions, to include, requests for relief from stay, objections to bankruptcy plans, and defense of creditors’ claims. Managed chapter 13 contested matters and adversary proceedings. Negotiated and drafted settlement agreements, forbearance agreements, reaffirmations, guaranties, and other workout documents. Drafted, edited, and argued all types of litigation motions, to include, discovery motions, dispositive motions, pre-trial motions, and post-trial motions. Defended and took depositions. Litigated a variety of business litigation cases, to include: RESPA, TILA, FDCPA, and TCPA claims; UCC issues from the sale of goods to secured transactions; business torts; check kiting; warranty issues; bad-faith claims; and claims to enforce arbitration clauses. Drafted, edited, and argued creditor-oriented bankruptcy motions, to include, requests for relief from stay, objections to bankruptcy plans, and defense of creditors’ claims. Managed chapter 13 contested matters and adversary proceedings. Negotiated and drafted settlement agreements, forbearance agreements, reaffirmations, guaranties, and other workout documents. …see more
Judicial Law ClerkJudicial Law Clerk
United States District Court for the Eastern District of KentuckyUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of KentuckyAug 2013 - Aug 2014 · 1 yr 1 moAug 2013 to Aug 2014 · 1 yr 1 moCovington, KYCovington, KY
Judge Bertelsman is a Senior District Court Judge and his docket consists of all civil litigation. He also sits by designation on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Responsibilities included: drafting and editing mem...
---
incubator gmu fedsoc heritagfe intern staffer rev dr trump admin
andrew-block-4a911044 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044/)
LI
Arlington, Virginia, United States Contact info (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044/overlay/contact-info/)
500+ connections
Activity
823 followers823 followers
Andrew hasn’t posted yetRecent posts Andrew shares will be displayed here.
Show all activity (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044/recent-activity/all/)
Experience
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/2998/)
Senior CounselSenior Counsel
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityMar 2019 - Jan 2021 · 1 yr 11 mosMar 2019 to Jan 2021 · 1 yr 11 mosWashington D.C.Washington D.C.
Advise senior Department leadership on how to respond to Congressional inquiries, draft official communications and responses, advise on the application of privileges, and manage document production to Congress – to include engaging in negotiations to determine the scope of requests, gathering and reviewing documents to judge responsiveness, applying appropriate redactions, and facilitating production and/or review of the documents.
Lead counsel for over 30 investigations, including 12 Transcribed Interviews and 11 subpoenas, into matters of national political and media interest, stemming from a wide range of committees including all House and Senate intelligence, authorizing, appropriating, and general oversight committees for DHS.Advise senior Department leadership on how to respond to Congressional inquiries, draft official communications and responses, advise on the application of privileges, and manage document production to Congress – to include engaging in negotiations to determine the scope of requests, gathering and reviewing documents to judge responsiveness, applying appropriate redactions, and facilitating production and/or review of the documents. Lead counsel for over 30 investigations, including 12 Transcribed Interviews and 11 subpoenas, into matters of national political and media interest, stemming from a wide range of committees including all House and Senate intelligence, authorizing, appropriating, and general oversight committees for DHS.…see more
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/221531/)
Vice PresidentVice President
Venn StrategiesVenn StrategiesJan 2019 - Mar 2019 · 3 mosJan 2019 to Mar 2019 · 3 mosWashington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/3921/)
U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. House of Representatives 4 yrs 1 mo4 yrs 1 mo (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3921/)
Counsel & Tax L.A. Counsel & Tax L.A. May 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 9 mosMay 2017 to Jan 2019 · 1 yr 9 mosWashington D.C.Washington D.C. (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3921/)
Provide advice and input on policy proposals relating to Tax, Budget, Social Security, and Oversight for a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee. I also work to advance several district-specific priorities through the House of Representatives, including research funding and victims compensation. Provide advice and input on policy proposals relating to Tax, Budget, Social Security, and Oversight for a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee. I also work to advance several district-specific priorities through the House of Representatives, including research funding and victims compensation. …see more
Legislative CorrespondentLegislative Correspondent Jan 2015 - Dec 2016 · 2 yrsJan 2015 to Dec 2016 · 2 yrsWashington D.C.Washington D.C. (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3921/)
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/14681/)
Legal InternLegal Intern
The Heritage FoundationThe Heritage FoundationSep 2014 - Dec 2014 · 4 mosSep 2014 to Dec 2014 · 4 mosWashington D.C.Washington D.C.
Conducted legal research for Senior Legal Fellows on a variety of areas including: a review of the evidence presented to the respective juries in two death penalty cases, the economic effects and Constitutional implications of agricultural marketing orders, and compiling a survey of the body of case law and commentary on the use of state courts to provide greater economic protection than federal courts.
Tracked the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals published decisions on a weekly basis in order to highlight decisions of interest to the Legal Center staff.
Review, edit, and source check legal memoranda and commentaries before publication. Conducted legal research for Senior Legal Fellows on a variety of areas including: a review of the evidence presented to the respective juries in two death penalty cases, the economic effects and Constitutional implications of agricultural marketing orders, and compiling a survey of the body of case law and commentary on the use of state courts to provide greater economic protection than federal courts. Tracked the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals published decisions on a weekly basis in order to highlight decisions of interest to the Legal Center staff. Review, edit, and source check legal memoranda and commentaries before publication. …see more
[
Law ClerkLaw Clerk
Arlington CountyArlington CountyMay 2014 - Aug 2014 · 4 mosMay 2014 to Aug 2014 · 4 mosArlington VirginiaArlington Virginia
Researched issues in order to draft memos, write case briefs, or brief attorneys on a variety of legal issues facing the county, including:
First Amendment rights with respect to panhandling,
Fourth Amendment rights regarding seizures and qualified immunity,
Contractual liability issues,
Civil Procedure issues, and
Other issues of county government jurisdiction.Researched issues in order to draft memos, write case briefs, or brief attorneys on a variety of legal issues facing the county, including: - First Amendment rights with respect to panhandling, - Fourth Amendment rights regarding seizures and qualified immunity, - Contractual liability issues, - Civil Procedure issues, and - Other issues of county government jurisdiction.…see more
Show all 12 experiences (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044/details/experience?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAlFX8EB-_pK6t0GKVQDpvGSuP3na-turPk)
Education
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/1222497/)
George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law SchoolGeorge Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School Doctor of Law (J.D.)Doctor of Law (J.D.)2013 - 20162013 - 2016 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/1222497/)
Supreme Court Clinic, Member (October Term 2015)
Civil Rights Law Journal, Board Member
Trial Advocacy Association, Member, 2014 Thatcher Intramural Champion
Federalist Society, MemberSupreme Court Clinic, Member (October Term 2015) Civil Rights Law Journal, Board Member Trial Advocacy Association, Member, 2014 Thatcher Intramural Champion Federalist Society, Member…see more
Michigan State University, James Madison CollegeMichigan State University, James Madison College Bachelor of Arts, Political Theory and Constitutional DemocracyBachelor of Arts, Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy2008 - 20122008 - 2012 (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Michigan+State+University%2C+James+Madison+College)
Activities and societies: Mock Trial, Associated Students of Michigan State UniversityActivities and societies: Mock Trial, Associated Students of Michigan State University
Coursework includes reading political theorists who address human nature and the fundamental questions all societies face (the role and rights of citizens and an understanding of what is just). Courses also demand a high level of critical thinking and writing in order to complete essays that engage in a dialogue with the author.
Study Abroad: Comparative Republicanism Rome and Florence. Three week course in Rome studied the roots of republicanism and the rise of the greatest republic in world history drawing parallels and contrasts to American Republicanism. Three week course in Florence focused on the future potential of republicanism in the Renaissance and beyond. Also looked more heavily to compare and contrast the Florentine Republic to the United States and the European Union.
Coursework includes reading political theorists who address human nature and the fundamental questions all societies face (the role and rights of citizens and an understanding of what is just). Courses also demand a high level of critical thinking and writing in order to complete essays that engage in a dialogue with the author. Study Abroad: Comparative Republicanism Rome and Florence. Three week course in Rome studied the roots of republicanism and the rise of the greatest republic in world history drawing parallels and contrasts to American Republicanism. Three week course in Florence focused on the future potential of republicanism in the Renaissance and beyond. Also looked more heavily to compare and contrast the Florentine Republic to the United States and the European Union.…see more
Licenses & certifications
CounselorCounselor
Virginia State BarVirginia State BarIssued Jun 2017
scrape
note no last name
Juli Haller profile picture
Juli HallerJuli Haller
Litigator.Litigator.
Samuel Ohene Djan profile picture
Samuel Ohene DjanSamuel Ohene Djan
Marissa Ulman profile picture
Marissa UlmanMarissa Ulman
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Assistant Public DefenderAssistant Public Defender
Jacob M. profile picture
Jacob M.Jacob M.
Attorney at America First LegalAttorney at America First Legal
Gabrielle Peters profile picture
Gabrielle PetersGabrielle Peters
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Associate Attorney at L.A. TECH & MEDIA LAW
Reed D. Rubinstein profile picture
Reed D. RubinsteinReed D. Rubinstein
Senior Vice President, America First Legal FoundationSenior Vice President, America First Legal Foundation
Ian Prior
ian-prior-1a7851133 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-prior-1a7851133/)
Executive DirectorExecutive Director
Fight for Schools · Self-employedFight for Schools · Self-employedApr 2021 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos
Senior Advisor for America First LegalSenior Advisor for America First Legal
scrape
[Matthew WhitakerMatthew Whitaker · 3rdThird degree connection
Former Acting Attorney General of the United StatesFormer Acting Attorney General of the United States](https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitaker46?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAIe6EoB6UPQLoyhpYPTgaq1XYySglG1CC4)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitaker46?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAIe6EoB6UPQLoyhpYPTgaq1XYySglG1CC4)
Charles J. U. profile picture (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-j-u-52628646?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAmmq24BU46PZERR3ek6Io45PV9bgYHhd3w)
[Charles J. U.Charles J. U. · 3rd+Out of network connection
Public School Teacher Turned LawyerPublic School Teacher Turned Lawyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-j-u-52628646?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAmmq24BU46PZERR3ek6Io45PV9bgYHhd3w)
Message
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/juli-haller-548b265?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAEOYYgBnGwV8Ijj1qa2u8PYaconhuYo83w)
[Juli HallerJuli Haller · 3rdThird degree connection
Litigator.Litigator.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/juli-haller-548b265?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAEOYYgBnGwV8Ijj1qa2u8PYaconhuYo83w)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juli-haller-548b265?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAEOYYgBnGwV8Ijj1qa2u8PYaconhuYo83w)
[Andrew BlockAndrew Block · 3rdThird degree connection
AttorneyAttorney](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAlFX8EB-_pK6t0GKVQDpvGSuP3na-turPk)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-block-4a911044?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAlFX8EB-_pK6t0GKVQDpvGSuP3na-turPk)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAI3-6EBc3QFJ1mqtZRF_bkLzF4hal3hDyM)
[John Z.John Z. · 3rdThird degree connection
Director, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, America First Policy InstituteDirector, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAI3-6EBc3QFJ1mqtZRF_bkLzF4hal3hDyM)
John Z. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110/overlay/about-this-profile/)
3rd degree connection3rd
Director, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, America First Policy Institute
America First Policy Institute
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
United States Contact info (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110/overlay/contact-info/)
500+ connections
Activity
2,333 followers2,333 followers
John hasn’t posted yetRecent posts John shares will be displayed here.
Show all activity (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110/recent-activity/all/)
ExperienceExperience
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/71681046/)
Director, Center for Homeland Security and ImmigrationDirector, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration
America First Policy Institute · Full-timeAmerica First Policy Institute · Full-timeMay 2021 - Present · 3 yrs 3 mosMay 2021 to Present · 3 yrs 3 mosWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/9367146/)
FellowFellow
Rule of Law Defense Fund · ContractRule of Law Defense Fund · ContractFeb 2021 - Apr 2021 · 3 mosFeb 2021 to Apr 2021 · 3 mosWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Deputy Assistant to the PresidentDeputy Assistant to the President
Executive Office of the President, White House Office, Office of the Senior Advisor for Policy · Full-timeExecutive Office of the President, White House Office, Office of the Senior Advisor for Policy · Full-timeJan 2020 - Jan 2021 · 1 yr 1 moJan 2020 to Jan 2021 · 1 yr 1 moWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Acting Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of StaffActing Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of Staff
Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · Full-timeDepartment of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · Full-timeSep 2019 - Jan 2020 · 5 mosSep 2019 to Jan 2020 · 5 mosWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
MemberMember
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Secretary of State, Policy Planning Staff · Full-timeU.S. Department of State, Office of the Secretary of State, Policy Planning Staff · Full-timeJul 2018 - Sep 2019 · 1 yr 3 mosJul 2018 to Sep 2019 · 1 yr 3 mosWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Show all 17 experiences (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110/details/experience?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAI3-6EBc3QFJ1mqtZRF_bkLzF4hal3hDyM)
EducationEducation
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/1668763/)
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of LawThe Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law J.D., LawJ.D., Law2000 - 20032000 - 2003 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/1668763/)
Publication, "The Myth of Discretion: Why Presidential Electors Do Not Receive First Amendment Protection" (11 CommLaw Conspectus 165); Note & Comment Editor, The CommLaw Conspectus (Journal of Communications Law and Policy).Publication, "The Myth of Discretion: Why Presidential Electors Do Not Receive First Amendment Protection" (11 CommLaw Conspectus 165); Note & Comment Editor, The CommLaw Conspectus (Journal of Communications Law and Policy).…see more
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/7338/)
Fordham UniversityFordham University B.A., HistoryB.A., History1995 - 19991995 - 1999 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/7338/)
Graduated Magna Cum Laude (Cumulative GPA: 3.78; Major GPA: 3.91); Member, Phi Beta Kappa (National Collegiate Honor Society).
scrape
Other similar profiles
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoelscherd?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD27m4B0vn3AEblNZWIFckN4HLR_o4Sti8)
[Doug HoelscherDoug Hoelscher · 3rdThird degree connection
Chair, America First Transition Project, AFPIChair, America First Transition Project, AFPI](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoelscherd?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD27m4B0vn3AEblNZWIFckN4HLR_o4Sti8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoelscherd?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD27m4B0vn3AEblNZWIFckN4HLR_o4Sti8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sherk-12006b5?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAADmAOgB5wdDIkZh7jDcUQWs60bMP5qMHrw)
[James SherkJames Sherk · 3rdThird degree connection
Director, Center for American Freedom at America First Policy InstituteDirector, Center for American Freedom at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sherk-12006b5?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAADmAOgB5wdDIkZh7jDcUQWs60bMP5qMHrw)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sherk-12006b5?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAADmAOgB5wdDIkZh7jDcUQWs60bMP5qMHrw)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamcmahon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmBcoYB9TSIgARkJvC_SI3AtG_IXScT22w)
[Linda McMahonLinda McMahon · 3rdThird degree connection
Chair Of The Board - Chair For Center For The American Worker | America First Policy Institute • AFPI Exists To Advance Policies That Put Forth The American People First!Chair Of The Board - Chair For Center For The American Worker | America First Policy Institute • AFPI Exists To Advance Policies That Put Forth The American People First!](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamcmahon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmBcoYB9TSIgARkJvC_SI3AtG_IXScT22w)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamcmahon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmBcoYB9TSIgARkJvC_SI3AtG_IXScT22w)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-chase-forrester-2890b3124?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB6gUMkB0EeXfULAiBDmR5Q0Daxa_X1EByQ)
[Virginia Chase ForresterVirginia Chase Forrester · 3rdThird degree connection
Chief Events Officer at America First Policy Institute Chief Events Officer at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-chase-forrester-2890b3124?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB6gUMkB0EeXfULAiBDmR5Q0Daxa_X1EByQ)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-chase-forrester-2890b3124?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB6gUMkB0EeXfULAiBDmR5Q0Daxa_X1EByQ)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyhayek92101?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD9xbIBxK5f00S7YJW_a9C5Rw3D_9Gklx8)
[Ashley HayekAshley Hayek · 3rdThird degree connection
Executive Director at America First Works & Chief Engagement Officer at America First Policy InstituteExecutive Director at America First Works & Chief Engagement Officer at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyhayek92101?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD9xbIBxK5f00S7YJW_a9C5Rw3D_9Gklx8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyhayek92101?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAD9xbIBxK5f00S7YJW_a9C5Rw3D_9Gklx8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-bardon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACkENW0BvGuWuR8L1_yxc9Qc-Tb8y-e5uN8)
[Lea BardonLea Bardon · 3rdThird degree connection
Director of Development Operations at America First Policy InstituteDirector of Development Operations at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-bardon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACkENW0BvGuWuR8L1_yxc9Qc-Tb8y-e5uN8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-bardon?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACkENW0BvGuWuR8L1_yxc9Qc-Tb8y-e5uN8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitaker46?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAIe6EoB6UPQLoyhpYPTgaq1XYySglG1CC4)
[Matthew WhitakerMatthew Whitaker · 3rdThird degree connection
Former Acting Attorney General of the United StatesFormer Acting Attorney General of the United States](https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitaker46?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAIe6EoB6UPQLoyhpYPTgaq1XYySglG1CC4)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitaker46?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAIe6EoB6UPQLoyhpYPTgaq1XYySglG1CC4)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-savit-a6a7458?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAGIf7IBtMolmq-BE4PixJcT_MSEKie1BDo)
[Adam Savit
Director, America First Policy Institute's China InitiativeDirector, America First Policy Institute's China Initiative](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-savit-a6a7458?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAGIf7IBtMolmq-BE4PixJcT_MSEKie1BDo)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-savit-a6a7458?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAGIf7IBtMolmq-BE4PixJcT_MSEKie1BDo)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-prior-1a7851133?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACCx7M8BO2Q0mg7hXtBE0kbo0KVii4-tkTw)
[Ian PriorIan Prior · 3rdThird degree connection
Senior Advisor for America First LegalSenior Advisor for America First Legal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-prior-1a7851133?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACCx7M8BO2Q0mg7hXtBE0kbo0KVii4-tkTw)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-prior-1a7851133?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACCx7M8BO2Q0mg7hXtBE0kbo0KVii4-tkTw)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-f-wolf?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAACvN4ABiw1cU_ivViSM0R6Nyhc3GYQjVMQ)
[Chad WolfChad Wolf · 3rdThird degree connection
Fmr DHS Acting Secretary. Executive Director, Chief Strategy Officer & Chairman of Homeland Security at AFPI. Founder & President of Wolf Global AdvisorsFmr DHS Acting Secretary. Executive Director, Chief Strategy Officer & Chairman of Homeland Security at AFPI. Founder & President of Wolf Global Advisors](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-f-wolf?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAACvN4ABiw1cU_ivViSM0R6Nyhc3GYQjVMQ)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-f-wolf?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAACvN4ABiw1cU_ivViSM0R6Nyhc3GYQjVMQ)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-eichamer?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABlMP6cB3HcNtmgSRolh4Fb_7K6jrNDO21I)
[Kristen EichamerKristen Eichamer · 3rdThird degree connection
The Heritage Foundation CommunicationsThe Heritage Foundation Communications](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-eichamer?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABlMP6cB3HcNtmgSRolh4Fb_7K6jrNDO21I)
Follow
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-gillespie-711a9a78?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABCI2H0BCretSDbGeUmTuJNpBM0l2OqcyO8)
[Martin GillespieMartin Gillespie · 3rdThird degree connection
Chief Development Officer at America First Policy InstituteChief Development Officer at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-gillespie-711a9a78?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABCI2H0BCretSDbGeUmTuJNpBM0l2OqcyO8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-gillespie-711a9a78?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABCI2H0BCretSDbGeUmTuJNpBM0l2OqcyO8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilton-beckham-825388a4?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABYf5p0BcD6qeZeRcszZlRcFqVW8o9GKbBM)
[Hilton BeckhamHilton Beckham · 3rdThird degree connection
Communications Director at America First Policy InstituteCommunications Director at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilton-beckham-825388a4?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABYf5p0BcD6qeZeRcszZlRcFqVW8o9GKbBM)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilton-beckham-825388a4?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABYf5p0BcD6qeZeRcszZlRcFqVW8o9GKbBM)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
[Nicholas BarryNicholas Barry · 3rdThird degree connection
Fighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all AmericansFighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all Americans](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-overton-6a668797?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABSRMx4BYuVCFKpIr9wf-pYoEPfT0bTX0q0)
[Heidi OvertonHeidi Overton · 3rdThird degree connection
Chief Policy Officer & Director, Center for a Healthy America at America First Policy InstituteChief Policy Officer & Director, Center for a Healthy America at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-overton-6a668797?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABSRMx4BYuVCFKpIr9wf-pYoEPfT0bTX0q0)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-overton-6a668797?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABSRMx4BYuVCFKpIr9wf-pYoEPfT0bTX0q0)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-vought-787396226?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADinSdcBmbuWK5SIMYaGoO4fypm_BCXD_7U)
[Russ VoughtRuss Vought · 3rdThird degree connection
President at Center for Renewing AmericaPresident at Center for Renewing America](https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-vought-787396226?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADinSdcBmbuWK5SIMYaGoO4fypm_BCXD_7U)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-vought-787396226?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADinSdcBmbuWK5SIMYaGoO4fypm_BCXD_7U)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
[Reed D. RubinsteinReed D. Rubinstein · 3rdThird degree connection
Senior Vice President, America First Legal FoundationSenior Vice President, America First Legal Foundation](https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
[Alexandra KirschbaumAlexandra Kirschbaum · 3rdThird degree connection
Director of Operations, America First Policy InstituteDirector of Operations, America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
[Kaitlan GossageKaitlan Gossage · 3rdThird degree connection
Associate Director of OperationsAssociate Director of Operations](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/caity-durning-07a253127?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB8usZ4Bf5FguDXR1uWluJ1I5w3j7hyFJaY)
[Caity DurningCaity Durning · 3rdThird degree connection
Senior Events Manager at America First Policy InstituteSenior Events Manager at America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caity-durning-07a253127?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB8usZ4Bf5FguDXR1uWluJ1I5w3j7hyFJaY)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/caity-durning-07a253127?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAB8usZ4Bf5FguDXR1uWluJ1I5w3j7hyFJaY)
---
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-z-34157110?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAI3-6EBc3QFJ1mqtZRF_bkLzF4hal3hDyM)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/genehamiltonittl?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAAYKscBI7E30vu0PYE6SOOH7395hXVpO00)
[Gene HamiltonGene Hamilton · 3rdThird degree connection
CEO at i Take The Lead Franchise CorpCEO at i Take The Lead Franchise Corp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/genehamiltonittl?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAAYKscBI7E30vu0PYE6SOOH7395hXVpO00)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/genehamiltonittl?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAAYKscBI7E30vu0PYE6SOOH7395hXVpO00)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
[Reed D. RubinsteinReed D. Rubinstein · 3rdThird degree connection
Senior Vice President, America First Legal FoundationSenior Vice President, America First Legal Foundation](https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/reed-d-rubinstein-4ab7b751?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAr5kQMBomrkp8zaVyxkHKOF6ktpm6lAwjs)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-patrick-b938173a?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAhOxt8BJ2kg8-UTi89f-dLk5A6rs2fsavc)
[Brandy PatrickBrandy Patrick · 3rdThird degree connection
Records Division President at LexitasRecords Division President at Lexitas](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-patrick-b938173a?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAhOxt8BJ2kg8-UTi89f-dLk5A6rs2fsavc)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-patrick-b938173a?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAhOxt8BJ2kg8-UTi89f-dLk5A6rs2fsavc)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-z-epstein?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAABX2scBtEa5yJyY3q8cDRnwiybrO2pq53E)
[Daniel Epstein, J.D., Ph.D.Daniel Epstein, J.D., Ph.D. · 3rdThird degree connection
Regulatory Law and PolicyRegulatory Law and Policy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-z-epstein?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAABX2scBtEa5yJyY3q8cDRnwiybrO2pq53E)
Follow
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
[Nicholas BarryNicholas Barry · 3rdThird degree connection
Fighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all AmericansFighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all Americans](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barry-65991229?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAYCHiUB3qSa4yxsouy0-PobkBmBcM9zfos)
Peter Abernathy profile picture (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-abernathy-1057a519?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAPasFUBegGj3hfxLBqQIKojtory64Yoimw)
[Peter AbernathyPeter Abernathy · 3rd+Out of network connection
Juris Doctor, Antonin Scalia Law SchoolJuris Doctor, Antonin Scalia Law School](https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-abernathy-1057a519?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAPasFUBegGj3hfxLBqQIKojtory64Yoimw)
Message
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonbrown7?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACAFiTYB_mydfDgPDMQviL5ySpDU5tuezv8)
[Madison BrownMadison Brown · 3rdThird degree connection
J.D. Candidate at the American Washington College of Law | Federalist Society PresidentJ.D. Candidate at the American Washington College of Law | Federalist Society President](https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonbrown7?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACAFiTYB_mydfDgPDMQviL5ySpDU5tuezv8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonbrown7?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACAFiTYB_mydfDgPDMQviL5ySpDU5tuezv8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
[James R.James R. · 3rdThird degree connection
Senior Counsel, America First LegalSenior Counsel, America First Legal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
[Alexandra KirschbaumAlexandra Kirschbaum · 3rdThird degree connection
Director of Operations, America First Policy InstituteDirector of Operations, America First Policy Institute](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kirschbaum-746443147?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACN7fGYBA1AnBe97QCZZH4PUy8Ra_zH-l6Q)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
[Kaitlan GossageKaitlan Gossage · 3rdThird degree connection
Associate Director of OperationsAssociate Director of Operations](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlangossage?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAADDRp84BfLPSvObqY2tKyOhv-Qq1F567mOw)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACglroUBHn3gGKAs3NT29EMsX1BQZ_1LHD8)
[Jacob Meckler
Attorney at America First LegalAttorney at America First Legal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACglroUBHn3gGKAs3NT29EMsX1BQZ_1LHD8)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACglroUBHn3gGKAs3NT29EMsX1BQZ_1LHD8)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydianemcnair?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAoVQYABr84TyLeXG-HMAdk-MOemJBe4xBI)
[Kelly McNairKelly McNair · 3rdThird degree connection
Chief Development OfficerChief Development Officer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydianemcnair?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAoVQYABr84TyLeXG-HMAdk-MOemJBe4xBI)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydianemcnair?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAoVQYABr84TyLeXG-HMAdk-MOemJBe4xBI)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/venetia-r-0bb907193?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAC2Ey88BkuebvGqoKW2lCLLhFilTVgpYrk4)
[Venetia R.Venetia R. · 3rdThird degree connection
--](https://www.linkedin.com/in/venetia-r-0bb907193?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAC2Ey88BkuebvGqoKW2lCLLhFilTVgpYrk4)
Connect
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-scolinos-12b205100?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmounMBXlaZcuA_Nydqc7LxM0L4diyXNrw)
[Will ScolinosWill Scolinos · 3rdThird degree connection
Counsel - House of RepresentativesCounsel - House of Representatives](https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-scolinos-12b205100?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmounMBXlaZcuA_Nydqc7LxM0L4diyXNrw)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-scolinos-12b205100?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABmounMBXlaZcuA_Nydqc7LxM0L4diyXNrw)
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bachand-2a8287161?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACapYOABlaf0jUJpm8-j7tmg_XVT0_KgHWo)
[Jake BachandJake Bachand · 3rdThird degree connection
Staffer at U.S. House of RepresentativesStaffer at U.S. House of Representatives](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bachand-2a8287161?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACapYOABlaf0jUJpm8-j7tmg_XVT0_KgHWo)
View profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bachand-2a8287161?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACapYOABlaf0jUJpm8-j7tmg_XVT0_KgHWo)
---
Christopher Hunt profile picture
Christopher HuntChristopher Hunt
Project Manager at State of Vermont Agency of TransportationProject Manager at State of Vermont Agency of Transportation
Nicholas Barry profile picture
Nicholas BarryNicholas Barry
Fighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all AmericansFighting back against lawless executive action and protecting freedom for all Americans
Oto Williams profile picture
Oto WilliamsOto Williams
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Director at Graceland Estates Management Ltd. Director at Graceland Estates Management Ltd.
