Author: Jo Walker

In response to Donald Trump this week endorsing Rick Scott and receiving an endorsement from Kevin Hern, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump is teaming up with MAGA extremists Kevin Hern and Rick Scott,  two of the biggest champions of cutting Social Security and Medicare in Congress, and their support for Trump is no accident — Trump proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs every single year he was in office and promised to pursue cuts to these programs again if he gets another chance. Trump and MAGA Republicans’ continued efforts to rip away Social Security and Medicare from hardworking Americans is deeply unpopular and dangerous, and voters will continue to reject MAGA Republicans’ ploy at the ballot box next November.”

This week, Donald Trump received an endorsement from Kevin Hern and endorsed Rick Scott — two of his MAGA allies who are hellbent on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them.

Mica Soellner, Punchbowl News: “RSC Chair Kevin Hern endorses Trump after last night’s debate”

Florida Politics: “Donald Trump endorses Rick Scott for re-election”

Trump owns his record of proposing cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs in EVERY SINGLE ONE of his budgets. 

Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”

As president, Trump even admitted that he would pursue cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs if he were to have a second term in office. 

Mediaite on Trump’s March 2020 Remarks: “During a Fox News town hall, President Donald Trump promised to cut entitlements like Medicare and Social Security if were to win a second term. … ‘But if you don’t cut something in entitlements, you will never really deal with the debt,’ town hall co-moderator Martha MacCallum interjected, alluding to social safety programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ‘Oh, we’ll be cutting,’ Trump rushed to confirm.”

New York Times: “Trump Opens Door to Cuts to Medicare and Other Entitlement Programs”

National Review: “Speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked whether he would cut entitlements at some point. ‘Will entitlements ever be on your plate?’ asked interviewer Joe Kernen. ‘At some point they will be,’ Trump responded. ‘At the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s the easiest of all things [to cut].’”

Trump has a yearslong record of coming after these programs — he made calls to privatize Social Security and even praised Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan as they pushed plans to end Medicare as we know it.

CNN: “Former President Donald Trump once backed raising the retirement age to 70 and called for privatizing Social Security which he called a ‘Ponzi scheme’ – two positions he has hammered Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for supporting as a former member of Congress and congressional candidate. … but a CNN KFile review found Trump himself also once praised Ryan on Medicare, along with the 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, without praising their specific policy proposal, which called for similar changes to Ryan’s plan.”

Hern is the chair of the ultra-conservative Republican Study Committee, which has pushed extreme proposals to slash Social Security and Medicare. 

Semafor: “These days, the RSC is best known around Washington as a GOP policy shop responsible for crafting proposals to balance the federal budget, often through changes and cuts to Social Security and Medicare.” 

Semafor: “A new budget proposal from the largest House GOP faction is reigniting a battle over the future of Social Security and Medicare.”

“For Medicare, it would begin offering seniors assistance to help buy private health coverage that competes against government insurance plans; it would also gradually raise the Social Security eligibility age to 69 for those who aren’t close to retiring.”

UpNorth News: “With the release of the Republican Study Committee’s budget, Republicans have ramped back up their attacks on [Medicare and Social Security]. 

“The proposed budget would make cuts to Social Security by raising the retirement age, though it does not specifically say what that new retirement age would be. Benefits would also be reduced for those who earned a ‘higher salary’ before retirement, but the budget again does not specify what that threshold would be. The budget also assures that there would only be ‘modest adjustments’ to Social Security as it operates now, but again, does not outline exactly what that means.”

Scott is hellbent on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them – and is unapologetic in his plans to rip away essential benefits America’s seniors rely on. 

Scott: “In my plan, I suggested the following: All federal legislation sunsets in 5 yrs. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again.”

Scott, in response to backlash for his Rescue America Plan: “I’d like to apologize to absolutely nobody.”

And let’s not forget that newly-elected speaker MAGA Mike Johnson – who endorsed Trump last month – is a member and former chair of the RSC and has supported cuts to Social Security and Medicare. 

“The Conservative Playbook” by the RSC, led by Chairman Mike Johnson in the 116th Congress: “With our entitlement programs facing dire financial futures and more Americans receiving welfare benefits than ever before, we cannot afford to waste money simply because the federal bureaucracy writes checks to the wrong people or for the wrong amount.” 

Johnson: “We have to get back to [entitlement reform] as the number one priority.”

MAGA Republicans’ plan to gut Social Security and Medicare is deeply unpopular with Americans. 

Fox News: “Fox News Poll: 71% choose funding Social Security, Medicare over budget cuts”

AP: “Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC poll”

Axios: “Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say they oppose reducing spending on Social Security or Medicare, according to new polling from our Axios-Ipsos Two Americas Index.”

The post Trump Teams Up With MAGA Republicans Who Want To Gut Social Security and Medicare appeared first on Democrats.

As Hanukkah commences, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Interfaith Council Co-Chairs Sarah Levin, Cindy Bass, Nadia Ahmad, and Johnnie Roebuck released the following statement:

“Every year, Jewish people around the world gather to honor the miracle of Hanukkah: the story of a small amount of oil burning for eight days when it should have lasted only one – a symbol of the enduring power of hope and perseverance that the Jewish people carry with them to this day.

