April 16, 2026

02b U.S. Politics – Left

Abortion is the biggest deal breaker for voters. Only one party gets that– www.dailykos.com

pgnewser May 23, 2024 0

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Donald Trump has made a series of startling revelations in the past month about the reproductive freedoms he considers up for debate in ways most Americans never imagined.

State lawmakers should be empowered to enact restrictions and punishments for abortion as they please, in Trump’s view. They should also have unlimited authority on the means by which they enforce those bans—including putting pregnant women under state surveillance.

And let’s not stop at abortion. Just this week, Trump embraced the idea of imposing restrictions on contraception before claiming that Democrats made it all up.

Trump’s singular line in the sand on abortion is that it must not foil his chance at reclaiming the White House.

Kaitlan Collins Beats The Snot Out Of Ted Cruz For His Election Denialism– crooksandliars.com

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“Lyin’ Ted” may have met his match with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins who refused to allow Cruz to play his usual game with the false equivalencies while trying to get a straight answer out of him on whether he’ll be willing to accept the results of the 2024 election.

Cruz usually just steamrolls over anyone who isn’t some friendly compliant interviewer like he finds on Fox or some of the other right-wing propaganda outlets. Good for Collins for standing her ground with him.

During an interview this Wednesday, Collins asked Cruz “You were the first senator to object to the votes. In 2024 will you certify the election results? Do you plan to object or will you accept the results regardless of who wins the election?”

Actors union supporting Scarlett Johansson over ChatGPT voice questions– thehill.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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SAG-AFTRA, the union representing thousands of actors and other media professionals, threw their support behind actress Scarlett Johansson after she expressed concerns over ChatGPT’s new voiced artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that she claims sounds “eerily similar” to her voice.

“We share in her concerns and fully support her right to have clarity and transparency regarding the voice used in developing the Chat GPT-4o appliance ‘Sky,’” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Johansson on Monday said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously spoke with her about voicing an AI assistant, but she declined.

Last week, OpenAI released a demo of its “Sky” voice assistance, featured in its new AI model, GPT-4o. Johansson said Altman contacted her agent two days before the demo was released and asked her to reconsider, but “before we could connect, the system was out there.”

Trump threatens ‘interesting’ policy to let states restrict birth control– www.dailykos.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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As if Donald Trump’s plan to end the right to abortion wasn’t bad enough, now he’s got a new plan for birth control.

In an interview with Pittsburgh news station KDKA’s Jon Delano on Tuesday, Trump was asked whether he supports any restrictions on the right to contraception.

His answer was hardly reassuring.

“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly,” Trump said. “And I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting.” He added that he thinks it’s “a smart decision.”

Learning the Right Lessons From the UAW Loss in Alabama– www.thenation.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Mercedes put on an “A-level boss fight.”  Which was only to be expected. So how can the union win next time?

Mercedes employees Austin Brooks, David Johnston, and Jacob Ryan attend a rally in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 5, 2024. (Kim Chandler / AP Photo)

Late last Friday afternoon, Shawn Fain, president of the UAW, addressed workers at the Mercedes SUV plant in Vance, Alabama, after the union failed in a representation election (2,054 votes in favor, 2,642 against) many had expected them to win. He told them, “Justice isn’t about one vote or one campaign. It’s about getting a voice, getting your fair share.”

House GOP leaders plan to whip Garland contempt vote– www.politico.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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House GOP leaders will begin whipping their Republican members on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt this week, according to two Republicans familiar with the matter, amid some skepticism they can get the near-unanimity required to pass it on the floor.

With Republicans expecting no help from Democrats, Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is expected to begin gauging if they can keep intra-party opposition to near zero, according to the two Republicans, who spoke on condition of anonymity. One of those Republicans said the whip effort could begin as early as Wednesday.

Two contempt resolutions against Garland passed out of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees on a partisan basis last week, leading to a highly contentious hearing in the latter panel last Thursday that involved name-calling and alleged drinking.