Alex Haneberg profile picture
Alex HanebergAlex Haneberg
Exterior home remodelingExterior home remodeling
John Galdun profile picture
John GaldunJohn Galdun
AnalystAnalyst
Tim Robinson profile picture
Tim RobinsonTim Robinson
Communicator | Writer | MarketerCommunicator | Writer | Marketer
Michael D. profile picture
Michael D.Michael D.
Michael Flickinger, CPA profile picture
Michael Flickinger, CPAMichael Flickinger, CPA
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Controller at Surrounds Landscape Architecture + ConstructionController at Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction
Christopher Hunt profile picture
Christopher HuntChristopher Hunt
Client Success Team Lead, Client Initiatives with ID PlansClient Success Team Lead, Client Initiatives with ID Plans
Venetia R. profile picture
Venetia R.Venetia R.
Daria Webster Hunt profile picture
Daria Webster HuntDaria Webster Hunt
Property & Casualty | Inland Marine at RT SpecialtyProperty & Casualty | Inland Marine at RT Specialty
August Lascola profile picture
August LascolaAugust Lascola
Cornell Graduate '22 || Software Developer at Lumik LLCCornell Graduate '22 || Software Developer at Lumik LLC
John McCormick profile picture
John McCormickJohn McCormick
Intelligence
---
sb 1
DRAG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE DIVISION L.W., by and through parents and next ) friends, Samantha Williams and Brian ) Williams, et al., ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) and ) No. 3:23-cv-00376 ) JUDGE RICHARDSON UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) JUDGE NEWBERN ) Plaintiff-Intervenor, ) ) v. ) ) JONATHAN SKRMETTI, et al., ) ) Defendants. ) Brief of Amici Curiae Arkansas, Alabama, and 15 Other States in Support of Defendants
Nicholas R. Barry TN Bar No. 031963 AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #231 Washington, DC 20003 (615) 431-9303 Nicholas.Barry@aflegal.org Steve Marshall Attorney General Edmund G. LaCour Jr. Solicitor General A. Barrett Bowdre Principal Deputy Solicitor General OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE OF ALABAMA 501 Washington Avenue P.O. Box 300152 Montgomery, AL 36130-0152 (334) 242-7300 Edmund.LaCour@AlabamaAG.gov Tim Griffin Attorney General Nicholas J. Bronni Solicitor General Dylan L. Jacobs Deputy Solicitor General Hannah L. Templin Assistant Solicitor General OFFICE OF THE ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-6302 Dylan.Jacobs@ArkansasAG.gov Counsel for Amici Curiae
INTEREST OF AMICI Amici curiae are the States of Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. Like Tennessee, Amici are concerned about the surge in recent years of children suffering from gender dysphoria and other forms of gender-related psychological distress. And like Tennessee, Amici are concerned because these vulnerable children are suffering greatly and need help. The question is how to help them. Throughout their briefs, Plaintiffs and the United States asserts that gender transition procedures—puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical interventions—are “widely accepted and endorsed for the treatment of gender dysphoria” by several “well-established medical organizations.” Doc. 41 at 3; accord Doc. 33 at 3. But those briefs— like those medical interest groups they cite—paper over widespread disagreement with these gender transition procedures. Indeed, experts in several European countries and the State of Florida have moved away from those treatments. And a growing number of States, including some of the Amici, have banned them altogether. Amici thus write in support of Tennessee’s similar law. ARGUMENT I. Gender-Transition Procedures Are Not Evidence-Based
---
---
scrape
Matthew WhitakerMatthew Whitaker
· 3rdThird degree ion
Former Acting Attorney General of the United StatesFormer Acting Attorney General of the United States
Juli Haller profile picture
Juli HallerJuli Haller
· 3rdThird degree ion
Litigator. It was an honor to serve in the Trump Administration, which I left in late 2020.Litigator. It was an honor to serve in the Trump Administration, which I left in late 2020.
Ian Prior
· 3rdThird degree ion
Senior Advisor for America First LegalSenior Advisor for America First Legal
Experience
Senior AdvisorSenior Advisor
America First Legal · Full-timeAmerica First Legal · Full-timeFeb 2022 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mosFeb 2022 to Present · 2 yrs 5 mos
Executive DirectorExecutive Director
Fight for Schools · Self-employedFight for Schools · Self-employedApr 2021 - Present · 3 yrs 3 mosApr 2021 to Present · 3 yrs 3 mos
Chief Executive OfficerChief Executive Officer
Headwaters MediaHeadwaters MediaSep 2019 - Present · 4 yrs 10 mosSep 2019 to Present · 4 yrs 10 mos
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/93016/)
Vice PresidentVice President
Mercury · Full-timeMercury · Full-timeJul 2018 - Sep 2019 · 1 yr 3 mosJul 2018 to Sep 2019 · 1 yr 3 mosWashington, District of Columbia, United StatesWashington, District of Columbia, United States
Principal Deputy Director of Public AffairsPrincipal Deputy Director of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of JusticeMar 2017 - Jul 2018 · 1 yr 5 mosMar 2017 to Jul 2018 · 1 yr 5 mosWashington D.C. Metro Area
---
Brandy Patrick profile picture
Brandy PatrickBrandy Patrick
· 3rdThird degree ion
Records Division President at LexitasRecords Division President at Lexitas
View profile
Andrew Block profile picture
Andrew BlockAndrew Block
· 3rdThird degree ion
AttorneyAttorney
View profile
John Z. profile picture
John Z.John Z.
· 3rdThird degree ion
Director, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, America First Policy InstituteDirector, Center for Homeland Security and Immigration, America First Policy Institute
View profile
Ken Flood profile picture
Ken FloodKen Flood
· 3rdThird degree ion
Experienced Corporate AttorneyExperienced Corporate Attorney
View profile
Reed D. Rubinstein profile picture
Reed D. RubinsteinReed D. Rubinstein
· 3rdThird degree ion
Senior Vice President, America First Legal FoundationSenior Vice President, America First Legal Foundation
View profile
Charles J. U.Charles J. U.
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Public School Teacher Turned LawyerPublic School Teacher Turned Lawyer
Message
Daniel Epstein, J.D., Ph.D. profile picture
Daniel Epstein, J.D., Ph.D.Daniel Epstein, J.D., Ph.D.
· 3rdThird degree ion
Regulatory Law and Policy Regulatory Law and Policy
Follow
Jacob M. profile picture
Jacob M.Jacob M.
· 3rdThird degree ion
Attorney at America First LegalAttorney at America First Legal
View profile
James R. profile picture
James R.James R.
· 3rdThird degree ion
Senior Counsel, America First LegalSenior Counsel, America First Legal
View profile
Michael D. profile picture
Michael D.Michael D.
· 3rdThird degree ion
%%
View profile
Jase Panebianco profile picture
Jase PanebiancoJase Panebianco
· 3rdThird degree ion
Associate Attorney at AFPIAssociate Attorney at AFPI
View profile
Madison Brown profile picture
Madison BrownMadison Brown
· 3rdThird degree ion
J.D. Candidate at the American Washington College of Law | Federalist Society PresidentJ.D. Candidate at the American Washington College of Law | Federalist Society President
View profile
Tyler Fry profile picture
Tyler FryTyler Fry
· 3rd+Out of network ion
Attorney | U.S. Army VeteranAttorney | U.S. Army Veteran
Jake BachandJake Bachand
· 3rdThird degree ion
Staffer at U.S. House of RepresentativesStaffer at U.S. House of Representatives
View profile
Venetia R. profile picture
Venetia R.Venetia R.--
Kaitlan GossageKaitlan Gossage
· 3rdThird degree ion
Associate Director of OperationsAssociate Director of Operations
View profile
Will Scolinos profile picture
Will ScolinosWill Scolinos
· 3rdThird degree ion
Counsel - House of RepresentativesCounsel - House of Representatives
View profile
---
NO LAST NAME?
James R. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/overlay/about-this-profile/)
3rd degree connection3rd
Senior Counsel, America First Legal
America First Legal
Harvard Law School
Phoenix, Arizona, United States Contact info (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/overlay/contact-info/)
352 connections
Activity
358 followers
Loaded 1 Comments post
James R. commented on a post • 4mo4mo (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7164353338623418368?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7164353338623418368%2C7165908621749313536%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287165908621749313536%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7164353338623418368%29)Congrats!
Congrats! (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7164353338623418368?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7164353338623418368%2C7165908621749313536%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287165908621749313536%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7164353338623418368%29)
Show all comments (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/recent-activity/comments/)
ExperienceExperience
Senior CounselSenior Counsel
America First Legal · Full-timeAmerica First Legal · Full-timeMar 2023 - Present · 1 yr 4 mosMar 2023 to Present · 1 yr 4 mos
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/9102861/)
Assistant Solicitor GeneralAssistant Solicitor General
Utah Attorney General's Office · Full-timeUtah Attorney General's Office · Full-timeJan 2023 - Feb 2023 · 2 mosJan 2023 to Feb 2023 · 2 mosRemoteRemote
Drafted criminal appeals briefs and comment letters to federal government.Drafted criminal appeals briefs and comment letters to federal government.
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/38560/)
Senior Litigation Counsel, Solicitor General's OfficeSenior Litigation Counsel, Solicitor General's Office
Arizona Attorney General's Office · Full-timeArizona Attorney General's Office · Full-timeJul 2021 - Dec 2022 · 1 yr 6 mosJul 2021 to Dec 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos
Spearhead major national litigation against federal government, including challenges to: cancellation of Title 42 order; regulations weakening asylum process; en masse parole and non-detention of illegal aliens; and federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates (first State lawsuit to do so). Represent State of Arizona at oral arguments and status conferences. Research and draft Attorney General Opinions. Conduct high-quality research, complex analysis, and concise writing on tight deadlines.
Spearhead major national litigation against federal government, including challenges to: cancellation of Title 42 order; regulations weakening asylum process; en masse parole and non-detention of illegal aliens; and federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates (first State lawsuit to do so). Represent State of Arizona at oral arguments and status conferences. Research and draft Attorney General Opinions. Conduct high-quality research, complex analysis, and concise writing on tight deadlines.…see more
- Legal Research, Civil Litigation and +7 skills (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/overlay/urn:li:fsd_profilePosition:%28ACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A,1882243983%29/skill-associations-details?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/3100/)
U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of State Full-time · 6 yrs 5 mosFull-time · 6 yrs 5 mosOn-siteOn-site (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3100/)
Foreign Service Officer, Advisory Opinions & Litigation Team, Office of the Assistant Legal AdviserForeign Service Officer, Advisory Opinions & Litigation Team, Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser Jul 2019 - Jul 2021 · 2 yrs 1 moJul 2019 to Jul 2021 · 2 yrs 1 moWashington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3100/)
Legal research and writing on all aspects of Immigration and Nationality Act and related Presidential Proclamations, including on major suits against Department; draft binding legal advisory opinions for overseas posts; research and evaluate applicability of state and international criminal statutes to alien visa eligibility. Liaise with DOJ attorneys representing Department of State in federal court, including assistance in researching and drafting legal briefs.Legal research and writing on all aspects of Immigration and Nationality Act and related Presidential Proclamations, including on major suits against Department; draft binding legal advisory opinions for overseas posts; research and evaluate applicability of state and international criminal statutes to alien visa eligibility. Liaise with DOJ attorneys representing Department of State in federal court, including assistance in researching and drafting legal briefs.…see more
- Legal Research, Federal Court Litigation and +5 skills (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/overlay/urn:li:fsd_profilePosition:%28ACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A,662742691%29/skill-associations-details?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
Foreign Service Officer, Consular OfficerForeign Service Officer, Consular Officer Jul 2017 - Jul 2019 · 2 yrs 1 moJul 2017 to Jul 2019 · 2 yrs 1 moPorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilPorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3100/)
Conduct nearly 25,000 visa interviews; Fraud Prevention Manager and American Citizen Services Deputy Chief, managing 3 local staff. Conduct public diplomacy presentations in Brazilian Portuguese to large audiences of Brazilians,
High-level oral and written fluency in Brazilian Portuguese (State Department-tested 4+/4).Conduct nearly 25,000 visa interviews; Fraud Prevention Manager and American Citizen Services Deputy Chief, managing 3 local staff. Conduct public diplomacy presentations in Brazilian Portuguese to large audiences of Brazilians, High-level oral and written fluency in Brazilian Portuguese (State Department-tested 4+/4).…see more
- Investigation, Public Diplomacy and +6 skills (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-703504/overlay/urn:li:fsd_profilePosition:%28ACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A,2095409016%29/skill-associations-details?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAATGvMBT5KPI4YFHqKnwbjPwXpJYRw180A)
Foreign Service Officer, Political OfficerForeign Service Officer, Political Officer Jul 2015 - Jul 2017 · 2 yrs 1 moJul 2015 to Jul 2017 · 2 yrs 1 moWindhoek, Khomas, NamibiaWindhoek, Khomas, Namibia (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3100/)
Cultivate local contacts to gather information and promote U.S. interests. Draft concise reporting cables to inform policymakers. Draft and update Namibia section of Department of State's Human Rights Report. Liaise with
---
---
LANGLEY & PARKS, LLC
By: /s/ Julianna P. Parks
Julianna P. Parks, Bar Roll No. 30658
4444 Viking Drive, Suite100
Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
(318) 383-6422 Telephone
(318) 383-6405 Telefax
jparks@langleyparks.com
...for the rights of Plaintiffs and Class members. Defendants’ conduct was malicious, oppressive, and done in reckless disregard of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ rights.
CLAIMS FOR RELIEF COUNT ONE – Civil Rights Conspiracy Under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) Against All Defendants 388. 1 OF 4?
The foregoing Paragraphs are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. 389. Section 1985(3) of Title 42, United States Code, provides: If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire … for the purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities of any State or Territory from giving or securing to all persons within such State or Territory the equal protection of the laws … in any case of conspiracy set forth in this section, if one or more persons engaged therein do, or cause to be done, any act in furtherance of the object of such conspiracy, whereby another is injured in his person or property, or deprived of having and exercising any right or privilege of a citizen of the United States, the party so injured or deprived may have an action for the recovery of damages occasioned by such injury or deprivation, against any one or more of the conspirators.
...
P 87 RELIEF
...
Speech on social media on the basis of viewpoint and discriminatory animus.
- Defendants’ conduct is the cause-in-fact, legal cause, but-for cause, and proximate
cause of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ loss of the rights and freedoms and other injuries and
damages alleged herein.
- As a result of Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiffs and Class members have suffered and
continue to suffer injuries and losses including loss of fundamental rights and freedoms, economic
injuries, loss of economic opportunities, and non-economic injuries, among others.
- Defendants intentionally harmed and continue to harm Plaintiffs and Class
members without just cause and acted with a deliberate, egregious, and flagrant disregard for the
rights of Plaintiffs and Class members. Defendants’ conduct is malicious, oppressive, and done in
reckless disregard of Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ clearly established rights.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs, on their own behalf and on behalf of those similarly situated,
respectfully pray that this Court grant them the following relief:
A. Certify the case for class-wide adjudication under Rules 23(a), 23(b)(2), and
23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
B. Declare, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201, 2202, that Defendants’ conduct violates
the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States, 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3), 42 U.S.C. § 1983,
common-law doctrines of tortious interference and breach of duty, and other applicable laws;
C. Preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants, their officers, officials, agents,
servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons acting in concert or participation with them, from
continuing to engage in the ongoing unlawful conduct alleged in this Complaint;
D. Preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants, their officers, officials, agents,
servants, employees, attorneys, and all persons acting in concert or participation with them, from
taking any steps to procure the censorship of any speech or content on social media by Plaintiffs,
Class members, or any speaker they listen to or follow on social media;
E. Award Plaintiffs and Class members nominal damages for each and every speaker,
item, act of social-media content, post, tweet, engagement, comment, liking, reposting, and/or any
other act of expression on online or social media that was or would have been made or viewed by
any Plaintiff and/or Class member but was or is suppressed or censored in any way in violation of
Plaintiffs’ and Class members’ rights as a result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct;
F. Award compensatory damages appropriate to compensate Plaintiffs’ and Class
members’ monetary losses incurred as a result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct;
G. Award compensatory damages appropriate to compensate Plaintiffs’ and Class
members’ non-economic injuries sustained as a result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct;
H. Award punitive damages appropriate to punish and deter similar unlawful conduct
by Defendants and others that are commensurate to the egregious, intentional, widespread, and
systematic civil-rights violations and tortious conduct perpetrated by Defendants;
I. Award Plaintiffs and Class members reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses
under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 and other applicable fee-shifting provisions; and
J. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
---
mma 5 24
May 22, 2024, edition of Newsmax's *Eric Bolling: The Balance
ERIC BOLLING: I have to bring some of these things up. You're so right about all these things. License to kill - now, mind you, Mar-a-Lago is a secure location. It has U.S. Secret Service all over the place all the time. Those documents weren't gonna get stolen or mutilated during a raid.
License to shoot and kill — there were innocent people standing around Mar-a-Lago. People staying there, friends, guests. What happens if Donald Trump is there and sees someone — an FBI agent roughing up Barron Trump or Melania Trump in their — in her closet, which we know they went through, and decides to push back? Is there gonna be a gunfight at Mar-a-Lago because the FBI and the Secret Service are going to get into it? I'd also like to point out that picture we showed a couple of times with the classified documents that FBI gave us was fake, staged. Those aren't the documents they found. The documents they found that were classified, didn't have those markings on it.
That is a picture the FBI put together to make it look worse than it was. I can't even begin to tell you how angry I am at what's going on because they can do — Stephen, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was put in place for this and they're showing us that they are a tyrannical government that we need to be armed to protect ourselves from. Am I wrong?
Media Matters' Matt Gertz previously discussed (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/how-right-wing-echo-chamber-constructed-biden-assassination-plot-against-trump) the MAGA claims regarding FBI guidelines on use of force at Mar-a-Lago:
Over a handful of hours on Tuesday, the right’s conspiracy theory ecosystem concocted a sinister plot by President Joe Biden to assassinate his predecessor out of the banal fact that FBI agents received standard instructions on the use of force before conducting a court-ordered search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022.
Hundreds of pages of filings (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/21/us/trump-mal-motion-to-suppress-govt-response.html) were unsealed (https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/21/politics/mar-a-lago-documents-walt-nauta-donald-trump?cid=ios_app) on Tuesday in Trump’s classified documents case, revealing that the former president — who is charged with 40 federal criminal counts (https://www.politico.com/interactives/2023/trump-criminal-investigations-cases-tracker-list/) related to his alleged willful retention of documents after leaving the White House — had multiple documents marked “classified” in his bedroom that were discovered months after the 2022 search.
Credible outlets reviewed the documents and produced a wave (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna153337) of news (https://abcnews.go.com/US/special-counsel-suspected-additional-obstruction-effort-trump-classified/story?id=110438582) stories (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mar-a-lago-documents/) detailing (https://www.axios.com/2024/05/21/trumps-classified-documents-bedroom-mar-a-lago) what a judge described as “strong evidence” of Trump’s allegedly criminal acts (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/21/trump-florida-classified-documents-motions/). Meanwhile, Trump’s MAGA media supporters ginned up a counternarrative based on a credulous reading of a deceptive argument from Trump’s lawyers that was included in the unsealed documents.
A Fox News reporter has since noted (https://x.com/JacquiHeinrich/status/1793426202365145454) that the same “standard” use of force policy was in place when FBI agents visited the home of President Joe Biden.
Regarding Bolling's claim that the photo at Mar-a-Lago was staged, The New York Times reported in 2022 (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/31/us/politics/trump-photo-classified-documents.html):
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump took to his social media site to say that “the F.B.I., during the raid of Mar-a-Lago, threw documents haphazardly all over the floor (perhaps pretending that it was me that did it!), and then started taking pictures of them for the public to see.”
But the genesis of the photograph appears to be in keeping with standard protocols for how federal agents handle evidence they come across in a search.
The folders were arrayed by agents at Mar-a-Lago after being removed from what the filing indicated was Mr. Trump’s office — they were not discovered scattered on the floor, according to two federal law enforcement officials.
The Justice Department would not comment on the specifics of the photograph. But it is standard practice for the F.B.I. to take evidentiary pictures of materials recovered in a search to ensure that items are properly cataloged and accounted for.
AGREES W ALL BS
stepHen miller lawless regime that’s in power
host go after joe sixpACK...
---
---
BRADLEY DAF Dark money
----==
an 4 24
as Donald Trump begins his first criminal trial this week, while facing three other indictments and 88 felony counts, several far-right groups are working tirelessly to ensure MAGA (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/16/trump-rightwing-groups-funds) lives on no matter what comes of the ex-president's legal troubles, according to a Tuesday, April 16 report published by The Guardian.
Two of the MAGA hopeful's allies — America First Legal Foundation founder Stephen Miller, and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — were the beneficiaries of "six- and seven-figure checks" from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Bradley Impact Fund's in 2022, as well as "other Trump-friendly bastions such as the Heritage Foundation and Michael Flynn’s America’s Future," the news outlet reports
"The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Bradley Impact Fund have emerged as major forces in Maga circles," Michael Beckel, of the bipartisan political reform organization Issue One told the news outlet.
READ MORE:[Journalist exposes how 'mastermind' Trump adviser Stephen Miller was 'radicalized'
Furthermore, The Guardian reports the nonprofit pair "poured about $165m into dozens of groups including quite a few Trump-allied thinktanks, legal outfits and other advocacy outfits."
Beckel noted, however, "Donor-advised funds like the Bradley Impact Fund allow mega-donors to support organizations while keeping their names out of the spotlight."
The Issue One research director emphasized The Bradley Impact Fund, offers "wealthy mega-donors additional anonymity and help keep donors’ names out of the limelight, even as these individuals contribute large sums to influence elections and policy debates."