“As Jewish families come together to celebrate this joyous holiday, we also recognize that this year’s Hanukkah comes after the deadliest day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust and amidst a tragic rise in antisemitism. We also remember that at its core, the story of Hanukkah is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jewish people – and a reminder that light will always prevail, even in the darkest of days. 

“We wish a very happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate, and may it bring you happiness and joy as you spend time with your family. Chag Chanukah Sameach!”

The post DNC Statement on Hanukkah appeared first on Democrats.

On the eight-year anniversary of Donald Trump calling for an extreme Muslim travel ban, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“Eight years ago today, Donald Trump called for a Muslim travel ban on the campaign trail – and at his first opportunity, he made his Islamophobic, unconstitutional, and racist vision a reality. When Trump tells you who he is and what he plans to do if he regains power – including his aspirations to be a ‘dictator on day one’ – we should believe him, because he’s followed through on extreme threats before. Trump has been clear that if he’s elected again, he will enact an even more extreme Muslim ban in a second term. Trump might have been the first of the 2024 candidates to push this radical, anti-American proposal, but other members of the field are falling in line to do the same. The stakes of the upcoming election couldn’t be higher – voters rejected this hateful, divisive agenda in 2020, and they’ll do it again next November.”

Eight years ago, Donald Trump first called for a Muslim travel ban — a cruel policy proposal he saw through when he took power. 

NBC News, December 2015: “Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on Monday called for a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,’ the most dramatic response yet to the string of terrorist attacks that have Americans increasingly on edge.”

Trump not only called for but also acted on his extreme Muslim ban as soon as he assumed power – which caused chaos and confusion across the country.

NPR: “President Trump has issued an executive order temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The move, which has raised a series of legal questions, sparked protests around the country as people who had previously been approved to come to the United States were being detained at airports.”

CNN: “The result was widespread confusion across the country on Saturday as airports struggled to adjust to the new directives.”

In 2023, Donald Trump has only doubled down on his hate-filled, extreme MAGA agenda, promising to not only revive but expand his Muslim travel ban if he retakes power. 

The Guardian: “Doubling down on the hardline immigration policies that have long animated his base, Donald Trump on Monday vowed to bar refugees from Gaza and immediately expand his first-term Muslim travel ban if he wins a second term following the deadly attack on Israel last week.”

Trump has a long history of peddling Islamophobia, from his egregious comments to his inhumane policy proposals. 

The Independent: “Donald Trump tweeted a link to Breitbart, ​a far-right website that peddles xenophobia and extremist ideologies, as a terrorist conducted a brutal massacre in New Zealand after releasing a manifesto that celebrated the US president as ‘a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.’

“The tragedy, in which two mosques were seemingly the target of a terrorist attack spearheaded by an Australian 28-year-old white male, occurred on Friday in Christchurch, New Zealand — the same day Breitbart featured an interview with Mr Trump on its homepage.”

New York Times: “Donald J. Trump belittled the parents of a slain Muslim soldier who had strongly denounced Mr. Trump during the Democratic National Convention, saying that the soldier’s father had delivered the entire speech because his mother was not ‘allowed’ to speak.”

CNN: “Trump’s history of anti-Muslim rhetoric hits dangerous new low”

“On Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump retweeted a series of anti-Muslim propaganda videos shared online by a high-ranking official in the ultra-nationalist UK political group Britain First.”

Beyond Trump, extreme MAGA Republicans running for president have shameful histories of spewing Islamophobia and supporting a Muslim ban. 

Politico: “President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, defended the administration’s new travel ban in an interview that aired Thursday, asserting that ‘it’s not a Muslim ban.’”

NBC News: “Before Trump, a low-profile congressman named Ron DeSantis sought a ‘Muslim travel ban’”

“In 2017, President Donald Trump triggered national outrage for implementing a so-called Muslim travel ban, blocking U.S. admissions for travelers from predominantly Muslim countries.” 

“But even before Trump suggested such a ban, a low-profile congressman named Ron DeSantis quietly introduced what amounted to an early version of that travel order. … which would have blocked entry of refugees from certain countries ‘if the alien is a national of, has habitually resided in, or is claiming refugee status due to events in any country containing terrorist-controlled territory.’” 

DeSantis, echoing Trump’s Muslim ban rhetoric: “Bringing people in, in mass numbers, you’re also bringing in the culture that they’re coming from.” 

NBC News: “And even though he talked about the scourge of antisemitism throughout the day, Ramaswamy refused to directly answer a question about whether Islamophobia is also a significant problem in the country.” 

“‘I don’t want to see anyone face danger for their faith or for their ethnicity,’ he said, before he turned to his message about freedom of speech.”

The post Eight Years After He Called for a Muslim Ban, Trump and 2024 GOP Continue To Peddle Islamophobia appeared first on Democrats.

Following the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement today of new actions to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement:

“As Donald Trump and the rest of the MAGA 2024 presidential field continue to wage an all-out war on our health care, President Biden and Vice President Harris are focused on helping families across the country bring home the lifesaving medications they need, at a lower cost. While MAGA Republicans peddle a deeply unpopular agenda to jack up prices on working families and put more profit in the pockets of big insurance and drug companies, the Biden-Harris administration is fighting tirelessly to ensure Americans have access to the health care they deserve.”

Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced new actions to bring down prescription drug costs for American families – building on previous steps the administration has taken to cap insulin costs, lower the cost of health insurance, and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. 

