The upcoming election sees Democrat Behn and Republican Van Epps competing to fill the vacancy left by Representative Mark Green. Van Epps, endorsed by Trump, is focusing on conservative issues such as border security and opposition to “woke” policies. Behn, a Tennessee state representative, is campaigning on an anti-corporate platform addressing affordability concerns. A win for Behn would further solidify Democratic gains at the local level.
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Leaked transcripts from Bloomberg reveal that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff coached a Putin aide on how to manage President Trump and suggested a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine. The transcripts detail Witkoff encouraging the Russian aide to have Putin flatter Trump and praising a Mideast peace deal to get Trump to favor Russia. Furthermore, it appears a 28-point U.S.-Russian peace plan favored Russia and was heavily amended, potentially originating from the Russian side. Reactions include calls for Witkoff’s replacement by Ukrainian officials and accusations that the leaks are fake.
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The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked former President Trump’s attempt to remove Shira Perlmutter from her position as Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, deferring a decision until it reviews related cases. The court cited cases involving the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve, where Trump’s removal of officials is under scrutiny. This decision comes after a lower court ruled Perlmutter is part of the legislative branch, making her removal only possible by a Senate-confirmed Librarian of Congress. The Trump administration argued the decision contravenes established precedent, emphasizing the Register of Copyright’s executive functions, like foreign government meetings.
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The Supreme Court is currently reviewing cases concerning presidential power and the separation of powers. One case involves Perlmutter, who argues her position within the Library of Congress made her part of the legislative branch, thus protecting her from being fired by the executive branch. The court is also considering cases of Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, both of whom have had their removal challenged. The court allowed Trump to remove Slaughter, and Cook’s case will be heard in January.
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In a recent interview with NPR, Senator Mark Kelly criticized the Pentagon’s investigation into his involvement in a video reminding active-duty troops about the illegality of following unlawful orders. The former Navy fighter pilot is facing potential court-martial for appearing in the video, which was released amid legal concerns regarding the deployment of National Guard troops. Kelly also responded to the White House’s initial condemnation of the video, where the President stated this action was “seditious behavior, punishable by death.”
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Nike founder Phil Knight recently donated $3 million to the Bring Balance to Salem PAC, a Republican political action committee in Oregon, representing his largest single contribution to Republican causes in the state. This donation, reported by Willamette Week, brings the PAC’s cash on hand to $3.93 million. With an estimated net worth exceeding $31 billion, Knight’s increased financial support for Republicans, including past donations to Republican candidates and campaigns, could significantly influence the state’s legislative balance, particularly as he has expressed frustration with the state’s Democratic leadership in the past.
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President Trump’s golf outings during his presidency have cost taxpayers significantly more than previous administrations. During his first term, Trump spent over $300 million on golfing trips, nearly double the amount spent by previous presidents. Trips to his private clubs, including multiple visits to Bedminster, New Jersey, and Aberdeen, Scotland, accounted for a substantial portion of these costs. Security measures, such as patrol boats and Coast Guard presence, along with the use of Air Force One, further escalated the expenses associated with these excursions.
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The leaked recording of a phone call between Special Envoy to Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, and a top Russian official has sparked outrage among a few U.S. representatives. In the recording, Witkoff reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Donald Trump and suggested a peace deal would require Russia to gain control of Donetsk and potentially additional Ukrainian territory. Witkoff also offered tactical advice, including how Putin should approach Trump. While some representatives have called for Witkoff’s dismissal, others have defended his actions as standard negotiation tactics, and Trump has sent Witkoff to Moscow to meet with Putin.
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President Trump is reportedly at odds with the architect designing a new White House ballroom, reportedly demanding a structure even larger than the White House itself. This has led to friction, as architect James McCrery II has cautioned against the excessive scale of the addition, which is expected to house offices and impact the surrounding areas. The project, which has undergone no public review, is part of a broader, unilateral redesign plan driven by Trump’s preference for gold-heavy aesthetics and personal iconography. While White House officials insist dialogue is constructive, critics have voiced concerns over transparency and the project’s massive scope, as well as the destruction of the East Wing of the White House and the impending design of the New Ballroom to replace the East Wing.
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John Q. Hosedrinker