Referring to the Bradley Foundation, Lisa Graves, the executive director of the progressive watchdog group True North, said: “It has nearly $1bn in assets. Its board includes the multimillionaire Art Pope, whose personal ambition is to change the political landscape of North Carolina and more to suit his regressive agenda. Mitchell has been playing a significant role in efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote, and harder for Americans to have fair representation through fair maps.”
READ MORE:[Trump ally’s stunning request: 'If this election doesn’t go our way the next day we fight'
She emphasized, "These are substantial investments that are furthering extremists at the forefront of Trump’s agenda."
*The Guardian's full report is available here (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/16/trump-rightwing-groups-funds)
guk
Two powerful conservative non-profits have donated millions of dollars to a number of pro-Trump groups led by the key far-right allies Stephen Miller, Charlie Kirk and others that have promoted election denialism, extremist anti-immigrant policies and legal challenges to bolster the Maga movement.
Based in Wisconsin, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the Bradley Impact Fund in 2022 separately doled out six- and seven-figure checks to groups such as Miller’s America First Legal and Kirk’s Turning Point USA, and other Trump-friendly bastions such as the Heritage Foundation and Michael Flynn’s America’s Future.
Watchdog groups that track money in politics say the Bradley Foundation and the closely tied Bradley Impact Fund have become increasingly influential in funding the Maga ecosystem in recent years as Trump is all but certain to be the Republican 2024 presidential nominee.
“The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Bradley Impact Fund have emerged as major forces in Maga circles,” said Michael Beckel, the research director for Issue One, a bipartisan political reform group.
The biggest checks in 2022 were written to Trump-allied groups by the dark-money Bradley Impact Fund: America First Legal received about $27.1m, Turning Point USA roped in close to $8m, and the Conservative Partnership Institute pulled in $712,310. America’s Future also received $500,000.
Meanwhile, the Bradley Foundation ponied up $425,000 to the Heritage Foundation, which has worked with many other pro-Trump groups to assemble a 1,000-page plan for a new Trump presidency with an authoritarian agenda to expand executive-branch powers and curb key agencies such as the US justice department.
The Bradley Foundation in 2022 also doled out $750,000 to the pro-Maga FreedomWorks Foundation and $2.9m to the Bradley Impact Fund.
While the larger and older Bradley Foundation launched in 1942 and has almost $1bn in assets, the newer and smaller Bradley Impact Fund has grown fast and handed out especially large sums to far-right groups close to Trump.
The Impact Fund, which was started in 2012 and shares at least two board members with the foundation, has witnessed explosive growth in recent years, with revenues from undisclosed donors hitting $108m in 2022 versus just $7m in 2017, according to tax records.
By contrast, the Bradley Foundation doled out $56.6m in 2022.
The Bradley foundation’s board includes the well-known rightwinger Art Pope, a North Carolina multimillionaire who used to chair its board and is also a director of the Bradley Impact Fund. Pope has deep ties to other conservative bastions such as the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, where he has been a board member too.
The board of the Bradley Foundation also boasts the rightwing lawyer and Trump ally Cleta Mitchell, a senior legal fellow at the Conservative Partnership Institute.
Mitchell founded CPI’s self-styled “election integrity network” in 2021 after participating with Trump on his 2 January call to the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, who Trump beseeched to “find” 11,780 votes to help overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state.
Mitchell has been a driving force in mobilizing other Trump-allied election denialist groups to expand poll-watching and other measures to guard against potential voting fraud, while she has continued to promote bogus claims of election fraud in 2020.
Serendipitously, the rightwing Public Interest Legal Foundation that Mitchell chairs received $750,000 from the two Bradley non-profits combined, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Media and Democracy, which tracks money in politics.
Although not as well-known as the sprawling network of conservative groups funded by the oil and gas billionaire Charles Koch, experts say the two Bradley non-profits have become instrumental in funding major political players on the right.
“Through their extensive grant-making, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Bradley Impact Fund are shaping politics and policymaking in ways that will be felt for years to come,” said Beckel.
Other experts who follow influential donors on the right, including the two Bradley non-profits, agree that their hefty donations are supporting major players and groups backing Trump.
“These are substantial investments that are furthering extremists at the forefront of Trump’s agenda,” said Lisa Graves, the executive director of the progressive watchdog group True North.
Speaking about the older Bradley Foundation, Graves said: “It has nearly $1bn in assets. Its board includes the multimillionaire Art Pope, whose personal ambition is to change the political landscape of North Carolina and more to suit his regressive agenda.”
She added: “Mitchell has been playing a significant role in efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote, and harder for Americans to have fair representation through fair maps.”
The Bradley Foundation board boasts other big-name conservative lawyers too, including Paul Clement, a former US solicitor general who has done substantial legal work for pro-gun interests, and Eugene Scalia, a secretary of labor during the Trump administration and the son of the late supreme court justice Antonin Scalia.
In total, the two Bradley non-profits in 2022 poured about $165m into dozens of groups including quite a few Trump-allied thinktanks, legal outfits and other advocacy outfits.
Other rightwing recipients who received checks from both Bradley non-profits include the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which pulled in a total of $1.1m, and the National Center for Public Policy Research, which received just over $1m.
Similarly, the two Bradley non-profits gave a total of $700,000 to Flynn’s America’s Future, almost $530,000 to the Heritage Foundation, and $510,050 to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
In the case of Flynn’s America’s Future, the Bradley non-profits were crucial to sustaining its operations in 2022, according to tax records. America’s Future only raised about $1.1m in 2022.
Flynn, who briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser and who Trump pardoned in late 2020 after he was convicted of lying to the FBI about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador in 2016, was a key pusher of false claims the 2020 election was rigged. He is now urging a “guard the vote” drive against potential fraud, a ploy Trump has touted too.
The rapid growth of the Bradley Impact Fund, which bills itself as a “donor-advised fund” and keeps donor names secret, underscores how many big conservative check-writers want to hide their identities, say experts.
“Donor-advised funds like the Bradley Impact Fund allow mega-donors to support organizations while keeping their names out of the spotlight,” said Beckel.
The Bradley Impact Fund, he said, gives “wealthy mega-donors additional anonymity and help keep donors’ names out of the limelight, even as these individuals contribute large sums to influence elections and policy debates”.
More broadly, Graves said: “Though the two Bradley non-profits are not as well known as Koch’s non-profit empire or Leonard Leo’s money operation to capture key levers of power, they have become increasingly important to the growth of the Maga ecosystem.”
---
---
3 24 AN
Three attorneys who participated in former President Donald Trump's plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election are now facing disciplinary charges by the Washington, DC bar that could result in them permanently losing their ability to practice law in the nation's capital.
According to a Friday report in Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/19/dc-trump-2020-election-lawyers-00136667), lawyers Judi Haller, Brandon Johnson and Lawrence Joseph are all now accused of making statements to the court that they knew to be false in filing election challenges on Trump's behalf, and could ultimately be disbarred over their actions. Haller and Johnson worked alongside fellow Trump lawyer Sidney Powell (one of the former president's co-defendants in the Fulton County RICO trial who has since pleaded guilty) on her post-election lawsuits in swing states that then-candidate Joe Biden narrowly won in 2020.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Joseph is being investigated for a suit he helped Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) file against then-Vice President Mike Pence for pressuring him to declare Trump the winner of the 2020 election while presiding over the US Senate's certification of Electoral College votes. That suit was ultimately thrown out by an appeals court panel after being denied by a federal district judge.
Politico additionally reported that following her work with Sidney Powell, Judi Haller went on to defend several participants in the January 6 insurrection, including Kelly Meggs (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/what-to-know-about-kelly-meggs-florida-oath-keeper-going-to-prison-for-jan-6-attack/) — a member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia in Florida who was eventually sentenced to 12 years in prison for seditious conspiracy. Haller now works at America First Legal, which is led by former Trump adviser (and outed white nationalist (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/after-stephen-miller-s-white-nationalist-views-outed-latinos-ask-n1096071)) Stephen Miller.
Haller, Johnson and Joseph are merely the latest Trump-affiliated attorneys at risk of losing their law licenses. Former Trump attorney John Eastman – who authored the infamous "Eastman Memo (https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/21/politics/read-eastman-memo/index.html)" that laid out the strategy for Pence to hand the election to Trump — just completed a lengthy disciplinary hearing in California, where a final decision is expected by late February.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani had his law license stripped as a result of his efforts to subvert the election. And former assistant attorney general Jeffrey Clark is in the midst of his own disbarment proceedings, where Trump has threatened to invoke executive privilege (https://www.alternet.org/trump-involved-accomplices-disbarment/) and trigger what could be months of litigation. Both Giuliani and Clark are also defending themselves against felony charges in Fulton County.
A DC bar committee will conduct an initial hearing into the charges against Haller, Johnson and Joseph, and could recommend a range of penalties, including suspension and disbarment.
READ MORE:'Materially changes this case': Trump gets involved in Jan. 6 accomplice's disbarment (https://www.alternet.org/trump-involved-accomplices-disbarment/)
---
---
anti-commie teachers new? trans? no xian?
rww 2 24
Former Trump aide Stephen Miller told the MAGA activists gathered near Washington, D.C. last week for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that conservatives must be willing to use power more aggressively against their opponents. He railed against district attorneys and other officials for not arresting teachers who violate new state laws that restrict teaching on race, gender, and sexuality.
Miller, an architect of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, has been promising (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/us/politics/trump-2025-immigration-agenda.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9kw.UOlp.p34arIyCA4G7&smid=tw-share) MAGA activists that if Trump returns to the White House, he “will unleash the vast arsenal of federal powers to implement the most spectacular migration crackdown.” Miller’s America First Legal group is part of the far-right Project 2025, which has prepared a battle plan (https://politicalresearch.org/2024/02/14/project-2025) for the movement to “take the reins of government” in a new Trump administration. The Heritage Foundation, ringleader of the Project 2025 scheme, was at CPAC recruiting foot soldiers willing to carry out the plan.
In a recent article for Political Research Associates’ “The Public Eye” magazine, I noted that Project 2025 reflected a “movement-level, ideological shift away from a libertarian mistrust of government power and toward an authoritarian view of government power being used ruthlessly—whether as a righteous force wielded to advance a ‘biblical worldview’ or turned against an ‘administrative state’ supposedly captured by a radical Marxist left.”
Miller provided ample confirmation about the MAGA movement’s intentions, down to his dismissal of libertarianism as “a terrible ideology” that might be fine for academic debates but not in the real world, where he said public officials have a responsibility to “defeat evil.”
Excerpts from Miller’s appearance on a Friday, Feb. 23 CPAC panel:
Call it a mental illness, call it a spiritual failing, call it a moral deficiency, call it weakness, softness, or just being pathetic. There is something really broken in the conservative brain. They’re afraid not only of conflict, we know that. But there’s an even deeper fear, a deeper fear than all that, which is having power, and using power. Conservatives are addicted to the language of libertarianism, which is fine–you know, it’s a terrible ideology, but in an academic setting, okay, have these debates. …
You elect a state supreme court justice, you elect an Attorney General, and so on and so forth, to have an office with specific powers, duties, and responsibilities, with the expectation that they will use that authority to defeat evil, to protect the good, and to accomplish positive change in society. And you have to use that power fearlessly. …
A number of states, for example, have passed laws, saying that you can’t have this in the curriculum, or you can’t have that in the curriculum, and you can’t teach DEI and so on and so forth. Without exception, I can promise you, all the commies in the classroom changed the name of their lecture, changed one word, changed one little paragraph in the syllabus and did the exact same damn thing every single day because they’re communists and that’s what they do. Were they sued? No! Were they arrested if they broke a law and it’s applicable? No! Did any D.A. anywhere, if you’re talking about trans issues, think of arresting somebody for abusing children with trans ideology? No, we write blog posts about it. That’s what we do. So until we get serious, all the way down to the local DA, all the way up to the state A/G. and every office in between, including judges, electing people who have power and will use that power and measure their success by change in the real world, then we aren’t going to be able to beat the left.
---
---
'Mass deport illegals': Stephen Miller says he knows why Johnson opposes bipartisan bills - Alternet.org (https://www.alternet.org/stephen-miller-2667272079/)
---
really racist ads 2022 midterms
---
mma 2 24
MIKE DAVIS (PANELIST): We have to be smart how we fight back against the left. And right now, there is a bill working its way through the Florida legislature. It's well-intentioned. It allows — it makes it easier to sue media companies for defamation. Right? But the problem is — it sounds great. I'm all about suing CNN and the Washington Post and all the other media outlets that attack us on a daily basis. The problem is the left has more trial lawyers. They have more money. They're better at lawfare than we are right now, and they're gonna use this law in Florida to go after conservative media, Christian broadcasters, independent Hispanic media outlets who aren't leftist. That's the problem. And I want to get — let's start with Stephen Miller on this because you've been pretty vocal on this. What's your response to this Florida bill? How can we be smarter about how we fight back?
...
STEPHEN MILLER (PANELIST): We all want to go after the big corporate media, but you have to write laws to actually go after the enemy. Big broad neutral laws will be used to crush us. It will be used to obliterate us. Look at what New York did when they went after Donald Trump. They changed the law, which is unconstitutional by the way, to go after one man. To go after one man. If you just have a law change in Florida that says it's way easier to punish people for defamation, end of law, what the hell do you think is gonna happen? Every left-wing trial lawyer in the country is going to move to Florida and sue the hell out of every conservative influencer, podcaster, and everybody else. Write the laws so it protects your friends and harms the bad guys, otherwise, you're handing them a sword to run right through you.
---
At CPAC, Stephen Miller describes his plan to round up migrants into camps and deport them | Media Matters for America (https://www.mediamatters.org/stephen-miller/cpac-stephen-miller-describes-his-plan-round-migrants-camps-and-deport-them)
---
PFAW 2 24 YMAIL
Welcome to our weekly “Trumptastrophe” email series that serves to remind us all of the destructive policies, decisions, and actions we encountered during the Trump presidency and the threats that he and others in the MAGA movement still pose – and to keep those moments clear in our memory as we fight to defeat Republican extremists during the upcoming elections.
This week’s Trumptastrophe brings into focus how Trump and his MAGA Republican enablers sow doubt about our elections – especially for those that they lose – and how it undermines our election integrity while fueling right-wing outrage that can sometimes lead to violence:
On February 9, 2017, President Trump told a group of senators (https://act.pfaw.org/go/93096?t=2&akid=41434%2E2556770%2E5Z6xJB) that he would have won New Hampshire in the 2016 presidential election if it weren’t for “thousands” of people he claimed were bused in from Massachusetts to vote illegally in the state. Trump offered no evidence to back up his claim.
A few days later, Trump adviser Stephen Miller was asked about the bogus claim by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “This Week.” Pressed repeatedly by Stephanopoulos on the lack of evidence for Trump’s claim, Miller doubled down, saying it’s “widely known by anyone who’s worked in New Hampshire politics,” and declaring, “It’s very real; it’s very serious.” Miller went on to claim that there are “massive numbers of noncitizens in this country who are registered to vote.”
Miller’s amplifying of Trump’s false claims led Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire to respond on social media (https://act.pfaw.org/go/93097?t=3&akid=41434%2E2556770%2E5Z6xJB), “As everybody knows, Stephen Miller has no evidence of voter fraud in NH. This has been debunked.” She noted that Trump had not called for a recount in the state.
This wasn’t the first time since his inauguration that Trump made false claims about the election in which he lost the popular vote by about 2.9 million votes while winning an Electoral College majority. A few weeks earlier, he told congressional leaders that he only lost the popular vote because 3 million to 5 million immigrants had voted illegally, a claim the Associated Press noted at the time had previously been debunked....
---
White House official sarcastically mocks Trump ally Stephen Miller as a puppy eater - Alternet.org (https://www.alternet.org/white-house-stephen-miller/)
---
trump-advisor-stephen-miller-and-foxs-jesse-watters-fantasize-about-mass-deportations (https://boingboing.net/2023/12/20/trump-advisor-stephen-miller-and-foxs-jesse-watters-fantasize-about-mass-deportations.html)
---
Fox News guest Stephen Miller: "What we are witnessing is the engineered political transformation of the country" | Media Matters for America (https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-guest-stephen-miller-what-we-are-witnessing-engineered-political-transformation)
---
READ MORE: ‘Denying Career Advancement to White Straight Men’: Stephen Miller’s Law Group Targets Macy’s (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2023/11/denying-career-advancement-to-white-straight-men-stephen-millers-law-group-targets-macys/)
---
'Denying career advancement to white straight men': Stephen Miller’s law group targets Macy’s - Alternet.org (https://www.alternet.org/stephen-millers-law-group-macys/)
---
ymail 11 23
stephen Miller, the notorious advisor to former president Donald Trump, suggested on X yesterday that a "conservative state Attorney] General (https://substack.com/redirect/122b83c3-4b72-4e55-b5b8-9731563891bd?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)" should pursue civil and criminal charges against Media Matters. Miller claims that Media Matters committed "fraud" by reporting that X was displaying ads from major brands next to white nationalist and neo-Nazi posts. X has accused Media Matters of "[completely misrepresent[ing] the real user experience on X (https://substack.com/redirect/7b6d7983-4ddb-451a-ad1e-f1d1e9e9cf37?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)." But, according to X's own statement, all Media Matters did was create an account, follow some users, and observe what ads were displayed.
Musk, a self-described "free speech absolutist," responded favorably to Miller's proposal to subject journalists to criminal prosecution, declaring it "interesting." But the idea that Media Matters' conduct is legally actionable is absurd, especially since X has already admitted that ads were displayed next to the posts identified by Media Matters.
Nevertheless, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) took Miller up on his suggestion. "My team is looking into this matter (https://substack.com/redirect/a2383a4f-1a86-4263-acc5-536d2dd1b202?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)," Bailey posted in response to Musk.
Bailey expanded on his investigation of Media Matters' reporting in an interview on Newsmax, a far-right cable channel:
The Missouri Attorney General's Office is tasked in statute with protecting Missouri consumers. That means consumers that participate on social media platforms as well. And so if we have an instance where there was a deceptive or fraudulent business practice where Media Matters was using some sort of coercive or fraudulent algorithms or advertising, that's going to be problematic on the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
It does not appear that Bailey gave this "investigation" much thought. Media Matters’ conduct did not involve "fraudulent algorithms" or "advertising." And the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act only applies to "the sale or advertisement of any merchandise in trade or commerce (https://substack.com/redirect/a1dd5f23-d69d-4752-b99b-673b885c0687?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)." Media Matters was not selling anything.
But Bailey's announcement should not come as a surprise. Bailey has never been elected by the people of Missouri. He was appointed to his position in January by Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R). Since then, Bailey has brazenly exceeded the legal authority of his office to grab headlines. Bailey is running for a full term in 2024 and is seeking to make sure he is not outflanked from the right in the Republican primary.
Bailey circumvents legislature, announces "emergency" rule on trans medical care
In March 2023, Bailey announced that he was unilaterally implementing emergency regulations that would impose severe restrictions on transgender hormone therapy for children and adults. What authority did Bailey cite to justify circumventing the legislature? The Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. Bailey's actions were condemned by Democrats and Republicans.
Bailey proposed (https://substack.com/redirect/26b82f74-03bb-4745-8c33-f5b32b47ba6e?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) requiring 15 hourly therapy sessions over 18 months before any person could receive hormone therapy. Doctors would also need to certify that "for at least the 3 most recent consecutive years, the patient has exhibited a medically documented, long-lasting, persistent and intense pattern of gender dysphoria" and "any existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved." Further, doctors would need to have in place a system to monitor "all patients beginning the first day of intervention and continuing for a period of not fewer than 15 years."
Bailey claimed he had the authority to issue these rules — the first in the country limiting hormone therapy for adults — because "gender transition interventions are experimental and have significant side effects." But hormone therapy and other gender-affirming treatments are not experimental. They have existed for decades and are supported as medically necessary (https://substack.com/redirect/2b7d9172-b874-4f7d-b27a-132e3f044d36?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) by the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association.
Prominent Missouri Republicans harshly criticized Bailey's efforts (https://substack.com/redirect/e79efd7d-fcfe-4e00-af1a-63f02266e7c8?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw). Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) blasted Bailey for exceeding his authority. "If you're an adult, you have the capacity to make your own decisions," Ashcroft said. "I don't believe it's the role of [the] government to forbid it."
Trans advocates sued to block Bailey's rule, and it was temporarily blocked by a state judge. In May, the Missouri legislature then passed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors (https://substack.com/redirect/ac8762ad-943d-4028-9cf0-88c437b66e88?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw). Shortly thereafter, facing increasing criticism from all sides, Bailey withdrew the rule (https://substack.com/redirect/ac8762ad-943d-4028-9cf0-88c437b66e88?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw).
Bailey claimed protecting reproductive rights in Missouri would cost taxpayers $50 billion
Reproductive rights supporters are seeking to put the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (https://substack.com/redirect/2dc60a6c-390d-4ec5-97a9-b857d9524e79?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) on the state ballot in 2024. (Missouri banned most abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe). The amendment would enshrine "the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care," including abortion, in the Missouri Constitution. Reasonable restrictions on abortions after "fetal viability" would be permitted.
Bailey's role in this matter is very limited. Before the organizers can collect signatures, Bailey must certify (https://substack.com/redirect/3c4b9854-0152-4239-9d9d-525346b217e6?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) that "the proposed ballot language isn't more than 50 words, and that it includes the auditor's cost estimate." Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick (R), an abortion opponent, estimated that the amendment would cost the state about $51,000 annually.
"Even though I would prefer to be able to say these initiative petitions will cost the state billions of dollars, I have a responsibility to the people of Missouri to not allow my personal beliefs to prevent the Auditor’s office from providing a fair cost estimate based on facts," Fitzpatrick said (https://substack.com/redirect/8b6da6e7-8b1d-48f1-a6a8-facfdeca98b1?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw).
Bailey, however, refused to certify the amendment because he claimed the real cost was not $51,000, but over $50 billion. According to Bailey, if the state protected abortion rights, it would lose $12.5 billion in Medicaid funding. (This is not true (https://substack.com/redirect/bb16b541-0a11-4851-85c3-49df9e674358?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw).) Bailey also claimed that the amendment would "cost the state billions more in lost revenue because future taxpayers wouldn't be born." A state judge rejected both of those arguments (https://substack.com/redirect/c3946fe0-e1b2-4a92-9567-4d7848ef7363?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw).
Undeterred, Bailey then claimed the cost of another proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights was $21 million (https://substack.com/redirect/4e0e1d06-8fe4-4c80-8fdb-b8bff9e2c32d?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw). Bailey said that, as an opponent of abortion rights, he could not in good conscience defend the amendment as Missouri's Attorney General. Therefore, he would have to hire outside counsel to do his job. Those lawyers, Bailey claimed, would cost $21 million annually. That figure was included in the descriptions of the amendment for voters drafted by Secretary of State Ashcroft.
Bailey's unprecedented effort to overturn a manslaughter conviction
Earlier this summer, Bailey asked a judge to throw out the conviction of a white police officer who killed a 26-year-old Black man outside his home in 2019. The former detective, Eric DeValkenaere, was found guilty (https://substack.com/redirect/3b7c2666-6cb4-4558-a908-462954e8c1ca?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) of “second-degree manslaughter and armed criminal action” in the death of Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere claimed that he fired his gun after Lamb pointed a gun at his partner, Troy Schwalm. But a judge rejected this defense, arguing that the officers “had no probable cause to believe \Lamb] had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property,” the AP [reported (https://substack.com/redirect/dfc04f27-b312-4a5a-9c86-9897048931e9?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw). Prosecutors also claimed that the officers planted a gun on Lamb after the shooting.
Bailey, however, insists the conviction was based on insufficient evidence. “DeValkenaere’s use of force was reasonable in light of Mr. Lamb’s use of deadly force against Schwalm, and the court erred as a matter of fact and law in determining that Schwalm and DeValkenaere were the initial aggressors,” Bailey’s office argued.
But experts say that Bailey’s move is unusual. As the Kansas City Star wrote (https://substack.com/redirect/fd84c2da-e240-45c8-8ac7-b880f9ff91a3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw), the state’s Attorney General office “has historically fought to defend convictions.” Jean Peters Baker, the prosecutor whose office secured the conviction, called the reversal “unprecedented (https://substack.com/redirect/9c2e808f-0fc5-4578-9a5b-47e0adff783d?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)” and “disappointing. (https://substack.com/redirect/51700381-07c2-4f45-abbe-ebe8cb9b7fd0?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw)”
“I’ve been doing this work for 40 years. And I can just say, I’ve not been involved — in the scores and scores and scores of murder cases I’ve tried — where the attorney general came in and filed a brief seeking to reverse a conviction I obtained,” Tim Dollar, a private attorney who assisted with the prosecution, said.