The Hill: “White House National Economic Director Lael Brainard said ‘We’ll make clear that when drug companies won’t sell taxpayer funded drugs at reasonable prices, we will be prepared to allow other companies to provide those drugs for less.’”

Politico: “The White House believes it can seize the patents of certain expensive drugs in an effort to create more competition and lower prices and will today give guidance to federal agencies, POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn reports. Price and availability will be among the factors in the forthcoming framework that the Commerce Department will recommend agencies consider.”

This comes after the Trump administration tried to restrict the federal government’s power to seize patents of expensive drugs – once again protecting Big Pharma’s profits at the expense of Americans. 

Stat News: “In a little-noticed move, a [Trump] Commerce Department unit has proposed a new rule that would prevent the federal government from using a controversial legal provision known as ‘march-in rights’ to combat the high prices of products developed with taxpayer dollars. And if adopted, the change may rob Americans of a tool that could be used to lower prescription drug costs, according to consumer advocates.”

2024 Republicans have railed against and even threatened to repeal President Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering prescription drug costs for families across the country. 

Insider: “Former President Donald Trump on Friday slammed the Democratic-led climate, health, and tax bill, arguing that Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was ‘taken for a ride’ by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.”

DeSantis: “You know, the good thing is I think there’s a pretty clear path to being able to reverse a lot of this stuff. The things he’s doing through executive order, you could reverse right away. But even what they did with the Inflation Reduction Act, they passed that via budget reconciliation in the Senate. So with 50 votes, I think, you know, we win the presidency, I’m pretty sure we would win the Senate and keep the House. And so at that case, what they put in by reconciliation, you could repeal by reconciliation.”

Haley: “[The Inflation Reduction Act] ‘is a communist manifesto.’”

Christie: “The Inflation Reduction Act was a mistake.”

The Biden administration also announced new actions to address anticompetitive practices and corporate greed in health care, too often leading to higher costs, worse quality, and less access to care—particularly in rural areas.

CNN: “The Biden administration also unveiled several efforts aimed at countering anticompetitive practices by big health care companies. Some are aimed at private equity firms, which have been buying up physician practices, nursing homes and other health care providers. Officials are concerned that corporate owners are ‘maximizing their profits at the expense of patients’ health and safety, while increasing costs for patients and taxpayers alike,’ according to the administration’s fact sheet. The Justice Department, along with HHS and the Federal Trade Commission, will seek input on how the growing involvement of private equity and other corporations in health care is affecting Americans. The agencies will use the information to identify areas for future regulation and enforcement prioritization and will work together on various competition policy initiatives.”

Meanwhile, every Republican presidential hopeful has called for repealing the Affordable Care Act, a move that would strip away health coverage and increase health care costs for millions of hardworking Americans. 

Daily Beast: “Trump Revives Plan to Dismantle Obamacare if Elected in 2024”

Jack Heath: “They’re going ahead and saying you would repeal the Affordable Care Act, would you?”

Haley: “It’s not about one small policy of, you know, Affordable Care Act. It’s about fixing the entire health care system.”

MSNBC: “Ron DeSantis joins the Republican campaign to tear down the ACA”

Christie: “It’s about delivering on issues that voters care about. So the fact is that they care deeply about Obamacare. And Donald Trump promised them he’d repeal and replace it. He had a Republican Congress. He didn’t do it.”

Ramaswamy: “I think Obamacare has been a disaster.”

MAGA Republicans in Congress blocked a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that would cap the price of insulin at $35/month for private insurers – and they remain hellbent on repealing these historic investments that are lowering costs for working families. 

CBS News: “Senate Republicans on Sunday blocked a $35 monthly cap on the cost of insulin in the private market from being included in Democrats’ economic tax and spending package, voting down an amendment to the measure during a marathon session leading up to what Democrats hope will be final passage of the bill.”

The Hill: “Senate Republicans on Friday introduced a bill that would roll back the drug pricing reforms included in the sweeping Inflation Reduction Act, including the measures allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and capping annual drug expenses for many seniors.”

“The bill allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in the program’s history. It also placed a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on annual drug costs for seniors on Medicare, as well as a $35 monthly cop for insulin. … If passed, the bill states it would make it so that the drug pricing measures in the Inflation Reduction Act ‘had never been enacted.’”

Axios: “Some key House Republicans are calling for the repeal of Democrats’ newly-passed drug pricing measure if the GOP flips control of one or both chambers of Congress next year. Why it matters: The comments show Republicans are not giving up the fight against sweeping measures aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, and give a glimpse of what their health agenda could look like.”

The post As Biden-Harris Administration Fights to Lower Health Care and Prescription Drug Costs, MAGA Republicans Side With Big Pharma  appeared first on Democrats.

Following Vice President Harris’s meeting with university and college presidents on access to contraception, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“While Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and other MAGA Republicans are tripling down on their support for ripping away health care coverage from millions of Americans and undermine reproductive rights, President Biden and Vice President Harris are fighting back against MAGA Republicans’ crusade against allowing women to make their own decisions about if and when they have a family. From backing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees women access to contraception coverage at no cost, to supporting extreme abortion bans, the 2024 Republican field is coming after women’s freedoms — it’s been a losing issue for Republicans and will continue to be one next year.” 

