Prominent Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser and strategist Lindy Li has announced her departure from the Democratic Party, referring to it as a "cult" after facing intense backlash for her criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Senate Democrats in Washington are advocating for new taxes to address a looming $16 billion budget shortfall, as revealed in a leaked email sent by Sen. Noel Frame (D-Seattle). The email, sent shortly after Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement of the shortfall, outlines additional taxes beyond those proposed by Inslee, which include a new wealth tax, a temporary 20% business surcharge, and an increase in business and occupation (B&O) tax rates.
Reports indicate that President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with House Speaker Mike Johnson following last week’s government funding debacle, leaving the future of their relationship uncertain. According to Politico's Rachael Bade, several of Trump’s insiders expressed anger over Johnson’s failure to deliver the debt ceiling hike Trump sought, making it more difficult for Republicans to pass the President’s agenda next year.
A recent survey by Economist/YouGov shows that a plurality of Americans view President Joe Biden's use of his presidential pardon powers as “inappropriate.” According to the survey, 46 percent of respondents believe Biden's pardons and commutations have been inappropriate, compared to 28 percent who find them appropriate. Around 26 percent of those surveyed remain undecided.
Nora Vargas, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, made a surprising announcement on Friday, stating she would not serve a second term due to concerns for her "personal safety and security." Despite winning re-election in November with 62.5% of the vote, Vargas announced via email:
Ana Kasparian, co-host of The Young Turks, strongly objected to a suggestion by her colleague Cenk Uygur that Vice President Kamala Harris could easily become the next governor of California.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Friday voted to dismiss the remaining protests in the closely contested race between Republican Jefferson Griffin and Democrat Allison Riggs. With 292 ballots in question and a margin of just 734 votes between the candidates, the board's decision moves the process forward but did not issue a certificate of election immediately.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing mounting pressure within his own party as he struggles to navigate a looming government shutdown. His recent attempt to push through a deal with Democrats failed to garner enough support, leaving many Republicans frustrated with his leadership.