In October (https://substack.com/redirect/7c754a27-aeb4-4865-b2d7-156e95515e6a?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw), a three-judge panel rejected Bailey's position and "ruled unanimously that there had been enough evidence" for a conviction. DeValkenaere began serving his six-year sentence that month after spending two years free (https://substack.com/redirect/1debd231-d64a-4c30-8af3-a897fb35e594?j=eyJ1IjoiN3ltancifQ.i0HJl3aVWG8sHp566T-pebMssFGKcgvxVOFLuZyEDpw) on bond while his appeal was pending.
---
an 11 23
Staffers who worked for former President Donald Trump are reportedly now assembling a database of MAGA loyalists in preparation for an unprecedented purge of federal workers, should Trump win a second term in 2024.
According to a new Axios report (https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-loyalists-2024-presidential-election), former Trump advisors Stephen Miller and Johnny McEntee are working alongside the Heritage Foundation — one of Washington, DC's most established conservative think tanks — to build "a pre-vetted, pro-Trump army" of approximately 54,000 people to quickly staff the federal government in key domestic policy roles. Axios cofounders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen wrote that "social media histories are already being plumbed" to screen potential candidates.
"We're told immense, intense attention will be given to the social-media histories of anyone being considered for top jobs," VandeHei and Allen wrote. "Those queasy about testing the limits of Trump's power will get flagged and rejected."
VandeHei and Allen added that the undertaking involves "hundreds of people... spending tens of millions of dollars" in order to "rip off the restraints imposed on the previous 46 presidents."
The effort to pre-screen potential federal workers under a second Trump term is a key part of Project 2025, which Heritage has spearheaded in coordination with dozens of other conservative organizations (https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/). Under Project 2025, executive power under a Republican administration would be drastically expanded (https://www.alternet.org/trump-s-project-2025-agenda-aims-for-total-control-of-the-federal-government/), and the typically apolitical federal civil service — what Trump calls "the deep state" — would be packed full of far-right apparatchiks with the goal of governing to achieve conservative political goals. Heritage President Kevin Roberts told Axios that Project 2025 is "orders of magnitude" bigger than any other transition plan assembled by a party out of power.
Earlier this year the New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/us/politics/republican-president-2024-heritage-foundation.html)that one of the first priorities of Project 2025 would be to re-enact Trump's "Schedule F" executive order, which was issued just two weeks before the 2020 election and that President Biden rescinded just days after his inauguration. While presidents are usually able to appoint roughly 4,000 people to various administrative roles throughout the federal government, Schedule F would have bulldozed various legal protections for federal workers that would allow a president to replace approximately 50,000 additional staff across all federal agencies. The Times noted that Project 2025's goal of screening potential new staffers has been assisted with AI provided by tech giant Oracle.
Trump has indicated that if elected to a second term, he would carry out various acts of vengeance (https://www.alternet.org/trump-carry-out-vengeance/), including weaponizing the Department of Justice against his political opponents. The Times reported over the weekend that Trump would also greatly expand immigration crackdowns (https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-plans-to-deport-millions-if-he-is-re-elected-says-report/7351479.html), enabling the Department of Homeland Security to carry out large-scale raids, detain immigrants at industrial-size camps and deport millions of immigrants every year.
READ MORE: 'Time to be very very afraid': Columnist warns Trump plans to carry out acts of vengeance in 2nd term (https://www.alternet.org/trump-carry-out-vengeance/)
---
Advancing American Freedom (AAF) today announced it filed an amicus brief before the United States Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises et al v Gina Raimondo. In the brief, joined by Pelican Institute for Public Policy and America First Legal Foundation. amici argue that the case ofLoper v. Raimondo presents the opportunity for Chevron v NRDC to be overturned, which has long permitted the confusion of powers of the several branches of the Federal government.
“The Chevron Doctrine has too long been the cause of overreaching Federal regulations that have created financial hardships for Americans of all walks of life, and the case before us today will decide if a Federal agency can place bureaucrats on fishing boats and make the owners pay for it,” said J. Marc Wheat, General Counsel for Advancing American Freedom. “The courts have an opportunity to right this wrong and overrule this burdensome doctrine.”
The amicus brief asks the court to consider that Congressional silence is not tantamount to delegating its legislative powers, silence of the Legislative branch is not to be taken as ambiguous, but the Chevron doctrine has read this silence as permission for a fill-in-the-blank overreach of its limited powers.
The amici goes further, emphasizing that Congress alone has power of the purse and the Chevron doctrine, by allowing mischievous agencies to seek funds outside of the appropriations process, has exceeded its delegated powers, and the judicial powers of Article III must now be used to reign in the roving powers of unelected agencies taking powers the Constitution grants to Congress alone.
To view the amicus brief, click here. (https://advancingamericanfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AAF-Pelican-AFL-Loper-Bright-Enterprises-et-al-v-Gina-Raimondo.pdf)
Sarah Harbison (LSBA # 31948) James Baehr (LSBA #35431) Pelican Institutefor Public Policy 400 Poydras St. Suite 900 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 952-8016 sarah@pelicaninstitute.org Gene P. Hamilton Virginia Bar No. 80434 America First Legal Foundation 300 Independence Ave S.E. Washington, DC 20003 (202) 964-3721 gene.hamilton@aflegal.org December 15, 2022
MOTION OF ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMICI CURIAE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS
Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 37.2(b), Advancing American Freedom respectfully moves for leave to file an amicus curiae brief in support of petitioners. The brief follows immediately after this motion. Petitioners have granted consent and have filed a blanket consent to the filing of amicus briefs. Respondent has declined to file a blanket consent to the filing of amicus briefs and has failed to respond to an email sent on December 13, 2022 seeking consent. Because respondent has failed to file a blanket consent nor responded to an email seeking consent, Advancing American Freedom presents this motion for leave of the Court to file the appended brief amicus curiae.
Advancing American Freedomis a nonprofit organization that promotes and defends policies that elevate traditional American values, including the uniquely American idea that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. American freedom has created the greatest and most prosperous country in the history of the world, and if future generations are going to enjoy those blessings, we must secure individual rights in our own time. The Pelican Institute is a nonpartisan research and educational organization—a think tank—and the leading voice for free markets in Louisiana. The Institute’s mission is to conduct research and analysis that advances sound policies based on free enterprise, individual liberty, and constitutionally limited government. ThePelican Institute routinely
challenges administrative overreach when it interferes with Louisianians’ right to earn a living. Notably, the Pelican Institute represented Louisiana business owner Brandon Trosclair in his challenge to the OSHA vaccine-or-test mandate. BST Holdings, L.L.C., et al. v. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, et al., 17 4th 604 (5th Cir. 2021).America First Legal Foundation (AFL) MILLER MOFO is a public interest law firm providing citizens with representation in cases of broad public importance to vindicate Americans’ constitutional and common law rights, protect their civil liberties, and advance the rule of law. AFL employs former high-ranking Department of Justice and Executive Branch lawyers who are intimately familiar with the government's use and abuse of the Chevron doctrine to unhinge the separation of powers. Thus, AFL has a strong interest in the question presented. This case is important to amici because it presents to this Court the opportunity to overrule Chevron v. NRDC, 467 U.S. 837 (1984), which for too long has permitted the confusion of powers of the several branches of the Federal government. The genius of the Constitution is its structure, dividing power against itself into three coequal branches and thereby protecting the liberties of its citizens fromLeviathan. The proposed amicus brief seeks to bring before the Court arguments informed by amicus’s experience in studying and briefing the issues presented. Movant believes that this brief will assist the Court in its consideration of the petition. The significant issues concerning the structural constitutional provisions
---
---
no lnx $
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html
Donald J. Trump intends to bring independent regulatory agencies under direct presidential control.
Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025
The former president and his backers aim to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies.
Jonathan Swan Charlie Savage Maggie Haberman
By Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman
Published July 17, 2023
Updated July 18, 2023
Donald J. Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping expansion of presidential power over the machinery of government if voters return him to the White House in 2025, reshaping the structure of the executive branch to concentrate far greater authority directly in his hands.
Their plans to centralize more power in the Oval Office stretch far beyond the former president’s recent remarks that he would order a criminal investigation into his political rival, President Biden, signaling his intent to end the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence from White House political control.
Mr. Trump and his associates have a broader goal: to alter the balance of power by increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House, according to a review of his campaign policy proposals and interviews with people close to him.
:{:{}:
}:
Mr. Trump intends to bring independent agencies — like the Federal Communications Commission, which makes and enforces rules for television and internet companies, and the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces various antitrust and other consumer protection rules against businesses — under direct presidential control.
He wants to revive the practice of “impounding” funds, refusing to spend money Congress has appropriated for programs a president doesn’t like — a tactic that lawmakers banned under President Richard Nixon.
He intends to strip employment protections from tens of thousands of career civil servants, making it easier to replace them if they are deemed obstacles to his agenda. And he plans to scour the intelligence agencies, the State Department and the defense bureaucracies to remove officials he has vilified as “the sick political class that hates our country.”
“The president’s plan should be to fundamentally reorient the federal government in a way that hasn’t been done since F.D.R.’s New Deal,” said John McEntee, a former White House personnel chief who began Mr. Trump’s systematic attempt to sweep out officials deemed to be disloyal in 2020 and who is now involved in mapping out the new approach.
“Our current executive branch,” Mr. McEntee added, “was conceived of by liberals for the purpose of promulgating liberal policies. There is no way to make the existing structure function in a conservative manner. It’s not enough to get the personnel right. What’s necessary is a complete system overhaul.”
Mr. Trump and his advisers are making no secret of their intentions — proclaiming them in rallies and on his campaign website, describing them in white papers and openly discussing them.
“What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,” said Russell T. Vought, who ran the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump White House and now runs a policy organization, the Center for Renewing America.
The strategy in talking openly about such “paradigm-shifting ideas” before the election, Mr. Vought said, is to “plant a flag” — both to shift the debate and to later be able to claim a mandate. He said he was delighted to see few of Mr. Trump’s Republican primary rivals defend the norm of Justice Department independence after the former president openly attacked it.
A Divided Congress
[Under Scrutiny: A licensing agreement between Ford Motor and a major Chinese battery maker is facing questions by Republican lawmakers, who say the deal could make Ford reliant on a company with links to forced labor.
Air Travel: The House overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for the next half-decade, moving at a time of growing dysfunction and disruption in the system to make a number of changes that affect passengers.
Supreme Court Ethics Bill: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would impose strict new ethics rules on the Supreme Court, moving over Republican objections to address revelations about justices receiving financial benefits from wealthy benefactors.
U.C. Berkeley: A House select committee is requesting more information about a partnership between the university and several Chinese entities that it said could help China gain access to cutting-edge research.]
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trump’s campaign, said in a statement that the former president has “laid out a bold and transparent agenda for his second term, something no other candidate has done.” He added, “Voters will know exactly how President Trump will supercharge the economy, bring down inflation, secure the border, protect communities and eradicate the deep state that works against Americans once and for all.”
The two driving forces of this effort to reshape the executive branch are Mr. Trump’s own campaign policy shop and a well-funded network of conservative groups, many of which are populated by former senior Trump administration officials who would most likely play key roles in any second term.
Mr. Vought and Mr. McEntee are involved in Project 2025, a $22 million presidential transition operation that is preparing policies, personnel lists and transition plans to recommend to any Republican who may win the 2024 election. The transition project, the scale of which is unprecedented in conservative politics, is led by the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that has shaped the personnel and policies of Republican administrations since the Reagan presidency.
That work at Heritage dovetails with plans on the Trump campaign website to expand presidential power that were drafted primarily by two of Mr. Trump’s advisers, Vincent Haley and Ross Worthington, with input from other advisers, including Stephen Miller, the architect of the former president’s hard-line immigration agenda.
Some elements of the plans had been floated when Mr. Trump was in office but were impeded by internal concerns that they would be unworkable and could lead to setbacks. And for some veterans of Mr. Trump’s turbulent White House who came to question his fitness for leadership, the prospect of removing guardrails and centralizing even greater power over government directly in his hands sounded like a recipe for mayhem.
“It would be chaotic,” said John F. Kelly, Mr. Trump’s second White House chief of staff. “It just simply would be chaotic, because he’d continually be trying to exceed his authority but the sycophants would go along with it. It would be a nonstop gunfight with the Congress and the courts.”
The agenda being pursued has deep roots in the decades-long effort by conservative legal thinkers to undercut what has become known as the administrative state — agencies that enact regulations aimed at keeping the air and water clean and food, drugs and consumer products safe, but that cut into business profits.
Its legal underpinning is a maximalist version of the so-called unitary executive theory.
The legal theory rejects the idea that the government is composed of three separate branches with overlapping powers to check and balance each other. Instead, the theory’s adherents argue that Article 2 of the Constitution gives the president complete control of the executive branch, so Congress cannot empower agency heads to make decisions or restrict the president’s ability to fire them. Reagan administration lawyers developed the theory as they sought to advance a deregulatory agenda.
“The notion of independent federal agencies or federal employees who don’t answer to the president violates the very foundation of our democratic republic,” said Kevin D. Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, adding that the contributors to Project 2025 are committed to “dismantling this rogue administrative state.”
Personal power has always been a driving force for Mr. Trump. He often gestures toward it in a more simplistic manner, such as in 2019, when he declared to a cheering crowd, “I have an Article 2, where I have the right todo whatever I wantas president.”
Mr. Trump made the remark in reference to his claimed ability to directly fire Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia inquiry, which primed his hostility toward law enforcement and intelligence agencies. He also tried to get a subordinate to have Mr. Mueller ousted, but was defied.
Early in Mr. Trump’s presidency, his chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, promised a “deconstruction of the administrative state.”But Mr. Trump installed people in other key roles who ended up telling him that more radical ideas were unworkable or illegal. In the final year of his presidency, he told aides he was fed up with being constrained by subordinates.
Now, Mr. Trump is laying out a far more expansive vision of power in any second term. And, in contrast with his disorganized transition after his surprise 2016 victory, he now benefits from a well-funded policymaking infrastructure, led by former officials who did not break with him after his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
One idea the people around Mr. Trump have developed centers on bringing independent agencies under his thumb.
Congress created these specialized technocratic agencies inside the executive branch and delegated to them some of its power to make rules for society. But it did so on the condition that it was not simply handing off that power to presidents to wield like kings — putting commissioners atop them whom presidents appoint but generally cannot fire before their terms end, while using its control of their budgets to keep them partly accountable to lawmakers as well. (Agency actions are also subject to court review.)
:{:{}:
}:
Presidents of both parties have chafed at the agencies’ independence. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose New Deal created many of them, endorsed a proposal in 1937 to fold them all into cabinet departments under his control, but Congress did not enact it.
Later presidents sought to impose greater control over nonindependent agencies Congress created, like the Environmental Protection Agency, which is run by an administrator whom a president can remove at will. For example, President Ronald Reagan issued executive orders requiring nonindependent agencies to submit proposed regulations to the White House for review. But overall, presidents have largely left the independent agencies alone.
Mr. Trump’s allies are preparing to change that, drafting an executive order requiring independent agencies to submit actions to the White House for review.Mr. Trump endorsed the idea on his campaign website, vowing to bring them “under presidential authority.”
Such an order was drafted in Mr. Trump’s first term — and blessed by the Justice Department — but never issued amid internal concerns. Some of the concerns were over how to carry out reviews for agencies that are headed by multiple commissioners and subject to administrative procedures and open-meetings laws, as well as over how the market would react if the order chipped away at the Federal Reserve’s independence, people familiar with the matter said.
The former president views the civil service as a den of “deep staters” who were trying to thwart him at every turn in the White House.Credit...John Tully for The New York Times
The Federal Reserve was ultimately exempted in the draft executive order, but Mr. Trump did not sign it before his presidency ended. If Mr. Trump and his allies get another shot at power, the independence of the Federal Reserve — an institution Mr. Trump publicly railed at as president — could be up for debate. Notably, the Trump campaign website’s discussion of bringing independent agencies under presidential control is silent on whether that includes the Fed.
Asked whether presidents should be able to order interest rates lowered before elections, even if experts think that would hurt the long-term health of the economy, Mr. Vought said that would have to be worked out with Congress. But “at the bare minimum,” he said, the Federal Reserve’s regulatory functions should be subject to White House review.
“It’s very hard to square the Fed’s independence with the Constitution,” Mr. Vought said.
Other former Trump administration officials involved in the planning said there would also probably be a legal challenge to the limits on a president’s power to fire heads of independent agencies. Mr. Trump could remove an agency head, teeing up the question for the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court in 1935 and 1988 upheld the power of Congress to shield some executive branch officials from being fired without cause. But after justices appointed by Republicans since Reagan took control, it has started to erode those precedents.
Peter L. Strauss, professor emeritus of law at Columbia University and a critic of the strong version of the unitary executive theory, argued that it is constitutional and desirable for Congress, in creating and empowering an agency to perform some task, to also include some checks on the president’s control over officials “because we don’t want autocracy” and to prevent abuses.
“The regrettable fact is that the judiciary at the moment seems inclined to recognize that the president does have this kind of authority,” he said. “They are clawing away agency independence in ways that I find quite unfortunate and disrespectful of congressional choice.”
Mr. Trump has also vowed to impound funds, or refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress. After Nixon used the practice to aggressively block agency spending he was opposed to, on water pollution control, housing construction and other issues, Congress banned the tactic.
On his campaign website, Mr. Trump declared that presidents have a constitutional right to impound funds and said he would restore the practice — though he acknowledged it could result in a legal battle.
Mr. Trump and his allies also want to transform the civil service — government employees who are supposed to be nonpartisan professionals and experts with protections against being fired for political reasons.
The former president views the civil service as a den of “deep staters” who were trying to thwart him at every turn, including by raising legal or pragmatic objections to his immigration policies, among many other examples. Toward the end of his term, his aides drafted an executive order, “CreatingSchedule F in the Excepted Service,” that removed employment protections from career officials whose jobs were deemed linked to policymaking.
Mr. Trump signed the order, which became known as Schedule F, near the end of his presidency, but President Biden rescinded it. Mr. Trump has vowed to immediately reinstitute it in a second term.
Critics say he could use it for a partisan purge. But James Sherk, a former Trump administration official who came up with the idea and now works at the America First Policy Institute — a think tank stocked heavily with former Trump officials — argued it would only be used against poor performers and people who actively impeded the elected president’s agenda.
“Schedule F expressly forbids hiring or firing based on political loyalty,” Mr. Sherk said. “Schedule F employees would keep their jobs if they served effectively and impartially.”
Mr. Trump himself has characterized his intentions rather differently — promising on his campaign website to “find and remove the radicals who have infiltrated the federal Department of Education” and listing a litany of targets at a rally last month.
“We will demolish the deep state,” Mr. Trump said at the rally in Michigan. “We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive outthe globalists. We will cast out the communists, Marxists and fascists. And we will throw off thesick political class that hates our country.”
[Jonathan Swan is a political reporter who focuses on campaigns and Congress. As a reporter for Axios, he won an Emmy Award for his 2020 interview of then-President Donald J. Trump, and the White House Correspondents’ Association’s Aldo Beckman Award for “overall excellence in White House coverage” in 2022. More about Jonathan Swan
Charlie Savage is a Washington-based national security and legal policy correspondent. A recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, he previously worked at The Boston Globe and The Miami Herald. His most recent book is “Power Wars: The Relentless Rise of Presidential Authority and Secrecy.” More about Charlie Savage
Maggie Haberman is a senior political correspondent and the author of “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” She was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for reporting on President Trump’s advisers and their connections to Russia. More about Maggie Haberman
A version of this article appears in print on July 17, 2023, Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump and Allies Seeking Vast Increase of His Power. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
---
---
https://documented.net/investigations/conservative-partnership-institute (https://documented.net/investigations/conservative-partnership-institute)
Conservative Partnership Institute (“CPI”) is a$45 million “America First” institution boosted with a $1 million donation from former President Trump’s PAC. Led by former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint, CPI is creating the MAGA-oriented political infrastructure that the Trump administration lacked.
CPI is recruiting America First staffers and providing in-depth training for Hill offices, as well as creating legal institutions, opposition research firms, think tanks, and other groups helmed by former Trump officials and allies, including Stephen Miller, Russ Vought, and Cleta Mitchell. Formed in 2017, CPI's fundraising surged to $45 million in 2021.
The group’s ambitions are sprawling, from amplifying conspiracies around stolen elections and “critical race theory,” to tanking Democratic nominees and filing lawsuits against the Biden administration. CPI’s president, Ed Corrigan, helped lead Trump’s 2016 transition team (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/magazine/trump-government-heritage-foundation-think-tank.html), and the group is positioned to staff and support far-right Congressional offices and the next MAGA administration.
CPI is located blocks from the U.S. Capitol, and serves as a hub for the far-right "America First "movement. The House Freedom Caucus holds weekly meetings at CPI, and texts obtained by the January 6 committee show lawmakers like Marjorie Taylor Greene (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-sean-hannity-ivanka-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene/index.html) and Sen. Mike Lee (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-mike-lee-chip-roy/index.html) referencing meetings at CPI in the tumultuous period following the 2020 election. Nearly two dozen individuals tied to the January 6 attempted coup are connected to CPI, according to Grid's analysis (https://www.grid.news/story/politics/2022/07/05/the-insurrectionists-clubhouse-former-trump-aides-find-a-home-at-a-little-known-maga-hub/)."CPI is helping to build out the vital infrastructure we need to lead the America First movement to new heights."
Nerve Center for the MAGA Movement
CPI’s Washington D.C. headquarters serve as ahub for the far-right conservative movement. According to CPI, (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising) in 2021 the “House Freedom Caucus, the Senate Steering Committee, Congressional Chiefs of Staff, Congressional Communicators, Congressional Legislative Directors, and numerous conservative organizations and activists coalesced regularly at [CPI’s headquarters] to plan their methods and means of attack against the Left to save this country.”
Former Republican CongressmanDenver Riggleman described (https://www.grid.news/story/politics/2022/10/06/denver-riggleman-on-the-role-of-the-freedom-caucus-in-a-gop-majority-when-disinformation-becomes-policy/) CPI as playing a "coordinating function" for the House Freedom Caucus, and said that it serves as "sort of like a bizarre Freedom Caucus HQ."
CPI
(https://youtu.be/4gIoabASvkk&t=20s) of holding 600 meetings or events in 2021, served as a "strategy center" to oppose President Biden’s vaccine requirements, and hosted multiple “war rooms” (https://documented.net/media/cpi-the-new-home-of-mark-meadows-and-cleta-mitchell-hosted-multiple-war-rooms-to-oppose-kbj-confirmation) during Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination. CPI is also expanding, and says that it is “in the process of acquiring multiple properties adjacent to our D.C. headquarters in order to create a culture of collaboration and victory for the movement.”
According to CPI, members like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Andy Biggs, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and Rep. Byron Donalds have made the CPI headquarters “their home away from home.”
At least fifteen members of the House and Senate have disclosed (https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&recipient_name=conservative+partnership&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022&min_amount=4000&max_amount=4000) paying membership dues to CPI or its "Conservative Partnership Center" using campaign or leadership PAC funds.
Ties to Trump’s 2020 Coup Attempt
CPI and its affiliate groups “employ or assist at least 20 key operatives reportedly involved in Trump’s failed effort to subvert the 2020 election,” according to Grid (https://www.grid.news/story/politics/2022/07/05/the-insurrectionists-clubhouse-former-trump-aides-find-a-home-at-a-little-known-maga-hub/), including Cleta Mitchell,the veteran lawyer who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and joined the infamous call (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/d45acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html)when the president urged Georgia’s Secretary of State to “find” 11,700 votes; Mark Meadows, Trump's former White House chief of staff who was in communication (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/28/politics/january-6-hearing-day-6-takeaways-hutchinson/index.html) with alleged Jan. 6 plotters and at least tolerated Trump's attempted coup; and Jeffrey Clark, the former Justice Department lawyer who supported Trump’s (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/24/us/politics/jeffrey-clark-trump-election.html) desire for DOJ to declare the result fraudulent, and whose home was raided by the FBI (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/us/politics/jeffrey-clark-trump-justice-dept.html) in June of 2022.
Texts obtained by the January 6 committee also show Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-sean-hannity-ivanka-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene/index.html) and Sen. Mike Lee (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-mike-lee-chip-roy/index.html) referencing meetings at CPI in the tumultuous period after the 2020 election.
Mike Lee to Mark Meadows (https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/15/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-mike-lee-chip-roy/index.html), Nov. 9 2020:
We had steering executive meeting at CPI tonight, with Sidney Powell as our guest speaker. My purpose in having the meeting was to socialize with Republican senators the fact that POTUS needs to pursue his legal remedies. You have in us a group of ready and loyal advocates who will go to bat for him, but I fear this could prove short-lived unless you hire the right legal team and set them loose immediately.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to Mark Meadows (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-sean-hannity-ivanka-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene/index.html), Dec. 31, 2020:
Good morning Mark, I'm here in DC. We have to get organized for the 6th. I would like to meet with Rudy Giuliani again. We didn't get to speak with him long. Also anyone who can help. We are getting a lot of members on board. And we need to lay out the best case for each state. I'll be over at CPI this afternoon.