Yesterday, Vice President Harris attended a meeting with university and college presidents on access to contraception — which comes after President Biden signed an executive order on strengthening contraception access.

The White House: “Today, Vice President Kamala Harris met with officials from 68 colleges and universities in 32 states to discuss ongoing efforts to protect access to contraception for college students. … University leaders spoke about strides they are making in protecting and expanding access to contraception for their students and shared strategies that have been successful in improving access on campus. … Today’s convening also follows a series of meetings about reproductive rights that Vice President Harris has held with students and young leaders in every part of the nation.”

White House Fact Sheet: “President Biden Issues Executive Order on Strengthening Access to Contraception”

“Today, President Biden will issue an Executive Order on Strengthening Access to Affordable, High-Quality Contraception and Family Planning Services. This will be the third Executive Order on reproductive health care access that the President has signed since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and the first focused specifically on protecting and expanding access to contraception.”

Every 2024 Republican has suggested they would try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a move that would raise costs and jeopardize access to contraception coverage.

Daily Beast: “Trump Revives Plan to Dismantle Obamacare if Elected in 2024”

Jack Heath: “…They’re going ahead and saying you would repeal the Affordable Care Act, would you?”

Haley: “…It’s not about one small policy of, you know, Affordable Care Act. It’s about fixing the entire health care system.”

MSNBC: “Ron DeSantis joins the Republican campaign to tear down the ACA”

Christie: “It’s about delivering on issues that voters care about. So the fact is that they care deeply about Obamacare. And Donald Trump promised them he’d repeal and replace it. He had a Republican Congress. He didn’t do it.”

Ramaswamy: “I think Obamacare has been a disaster.”

The Affordable Care Act ensures all women have contraception coverage at no cost, and repealing this landmark legislation would affect birth control access and affordability for millions.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund: “In the days before Obamacare became law, many people had to pay out-of-pocket for basic preventive health care like breast cancer screenings, Pap tests, and birth control — costing them hundreds of dollars a year or more. In fact, before the ACA’s birth control benefit went into effect, contraception accounted for 30% to 44% of women’s out-of-pocket health care costs. Because of all this, much-needed preventive, reproductive health care was out of reach for far too many people. The ACA helped change that.

“One of the most immediate changes for reproductive health was the ACA’s birth control benefit, which ensured that nearly 63 million women now have birth control without a copay, and helped women save an estimated $1.4 billion on the pill in the ACA’s first year alone. Today, millions of women, families, and young people are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act — and millions more will benefit as the law continues to be implemented.”

Trump weakened the ACA’s contraception mandate as president, and his allies are drafting a plan to undermine it even further if he returns to power.

CNN: “Trump administration weakens Obamacare birth control coverage mandate”

New York Times: “Trump Administration Set to Roll Back Birth Control Mandate”

“In the new rules, the Trump administration says the Affordable Care Act does not explicitly require coverage of contraceptives. The administration lists health risks that it says may be associated with the use of certain contraceptives.”

Project 2025 policy agenda: “Restore Trump religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate (also a CMS rule). HHS should rescind, if finalized, the regulation titled ‘Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act,’ proposed jointly by HHS, Treasury, and Labor. This rule proposes to amend Trump-era final rules regarding religious and moral exemptions and accommodations for coverage of certain preventive services under the ACA.”

Project 2025 policy agenda: “Eliminate the week-after-pill from the contraceptive mandate as a potential abortifacient. One of the emergency contraceptives covered under the HRSA preventive services guidelines is Ella (ulipristal acetate). Like its close cousin, the abortion pill mifepristone, Ella is a progesterone blocker and can prevent a recently fertilized embryo from implanting in a woman’s uterus. HRSA should eliminate this potential abortifacient from the contraceptive mandate.”

DeSantis has used his gubernatorial power to block access to birth control for low-income Floridians.

Tampa Bay Times: “Amid abortion battle, DeSantis vetoes birth-control funding — again”

“When Gov. Ron DeSantis slashed $3 billion from the state’s budget Thursday, one ill-fated item sounded familiar: Just as he did last year, DeSantis vetoed $2 million meant to help low-income people access long-acting birth control.”

WTSP: “Among the many line items vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was $2 million for a birth control program aimed at helping low-income women. The Hormonal Long-acting Reversible Contraception (HLARC) Program was struck from the state budget. The program would have been used to provide contraceptive care to women and girls from low-income areas across Florida. According to Planned Parenthood, an example of an HLARC would include contraceptives such as an IUC or implant. ‘LARCs are the most effective forms of reversible birth control. They’re safe and effective for most women and teens, and can be removed at any time at a health center if you’re ready to get pregnant,’ according to its website.”

Haley praised efforts to weaken and eliminate the ACA’s contraception mandate and suggested that women do not care about access to contraception.

Haley: “Women don’t care about contraception.”

Politico: “South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley had a tense appearance on ABC’s ‘The View’ Tuesday that peaked when she suggested that women don’t care about the politics of contraception and blamed the media for spotlighting the issue. ‘All of my policy is not based on a label,’ she said when ‘View’ co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck asked how the governor carries the torch for conservative Republican women.”