CPI hardly shies away from its affiliation with Trump’s failed coup.
Months after the Capitol insurrection, in summer of 2020, CPI hosted (https://www.grid.news/story/politics/2022/07/05/the-insurrectionists-clubhouse-former-trump-aides-find-a-home-at-a-little-known-maga-hub/) a “Hot Gulag Summer” event that served Jan. 6-themed cocktails, including the “Capitol Attaquiri,” “Insurrection on the Beach” and the “Mostly Peaceful Mojito.”
“We’re all going to be sent to the gulag eventually,” the invitation read. “We might as well party and get to know each other before we are all ‘reeducated.’”
"America First" Staffing
CPI boasts of recruiting, recommending, and training Congressional staffers who are committed to advancing an America First agenda. In 2021, CPI claims to have
(https://youtu.be/4gIoabASvkk&t=20s) 49 members of Congress and 246 Congressional staffers, and to have
(https://youtu.be/4gIoabASvkk&t=20s) 200 Congressional staffing recommendations.
“We gave conservatives on Capitol Hill the right skills, the right people, and the right connections—all for the purpose of making America great again,” CPI described in its annual report (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising). For example, in 2021 CPI held “5-week-long legislative boot camps” taught by Ed Corrigan and Rachel Bovard, where “theyarmedconservative staffers with everytacticthe House and Senate rules gave them: how toforce amendment votes, how to work outside the Establishment- dominated committee process, and how to leverage nominations to wage policy fights:”
“You may have seen that conservatives defeated Biden’s gun-grabbing pick to lead the ATF and stopped a communist- sympathizing economist from becoming comptroller of the currency. That didn’t happen by accident.”
According to CPI, (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising) “our trainings have become so respected that conservative congressional offices and grassroots advocacy organizations now come to us when they have job openings to fill. They know that we maintain a databaseof current and prospective congressional staffers who have been through our trainings and are up to the task of putting America first.”
In 2021, CPI purchased a $7.25 million collection of waterfront farms (https://www.redfin.com/MD/Cambridge/3675-Decoursey-Bridge-Rd-21613/home/81839388) on Maryland's Eastern Shore to hold Congressional staff retreats (https://giftrule-disclosure.senate.gov/media/2022/j6uVE4t8x0eHAmZ2NLCQA.pdf) and trainings. CPI has since held several (https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2022/500025402.pdf) all-expenses-paid (https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2022/500025553.pdf) retreats (https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2022/500025268.pdf) at the property (https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2022/500024960.pdf) for Congressional staff. Staffers who attend retreats at the CPI-owned property only disclose receiving an estimated $99/night gift of lodging, which helps obscure reveal the actual benefit received.
CPI-Launched Projects, Many Led by former Trump Officials
In 2021, CPI launched eight new projects, as well as entities to provide legal compliance and administrative support for those groups:
Election Integrity Network: Cleta Mitchell, the veteran lawyer who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, joined CPI and launched the Election Integrity Network (EIN) in early 2021, after resigning (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitchell-trump-resigns-firm/2021/01/05/ea5364b4-4f9e-11eb-b96e-0e54447b23a1_story.html) as a partner with the international law firm Foley and Lardner. Documented obtained leaked audio (https://documented.net/investigations/recordings-reveal-whats-really-going-on-cleta-mitchell-election-integrity-network) describing how CPI’s EIN is working with groups like Tea Party Patriots to create “permanent election integrity coalitions in eight target states,” and hosted Trump coup plotter John Eastman (https://documented.net/investigations/trump-coup-plotter-john-eastman-laying-groundwork-for-2022-election-challenges) at an October 2022 event.
Center for Renewing America: Trump Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russ Vought leads the culture war-oriented Center for Renewing America (CRA). “CRA’s strategy is to initiate planned confrontations on major national cultural issues, win those confrontations, and let the resulting political momentum fuel legislative activity at the federal, state, and local levels,” CPI says (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising). CRA has created anti-CRT model legislation, opposed making women eligible for the draft, and opposed Afghan refugee migration.Jeffrey Clark, who Trump wanted to install as Attorney General after the 2020 election and who supported Trump’s desire for the Justice Department to declare the results fraudulent, joined CRA as Senior Fellow in June 2022 (https://twitter.com/russvought/status/1532820707062829056?s=20&t=MnPvjhhxasHMw5QGWoWW6w), shortly beforefederal authorities searched Clark's home (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/us/politics/jeffrey-clark-trump-justice-dept.html) as part of the criminal inquiry into Trump's attempted coup. CRA senior fellows also include former Trump advisor Kash Patel, who appeared before a grand jury (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/11/03/kash-patel-grand-jury-trump/) in the Mar al Lago documents case.
America First Legal Foundation: Trump’s hardline immigration advisor Stephen Miller co-created the America First Legal Foundation (AFL) with Mark Meadows, which claims to give (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising) “the 234 new federal judges appointed by Donald Trump the chance to finally hold Washington accountable to the rule of law.” According to theWashington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/12/stephen-miller-america-first-legal-biden-race-policies/), the group "has weaponized the grievance politics embodied by Trump’s 'Make America Great Again' movement through dozens of federal lawsuits, challenging efforts to remedy racial disparities, support LGBTQ students and expand the pool of early voters." In the final weeks of the 2022 elections, AFL spent $4 million on inflammatory anti-transgender radio ads (https://www.npr.org/2022/11/03/1133741967/right-wing-groups-spend-millions-dollars-ads-anti-transgender-kids). Casino magnate Steve Wynn, who resigned as RNC finance chair amid allegations of sexual misconduct in 2018, is among AFL's donors, according to the Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/12/12/stephen-miller-america-first-legal-biden-race-policies/).
American Accountability Foundation: Tom Jones, Ted Cruz’s 2016 oppo research director, leads the group described as the “Slime Machine Targeting Dozens of Biden Nominees” by the New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/the-slime-machine-targeting-dozens-of-biden-nominees). AAF has taken credit for knocking out President Biden's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms nominee David Chipman, comptroller nominee Saule Omarova, and Federal Reserve nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin.
American Cornerstone Institute: former Trump cabinet member Ben Carson is founder and chair of American Cornerstone Institute (ACI), where Carsonhosts a podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/common-sense-with-dr-ben-carson/id1623661106) and creates YouTube videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYn9hYbMY0uO3FLgJk82-Pg), and which created the anti-woke "Little Patriots" (https://americancornerstone.org/little-patriots-program/) platform "to teach children about our founding principles."
American Moment: “American Moment’s mission is to identify, educate, and credential young Americans who will implement public policy that supports strong families, a sovereign nation, and prosperity for all,” according to CPI's annual report (https://documented.net/media/cpi-annual-report-for-2021-shows-giant-jump-in-fundraising). In 2021, American Moment claims to have placed ten fellows at aligned organizations and congressional offices and, according to CPI, paid them “a living wage of $3,000 a month.” CPI plans to quadruple the program to 40 fellows in 2022.
State Freedom Caucus Network: In late 2021, CPI launched the "State Freedom Caucus Network" to replicate the far-right Congressional House Freedom Caucus in statehouses. CPI plans to create state freedom caucuses in every state legislature, according to its annual report, with caucuses already assembled in states including Georgia (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/georgia/articles/2021-12-14/new-georgia-freedom-caucus-seeks-right-turn-in-state-policy), Arizona (https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/07/25/arizona-freedom-caucus-hopes-to-be-a-force-at-the-capitol), Pennsylvania (https://www.weny.com/story/47804974/pa-lawmakers-unveil-freedom-caucus-in-state-house), Mississippi (https://www.pressregister.com/politics-state/new-freedom-caucus-hopes-push-legislature-more-conservative-direction-61f2ff65df86a), Illinois (https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/state/2022/05/09/downstate-lawmakers-form-conservative-illinois-freedom-caucus-gop-republican/9660088002/), Nevada (https://pvtimes.com/news/six-legislators-announce-nevada-freedom-caucus-95337/), South Dakota (https://apnews.com/article/abortion-kristi-noem-legislature-south-dakota-sd-state-wire-fa6c3e29421e5d2a30ab17efdba98648), and South Carolina (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-carolina/articles/2022-04-20/south-carolina-house-conservatives-form-own-freedom-caucus). Each state caucus will have an executive director, and CPI boasts that "the State Freedom Caucus Network will identify, place, and pay for legislative staffers year-round," and also create a PAC to "defend current and future state freedom caucus members facing tough reelections." Following the 2022 midterm elections in Arizona, for example, that state's freedom caucus promoted (https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:DBW8gla2uFoJ:https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-arizona-idUSKBN2SI0QA&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) false claims of voter fraud andissued a statement (https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/21/counting-ends-maricopa-county-new-battles-begin-arizona/69667768007/) calling Maricopa County election officials "incompetent, alleged criminals" who should "resign in shame."
CPI also helped launch two organizations to support these projects. Compass Professional Services, which is housed within CPI, provides payroll and administrative services to these entities. Compass Legal Services, also located at CPI headquarters, provides legal, campaign finance, and tax compliance services; according to campaign finance records (https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&recipient_name=compass+legal&two_year_transaction_period=2022&min_date=01%2F01%2F2021&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022), CPI members like Marjorie Taylor Greene also pay Compass Legal for legal compliance services, as does Trump's Save America PAC.
CPI Pushing Boundaries of Tax-Exempt Charitable Status
As a 501(c)(3) charity, CPI is exempt from taxation, and its donors get a lucrative tax deduction. But in exchange for those tax benefits, CPI is prohibited from supporting candidates or engaging in partisan political activity.
However, as NPR has reported (https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1119751840/experts-say-a-trump-backed-charity-is-pushing-the-boundaries-of-tax-law), CPI is putting its tax-exempt status at risk by closely coordinating its activities with Republican political organizations and selectively offering its facilities and services to Republican candidates. In November 2022, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter (https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-blasts-right-wing-501c3-groups-pro-gop-political-activities) to CPI inquiring into whether CPI has violated its tax-exempt charitable status.
The NPR report and Sen. Whitehouse's letter detailed several CPI activities that may violate tax law. For example, in the 2022 election cycle, CPI's Election Integrity Network worked closely with the Republican National Committee (RNC) as it worked to recruit and train poll workers and watchers in key swing states, as reported by POLITICO based on audio obtained by Documented (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/02/rnc-stop-the-steal-advocates-poll-workers-00049109). RNC officials have been speakers at several CPI summits, and RNC state election integrity directors are taking part in state-wide election integrity efforts spearheaded by CPI. A 501(c)(3) organization may provide an impermissible private benefit (https://casetext.com/case/american-campaign-acad-v-commr-of-internal-revenue) to a political party if it provides programs to recruit and train poll watchers and workers in a partisan manner.
In addition to working closely with the RNC on training and recruiting election observers and poll workers, CPI has hosted political candidates at its events. For example, Governor Ron DeSantis gave the keynote address (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/26/politics/ron-desantis-election-deniers-florida-2020/index.html) at CPI’s Florida summit in March of 2022, which amounted to a campaign speech where DeSantis urged people to vote in the election, and stressed that “We need everybody to come out and really, really have a huge, huge November in the state of Florida.”
A 501(c)(3) organization engages in prohibited political campaign intervention by inviting just one candidate to speak at its event, and where that candidate urged support on election day. [audio]
moreover, since late 2020, dozens of GOP candidates have used campaign funds to rent CPI’s facility and services, including for “campaign events (https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&committee_id=C00728238&recipient_name=conservative+partnership&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022)” and "fundraising event fees (https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&committee_id=C00653147&recipient_name=conservative+partnership&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022)," according to FEC records. Seventeen Congressional candidates and four senatorsreported $4,000 payments to CPI or CPC from their campaign committees or leadership PACs (https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?data_type=processed&recipient_name=conservative+partnership&min_date=01%2F01%2F2020&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022&min_amount=4000&max_amount=4000), with the majority of those disbursements described as “membership” payments or dues.
A 501(c)(3) charity engages in prohibited political campaign intervention by selectively offering its facilities to political candidates or committees. There is no record of Democratic candidates renting CPI facilities, and CPI's facilities do not appear available to the general public.
CPI's Fundraising
Since forming in 2017, CPI's fundraising has increased dramatically—most recently, jumping from $7.3 million in 2020 to $45 million in 2021, according to CPI's 2021 tax filing. (CPI's 2021 Annual Report, released in early 2022, reported $19.7 million in revenue plus $25 million in "Capital Fund Revenue").
Trump's Save America PAC gave $1 million (https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202205059502664847) to CPI in July 2021. CPI also held a fundraiser (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-gop-money/2021/03/27/fa413606-82a4-11eb-bb5a-ad9a91faa4ef_story.html) at Mar al Lago in April 2021, with former President Trump as the keynote speaker.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, CPI does not publicly disclose its donors.
However, an analysis by Grid (https://www.grid.news/story/politics/2022/07/05/the-insurrectionists-clubhouse-former-trump-aides-find-a-home-at-a-little-known-maga-hub/) identified more than 40 foundations, charities and other organizations that have funded CPI, including $1.25 million from GOP megadonor RichardUihlein’s foundation in 2020, $500,000 from the late gaming machine mogul Stanley E. Fulton’s private foundation, and $200,000 from the Chicago Community Trust.
Donors Trust, the “dark money” funding hub, donated a total of $1.3 million to CPI in 2021, with $200,000 earmarked for American Moment and $10,000 in support ofCleta Mitchell's Election Integrity Network.
CPI has also identified some financial supporters in its 2021 annual report.
David and Brenda Frecka: CPI thanked the pair for their financial support in its 2021 annual report, and named a "David and Brenda Frecka Boardroom" at CPC. In 2021 (https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?data_type=processed&contributor_name=frecka&two_year_transaction_period=2022&min_date=01%2F01%2F2018&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022), David Frecka gave $1M to Jim Jordan's House Freedom Action, and Brenda Frecka gave $1.15M to Debbi Meadows's Right on Women PAC
Mike Rydin: According to CPI’s annual report, Ryden “made a generous gift” so that CPI could purchase a townhouse next door to its headquarters “for additional meeting and event space as well as space to host out-of-town guests.” The property sold for $1.5M (https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/126-3rd-St-SE-20003/home/9894114) in 2020.
Dr. William Amos Jr.: The son of the AFLAC founder “has generously supported the Conservative Partnership Institute. For his incredible contributions to CPI’s growth and mission, in 2021, CPI honored Dr. Amos with CPI’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Foster Friess "supported many groups in the movement, including CPI. Foster will always be an important part of the CPI story. With love and purpose, Lynn carries on her late husband’s legacy of helping those in need."
Doug and Charlotte Waikart "made the ultimate commitment to sending American values into the future by supporting CPI in their estate plans."
---
ref grid
last summer, while most of official Washington was still reeling from the historic assault on the Capitol, a clubhouse for Trump White House exiles hosted a bash that all but toasted the insurrectionists and plotters responsible.
“Hot Gulag Summer,” held at the nondescript Capitol Hill town house leased by the Conservative Partnership Institute, advertised Jan. 6, 2021-themed cocktails, including the “Capitol Attaquiri,” “Insurrection on the Beach” and the “Mostly Peaceful Mojito.”
“We’re all going to be sent to the gulag eventually,” the invitation read. “We might as well party and get to know each other before we are all ‘reeducated.’”
CPI raised $20 million last year alone, and its network of nearly a dozen affiliate groups, several headed by ex-Trump aides, likely raised more. Donald Trump himself has endorsed the group’s work, boosted its fundraising and even donated $1 million to the group from his PAC in 2021.
“It’s striking how many people who played these key roles in efforts to overturn the election are now involved with CPI,” said Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance legal expert and deputy executive director of the watchdog group Documented. His group has examined at least 11 organizations claiming CPI’s address, 300 Independence Ave., as their home.
A soapbox for the far right
CPI is structured in part to act as a 21st century megaphone for pro-Trump messaging, including media perpetuating false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, furthering MAGA-friendly culture war battles and pushing back against efforts to hold Trumpworld figures accountable.
Its tools reflect a growing right-wing communications strategy, which largely avoids mainstream media in favor of direct-to-supporter platforms like podcasts and social media, or engagements with MAGA-friendly outlets.
The offices at 300 Independence boast an in-house podcasting studio, a television studio and a host of employees with large Twitter followings. Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert is a “frequent visitor” to CPI’s television studio, according to CPI’s annual report, and she records her podcast, “Bullet Points,” at CPI, as do Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona (“What’s the Biggs Idea?”) and Matt Gaetz of Florida (“Firebrand”), as well as several other right-wing figures.
CPI also opens its facilities to right-wing outlets who help promote Trump-friendly messaging. The Epoch Times, a far-right media company affiliated with the anti-Chinese Communist Party Falun Gong religious movement, films two shows in the building, according to CPI. Right-wing outlet Newsmax filmed a documentary about Jan. 6 at CPI’s television studio.
“A Rorschach test for your sanity”
“This is a Rorschach test for your sanity,” Miller went on. “If you heard this story, and you thought, ‘Man, I believe every word about this and I’m going to go online and say something about it energetically,’ something is wrong with you. Something is wrong with you if you’re that gullible.”
Later that evening, former Trump Pentagon official Kash Patel, now with CPI’s Center for Renewing America, went on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to join the attacks on Hutchinson. The 26-year-old former Meadows aide, Patel said, was a “junior staffer who is completely, I believe, lying to the Jan. 6 committee for [her] own self-gain.”
OnHannity’s show the day after Hutchinson’s testimony,Freedom Caucus co-founder Rep. Jim Jordanof Ohio laid into the committee: “This is not an unbiased finder of fact. These are nine people as you said, Sean, nine people who voted to impeach President Trump, nine people who are out to get President Trump and don’t want him to run. … All we have got from them is lie after lie after lie.”
Miller, Patel and Jordan declined to respond to Grid’s requests for comment.
Where the money comes from
CPI is thriving. In less than five years, it has grown from a newcomer to a $19.7 million organization. Its network likely has raised much more, because separate organizations that are affiliated with CPI raise funds independently of their parent organization.
The group’s success has irked some Republican operatives who feel CPI is acting as a job provider for otherwise out-of-work ex-Trump aides.
“They’re frauds,” said one longtime Republican strategist who has worked for major campaigns and spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person’s job could be at risk for speaking negatively. “They claim to be fiscal conservatives, but they’ve made a living off of generating conservative outrage in order to raise money for themselves.”
Other Republican luminaries who have donated to CPI include the late GOP megadonor Foster Friess, who is known for helping fund the Koch donor network. The late gaming machine mogul Stanley E. Fulton’s private foundation gave $500,000 to CPI, according to its records. The Chicago Community Trust reported $200,000 in contributions to the group.
“They’ve got a lot of money, and they’re willing to use that money in any way to advance their goals,” said Norm Ornstein, election expert and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. “And their goals are radical goals about voter suppression, overturning election results if they don’t like them and trying to keep any Democrat who’s in office from governing.”
A who’s who of Jan. 6
Several of the figures of greatest interest to the Jan. 6 committee are now employed by CPI or its subsidiary groups, including:
Mark Meadows: Meadows, Trump’s fourth chief of staff, was allegedly a key enabler of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He promoted false fraud claims and was a point of contact for election-denying members of Congress, Giuliani and other key operatives. Meadows participated in pivotal meetings and conversations with state and federal officials, according to reports and the Jan. 6 committee. Meadows joined CPI as senior partner just three weeks after Jan. 6.
Cleta Mitchell: Mitchell was a legal adviser to Trump’s campaign. She was on the infamous call between Trump and Georgia election officials, which cost her a job (https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/foley-lardner-faces-backlash-after-partners-involvement-in-trump-call-goes-public) as a partner at the Foley and Lardner law firm. The Jan. 6 committee subpoenaed Mitchell and deposed her. Mitchell is a senior legal fellow at CPI and runs the CPI-backed Election Integrity Network, (https://whoscounting.us/) which holds “election integrity summits” to train partisan volunteers (https://whoscounting.us/citizensguide/) who want to get involved in election administration. Mitchell records her election-themed podcast, “Who’s Counting?” at CPI.
Jeffrey Clark: A former Department of Justice environmental lawyer, Clark was Trump’s pick for attorney general (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/us/politics/jeffrey-clark-trump-justice-dept.html) when William Barr declined to pursue vote fraud claims. Clark allegedly circulated a letter (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/23/us/jeffrey-clark-draft-letter.html) encouraging state officials in Georgia to decertify their election results. Federal agents raided his home on June 23, the same day a committee hearing focused on him. Clark was recently hired (https://twitter.com/russvought/status/1532820707062829056) by the CPI-founded (https://www.cpi.org/2022/02/glenn-beck-ron-desantis-among-movement-leaders-at-cpi-winter-leadership-conference/) group, the Center for Renewing America.
Kashyap “Kash” Patel: The former Department of Defense chief of staff was allegedly in contact with Meadows on Jan. 6, and the Jan. 6 committee believed he had “important insight and information” into the Pentagon and White House preparations for and response to the Capitol riot. Patel joined the Center for Renewing America as senior fellow for national security and intelligence in September 2021. Patel also records his Epoch Times TV show, “Kash’s Corner,” at the CPI studio.
Stephen Miller: Trump’s former senior adviser for policy and speechwriter has been subpoenaed (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jan-6-committee-subpoenas-stephen-miller-kayleigh-mcenany-among-other-n1283587) by the Jan. 6 committee for his involvement in the day’s events. He may have prepared some of Trump’s remarks at the Stop the Steal event before the riot. He is identified as a founder of America First Legal, a nonprofit legal organization with Meadows and former counsel Gene Hamilton, which is associated with CPI (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/26/stephen-miller-legal-group-478167). Miller did not respond to a request for comment from Grid.
Several of these figures work for CPI affiliates, which report operating from the same building as CPI and get support from the organization but have distinct names and legal identities, and at times list addresses other than CPI’s Independence Avenue headquarters. The website for Miller’s America First Legal, for instance, lists the group’s address as a nearby UPS store.
“We try to keep out — we don’t try to take credit,”DeMintsaid earlier this year to supporters, according to audio reviewed by Grid. “We try to give other people the credit, because that’s how you are going to build the movement and build trust.”
“We’re honored our Trump White House colleagues like Kash Patel and Jeff Clark are on our teamto punch back against the Deep State,” Semmel said. “We only hire fighters at Renewing America.”
CPI and several of its other affiliate groups, like Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network, did not respond to interview requests or requests for comment for this story.
Freedom Caucus
CPI has forged close ties to the Freedom Caucus, the far-right group of Republican House lawmakers co-founded by Meadows that was deeply involved in the events leading up to Jan. 6, according to reports and sworn testimony.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania allegedly connected (https://www.axios.com/2022/06/23/scott-perry-jeffrey-clark-white-house-jan6) Trump with little-known DOJ lawyer Clark and participated in planning meetings with Trump prior to Jan. 6;
Founding Freedom Caucus member and former chair Rep. Jim Jordan was being contacted by Meadows from the White House on Jan. 6, according to testimony (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/22/gop-lawmakers-deeply-involved-in-trump-plans-to-overturn-election-new-evidence-suggests-00027340);
Former caucus chair Rep. Andy Biggs allegedly helped organize the rally that segued into the storming of the Capitol, and pressured Rusty Bowers, the Arizona House speaker, to decertify electors (https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jun/21/rusty-bowers-says-andy-biggs-pressured-him-decerti/);
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close associate of the Freedom Caucus, but not an official member, has been one of the former president’s most vocal supporters and has spread conspiracy theories about the “feds” being behind the Capitol riot. According to testimony, Gaetz was one of several members of Congress who requested broad pardons from Trump. Gaetz was a speaker at CPI’s 2022 leadership conference and records his podcast at CPI’s studios;
Jan. 6 committee testimony revealed that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene asked Trump for a pardon, but she denies this. She faced a lawsuit in her home state of Georgia where she was forced to testify on her involvement in the effort to overturn the election. She often said she couldn’t recall key moments and meetings. In its 2021 annual report, CPI listed Greene as a “Hero of 2021,” and she spoke at the organization’s 2022 leadership conference.
Neither Perry, Jordan, Biggs, Gaetz nor Greene responded to requests for comment for this story.
A MAGA institution?
Rather than tarnish the reputation of the burgeoning think tank, having allies like Meadows and Greene have helped CPI burnish its identity, Washington Republicans said.
The group’s focus at the moment may be on deflecting attention from Jan. 6, but its gaze is facing forward, at future elections — and future MAGA administrations.
“Everything we love and care about in this country goes down the drain if the election system continues the way it is,” DeMint told attendees at an event this spring, according to a recording reviewed by Grid.
DeMint warned the crowd they would be unfairly painted by liberals and the media: “What we’re doing today is what the left says is the ‘Big Lie,’” he said. “You’re involved with the ‘Big Lie.’”
“It’s aiming to be more than just a place where former Trump officials can cool their heels until the next administration,” said Fischer, of Documented. “It appears to be taking some pretty serious steps to try to establish itself as an institution in Washington D.C. and create that political infrastructure to support the America First movement.”
---
---
https://www.rawstory.com/jim-jordan-2661556363/
no lnx raw 6 23
Jim Jordan leads GOP push to cripple 'fight against disinformation': report
Matthew Chapman
June 19, 2023,
Republican lawmakers are joining forces with far-right activists to attack universities and even private businesses that are investigating the spread of disinformation online — claiming that this amounts to an effort to silence conservatives on the internet, according to a report.
The New York Times posted a details of the actions they are taking on Monday.
"The effort has encumbered its targets with expansive requests for information and, in some cases, subpoenas — demanding notes, emails and other information related to social media companies and the government dating back to 2015. Complying has consumed time and resources and already affected the groups’ ability to do research and raise money, according to several people involved," reported Steven Lee Myers and Sheera Frenkel.
"They and others warned that the campaign undermined the fight against disinformation in American society when the problem is, by most accounts, on the rise — and when another presidential election is around the corner. Many of those behind the Republican effort had also joined former President Donald J. Trump in falsely challenging the outcome of the 2020 presidential election."
The House Judiciary Committee, under Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), has been leading the charge. Meanwhile, a group founded by far-right former Trump adviser Stephen Miller has filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court going after the same entities.
"Targets include Stanford, Clemson and New York Universities and the University of Washington; the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund and the National Conference on Citizenship, all nonpartisan, nongovernmental organizations in Washington; the Wikimedia Foundation in San Francisco; and Graphika, a company that researches disinformation online," said the report.
"In a related line of inquiry, the committee has also issued a subpoena to the World Federation of Advertisers, a trade association, and the Global Alliance for Responsible Media it created. The committee’s Republican leaders have accused the groups of violating antitrust laws by conspiring to cut off advertising revenue for content researchers and tech companies found to be harmful."
The new push is part of a broader, years-long conspiracy theory among right-wing activists that the government and "big tech" companies are colluding to silence conservative speech on the internet. There is no evidence of any such conspiracy; in fact, research shows conservative content actually spreads more easily on Facebook and Twitter.
LNX
There is no evidence (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/feb/01/facebook-youtube-twitter-anti-conservative-claims-baseless-report-finds) of any such conspiracy; in fact, research shows (https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/do-facebook-and-twitter-silence-conservatives-data-shows-they-actually-dominate/) conservative content actually spreads more easily on Facebook and Twitter.
---
---
his BS is being cited escalator
---
an 4 23
“significant” number of children who were U.S. citizens were separated by the Trump administration from their parents, a result of the then-president’s broader “zero-tolerance” anti-immigrant polices created to send a message to migrants in Central America to not travel to the United States or risk their families being permanently destroyed.
“A government task force is tracking the fates of U.S. citizen children taken from migrant parents during the Trump administration. Some have spent years in foster care,” The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/us/migrant-family-separations-citizens.html) revealed in a bombshell report Tuesday. “Hundreds, and possibly as many as 1,000, children born to immigrant parents in the United States were removed from them at the border, according to lawyers and immigrant advocates who are working with the government to find the families.”
Just as with the more than 5000 immigrant children (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-trump-era-policy-that-separated-thousands-of-migrant-families-came-to-pass) the Trump administration separated from their families who the Biden administration has been actively working to re-unite, some of the 1000 children who are U.S. citizens have also yet to be reunited with their families.
READ MORE: Stephen Miller Says He’s Fighting ‘Transgender Ideology’ Because Schools Are Teaching ‘People Are Whatever They Want to Be’ (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2021/06/stephen-miller-says-hes-fighting-transgender-ideology-because-schools-are-teaching-people-are-whatever-they-want-to-be/)
“In many cases, the U.S.-born children were placed into foster care for lengthy periods, and some have yet to be reunited with their parents, lost in the system nearly five years after the separations took place.”
The Trump administration built what many called concentration camps to house the thousands of migrant children it had taken from their parents, as Trump administration attorneys argued in court the children did not need soap or toothbrushes (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2019/06/us-justice-dept-tells-court-migrant-children-in-federal-concentration-camps-dont-need-soap-or-toothbrushes/).
The Times notes, “anyone wronged by the United States can bring claims against the government, and many families are doing so with the help of the A.C.L.U. as well as other groups and private lawyers.”
attorney Leecia Welch, deputy litigation director at Children’s Rights, told The Times, “When you think it can’t get any worse, you hear additional facts about the horror of the policy.”
That child separation policy was created and promoted by White House Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller (https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/?s=Stephen+Miller), a far-right extremist who “promoted white nationalist literature, pushed racist immigration stories and obsessed over the loss of Confederate symbols,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/11/12/stephen-millers-affinity-white-nationalism-revealed-leaked-emails).
==
4 23 grand jury jack?
https://www.alternet.org/stephen-miller-testifies-again/
---
rww 2 23
schedule (https://www.events.cpac.org/agenda) and speakers (https://www.events.cpac.org/speakers) list for this week’s Conservative Political Action Conference make it clear that the gathering will be dominated by the undemocratic and unprincipled power-seeking strategies for which former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement are known.
Lying About Elections, Undermining Democracy
The choice of Kari Lake to keynote the event’s gala, the “Ronald Reagan Dinner,” makes it clear that CPAC will continue to promote damaging false claims about voter fraud. Trump’s refusal to admit that voters rejected him in 2020 fueled the violent attempt to stop Congress from affirming President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
Following in Trump’s footsteps, Lake has refused to accept her defeat by Arizona voters in last year’s governor’s race. Instead, she inflames (https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2022/12/19/kari-lake-lobs-threat-maricopa-county-election-lawsuit/69741146007/) supporters with bogus claims of election fraud, filing (https://twitter.com/KariLake/status/1630047482729099265?s=20) lawsuit after rejected (https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3785655-judge-dismisses-remainder-of-kari-lakes-election-lawsuit-following-two-day-trial/) lawsuit (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/24/kari-lake-election-lawsuit-rejected-00075580) seeking to overturn her loss. Right Wing Watch reported that this month Lake took her complaints (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/kari-lake-makes-the-round-of-radical-right-wing-programs/) to two programs hosted by far-right broadcasters who have called for violence against political opponents. On one, when the host claimed that conservative Christians are being provoked to unleash “violence or bloodshed,” Lake responded, “I don’t know how much longer the people can take it.” As we saw on Jan. 6, 2021, this strategy is dangerous for democracy.
In addition to Trump himself, other speakers include Trump family members, right-wing funder and promoter of debunked election conspiracies Mike Lindell, MAGA strategist Steve Bannon, and far-right “Pizzagate” promoter Jack Posobiec.
Previous CPAC gatherings have celebrated authoritarian strongmen leaders like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Brazil’s former president, Jair Balsonaro, whose supporters attacked government buildings after his defeat. Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo, a right-wing legislator, will speak at CPAC this year.
‘Parents with Pitchforks’: Limiting the Freedom to Learn
Right-wing political leaders are aggressively restricting freedom in the name of attacking “wokeness,” which they have invoked to restrict honest teaching about racism, purge library books that feature Black and LGBTQ characters, and deny access to essential health care for transgender people. This is an expansion of the cynical right-wing strategy launched during the Trump administration to vilify “critical race theory” and then slap the label on anything right-wing activists didn’t like.
One strategy in the war on “wokeness” is stoking racial resentment and grievance among conservative white voters. Before last year’s election, a group run by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller ran digital ads (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/30/stephen-miller-ads-biden-racism-white-americans-00064148) denouncing “anti-white bigotry” and falsely claiming that the Biden administration “put white people last in line for COVID relief funds.” Miller, an architect of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies with a documented affinity for white nationalism (https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2019/11/12/stephen-millers-affinity-white-nationalism-revealed-leaked-emails), is listed as a CPAC speaker.
One Thursday CPAC segment dubbed “Parents with Pitchforks” includes Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, whose boss Gov. Glenn Youngkin has just launched an investigation of the AP African American Studies class attacked by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Another segment on “Sacking the Woke Playbook” features Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, who once insisted that all judicial nominees should share his “biblical view of justice.” (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/iowa-gop-senate-candidates-vow-to-block-judges-who-wont-follow-biblical-law/)
Christian Nationalism
Also likely to be promoted at CPAC is the increasingly aggressive Christian nationalism (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/how-christian-nationalism-fueled-the-insurrection-and-threatens-democracy/) espoused by religious-right activists and promoted by far-right politicians like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and North Carolina’s vehemently anti-LGBTQ Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who exclaimed (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/north-carolinas-republican-lt-gov-mark-robinson-puts-his-christian-nationalism-on-full-display/) in 2021, “As for this not being a Christian nation, yes, it is! If you don’t like it, I’ll buy your plane, train, or automobile ticket right up out of here.”Both Greene and Robinson are listed as speakers at this year’s gathering. Scholars have documented that white evangelicals are the group most likely to strongly embrace Christian nationalism, and those who do are more likely to support authoritarianism and political violence (https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/05/20/white-christian-nationalism-buffalo-abortion/).
A ‘Principled’ Alternative?
A group of non-Trumpist conservatives has organized an alternative to CPAC (https://principlesfirstsummit.us/), which they call the Principles First Summit. In a Substack column (https://heath.substack.com/p/stop-the-circus-close-the-curtain) promoting the summit, organizer Heath Mayo denounced the evolution of CPAC in the Trump era, saying “What once set a budding movement’s standards for principles and character is now a showcase of its worst ills.” CPAC, Mayo wrote, “actively applauds a conspiratorial fringe of our politics completely unmoored from ethical constraints and moral commitments.”
Tags: Donald Trump (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/donald-trump/) Eduardo Bolsonaro (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/eduardo-bolsonaro/) Jack Posobiec (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/jack-posobiec/) Kari Lake (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/kari-lake/) Marjorie Taylor Greene (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/marjorie-taylor-greene/) Mark Robinson (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/mark-robinson/) Mike Lindell (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/mike-lindell/) Stephen Miller (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/stephen-miller/) Steve Bannon (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/steve-bannon/) Winsome Sears (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/winsome-sears/) Censorship (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/censorship/) Christian Nationalism (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/christian-nationalism/) CPAC (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/cpac/) CPAC 2023 (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/cpac-2023/) Critical Race Theory (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/critical-race-theory/) Stop the Steal (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/topics/stop-the-steal/) CPAC (https://www.rightwingwatch.org/organizations/cpac/)
---
---
an 12 22 also gorka and?
On Friday night, November 9, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, according to Politico (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2022/12/10/hunter-biden-goes-on-offense-00073365), attended a “private holiday party” in the home of Conservative Political Action Conference Chairman Matt Schlapp. Kavanaugh’s decision to attend, reporter Lydia Wheeler writes in Bloomberg Law (https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/kavanaugh-holiday-party-appearance-raises-more-ethics-questions) on December 12, “raises questions about when a justice’s personal relationships cross a line and become problematic.”’
One of the other people who attended Schlapp’s party, according to Politico, was MAGA RepublicanStephen Miller, who was a policy adviser for the Trump Administration. Miller heads the America First Legal Foundation, a group that, Wheeler notes, “has interests in cases now pending before the Court.”
Kavanaugh’s decision to attend Schlapp’s party comes at a time when the High Court is suffering from historically low approval ratings. The Court’s unpopularity to a variety of things, including its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade after 49 years in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
READ MORE: The Supreme Court is dirty. Time to clean it up (https://www.alternet.org/2022/11/the-supreme-court-is-dirty)
Other controversies that have dogged the High Court in recent months range from efforts by Ginni Thomas (wife of Justice Clarence Thomas) to overturn the 2020 presidential election results to allegations that Justice Samuel Alito or his wife leaked the Court’s decision (https://abc7ny.com/justice-alito-denies-supreme-court-leaking-allegations/12474409/) in 2014’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby before it was officially announced — an allegation that Alito has vehemently denied.
Wheeler notes that “Democrats have recently renewed calls for sitting Supreme Court justices to follow a formal judicial code of ethics.”
Tonja Jacobi, a professor at Emory University Law School in Atlanta, told Bloomberg Law, “Supreme Court justices should be extraordinarily careful in not only having no actual ethical difficulties, but having no appearance of an ethical conundrum as well…. The legitimacy of the Court at the moment is taking a severe beating.”
Charles Geyh, a professor at Indiana University’s Maurer School of law, implied that Kavanaugh was showing very poor judgement by attending Schlapp’s party. Geyh told Bloomberg Law, “This is the worst possible time for this.”
READ MORE:Right-wing Supreme Court justices are dragging the court deeper into a 'crisis of legitimacy': Missouri editorial (https://www.alternet.org/2022/10/conservative-justices)
---
---
DIRTY TRICKS
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/democratic-strategists-launch-war-room-00065498
group of top Democratic strategists are launching a multi-million-dollar hub to counter an expected investigative onslaught by the likely incoming House GOP majority — digging into President Joe Biden, his administration and his son, on top of potential Cabinet impeachments.
The newly relaunchedCongressional Integrity Project initiative, details of which were shared first with POLITICO, will include rapid response teams, investigative researchers, pollsters and eventually a paid media campaign to put congressional Republicans “squarely on the defense,” founder Kyle Herrig said in an interview.
It’s designed to serve as the party’s “leading war room” to push back on House Republican investigations, Herrig said in an interview. He added that the project would “investigate the investigators, expose their political motivations and the monied special interests supporting their work, and hold them accountable for ignoring the urgent priorities of all Americans in order to smear Joe Biden and do the political bidding of Trump and MAGA Republicans." [vid]
a team of researchers has already begun scouring public records, press clippings and other documents in a bid to immediately undercut House GOP leaders, from Minority Leader — now speakership hopeful — Kevin McCarthy to the likely committee chairs expected to manage probes of Biden and his network.
The House GOP views investigations as a key piece of its agenda for the next Congress once it takes the narrow majority that’s now expected, particularly as much of its legislative wish list is on track to stall thanks to the Senate filibuster and Democratic president. McCarthy has privately talked with committee chairs-in-waiting to coordinate plans, making the swift launch of the outside-group pushback plan a potential godsend to Democrats.
Democratic leadership on the Hill has been briefed about the project’s relaunch, according to a person familiar with its plans.
Brad Woodhouse, a longtime Democratic strategist who is part of the project’s new leadership team, called the House GOP’s looming investigations a “vendetta” after two impeachments of and investigations into former President Donald Trump while Democrats controlled Congress, including the bipartisan select committee probing the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The project “will exploit every tactic available,” Woodhouse said, adding: “It’s not enough to wait and see what they’re going to do and how far they’re going to go.”
Republicans wouldn’t formally take the House until January, but its leaders are already vowing to cut a broad investigative swath. As McCarthy put it during his conference’s recent agenda rollout: “Every committee has responsibilities for oversight.”
“They’ve virtually outlined no substantive agenda for governing,” Herrig said of House Republicans. “This is what they’re going to do ... so you really need a concentrated effort that’s doing this every day.”
In addition to Herrig and Woodhouse, the project’s leadership team will include Leslie Dach, a well-known Democratic communications specialist who has led progressive organizations for decades, served in the Obama administration and advised the Biden administration’s pandemic response.
In a sign of the important role the initiative will play over the next two years — and its proximity to the White House — other senior advisers include Jeff Peck, a former Biden aide during the president’s time in the Senate who served as treasurer and vice chair of the Biden Foundation as well as a senior adviser to the Biden-Harris transition.
The Congressional Integrity Project leadership team will include Leslie Dach, a well-known Democratic communications specialist who has led progressive organizations for decades. | Brian Stukes/Getty Images for Protect Our Care
For the final two years of Biden’s term, Republicans will be aided in their oversight push by a coalition of outside conservative research groups (https://www.axios.com/2022/06/01/republicans-investigations-congress-midterms) that have already mapped out potential targets and started digging into issues ranging from Hunter Biden’s business dealings to immigration policy.
And GOP lawmakers have left their own investigative breadcrumbs that make it clear where they intend to go. Likely Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) will lead the Hunter Biden investigation, with Republicans already preparing to elevate the probe (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/10/republicans-hunter-biden-investigation-00050723) to Joe Biden although no evidence has publicly emerged that his decisions were affected by his son’s business dealings. Comer recently told POLITICO (https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/10-31-2022/house-gop-hunter-biden-update/) that he and likely Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) would provide a public update this week.
Jordan, meanwhile, is preparing to use the gavel he’s poised to take for conduct a sweeping investigation (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/26/gop-fbi-politics-post-trump-00058680) into the Justice Department and FBI, two frequent targets of Trump’s ire. That probe is likely to touch on everything from the search at Mar-a-Lago for classified documents to tracking threats against local school officials, which the GOP slams as an effort to target parents despite denials from the bureau. [vid]
other GOP areas of interest include the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Ukraine aid and a coronavirus probe that is likely to sweep up longtime public health adviser Anthony Fauci.
McCarthy and his allies are under pressure from their base and some members of their own conference to pair their investigations with impeachment articles (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/07/house-gop-2023-impeachments-00060869); some in the party are clearly itching for payback after then-President Trump was impeached twice. Though impeaching Biden is likely a heavy lift — and a step that McCarthy isn’t endorsing for now — Republicans see Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as a more likely target for attempted removal from office.
congressional Democrats and others close to the administration view Republicans’ vows to investigate Mayorkas’ department and the border as the latest sign that they aren’t serious about trying to pass immigration legislation. And they slam Republican investigative plans writ large as thinly veiled attempts to help Trump, pointing to Jordan’s public remarks earlier this year that characterized GOP probes as helping “frame up the 2024 race.”
The Congressional Integrity Project is also aiming to raise funds for a paid media campaign, including dedicated websites, digital ads, mobile billboards, newspaper ads and, occasionally, TV ad buys. Its public opinion research will be shared with like-minded organizations and congressional allies to contrast GOP investigations with issues the American public cares most about, project leaders said.
Their goal is to prevent a repeat of the 2016 presidential campaign when Republicans also controlled the House and created a select committee to investigate the 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans. That GOP select panel ended up zeroing in on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she prepared to ascend to the Democratic nomination, culminating in an 11-hour grilling (https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/22/451012235/clinton-endures-an-11-hour-grilling-before-benghazi-committee) of Clinton.
Republicans’ two-year Benghazi investigation spent $7 million in taxpayer money and dogged Clinton on the campaign trail before finally producing an 800-page report (https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/benghazi-report-obama-clinton-224854) that didn’t focus on the former secretary of state.
Then-Majority Leader McCarthy quipped in 2015 (https://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/hillary-clinton-benghazi-kevin-mccarthy-214325) to Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the Benghazi committee had successfully driven down Clinton’s poll numbers. “He took a lot of crap for it, but in the end, it was true” that the investigation hurt Clinton politically, recalled Woodhouse.
Rather, Democrats hope the flood of investigations will lead to a repeat of the 1998 midterm elections, held amid the GOP push to impeach then-President Bill Clinton. Voter backlash against that move helped Democrats defy historical trends in House races that favor the party that doesn’t occupy the White House gaining seats.
FILED UNDER:
KEVIN MCCARTHY (https://www.politico.com/news/kevin-mccarthy),
JIM JORDAN (https://www.politico.com/news/jim-jordan),
OPPOSITION RESEARCH (https://www.politico.com/news/opposition-research),
OPPO (https://www.politico.com/news/oppo),
BENGHAZI (https://www.politico.com/news/benghazi),
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS (https://www.politico.com/news/alejandro-mayorkas)
POLITICO--- (https://www.politico.com/)
---
ref
axios
gop Republican congressional aides huddled this month with conservative think-tank leaders on Maryland's Eastern Shore to hone tactics and messaging for Biden administration probes, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: If the GOP wins control in the midterms, leaders want to kick off high-profile investigations as soon as the new Congress is seated. Republicans plan to draw on investigative power from allies across Washington.
Details: The retreat was hosted by the Heritage Foundation, theConservative Partnership Instituteand the American Accountability Foundation, a nonprofit run by Trump administration alumni that's dogged Biden nominees (https://www.axios.com/2021/09/14/conservatives-aft-withdrawal-biden-nominee) with independent investigative work.
In attendance were aides to the top Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means and Oversight committees, as well as a senior aide to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is considered a leadership contender.
Aides toSenate Banking Committee ranking member Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) also attended.
The big picture: With unified Democratic control in D.C., Republicans have been limited in their efforts to wield Congress' probative powers around high-profile issues such as a southern border immigration surge, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and economic shocks that threaten a U.S. recession.
If they win congressional majorities, Republicans plan to use that power in retrospective fashion to dig into Biden administration conduct going back to his inauguration.
That will mean a congressional microscope on Biden administration policies and spending. It will also bring stepped-up GOP scrutiny of private sector actors such as tech companies that Republicans see as politically adversarial.
Behind the scenes: Over two days, congressional aides at the retreat got briefings from prominent conservative activists and organizations on a host of investigative tactics (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/22046373-aaf-retreat-agenda).
Gene Hamilton, a former senior aide in Trump's Justice Department and a board member of the America First Legal Foundation, briefed staffers on how to use legal experts and the federal court system to conduct research and "advance conservative priorities in the courts."
Alexa Walker, the Banks aide and the Republican Study Committee's coalitions director, and Scott Gast, a former senior aide in the Trump White House counsel's office, discussed strategies for coordinating congressional oversight with outside research and investigative groups.
Mike Howell and Roman Jankowski of the Heritage Foundation led a training on the Freedom of Information Act.
AAF chief Tom Jones briefed attendees on tactics for investigating presidential nominees and appointees.
Phil Reboli of CPI trained staffers on effective communications strategies to sell oversight efforts to outside groups and the press.
What they're saying: "We are pleased we brought together senior staff and leading outside researchers to focus on enhancing oversight skills, particularly since we're expecting increased oversight opportunities in the future," Jones said in an emailed statement.
"The American people are deeply frustrated by the failed policies and lack of leadership of the Biden Administration. They expect good government groups like ours and Congressional leaders to work together to hold this administration accountable."
Howell, who leads Heritage's Oversight Project (https://www.heritage.org/press/heritage-foundation-launches-conservative-oversight-project), t0ld Axios the goal of the event was to ensure congressional staff members are equipped to kick-start investigations as soon as the new Congress is gaveled in.
"What's going to happen next Congress is, you've got to do four years of oversight in two years. That's going to be an immense lift, and it means that they cannot wait to get these committees situated," he said in an interview.
"There are thousands of people who served in the Trump administration, myself included, who experienced what was probably the most intense congressional oversight to date," Howell said. They "are now chomping at the bit to deploy these skills that they've learned back at the Biden administration."
Between the lines: The event provides a glimpse of where Republicans see potentially fruitful oversight avenues.
Senate Banking has been at the center of Biden nomination fights, with committee Republicans successfully sinking two high-profile nominees.
The Oversight Committee, whose chief counsel for oversight attended, has a broad mandate. Its ranking Republican, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), has recently signaled scrutiny of Biden's immigration policies (https://comer.house.gov/press-release?ID=F2955261-F727-4608-A61B-DABEA2A12717), his son Hunter’s business dealings abroad (https://comer.house.gov/press-release?ID=99AAF225-6F62-4B17-82FB-8C04D1A957AC) and tech companies' ostensible political bias (https://comer.house.gov/press-release?ID=BB179EE9-5846-4B07-BFB4-79021728AF58).
The Transportation Committee's Republican general counsel wrote in a disclosure filing that the training would help the committee ensure "fiscal stewardship and effective oversight of the recently passed infrastructure bill and other items within T&I's jurisdiction."
The Ways and Means Committee, which sent two Republican aides to the retreat, is a powerful panel with oversight jurisdiction over tax and financial policies at the center of a national furor over inflation.
Republican oversight won't be confined to federal agencies or the White House, Howell said.
"Big Tech is in the crosshairs," he said. "They're going to be subject to document requests and subpoenas and depositions."
Howell pointed to the subpoena power wielded heavily by the Jan. 6 select committee, which has sought private phone and bank records, among other documents.
"It's really a whole new frontier that has been opened with a whole bevy of new tactics and techniques, which were once thought out of bounds. They're now going to be a tool in the hands of the other side."
---
---
https://www.mediamatters.org/jack-posobiec/fbi-warns-threats-state-poll-workers-right-wing-media-and-denialist-groups-spread
mma 10 22
a combination of local election denialist groups and national conservative media figures are driving conspiracy theories about voter fraud in Pennsylvania — the same falsehoods and misinformation that are putting election workers at an increased risk of violence, according (https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/10/19/pennsylvania-election-worker-threats-fbi) to the FBI and Department of Justice. Pennsylvania is one of several states that have seen increased threats of violence (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/fbi-puts-election-officials-high-alert-colorado-right-wing-media-personalities-are) toward election officials, driven by false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and that future voter fraud is likely.
Nearly all of the groups and media figures pushing these narratives in Pennsylvania support the gubernatorial campaign of Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who helped (https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/pa-state-sen-doug-mastriano-who-helped-dc-coup-attempt-pushed-violent) to incite the attempted coup on January 6, 2021, and has embraced numerous extremist (https://www.mediamatters.org/diversity-discrimination/facebook-video-doug-mastriano-thanked-pro-confederate-armed-men-supposedly) positions (https://www.mediamatters.org/gab/new-filing-doug-mastriano-says-he-accepted-campaign-donation-antisemitic-gab-ceo-andrew-torba). Mastriano also unsuccessfully used his position to attempt to overturn (https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/doug-mastriano-pennsylvania-governor-covid-trump-biden-20201201.html) Pennsylvania’s presidential election results, ingratiating himself to some of the state’s most extreme conservative activists.