Post and Courier: “Gov. Nikki Haley praises U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial birth control decision”

“South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley praised this week’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that said a family-owned company does not have to offer birth control to its employees. Haley, a Republican running for re-election and the Palmetto State’s first female governor, said the court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case is one in a string of recent decisions that shows that Obama administration initiatives can’t be shoved down people’s throats … ‘This was a family-owned business,’ Haley said of Hobby Lobby. ‘They have the right to decide what they want to offer. This is what this country is all about.’”

The post As Biden-Harris Administration Safeguards Access to Contraception, Trump and 2024 Republicans Attack Women’s Freedoms appeared first on Democrats.

Key Point: “In her recent book, With All Due Respect, though, Haley embellishes the truth about her days at the UN. She hails the supposedly tough stances she took there in service of Trump’s erratic foreign policy as tremendous diplomatic achievements. 

Yet two supposed wins she highlights were hollow and produced little in real-world results that bolstered the security of the United States. They arguably made the world less safe.”

Mother Jones: Nikki Haley Touts an Embellished Account of Her UN “Triumphs”

By: David Corn

• When the super PAC supporting Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign released its first ad touting the former Republican South Carolina governor, the spot led with her service as United Nations ambassador during the Trump administration. Opening with a shot of Haley at the UN, the 30-second ad declared, “Nikki Haley fought America’s enemies at the UN and won.” In her recent book, With All Due Respect, though, Haley embellishes the truth about her days at the UN. She hails the supposedly tough stances she took there in service of Trump’s erratic foreign policy as tremendous diplomatic achievements. Yet two supposed wins she highlights were hollow and produced little in real-world results that bolstered the security of the United States. They arguably made the world less safe.

• The UN sanctions she helped enact were hardly the first penalties levied on the North Korean regime for its development of nuclear weapons. 

• The sanctions Haley had helped engineer were not working. Her third round of sanctions approved by the UN in December also did not change Kim’s tune. 

• But she claims that when she finished at the UN, due to the sanctions she engineered and other measures implemented by the United States, the North Korea situation was “in a better place in 2019 than…in 2016 and 2017.” 

• Despite the UN sanctions, North Korea continued to conduct test launches of ballistic missiles and develop more weapons and nuclear material. Thanks to Trump’s meetings with Kim, this tyrant became less isolated and was granted more latitude within the global community. The nuclear threat posed by North Korea was not less; it was likely greater.

• In her book, Haley points to Iran’s aggression—such as the seizing of international ships in the Strait of Hormuz—to justify Trump’s decision “to withdraw from what was a terrible deal.” She cites ending the supposed appeasement of Iran as one of the accomplishments of the Trump administration that occurred during her time at the UN. Yet none of this slowed Iran’s nuclear program.

• Not surprisingly, the “better deal” Trump promised never materialized. (Haley neglects to mention this.) And nonproliferation experts say that in the years following Trump’s withdrawal—and his imposition of new sanctions on Tehran—Iran moved closer to a nuclear weapon. Even in her book, Haley acknowledges that “the Iranian regime has begun enriching uranium beyond the level permitted in the agreement.” So what was the big win for Haley here? Her actions at the UN did nothing to restrain Iran.

• Haley and her campaign crow that at the UN she battled America’s foes and prevailed. But her account of her heroic exploits at the international body are overblown. More important, her actions did not address the nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran that imperil the United States and its allies. Her book demonstrates she can talk tough; it also shows she has a tough time sticking to the truth. 

The post ICYMI: Mother Jones: Nikki Haley Touts an Embellished Account of Her UN “Triumphs” appeared first on Democrats.

In case you missed it, MAGA Republicans are openly admitting their impeachment sham is entirely motivated by politics and designed to help Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. House Republican Troy Nehls said he is pushing for impeachment to give Trump “ammo” in 2024, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said any Republican who votes against the impeachment sham will face a primary challenger.

USA Today: Are House Republicans getting closer to impeaching Joe Biden? GOP leaders eye significant escalation

By: Ken Tran

• Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., chair of the pragmatic Main Street Caucus, told USA TODAY Friday there is still “a large gathering of members that are concerned about an inquiry vote.”
• “Lots of members want to make sure that it is actually legally constitutional and that we’re not prejudging facts,” Dusty Johnson said, adding there is a concern from members that the inquiry could appear as if the GOP was being “motivated by politics.”
• For what it’s worth, Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, one of Trump’s most vocal supporters in the House, has not shied away from pushing for Biden’s impeachment in part to play politics.
• If Trump, who has been impeached twice, is the 2024 Republican nominee, Nehls said he wants to give Trump “a little bit of ammo to fire back” and say Biden has also been impeached.

The Messenger: Gingrich Warns that GOP Votes Against Impeachment Will ‘Guarantee’ Primary Challenges

By: Alec Dent

• Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Monday suggested moderate Republicans may go along with a new attempt to launch a presidential impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden because they could face primary threats if they don’t.
• “If you’re a Republican, do you really want to guarantee a primary opponent by voting against looking into [Biden]?” Gingrich said while appearing on Fox and Friends. “This doesn’t impeach him. This simply gives Congress additional power to force the White House to reveal documents and force people to come testify.”
• House investigators have not yet revealed evidence suggesting a connection.

The post ICYMI: House Republicans Admit Baseless Impeachment About Giving Trump “Ammo” appeared first on Democrats.