Against this backdrop, former President Donald Trump has already begun organizing attempts to challenge the results of the state’s midterm elections, according (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-midterm-elections-challenge-oz-fetterman-philadelphia-1234616197/) to Rolling Stone.
Trump has been briefed on plans in multiple states and critical races — including in Georgia. But Pennsylvania has grabbed his interest most keenly, including in the Senate contest between Democrat John Fetterman and the Trump-endorsed GOP contender Mehmet Oz. If the Republican does not win by a wide enough margin to trigger a speedy concession from Fetterman — or if the vote tally is close on or after Election Night in November — Trump and other Republicans are already preparing to wage a legal and activist crusade against the “election integrity” of Democratic strongholds such as the Philly area.
Already, MAGA activists and Republican Party officials are creating the conditions that make voter suppression and violence against workers more likely. Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee's director for election integrity in Pennsylvania said on a conference call with election denialist group Audit the Vote PA that they’d filled “6,000 poll watcher positions in the state this year, compared with 1,000 in 2020,” according (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/stop-steal-supporters-train-thousands-us-poll-observers-2022-10-13/) to Reuters, which noted that “election conspiracy groups also often appear at events with Republican officials, focused on recruiting volunteers to help watch the polls, according to the groups themselves and county officials.”
Pennsylvania’s acting secretary of state recently told PennLive (https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/10/election-officials-see-spike-in-number-of-poll-watchers-amid-increased-threats-and-intimidation.html) that “a lot of these threats are fueled by mis- and disinformation,” emphasizing, “It’s important to get out accurate information about the election process in Pennsylvania so voters and the public know that when there are delays in counting, it doesn’t mean anything nefarious happening.”
The deep connections between these denialist influencers, their groups, and right-wing media outlets illustrate the extent to which conspiracy theories about voter fraud have become a unifying principle in conservative organizing. Now, those same false claims are potentially driving threats and harassment against election workers across the country.
Right-wing media champion Doug Mastriano’s campaign
Mastriano rose to prominence challenging Biden’s win in Pennsylvania in 2020, and election denialism (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/election-denial-race-pennsylvania-governor) has been at the forefront of his campaign for governor. He has spread these conspiracy theories across conservative media while rejecting (https://www.mediamatters.org/diversity-discrimination/doug-mastriano-avoids-credible-outlets-interviews-antisemites-qanon) mainstream interviews. He’s a frequent guest on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, which has become a hub (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/new-reporting-links-additional-guests-steve-bannons-podcast-election-breach-scheme) for election (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/fbi-puts-election-officials-high-alert-colorado-right-wing-media-personalities-are) denialists (https://www.mediamatters.org/real-americas-voice/resurfaced-footage-raises-questions-about-frequent-steve-bannon-guests-role) from all over the country (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/how-steve-bannon-made-election-denier-mark-finchem-maga-hero-and-launched-his-campaign).
One of Mastriano’s top champions in conservative media is neo-Nazi collaborator and “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/jack-posobiec), who has appeared at campaign events (https://www.mediamatters.org/jack-posobiec/doug-mastriano-holding-event-jack-posobiec-who-has-collaborated-neo-nazis-and-spread) for Mastriano as recently as this month. Posobiec is another War Room mainstay and occasional guest host,often using Bannon’s platform to praise Mastriano’s campaign, including in an interview in July
CitationFrom the July 20, 2022, edition of War Room: Pandemic, streamed on Rumble
"The question on everybody’s mind I believe, certainly for this audience, the War Room audience, and if Steve were here right now he’d be asking the same exact question, is voter integrity,” Posobiec said near the beginning of the segment, focusing on the false idea that Pennsylvania's elections are insecure. “What can be done between now and November for the current election that you are in to preserve that idea of voter integrity and fight back against some of these issues that we’ve brought up in the past?” (Bannon was not on his show that day because he was in court unsuccessfully fighting (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/22/jury-deliberations-steve-bannon-00047419) his contempt of Congress case for refusing to testify before the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.)
“We’re going to have to have eyeballs on all the election stations,” Mastriano responded. “I need 20,000 poll watchers to cover the state.”
He then implored War Room listeners who were interested in volunteering “instead of complaining” to go to his website and sign up. To underline the point, Posobiec closed the interview by reminding the audience where they could go to volunteer to become a poll watcher.
More recently, Posobiec told War Room viewers that the governor’s race in Pennsylvania is even more important than in many other states, stating that whoever controlled that office would determine the state’s electoral votes in two years.
“If you’re looking at 2024, you have to understand that Pennsylvania is the keystone,” Posobiec said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995664) on October 1. “I railed on this in 2020. The secretary of state in Pennsylvania is an appointed Cabinet position of the governor. It is not a separately elected office.”
“That means the 2022 race for governor is the presidential race, because that determines who your secretary of state is going to be in a state which gives you 20 electoral votes,” he continued. “We’re going to make sure everybody understands the stakes that are at play here, because this is the game for our republic.”
Posobiec’s comments illustrate how Mastriano’s allies in right-wing media continue to shore up his conservative bona fides, even as his campaign attempts to obscure his extremist views. After winning the Republican gubernatorial primary in May, Mastriano or his staff apparently began deleting (https://www.inquirer.com/news/facebook-pennsylvania-governor-mastriano-abortion-climate-20220718.html&outputType=app-web-view) some of his more controversial videos and social media posts from his official accounts. These actions follow a pattern; as Media Matters previously reported, Mastriano has also posted (https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/pa-state-sen-doug-mastriano-promoted-qanon-twitter-over-50-times) and deleted more than 50 tweets in support of the QAnon conspiracy theory.
He may now be attempting to downplay his rampant election denialism (https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/opinion/editorials/2022/10/20/doug-mastrianos-dangerous-history-of-election-denial-our-view-opinion-pennsylvania-governor-election/69568785007/) in the weeks before the midterms. On the morning that Bannon was sentenced for contempt of Congress, Posobiec sat in as a guest co-host to interview (https://rumble.com/v1p26sd-doug-mastriano-pennsylvania-citizens-deserve-safety-parental-rights-and-sec.html) Mastriano, and the two avoided the topic completely.
The previous evening, Mastriano appeared (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995672) on conservative YouTuber Tim Pool’s show, further illustrating the candidate’s total enmeshment in right-wing media. Over the course of that more than two hour-long interview, Mastriano largely avoided pushing voter fraud conspiracy theories as well. Yet even when he seemingly attempts to moderate his position, Mastriano still perpetuates the idea that elections are fundamentally insecure and voter fraud is rampant.
“We’re working real hard to get at least one trained poll watcher in every polling station for transparency and accountability,” he said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995819) on Newsmax on October 24.
“Merely asking questions about the elections — it does not make me an election denier,” he said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995818) on One America News the same day.
But Mastriano had struck a very different tone immediately after the 2020 election. “We're going to take our power back,” he said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995713) on Bannon’s War Room on November 27, 2020, promising to “seat the electors" from a fake pro-Trump slate (https://www.businessinsider.com/pennsylvania-trump-team-made-mastriano-point-person-for-fake-electors-2022-7) instead of recognizing Biden’s victory in the state.
A web of election denialist influencers
War Room has also been a platform for some of Pennsylvania’s most active conspiracy theorists, includingToni Shuppe, who heads denialist group (https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/audit-the-vote-gave-us-its-canvassing-data-to-check-the-results-it-was-riddled/article_8f0a6c2a-cd6e-11ec-9f73-b3e07fd7b64b.html) Audit the Vote PA.Shuppe has argued (https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/doug-mastriano-associate-toni-shuppe-shared-conspiracy-theory-flight-93) that the Pizzagate conspiracy theory – which purports that high-ranking Democrats were involved in a child sex trafficking ring – is “absolutely real.” She also claimed that QAnon, which has many of the same themes as Pizzagate, is a “very valuable resource.” Perhaps not coincidentally, Posobiec also pushed (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/jack-posobiec) the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and created disinformation about the origins of QAnon in an apparent effort to save the Trump campaign from embarrassment.
In August, Shuppe appeared on War Room to advocate against using machines to count and tabulate votes, based on the debunked theory (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dominion-voting-machines-2020-election-cisa/) that voting machines were used to rig the 2020 election.
“We have a massive grassroots movement in Pennsylvania,” Bannon said. “It’s essentially what got President Trump elected in 2016, and to be brutally frank, it’s real votes, certifiable votes, it’s what got him to win Pennsylvania in 2020.” (In reality, Trump lost (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-pennsylvania.html) Pennsylvania in 2020.)
“We’re dealing with a weaponized government, which, I don’t have to tell you or anybody that watches your show that that’s what we’re dealing with,” Shuppe told Bannon. “So there’s a risk there, but there’s nothing in the law that says we can’t make these changes in our report that’s on our website.
[vid CitationFrom the August 29, 2022, edition of War Room: Battleground, streamed on Rumble
in addition to appearing frequently (https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/steve-bannon-regularly-hosts-qanon-adherent-push-pennsylvania-election-audit) on War Room and failing Fox News competitor One America News, Shuppe hosts her own streaming show, also called Audit the Vote PA. The show serves as a combination of propaganda outlet and organizing space to enlist new adherents and keep those already engaged active in the run-up to the midterms.
In July, Shuppe interviewed election denialist and retired CIA officer Sam Faddis, who reportedly recently met with Trump (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-midterm-elections-challenge-oz-fetterman-philadelphia-1234616197/) to lay out plans for challenging the midterm results in Pennsylvania.In that segment, Faddis promoted an upcoming rally he was participating in with election denier Catherine Engelbrecht,whose group True the Vote (https://www.mediamatters.org/voter-fraud-and-suppression/how-true-vote-cultivated-relationships-qanon-influencers-target) has become a leading voice (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/technology/catherine-engelbrecht-voter-fraud-conspiracy-theories.html) in the nationwide denialist movement. Faddis also defended Mastriano, and cautioned that conservatives should not become demoralized at the prospect of needing to overcome stolen elections.
“And just in case you’re thinking about staying home and not voting, I get the frustration around 2020 isn’t fixed, we still have what appears to be an illegitimate president, and it is very tempting to throw in the towel and say, ‘What’s the point of voting?’” Shuppe said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995724). “But I strongly encourage you otherwise because November 2022 in Pennsylvania is going to be a pivotal election, not just for our state, but I believe for the rest of the country.”
Shuppe also interviewed Posobiec earlier this month and the two pushed conspiracy theories about the state’s supposed election vulnerabilities.
“If you can get everything right in terms of turnout, if you get everything right in terms of integrity, then you get Pennsylvania back, you flip Pennsylvania,” Posobiec said. He later added, “In order to do that, you need to lay the groundwork out years ahead of the race. And that’s what Sen. Mastriano provides.”
Shuppe responded by claiming Democratic gubernatorial nominee and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro is “ultimately afraid that we’re going to get a transparent, free and fair election process with a Gov. Mastriano and they won’t be able to stuff ballots and cheat the way they did in 2020 [vid CitationFrom the October 5, 2022, edition of Audit the Vote PA, streamed on Rumble
on October 19, Shuppe interviewed (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995715) local denialist activist Bill Borton, who opposes the use of drop boxes on the false grounds (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/18/claims-that-drop-boxes-were-vector-rampant-fraud-keep-crumbling/) that they have been used to perpetuate widespread ballot stuffing.
“I am reasonably certain there hasn't been a free and fair election in the United States in over 20 years,” Borton said (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995715). “Maybe longer.”
“I would agree,” Shuppe responded.
Borton is a plaintiff in a lawsuit (https://whyy.org/articles/chester-county-ballot-drop-box-monitoring-lawsuit/) brought by America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal group founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller,against (https://www.dailylocal.com/2022/10/10/chester-county-election-drop-box-case-nears-settlement/) Chester County, Pennsylvania, over allegations that ballots had been dropped in unmonitored drop boxes in violation of state law. Borton, who helped obtain the footage, hopes the case or others like it will bring an end to ballot drop boxes altogether.
“Me being the eternal optimist that I am, this could conceivably mean that a day or so after the drop boxes open, we nab a couple people, have proof of it, and they all get shut down for the rest of the time leading up to the election,” Borton told (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995716) Shuppe.
Though the complaint (https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Preview_394ecb92-f609-4c28-96cf-e324b63d6194.pdf) alleges that surveillance video shows “over 300 individuals” dropping off more than one ballot, which is against Pennsylvania law, some extremist media figures have exaggerated this case as an example of verified, intentional voter fraud and pressed that this exemplifies the need for physical monitoring at drop boxes.
Infowars’ resident insurrectionist (https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-electoral-college-b906c0bcfea44a81fe15b3c2d7481689) Owen Shroyer opened his September 19 discussion of the subject by complaining that the media is “demonizing conservatives, demonizing Republicans for staking out polling locations and drop boxes,” citing evidence from the AFL that allegedly “found individuals stuffing ballot boxes, same people showing up multiple times with dozens of ballots.” Shroyer asked his audience, “Why don’t Democrats want you watching drop boxes? Because Democrats are using drop boxes to cheat and steal an election.: judge in a similar case brought by AFL in Pennsylvania ruled (https://www.penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/judge-in-person-monitoring-not-required-at-lehigh-county-ballot-drop-off-boxes/) that in-person monitoring was not necessary.
“Since mail-in ballots have been in use, no fraud has been detected in Lehigh County with the mail-in ballot process,” Judge Thomas Capehart wrote.
Fox News hosts amplify bogus ballot stuffing claims
[vid]
Borton has played an outsized role in some of the national media attention on Pennsylvania’s elections. Most of the national conservative media coverage centers around mail-in voting and ballot drop boxes, both of which have been identified, incorrectly, by Pennsylvania election deniers and the Republican Party as previous sites of voter fraud.
Fox host Mark Levin celebrated (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995667) AFL’s Chester County complaint as a win, adding, “I suspect there's a hell of a lot more than one.”
Separately, a long-running legal fight over undated mail-in ballots came to a head on October 11, when the Supreme Court vacated (https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-pennsylvania-voting-decc37573fbbf3b99d936c61746b8207) a lower court ruling that allowed undated ballots to be counted in a 2021 local county judge election. Pennsylvania law requires that mail-in ballot envelopes be hand-signed and dated, though both the state’s Commonwealth Court and 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed (https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-undated-mail-ballots-us-supreme-court-20221011.html) that this provision was designed to unfairly throw out ballots. Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman issued guidance (https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/state-details.aspx?newsid=536) that same day directing counties to continue to count undated mail-in ballots, as the Supreme Court’s decision was not relevant to midterms.
On his radio show,Fox host Sean Hannity pressed (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995674) that Chapman’s guidance was an excuse for Democrats to give their voters an advantage: “Of course, Democrats, they don't want to follow laws. They want to make them up as they go along and, you know, make everything work to their advantage.”
Levin was more direct, arguing (https://www.mediamatters.org/mark-levin/fox-news-host-says-theyre-trying-steal-election-fetterman) that this shows “they're trying to steal the election for” Democratic Senate nominee and current Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. According to Levin, “This is the sort of thing that changes election results.”
On a previous show, Levin accused (https://www.mediamatters.org/media/3995728) Democrats of “causing all this anguish, this anarchy,” as “the Republicans aren't in there trying to change state law through well-placed Republican officials. It’s the Democrats.”
Of course, as Posobiec outlined above, this is exactly the election denialist plan for 2024: Disrupt midterms, get Republicans elected, and lay the groundwork for an easy 2024 Trump win.
---
---
https://www.alternet.org/2022/10/dark-money-groups-gop-senate/
an 10 22 comm dr
The finding comes a month after Senate Republicans tanked a bill that would have required dark money groups to disclose their donors and funding sources.
Shadowy organizations that are legally allowed to hide their donors have pumped nearly $1 billion into the Republican Party's effort to retake the U.S. Senate, according to an NPR analysis released Saturday.
In total, NPR found that "more than $1.6 billion has been spent or booked on TV ads in a dozen Senate races, with $3 out of every $4 being spent in six states—Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Ohio."
"Most of that money is coming from dark money outside groups with little-to-no donor transparency—and Republicans are getting a huge boost from them," the outlet reported.
Nearly 90% of the money spent on pro-Republican television ads this midterm cycle has been from dark money groups, according to NPR's analysis of ad data. By comparison, 55% of spending on ads boosting Democrats has come from dark money organizations, which have exploded in number and influence since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010Citizens United decision.
Predictably, key battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona have drawn massive ad spending from outside groups in recent months as Senate races there tighten (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/22/gop-arizona-senate-race-00063029) with just over two weeks until the November midterms.
Outside organizations have poured more money into Pennsylvania—where Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is locked in a competitive Senate contest with Republican nominee Dr. Oz—than any other state this cycle.
"Outside groups have spent nearly $64.9 million to back Fetterman or sway voters away from the celebrity doctor, while conservative outside spenders have poured $66 million into the race," OpenSecrets noted Friday. "One of the top outside spenders is the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.). The super PAC has made Fetterman their top target, spending almost $37.2 million to oppose the Democrat."
[grfx]
NPR's analysis came a month after Senate Republicans unanimously voted down (https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/09/22/zero-gop-senators-vote-curb-dark-moneys-stranglehold-democracy) legislation that would have required dark money organizations to disclose their large donors and funding sources, a step that would shine light on the forces attempting to sway critical races.
OpenSecrets discovered (https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/09/new-dark-money-group-tied-to-former-trump-officials-launches-provocative-ads-ahead-of-2022-midterms/) last month that a newly created dark money group that has spent big on ads mocking and attacking progressive candidates in battleground states is "connected to officials in former President Donald Trump's administration who now work with the America First Legal Foundation."
"The group, Citizens for Sanity, has paid for billboards emblazoned with messages like 'Protect Pregnant Men from Climate Discrimination' and 'Real progressives support violent criminals in their hour of need' in states across the country—including Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and Georgia," the watchdog noted. "The ads have been described as racist and transphobic."
"Federal Communications Commission records reviewed by OpenSecrets reveal that the group's board includes three former Trump administration officials involved in theAmerica First Legal Foundation, a group founded by former Trump White House official Stephen Miller," OpenSecrets added.
---
---
https://www.alternet.org/2022/06/supreme-court-states-establishment-clause/
no lnx many twt
A far-right legal group believes states are exempt from the Establishment Clause. Some Supreme Court justices agree
Alex Henderson June 29, 2022
During the 1990s, Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Justice Antonin Scalia were viewed as the lunatic fringe of the U.S. Supreme Court. But their theocratic views and far-right social conservatism were balanced out by other justices, from liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to moderate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to Justice Anthony Kennedy — a Ronald Reagan appointee and right-wing libertarian who, although fiscally conservative, was quite protective of abortion rights and gay rights.
Those days are long gone. Theocrats, thanks largely to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump, now dominate the High Court— a fact that was painfully evident when the Court announced, on Friday, June 24, that it had voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and Thomas argued in favor of reconsidering protections for contraception and gay rights as well.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution — specifically, the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The Establishment Clause makes it abundantly clear that while people of all faiths can freely practice and promote them, the government cannot establish an official religion. This means that while Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Bahais are more than welcome to gather on New York City’s 5th Avenue and promote their faiths, the government itself has a strict separation of church and state.
[Read more: Columnist likens U.S. Supreme Court’s right-wing supermajority to a ‘junta in long black robes’
But in Christian Right legal circles, some theocrats, including the far-right group America First Legal, are arguing that individual states are exempt from the Establishment Clause — and Reuters reporter Lawrence Hurley notes that the group believes that states have a right to decide “whether and to what extent they will establish religion within their borders.”
Moreover, America First Legal is hoping that the U.S. Supreme Court will officially take that position in a future ruling.
According to Religion News Service (RNS) reporter Jack Jenkins, Thomas and Justice Neal Gorsuch share America First Legal’s view of the Establishment Clause — and Justice Amy Coney Barrett has “expressed interest in the idea.”
Thomas, Gorsuch and Barrett are among the justices who voted to strike down Roe v. Wade in the case Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization.
---
---
https://www.alternet.org/2021/10/merrick-garland-investigation/ (https://www.alternet.org/2021/10/merrick-garland-investigation/fo)
no lnx
former Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller's legal group is demanding the U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General launch an investigation into Attorney General Merrick Garland's memo that directs the FBI to discuss threats against school board officials.
The Garland memo is exceptionally weak, stating: "I am directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with each United States Attorney, to to convene meetings with federal state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders" to "facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats."
Nothing more.
After months of coaching and training of "grassroots" activists by right wing groups, including parents across the country, the nation has witnessed countless threats against school board officials and education professionals by parents whose anger is falsely ginned up by Fox news and other right wing media claims over critical race theory, masks, and vaccines.
Miller sees it differently, claiming his group is "demanding an investigation into AG Garland's memo unleashing federal law enforcement against parents fighting racism/CRT.Letter includes shocking info on origins of the memo."
Here is a copy of the letter America First Legal sent the DOJ Inspector General demanding an investigation into AG… https://t.co/T1aqGPokAW
— Stephen Miller (@Stephen Miller) 1634069778.0
Look at that language: "unleashing," "parents fighting racism," "shocking info" – all designed to create outrage.
(Also, parents who oppose CRT are not "fighting racism.")
As NCRM has previously reported, school board members and educators in at least nine states this year have been targeted with threats, death threats, and often racist death threats, including in Virginia, Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Vermont, according to local news reports.
According to Miller, who was one of the architects of Donald Trump's child separation policy, parents engaging in these threats should not be subjected to legal investigation, but protection.
Miller's Senior Counselor Reed Rubinsteinclaims that "the nationwide protests by parents against public school policies and practices—regardingCritical Race Theory indoctrination; anti-religious and anti-family gender ideology; and/or forced online education and mask mandates—are entitled to the most robust federal constitutional protection."
Rubinstein claims that "the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and others, have combined to oppress, threaten, and intimidate parents to chill and prevent them from exercising the rights or privileges secured by the Constitution," offering no reason why they would do this, especially given they have not done it before.
He also claims, again, offering no proof, that in "early September, Biden Administration stakeholders held discussions regarding avenues for potential federal action against parents with a key Biden Domestic Policy Council official (Jane Doe #1) and White House staff (John Doe #1). Stakeholders also held discussions with senior department officials, including at least one political appointee in the department's Civil Rights Division (Jane Doe #2). Jane Doe #1, John Doe #1, and others in the White House separately expressed concern regarding the potential partisan political impact of parent mobilization and organization around school issues in the upcoming midterm elections."