In response to Senator Tommy Tuberville beginning to retreat from his shameful monthslong military blockade, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“More than nine months into his military blockade that is disrespecting America’s servicemembers, threatening our national security, and undermining military preparedness, Tommy Tuberville said he has ‘no regrets’ as he began to retreat from his shameful political stunt that put anti-abortion extremism ahead of our troops. Let’s be clear: Tuberville’s blockade isn’t over, and it has been made possible with the unwavering support of Donald Trump. The level of disrespect Trump and Tuberville continue to show our military and our allies in the name of anti-abortion extremism is unforgivable, and voters won’t soon forget.” 

After months of blocking hundreds of key military promotions and nominations all in the name of anti-abortion extremism, Tommy Tuberville has partially let up in his crusade against our military readiness and said that he has “no regrets about any of this.”

Politico: “Tommy Tuberville announced Tuesday he’s dropping most of his months-long holds on military officer nominations in the Senate, backing down from his vow to block them until the Pentagon changes an internal abortion policy. The Alabama Republican plans to continue his holds on 12 four-star general nominees, he told reporters, but will release the rest effective immediately.”

Andrew Desidero, Punchbowl News: “TUBERVILLE concedes he lost & got nothing in return: “We didn’t get the win that we wanted. We’ve still got the bad [abortion] policy. We tried to stand up for the taxpayers…”

But Tuberville tells me he has no regrets about any of this”

Politico: “Military leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have blasted Tuberville, saying that the hold harms national security and military readiness.”

Tuberville received unwavering support in his extreme blockade from Donald Trump and other 2024 MAGA Republicans.

AL.com: “Former President Donald Trump praised Tuberville over the votes on Truth Social: ‘BIG WIN FOR TOMMY. Unlike McConnell and his group of automatic Democrat YES VOTES, Tommy T is willing to take on the Radical Left Fascists & Thugs that are destroying our Country. What a difference!’”

Politico: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backed Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s months-long blockade on military nominations on Thursday, saying that the Pentagon’s abortion policy would ‘go out the window’ if he wins the presidency.””

HuffPost: “GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley took aim at the Defense Department for beginning a policy at the center of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) hold on 300-plus military promotions in the Senate.”

Washington Examiner: “Vivek Ramaswamy becomes latest GOP presidential candidate to back Tuberville military hold”

DeSantis and Ramaswamy last month doubled down on their defense of Tuberville.

Florida Politics: “Ron DeSantis backs Tommy Tuberville in ongoing skirmish with Senate”

Mika Brzezinski: “Do you think that Senator Tuberville should lift the blockade that he’s put on military promotions?”

DeSantis: “No.”

Ramaswamy: “On a broader set of grounds, it’s justified, where we have people put in charge of our military in positions of authority that are fundamentally ill-equipped to lead this nation forward.”

Despite releasing his hold on hundreds of stalled military appointments, Tuberville continues to block the confirmation of a number of four-star generals. 

ABC News: “The Alabama lawmaker told reporters he will lift his hold on all positions except for four-star generals, clearing the way for hundreds of stalled military appointments to be confirmed en bloc as soon as later Tuesday. ‘I’m releasing everybody — I’ve still got a hold on, I think, 11 four-star generals. Everybody else is completely released from me,’ Tuberville said. ‘Other than that, it’s over.’” 

Pentagon officials last month slammed Tuberville for his blockade in the wake of a top Marine’s hospitalization.

Politico: “‘This is outrageous’: Pentagon officials furious over Tuberville holds after top Marine hospitalized”

“Pentagon officials have been frustrated for months over an Alabama senator’s blockade of more than 300 senior military nominations. But after the Marine Corps chief was hospitalized over the weekend, that frustration is turning into rage.”

Senior DOD official: “This is outrageous. … I cannot help but think … that Tuberville’s unnecessary stress that he’s put on the situation where you don’t have a backup … has added a level of complexity and danger to an already bad situation.”

Politico: “25 officers have had their retirements deferred due to the hold, including five who have had to do it twice.”

The post BREAKING: Tommy Tuberville Has “No Regrets” After Partially Retreating in Monthslong Military Blockade appeared first on Democrats.

DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“If you think Nikki Haley is a moderate, then you haven’t been paying attention — but voters know better. Haley doesn’t want to ‘reform’ Social Security, she wants to gut it. While Haley campaigns on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them, threatening the health and financial security of America’s seniors, voters are watching — they’ve rejected this extreme, MAGAnomics agenda before and they’ll do so again next November.”

Nikki Haley continues to campaign on ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them — ripping away essential programs America’s seniors rely on. 

CNN: “Haley has called for several changes to the nation’s safety net programs, including increasing the age at which today’s younger workers would become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits and limiting the growth of benefits the wealthy receive.”

“Nearly 67 million Americans have received monthly Social Security benefits this year, and more than 66 million people are enrolled in Medicare. Polling shows little support for major changes to the programs themselves to help shore up their finances.

“A March CNN/SSRS poll of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, for instance, found that 59% said it was ‘essential’ that the GOP nominee for president ‘pledges to maintain Social Security and Medicare as they are.’”

Jen Psaki, MSNBC: “[Haley] wants to raise the retirement age for young people in particular, at a time when life expectancy in this country is dropping. … It’s also important to dig into what she says she would actually do as president. You might find it isn’t so moderate after all.”

Haley has a consistent, extreme record of pushing devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Andrew Ross Sorkin: “Are you on board with cutting entitlements in a big and meaningful way?”

Haley: “Social security goes bankrupt in 10 years, Medicare goes bankrupt in eight. Anyone that says they’re not going to take on entitlement reform means they’re going to go in and be president and leave the country bankrupt. You can’t do that.”

Associated Press: “Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is proposing changes to entitlement programs for younger generations, opening the door to potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare if elected.”

Washington Post: “Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U. N. ambassador who is planning to announce her own presidential bid this month, also praised Ryan’s Medicare proposal at the time and said lawmakers should examine Medicare and Social Security spending to address federal debt.

“‘What they need to be doing is looking at entitlements,’ Haley said in a 2010 interview on Fox News. ‘Look at Social Security. Look at Medicaid. Look at Medicare. Look at these things, and let’s actually go to the heart of what is causing government to grow, and tackle that.’”

Haley: “Any candidate that says they’re not going to touch entitlements, means that they’re basically going to go into office and leave America bankrupt. … We change retirement age to reflect life expectancy.”

Semafor: “As governor of South Carolina at the time, Nikki Haley praised the [Paul Ryan] fiscal blueprint for ‘trying to bring common sense to this world of insanity.’”

Haley has repeatedly called for repealing the Affordable Care Act — which would rip away health care coverage from millions of Americans — and has also railed against Medicaid expansion.

Jack Heath: “They’re going ahead and saying you would repeal the Affordable Care Act. Would you?”

Haley: “It’s not about one small policy of, you know, Affordable Care Act. It’s about fixing the entire health care system.”

Haley: “We have fought Obamacare in South Carolina as much as we possibly could. We said no to the state exchanges. We said no to the Medicaid expansion. … They just turned and set every state back with this bill that we know did not work.”

Haley: “When it came to Obamacare, we didn’t just say ‘no,’ we said ‘never.’ … And we’re going to keep on fighting until we get people like [Senator Tim Scott] and everybody else in Congress to defund Obamacare.”

Haley: “We would end a disastrous health care program, and replace it with reforms that lowered costs and actually let you keep your doctor.”

NBC News: “Haley opposed efforts to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (South Carolina remains just one of 11 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid to allow more Americans to have health insurance).”

Haley: ‘They’re trying to throw Obamacare and tell us that we have to bust our budgets and expand Medicaid. … Not in South Carolina. As long as I am the governor of South Carolina, we will not expand Medicaid on President Obama’s watch. We will not expand Medicaid ever.”

Haley backs a national abortion ban and recently pledged her support for extreme abortion bans before many women know they’re pregnant.

New York Times: “Nikki Haley Says She Would Have Signed Six-Week Abortion Ban as Governor”

Bob Vander Plaats: “If you were governor of South Carolina and that came to your desk, would you sign the heartbeat bill?”

Haley: “Yes.”

Politico: “Haley, who ‘often clashed with members of her party because she labeled them insufficiently conservative’ on abortion,

• ‘co-sponsored legislation in 2009 mandating a 24-hour waiting period between a woman’s abortion consultation and the procedure itself’
• ‘voted to end abortion coverage for victims of rape and incest in the state health plan for employees’
• ‘signed the most conservative abortion bill South Carolina Republicans were able to pass through both chambers at the time,’ and the law did not include exceptions for rape and incest.”

Kirsten Welker: “Would you support a 15-week federal limit?”

Haley: “I would support anything that would pass.”

Haley: “Whatever we can get 60 Senate votes on, isn’t that better than what we have now? And if it’s– if it’s six weeks, that’s great. If it’s 15 weeks, that’s great.” 

Fox News: “Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican candidate, vows to sign federal abortion ban if elected president”

Haley: “Yes of course I would sign [a federal ban].”

Haley spent last year campaigning with election deniers after saying she wasn’t supporting candidates who supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and she made notorious election denier Don Bolduc her New Hampshire campaign chair.

Haley in October 2022: “Everybody that I’m helping acknowledges the fact that the elections, you know, were real.”

Washington Post: “[Haley] has endorsed and campaigned with a slate of Senate candidates who reject or question the 2020 election results as she positions herself as a potential 2024 presidential candidate. Haley appeared at a rally Tuesday with Don Bolduc of New Hampshire, who insisted Trump won the election and that President Biden was illegitimate … She also campaigned with Adam Laxalt of Nevada, who led the Trump campaign’s efforts to overturn the results in that state. And she endorsed Ted Budd of North Carolina, who as a congressman voted against certifying the electoral college results on Jan. 6, 2021.”

Deseret News: “Nikki Haley adds controversial former U.S. Senate candidate to campaign team”

“Don Bolduc, a retired Army general and former U.S. Senate candidate, is the new chair for Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s New Hampshire campaign, the Haley campaign announced Tuesday morning. Bolduc made national headlines during his 2022 Senate campaign … for his controversial views on COVID-19 and the 2020 election.”

Fox News: “Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has secured the endorsement of a top Trump ally, House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman. … His support comes despite former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of his re-election the 2022 midterm elections and also after Norman did not vote to certify the 2020 election, in a nod to his loyalty to Trump.”

Haley put the rich and powerful over working families as governor of South Carolina and now wants to go even further by making permanent Trump’s tax breaks that handed the ultra-wealthy and big corporations billions in tax cuts while running up the deficit. 