FROM YOUR SITE ARTICLES
Fact checker busts Rick Scott for claiming Garland is coming for ... ›
FBI Director Wray faces 'new scrutiny' over Kavanaugh investigation ... ›
FBI 'conspiracy' probe of Trump insurrection will 'keep building ... ›
RELATED ARTICLES AROUND THE WEB
Merrick Garland must investigate Donald Trump's attempted coup ... ›
Garland announces sweeping police probe after Floyd verdict ›
Statement of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the ... ›
---
FOIA TO DOJ OSG SEEKING ‘BURROWED’ OFFICIAL’S COMMUNICATIONS WITH RIGHT-WING GROUPS
02/02/2022
https://www.americanoversight.org/document/foia-to-doj-civil-division-seeking-burrowed-officials-communications-with-right-wing-groups
https://www.americanoversight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DOJ-CIV-22-0121.pdf
Requested Records
American Oversight requests that your office produce the following records within
twenty business days:
All email communications (including emails, email attachments, complete email
chains, calendar invitations, and calendar invitation attachments) and text
messages or messages on messaging platforms (such as Slack, GChat or Google
Hangouts, Lync, Skype, Twitter direct messages, Facebook messages,
WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or Parler) between (a) Director of the Federal
Programs Branch Alex Haas both or anyone communicating on Haas’ behalf,
such as a Chief of Staff, scheduler, or assistant, and (b) any of the external parties
listed below:
External Parties
- Any person communicating on behalf of Heritage Action, including but not
limited to Jessica Anderson, Garrett Bess, or any person communicating
from an email address ending in @heritageaction.com
- Any person communicating on behalf of the Heritage Foundation, including
but not limited to Ed Meese, Bridgett Wagner, Hans von Spakovsky, or any
person communicating from an email address ending in @heritage.org
- Kris Kobach (including, but not limited to, communications with the email
kkobach@gmail.com or kris@kriskobach.com)
- Anyone communicating on behalf of the Public Interest Legal Foundation
or the Election Law Center, including but not limited to J. (John) Christian
Adams, Maureen Riordan, or any person communicating from an email
address ending in @publicinterestlegal.org or @electionlawcenter.com
- Anyone communicating on behalf of FreedomWorks, including but not
limited to Cleta Mitchell, or any person communicating from an email
address ending in @freedomworks.org or @foley.com
- Anyone communicating on behalf of True the Vote, including but not
limited to Catherine Engelbrecht, Courtney Kramer, or any person
communicating from an email address ending in @truethevote.org
- Anyone communicating on behalf of Susan B. Anthony List, American
Principles Project, or the Election Transparency Initiative, including but not
limited to Ken Cuccinelli, or any person communicating from an email
address ending in @sba-list.org, @americanprinciplesproject.org, or
@electiontransparency.org
- Anyone communicating on behalf of the Federalist Society or the Honest
Elections Project including but not limited to Leonard Leo, Jason Snead, or
any person communicating from an email address ending in
@honestelections.org, @fed-soc.org, or @jasonsnead.com
- Anyone communicating on behalf of the State Policy Network, including but
not limited to Tracie Sharp, Kathleen O’Hearn,or any person
communicating from an email address ending in @spn.org
- Anyone communicating on behalf of the American Greatness Fund or the
Thomas Moore Society, including but not limited to Jenna Ellis, or any
person communicating from an email address ending in
@americangreatnessfund.com or @thomasmoresociety.org
- Phill Kline (phillklineva@gmail.com), Luis Cornelio
(lcornel001@citymail.cuny.edu), or anyone communicating on behalf of the
Amistad Project or the American Voter’s Alliance (@got-freedom.org)
- Anyone communicating on behalf ofALEC, including but not limited to
Michael Bowman, Bill Meierling, or any person communicating from an
email address ending in @alec.org
- James Bopp, or any person communicating from an email address ending in
@bopplaw.com
14.Will Consovoy, Michael Connally, or any person communicating from an
email address ending in @consovoymccarthy.com
- Jason Torchinsky or any person communicating from an email address
ending in @hvjt.law
- Stefan Passantino, Justin Clark, or any person communicating from an email
address ending in @michaelbest.com
- Sidney Powell, and anyone communicating on behalf of Sidney Powell, P.C.,
including anyone communicating from an email address ending in
@federalappeals.com
- Mike Lindell or anyone communicating from an email address ending in
@mypillow.com
- Kurt Olsen (kurtols@protonmail.com)
- William Olson (williamolson@lawandfreedom.com, wjo@mindspring.com)
- Patrick Byrne (including, but not limited to patrick@deepcapture.com), or
anyone communicating on behalf of the America Project, including anyone
communicating from an email address ending in @americaproject.com
- Colonel Phil Waldron (phil@onewarrior.com, JWRLLC@gmail.com, or
p@bonfiresearch.org), Russell Ramsland (ryuks9sq@alliedspecialops.us or
yrku9sqs@protonmail.com), James Keet Lewis III (keet@jkeetlewis.com), or
anyone communicating on behalf of Allied Security Operations Group
(@alliedspecialops.us)
- John Eastman (including but not limited to, from the email address
jeastman@claremont.org or jeastman@chapman.edu), or anyone
communicating on behalf of Constitutional Counsel Group (@ccg1776.com)
- Anyone communicating on behalf of theAmerica First Policy Institute,
including Brooke Rollins, Chad Wolf,or anyone communicating from an
email address ending in @americafirstpolicy.com
- Anyone communicating on behalf of America First Legal, including Stephen
Miller, Gene Hamilton, Russ Vought, or anyone communicating from an
email address ending in @aflegal.org
:{:{}:
}:
Please note that American Oversight does not seek, and that this request
specifically excludes, the initial mailing of news clips or other mass-distribution
emails. However, subsequent communications forwarding such emails are
responsive to this request. In other words, for example, if Director Haas
received a mass-distribution news clip email from a listed domain, that initial
email would not be responsive to this request. However, if Director Haas
forwarded that email to another individual with his own commentary, that
subsequent message would be responsive to this request and should be produced.
Please provide all responsive records from November 3, 2020, through the date
the search is conducted.
---
---
wiki 7 22
Gene P. Hamilton is an American lawyer and policymaker who served within the U.S. Department of Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Justice) and Department of Homeland Security (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security)\1] during the presidency of Donald J. Trump (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Donald_Trump). In these positions, he played key roles in ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Childhood_Arrivals) program, creating the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" family separation policy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy),[2][3][4] and in revoking the[Temporary Protected Status (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_protected_status) of immigrants from Sudan and South Sudan.[5]
Hamilton currently serves as the Vice President of America First Legal,\6][7] a legal action group founded by former Trump administration officials, including [Stephen Miller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_%28political_advisor%29). In this role, he has represented the state of Texas in a lawsuit aiming to reinstate Trump-era policies that bar unaccompanied migrant children from entering the United States.[8]
Education and early career
Hamilton was raised in Arizona.\2] He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia), and a J.D. from the Washington and Lee School of Law (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_and_Lee_University_School_of_Law) in 2010.\9] While attending law school, Hamilton interned at the Krome [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement) (ICE) detention facility in [Miami (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami), Florida;[2][10] upon graduation he accepted a role as an Honors Attorney at the Department of Homeland Security (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security),[11] eventually returning to ICE in its Office of Chief Counsel in Georgia.
In 2015, Hamilton left the Department to become General Counsel to then-Senator Jeff Sessions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Sessions), under whom he would later work at the Department of Justice when Sessions became the United States Attorney General (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Attorney_General).[2] In 2016, Hamilton joined the Trump transition team, ultimately leading its immigration policy efforts.
References
...
---
am over
as former top Trump administration officials search for new roles outside of government, one such political appointee — Gene Hamilton, who held prominent positions in the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice — has been involved in the creation of a new conservative group led by former White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller.
The organization, America First Legal, aims to organize Republican attorneys general to mount legal challenges to Biden administration policies. Hamilton is expected to spearhead the group’s legal efforts, which have so far included a lawsuit claiming that the American Rescue Plan Act discriminates against white ranchers and another attempting to prevent (https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/27/sid-miller-farmers-lawsuit/)President Biden from softening border restrictions.
Hamilton, often working behind the scenes, was an influential player in the Trump administration’s immigration policy. In an October 2017 deposition, later obtained by the New Yorker, Hamilton said that he had been the Trump transition team’s “lead on development of all immigration-policy issues.” After Trump’s inauguration, Hamilton went to work at the Department of Homeland Security, and in late 2017 he became (https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-official-behind-the-end-of-daca-explains-himself) an aide to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. While working for the Trump administration, Hamilton was instrumental (https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/27/politics/administration-immigration-official-joining-doj) in setting refugee caps at historic lows and in ending (https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-stephen-miller-single-handedly-got-the-us-to-accept-fewer-refugees) Temporary Protected Status (https://www.nationaltpsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DPP-471-EX-1.pdf) for people from Sudan and South Sudan in 2017. He is credited (https://www.nationaltpsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/DPP-471-EX-1.pdf) with writing the memo that ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and a recent report (https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-official-behind-the-end-of-daca-explains-himself) by the DOJ inspector general named him as a key player in the “zero tolerance” policy that resulted in separating hundreds of children from their families.
Previously, American Oversight reported on records obtained through Freedom of Information Act litigation that reveal frequent contact between Hamilton and Miller during the height of family separation. While Miller is often cited as the architect of Trump’s most severe anti-immigration policies, it’s clear that Hamilton’s role was equally crucial in enacting that agenda.
In his new role with America First Legal, Hamilton joins an extensive network of pressure groups attempting to prevent the Biden administration from rolling back the immigration policies that he helped create.
He is no stranger to this community. While he was working in the Trump administration, as American Oversight has previously reported, Hamilton maintained contact with many such anti-immigrant groups. He granted them a high level of access: agreeing to organize meetings, to share data, and to discuss policy.
One such contact was Maria Espinoza, who founded the Remembrance Project, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The group has pushed a false narrative linking immigration to crime, purporting to advocate for victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. In the last decade, Espinoza has aligned herself (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/remembrance-project) with white nationalist and nativist organizations.
:{In a March 2017 email:{, Espinoza thanked Hamilton for setting up a meeting with then-DHS Secretary John Kelly, which she called “an exciting first step in what we believe will be a great partnership.” Espinoza listed several of the “action items” that had been discussed, including information on “the “scale of illegal alien crime” and potential grants to “help fund our pro-Trump agenda.”}:
}:
Another far-right contact of Hamilton who appears in documents uncovered by American Oversight is Steven Camarota, the research director of CIS, which has also emphasized a spurious connection between immigrants and crime and has been designated as a hate group by the SPLC.
In July 2017, Camarota emailed Hamilton and asked if the administration could “delay” an announcement regarding a temporary increase in new H-2B temporary worker visas so that CIS could “put some stuff out” to argue that there was “no need” for the expansion. The government appears to have adopted the group’s desired timing (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6257038-DHS-Records-Regarding-Communications-with.html#document/p7/a586282) on the announcement, allowing CIS to publish materials (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/17/trump-officials-order-15000-new-visas-for-low-wage-workers/?utm_term=.11714f13cdc3) referencing a policy change that was coming “any day.”
In the following months, Hamilton maintained other contacts at CIS. In January 2018, he sent an email indicating that he was planning to meet with the CIS Executive Director Mark Krikorian and Art Arthur, a resident fellow. He said that they would be joined by James McHenry, who was serving as director of the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and Devin O’Malley, who was then a Justice Department spokesman.
In addition, Hamilton appears to have been acquainted with numerous employees of the conservative Heritage Foundation. In February 2019, he scheduled a meeting (https://www.heritage.org/about-heritage/mission) with James Jay Carafano, the vice president of the foundation’s Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy. The next month, Carafano invited (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6821907-DOJ-Emails-Between-Senior-Counsel-Gene-Hamilton.html#document/p223) Hamilton to have a “sit down with our team that works on immigration security issues” in order to have an “open off the record discussion.” Hamilton appears to have accepted (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6821907-DOJ-Emails-Between-Senior-Counsel-Gene-Hamilton.html#document/p233) the invitation. In April, Carafano sent (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6821907-DOJ-Emails-Between-Senior-Counsel-Gene-Hamilton.html#document/p230) Hamilton a link to an opinion piece (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6821907-DOJ-Emails-Between-Senior-Counsel-Gene-Hamilton.html#document/p241) he wrote for Fox News that claimed undocumented immigrants come with a “big sticker price” of “providing public services” and that sanctuary cities have served as “magnets for criminals.” (Each of these (https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/carafano-trump-immigration) claims (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/sanctuary-city-study-immigration-crime/2020/10/21/5810d13a-12fa-11eb-82af-864652063d61_story.html) has been contested by research.)
In August 2019, Hamilton received an email from Paul Winfree, director of Heritage’s Institute for Economic Policy, copying Norbert Michel, director of Heritage’s Center for Data Analysis. Winfree noted that Michel had “questions about data regarding visas.” Hamilton set up a meeting with Michel later that month, and he told Winfree that they should “plan on catching up soon.”
Hamilton’s relationship with the Heritage Foundation has continued. In March, he participated in a panel discussion on the “Biden border crisis” hosted by Carafano, alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Tom McClintock of California.
American Oversight also obtained records showing that Hamilton corresponded with members of the Federalist Society,a conservative organization that exercises enormous influence on the courts. In March 2019, Vice President and General Counsel Dean Reuter emailed (https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/6/3/18632438/federalist-society-leonard-leo-brett-kavanaugh) Hamilton, asking for a “chance to discuss some immigration issues.” Hamilton agreed, and they met for lunch later that month.
American Oversight continues to investigate Hamilton and his role in immigration policy. We continue to litigate for his communications with Stephen Miller, as well as for his communications with right-leaning organizations.
Part of Investigation:
Stephen Miller’s Influence on Immigration Policy — and Throughout the Administration (https://www.americanoversight.org/investigation/stephen-millers-influence-on-immigration-policy-and-throughout-the-administration)
---
---
America First Legal — About (https://www.aflegal.org/about)
Vought Russ served as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget after formerly serving as the Deputy Director and Acting Director. Gene Hamilton Gene served as Counselor to the Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice from 2017-2021—providing legal advice, counsel, and strategic guidance. Ed Corrigan
Join (https://www.aflegal.org/join)
News (https://www.aflegal.org/news)
Oversight (https://www.aflegal.org/oversight)
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Gene_Hamilton_(lawyer) (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:en.wikipedia.org)
Gene Hamilton (lawyer) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Hamilton_%28lawyer%29)
Hamilton currently serves as the Vice President of America First Legal, a legal action group founded by former Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller. In this role, he has represented the state of Texas in a lawsuit aiming to reinstate Trump-era policies that bar unaccompanied migrant children from entering the United States.
https://www.aflegal.org (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.aflegal.org)
America First Legal (https://www.aflegal.org/)
washington, d.c. - yesterday, america first legal (afl) filed a freedom of information act (foia) request seeking records from u.s. immigration and customs enforcement (ice) about its use of americans' hard-earned dollars to facilitate the distribution of smuggled and trafficked illegal aliens to all corners of the united states and, in turn, the …
https://www.americanoversight.org › former-trump-administration-official-gene-hamiltons-contacts-with-far-right-anti-immigration-groups](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.americanoversight.org)}:
Former Trump Administration Official Gene Hamilton ... - American Oversight (https://www.americanoversight.org/former-trump-administration-official-gene-hamiltons-contacts-with-far-right-anti-immigration-groups)
May 6, 2021As former top Trump administration officials search for new roles outside of government, one such political appointee — Gene Hamilton, who held prominent positions in the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice — has been involved in the creation of a new conservative group led by former White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller.. The organization, America First Legal, aims to ...
https://www.oann.com › america-first-legal-vp-gene-hamilton-on-title-42 (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.oann.com)
America First Legal VP Gene Hamilton on Title 42 (https://www.oann.com/america-first-legal-vp-gene-hamilton-on-title-42/)
Apr 28, 2022America First Legal VP Gene Hamilton on Title 42 OAN Newsroom UPDATED 7:50 AM PT - Thursday, April 28, 2022 America First Legal partnered with the state of Texas to file a lawsuit and a motion for...
https://www.sourcewatch.org › index.php?title=America_First_Legal (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.sourcewatch.org)
America First Legal - SourceWatch (https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=America_First_Legal)
America First Legal America First Legal (AFL) is a right-wing litigation center launched by Stephen Miller, senior advisor for policy and White House director of speechwriting to former President Donald Trump. AFL officially received 501 (c)3 tax-exempt status from the IRS in February 2021.
https://www.foxnews.com › politics › stephen-millers-america-first-legal-deal-significant-blow-woke-cult-year-ahead (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.foxnews.com)
Stephen Miller's America First Legal looks to deal 'significant blow ... (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stephen-millers-america-first-legal-deal-significant-blow-woke-cult-year-ahead)
Jul 5, 2022Gene Hamilton, who worked as a senior Justice Department (DOJ) lawyer in the Trump administration before joining AFL, was similarly optimistic about the battles that lie ahead. "Our organization...
https://www.aflegal.org › news › senior-trump-officials-launch-america-first-legal-foundation (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.aflegal.org)
Senior Trump Officials Launch America First Legal (https://www.aflegal.org/news/senior-trump-officials-launch-america-first-legal-foundation)
Apr 6, 2021WASHINGTON, DC - Today, top-ranking former Trump administration officials launched America First Legal (AFL), a new conservative nonprofit organization committed to upholding America First principles and combating the left's radical and lawless agenda. The organization will be headed by Stephen Miller, former Senior Advisor to President Trump.
https://spectator.org › mark-meadows-stephen-miller-america-first-legal (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:spectator.org)
The Debut of America First Legal - USA News and Politics (https://spectator.org/mark-meadows-stephen-miller-america-first-legal/)
Apr 16, 2021April 16, 2021, 12:01 AM Stephen Miller discusses America First Legal Fund on Fox News, April 8, 2021 (YouTube screenshot) P acking the Supreme Court with four leftist justices. Expanding the U.S....
https://www.bizpacreview.com › 2021 › 07 › 24 › america-first-legal-sees-early-wins-sets-their-aim-even-higher-1108145 (https://duckduckgo.com/?q=gene%20hamilton%20american%20first%20legal%20miller%20vought+site:www.bizpacreview.com)
America First Legal sees early wins, sets their aim even higher (https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/07/24/america-first-legal-sees-early-wins-sets-their-aim-even-higher-1108145/)
Jul 24, 2021— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) July 20, 2021 The stunning victory came a day after Miller himself bluntly announced at the American Conservative Union Texas conference of 2021 that "we" —...
---
https://www.americanoversight.org/?s=american+first+legal
11 pp
Displaying results from across AmericanOversight.org. For a more detailed search of government records, FOIA requests, and court filings, click here to visit our Documents Library. To search within documents please try your search on Document Cloud.
Sort By:
Newest First
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO FLORIDA SENATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING HB 1557 SENT BY LEGISLATORS TO SPECIFIC ENTITIES
05/23/2022
Public records request to Florida legislators and their aides asking for communications with homophobic groups concerning the "Don't Say Gay Bill."
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING HB 1557 SENT BY LEGISLATORS TO SPECIFIC ENTITIES
05/23/2022
Public records request to Florida legislators and their aides asking for communications with homophobic groups concerning the "Don't Say Gay Bill."
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO FLORIDA DOH FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT ANTI-GENDER AFFIRMING CARE GUIDANCE
05/10/2022
Records request to Florida Department of Health asking for communications with key terms related to anti-gender affirming care guidance and for communications with homophobic organizations.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO FLORIDA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING ANTI-GENDER AFFIRMING CARE GUIDANCE
05/10/2022
Records Request to Florida Governor's Office asking for communications with key terms related to anti-gender affirming care guidance and for communications with homophobic organizations.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
05/03/2022
Records request to the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General seeking communications with and about America First Legal
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
05/03/2022
Records request to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General seeking communications with and about America First Legal.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE TEXAS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
05/03/2022
Records request to the Texas Office of the Attorney General seeking communications with and about America First Legal
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE ARKANSAS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALFOR COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
05/03/2022
Records request to the Alaska Office of the Attorney General seeking communications with and about America First Legal.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THEMISSOURI OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING AMERICA FIRST LEGAL
05/03/2022
Records request to the Missouri Office of the Attorney General seeking communications with and about America First Legal.
Read more
News
EMAILS SHOW TRUMP ALLY PUSHING FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO AUDIT VOTING MACHINES IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION
04/12/2022
The records obtained by American Oversight show that Trump allies’ attempts to get the federal government to help them reverse election results went even broader than previously known,” reported Politico.
Read more ...
AMERICAN OVERSIGHT OBTAINS PREVIOUSLY DELETED RECORDS FROM WISCONSIN ELECTION INVESTIGATION
04/08/2022
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Vos released more than 20,000 pages of documents in response to American Oversight’s litigation for records related to the ongoing partisan election investigation.
Read more
Robin Vos in a suit and tie
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE VIRGINIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL MIYARES’ COMMUNICATIONS WITH EXTERNAL ENTITIES
04/05/2022
FOIA request to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General seeking Attorney General Jason Miyares' communications with select external entities.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE VIRGINIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL MIYARES’ CALENDARS AND STAFF COMMUNICATIONS WITH EXTERNAL ENTITIES
04/05/2022
FOIA request to the Virginia Office of the Attorney General seeking Attorney General Jason Miyares' calendars and staff communications with select external entities.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE SEEKING COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANTI-LGBTQ GROUPS
04/04/2022
Public information request to the Texas Attorney General’s office seeking external communications with specific groups anti-LGBTQ groups.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE KRAUSE SEEKING COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANTI-LGBTQ GROUPS
04/04/2022
Public information request to Texas Representative Krause Seeking Communications with Anti-LGBTQ Groups.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO THE TEXAS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SEEKING COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANTI-LGBTQ GROUPS
04/04/2022
Public information request to the Texas Governor's office seeking external communications with anti-LGBTQ groups
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO UTAH ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO PARTICIPATION IN CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE
03/23/2022
Public records request to the Utah Attorney General seeking communications related to Attorney General Reyes' participation in the Conservative Political Action Conference panel about 'the invasion' at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read more
FOIA Request
RECORDS REQUEST TO ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR RECORDS FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING PROPOSAL TO USE WAR POWERS TO ADDRESS IMMIGRATION
03/03/2022
Public records request to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and staff seeking records of communications regarding the proposal to use war powers to address immigration at the Arizona border.
Read more
FOIA Request
FOIA TO DOJ CIVIL DIVISION SEEKING ‘BURROWED’ OFFICIAL’S COMMUNICATIONS WITH RIGHT-WING GROUPS
02/02/2022
FOIA request to the Department of Justice Civil Division seeking a "burrowed" official's communications with right-wing groups.
Read more
FOIA Request
FOIA TO DOJ OSG SEEKING ‘BURROWED’ OFFICIAL’S COMMUNICATIONS WITH RIGHT-WING GROUPS
02/02/2022
FOIA request to the Office of the Solicitor General seeking a "burrowed" official's communications with right-wing groups.
Read more
---
NOTE SEVERAL li BIOS HAVE NO LAST NAME
Jacob M. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169/overlay/about-this-profile/)
3rd degree connection3rd
Attorney at America First Legal
America First Legal
George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School
Arlington, Virginia, United States Contact info (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169/overlay/contact-info/)
201 connections
About
I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of the Antonin Scalia Law School. I am passionate about criminal justice reform, constitutional law issues, and protecting civil liberties.I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of the Antonin Scalia Law School. I am passionate about criminal justice reform, constitutional law issues, and protecting civil liberties.
Activity
220 followers220 followers
Loaded 3 Comments posts
Jacob M. commented on a post • 6mo6mo (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7143652932691836928?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7143652932691836928%2C7145796659396956160%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287145796659396956160%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7143652932691836928%29)It’s not your job to force health on people. Stop trying to be everyone’s nanny. If people want to smoke, it may be a mistake, but it’s their decision not yours.
It’s not your job to force health on people. Stop trying to be everyone’s nanny. If people want to smoke, it may be a mistake, but it’s their decision not yours. (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7143652932691836928?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7143652932691836928%2C7145796659396956160%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287145796659396956160%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7143652932691836928%29)
Jacob M. commented on a post • 7mo7mo (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7139795270094983168?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7139795270094983168%2C7140031957320589312%29&replyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7139795270094983168%2C7141129831500410880%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287140031957320589312%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7139795270094983168%29&dashReplyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287141129831500410880%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7139795270094983168%29)John Bernhardt even on your grounds, the fault there would be that BB underestimated the capacity of Hamas for pure evil, and tolerated them on Israel’s borders for too long. That argues for a more militant response, and potentially a leadership shift to put even more focus on security. It doesn’t suggest complicity
John Bernhardt even on your grounds, the fault there would be that BB underestimated the capacity of Hamas for pure evil, and tolerated them on Israel’s borders for too long. That argues for a more militant response, and potentially a leadership shift to put even more focus on security. It doesn’t suggest complicity (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7139795270094983168?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7139795270094983168%2C7140031957320589312%29&replyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7139795270094983168%2C7141129831500410880%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287140031957320589312%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7139795270094983168%29&dashReplyUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287141129831500410880%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7139795270094983168%29)
Jacob M. commented on a post • 11mo11mo (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7092149798866169856?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28ugcPost%3A7092149798866169856%2C7092241073535676416%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287092241073535676416%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7092149798866169856%29)Congrats man!
Congrats man! (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7092149798866169856?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28ugcPost%3A7092149798866169856%2C7092241073535676416%29&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A%287092241073535676416%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A7092149798866169856%29)
Show all comments (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-m-7196a6169/recent-activity/comments/)
ExperienceExperience
America First LegalAmerica First Legal Full-time · 3 yrs 2 mosFull-time · 3 yrs 2 mos (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=America+First+Legal)
AttorneyAttorney Nov 2022 - Present · 1 yr 8 mosNov 2022 to Present · 1 yr 8 mos (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=America+First+Legal)
Law ClerkLaw Clerk May 2021 - Nov 2022 · 1 yr 7 mosMay 2021 to Nov 2022 · 1 yr 7 mosArlington, Virginia, United StatesArlington, Virginia, United States (https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=America+First+Legal)
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/2960/)
Law ClerkLaw Clerk
Texas Attorney General · Full-timeTexas Attorney General · Full-timeMay 2020 - Aug 2020 · 4 mosMay 2020 to Aug 2020 · 4 mosAustin, Texas, United StatesAustin, Texas, United States
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/11150441/)
Legal AssistantLegal Assistant
Convention of StatesConvention of StatesNov 2018 - May 2020 · 1 yr 7 mosNov 2018 to May 2020 · 1 yr 7 mosArlingtonArlington
Assistant to the general counselAssistant to the general counsel
[
CorporalCorporal
United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsDec 2014 - Dec 2018 · 4 yrs 1 moDec 2014 to Dec 2018 · 4 yrs 1 mo
Education
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/1222497/)
George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law SchoolGeorge Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School Juris Doctor, LawJuris Doctor, Law2019 - May 20222019 - May 2022 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/1222497/)
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/19550/)
Park UniversityPark University Bachelor of Science - BS, Social PsychologyBachelor of Science - BS, Social Psychology2017 - 20192017 - 2019 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/19550/)
Most coursework completed while on active duty in the United States Marine Corps.