Haley: “Well I think what I’d like to see is us go back to what Trump had under the tax cuts under him … I was there.”

Forbes: “Trump Tax Cuts Helped Billionaires Pay Less Taxes Than The Working Class In 2018”

CBS News: “Two years after Trump tax cuts, middle-class Americans are falling behind”

Aiken Standard: “Gov.-elect Nikki Haley, who takes office next week, campaigned on eliminating the state’s corporate income tax.”

Augusta Chronicle: “State budget advisers predict eliminating South Carolina’s corporate income tax over four years, as both Haley and House Republicans propose, would reduce state revenues by $61.6 million in the first year and $218.3 million annually when the phase-out is complete.”

The post REMINDER: Nikki Haley Is Hellbent on Ending Social Security and Medicare As We Know Them appeared first on Democrats.

In response to MAGA Republicans in New Hampshire filing an extreme abortion ban, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump is responsible for the world where extreme MAGA Republicans can enforce these cruel bans – Trump himself brags about it. This is the future that Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis are running on, backing extreme abortion bans for every state across the country. It’s a simple question for every Republican running for office: Do you support this latest attempt to rip away women’s health care freedoms?”

BREAKING: New Hampshire Republicans have proposed an extreme abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

New Hampshire House Bill 1248: “This bill prohibits abortion, other than for a medical emergency, if the gestational age of the fetus is more than 15 days.”

Donald Trump supports a national abortion ban and has repeatedly bragged about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, which opened the door for MAGA Republicans to pass extreme abortion bans into law across the country. 

Trump: “There of course remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. And it’s very important.”  

Trump: “After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the ‘shock’ of everyone … Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!”

Trump: “I’m the one that got rid of Roe v. Wade, and everybody said that was an impossible thing to do. I put on three Supreme Court justices. Very few people have had that privilege or honor.”

Trump on if he would sign a six-week national abortion ban: “I’m looking at all [options].”

Trump: “Getting rid of Roe v. Wade was an incredible thing for pro-life because it gave pro-life something to negotiate with. Pro-life had absolutely nothing, being stuck in Roe v. Wade, to negotiate with. … And look, everybody that was president wanted to get rid and tried to get rid of Roe v. Wade … For fifty years, this has been going on. I was able to do it, and I was very honored to do it.”

Trump: “We’ll pick something that’s going to be very, very good for pro-life … I’m going to be in there pushing.”

Haley has pledged her support for extreme abortion bans before many women know they’re pregnant and has made clear that she would sign any nationwide abortion ban that landed on her desk. 

New York Times: “Nikki Haley Says She Would Have Signed Six-Week Abortion Ban as Governor”

Bob Vander Plaats: “If you were governor of South Carolina and that came to your desk, would you sign the heartbeat bill?”

Haley: “Yes.”

Politico: “Haley, who ‘often clashed with members of her party because she labeled them insufficiently conservative’ on abortion,

• ‘co-sponsored legislation in 2009 mandating a 24-hour waiting period between a woman’s abortion consultation and the procedure itself’
• ‘voted to end abortion coverage for victims of rape and incest in the state health plan for employees’
• ‘signed the most conservative abortion bill South Carolina Republicans were able to pass through both chambers at the time,’ and the law did not include exceptions for rape and incest.”

Kirsten Welker: “Would you support a 15-week federal limit?”

Haley: “I would support anything that would pass.”

Haley: “Whatever we can get 60 Senate votes on, isn’t that better than what we have now? And if it’s– if it’s six weeks, that’s great. If it’s 15 weeks, that’s great.” 

Fox News: “Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican candidate, vows to sign federal abortion ban if elected president”

Haley: “Yes of course I would sign [a federal ban].”

Ron DeSantis supports a national abortion ban and in April signed an extreme law banning abortion in Florida before many women even know they’re pregnant — one of the most restrictive in the country. 

New York Times: “DeSantis Says He Would Sign a 15-Week Abortion Ban as President”

DeSantis: “As president, I’m going to welcome pro-life policies across the board at both [state and federal] levels.”

Radio Iowa: “On Saturday at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event, you said as president, you would support abortion restrictions at the state and the federal level. Would you sign the nationwide 15-week ban that the Faith and Freedom Coalition supports?”

DeSantis: “So I’ve said from the beginning of this, as president, you put pro-life legislation on my desk, I’m going to look favorably and support the legislation.”

Tucker Carlson: “You signed a ban on abortion after six weeks in Florida. Would you do the same as president, nationally?”

DeSantis: “Well, I’m very proud to say Kim Reynolds is here and she signed a great heartbeat bill today. We were able to do that in Florida. We had a lot of opposition to that. I’m proud to have been a pro-life governor and I will be a pro life-president, so of course I want to sign pro-life legislation.”

NBC News: “Ron DeSantis quietly signs Florida’s 6-week abortion ban into law”

Tampa Bay Times: “Late Thursday night, in a private ceremony in his office, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to ban most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. … His office announced the signing in a highly unusual news release sent out after 11 p.m., then updated his schedule to say the ceremony happened at 10:45 p.m.”

The post Do 2024 Republicans Support New Hampshire’s Proposed  Abortion Ban With No Exceptions for Rape or Incest?  appeared first on Democrats.