Biden Fared Well at Morehouse. So You Didn’t Hear About It.– www.thenation.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Trust me: If President Joe Biden had faced hecklers or worse when he gave the Morehouse College commencement speech on Sunday, you would know about it. It would have led every newscast and dominated headlines in every paper, another dire portent of his alleged troubles with Black voters coming in November.

Instead, Biden faced a low-key protest, he clapped for and shook hands with the valedictorian who demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, and otherwise fared well. So you probably didn’t hear about it.

Fani Willis Cites Appearance On Rachel Maddow In Primary Victory Speech– www.politicususa.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Fulton County DA Fani Willis was interviewed by Rachel Maddow the night before the Democratic primary and she cited her appearance on the show in her victory speech.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported:

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis routed Christian Wise Smith in the Democratic primary as she readied for a November contest against Republican Courtney Kramer. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, meanwhile, easily won a full term.

Feds Say MAGA-Aligned Mogul Had “Opportunity and Motive to Start” Apartment Fire – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 1

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Federal prosecutors on Tuesday revealed evidence they said shows fugitive Chinese mogul Guo Wengui—as well as an unnamed person who was living with him—had the “opportunity and motive to start” a fire that severely damaged Guo’s lavish penthouse apartment hours after his March 2023 arrest.

Prosecutors shared the incendiary new information about the mysterious blaze, which erupted in the iconic Sherry Netherland building just off Central Park, the day before jury selection is set to start in Guo’s trial for allegedly executing a massive fraud scheme.

The fire reportedly broke out hours after Guo’s arrest at 6 am on March 15, 2023, while FBI agents were still searching the penthouse, causing severe damage to the property. Guo—a patron and ally of Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon who claims to be a leading critic of the Chinese Communist Party—has a devoted following made up of Chinese emigres. His supporters have alleged that FBI agents, or possibly Chinese agents, started the blaze.

Trump Trial: Cowardly Trump Refuses To Testify, Defense Rests– crooksandliars.com

pgnewser May 22, 2024 0

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Guys – we are almost at the end!! The defense rested today after 2 witnesses testified on behalf of Donald Trump – and neither of them were named Donald Trump. I know, we are all completely and utterly shocked that the most honest man in the world, Donald Trump, who said for weeks on end that he was GAGGED and would absolutely, totally, 100% testify…wussed out at the last minute, like the utterly shameless coward that he is.

Ok, so today started with Trump whining about the temperature…

House GOP to Senate Dems: Your border vote is political ‘cover’– www.politico.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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House Republicans are already deriding the Senate’s bid for a vote on bipartisan immigration legislation as a political ploy that’s doomed — in the extremely unlikely event it even reaches their chamber.

“Leader Schumer is trying give [sic] his vulnerable members cover by bringing a vote on a bill which has already failed once in the Senate because it would actually codify many of the disastrous Biden open border policies that created this crisis in the first place,” Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team said in a statement. “Should it reach the House, the bill would be dead on arrival.”

That Senate immigration bill, forged over months of bipartisan negotiations as part of a broader package of foreign aid that subsequently passed on its own, will get a floor vote this week, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Sunday.

Hunter Biden asks appeals court to pause federal gun trial– thehill.com

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Hunter Biden on Monday requested that a Delaware federal court delay his trial on weapons charges, which is set to begin next month.

His attorneys claim there is no urgent need to start the trial on its scheduled June 3 date, and that the current schedule leaves too little time between when the Delaware trial ends and a separate California tax charge trial begins.

The president’s son faces charges related to possessing a firearm while under the influence of drugs. Prosecutors claim that Biden lied on a form indicating that he was not using drugs at the time.

He has pleaded not guilty, and argued that he was only in possession of the firearm for 11 days.

Biden: What If Black Americans Had Attacked Capitol On January 6?– crooksandliars.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 1

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President Biden spoke over the weekend at a NAACP dinner in Detroit and didn’t sugarcoat it when he highlighted Trump’s fascist racism.

Biden highlighted the differences between his administration and one led by a fake evangelical, white supremacist, egomaniacal, make-up and dye-covered fat man.

The threat that Trump poses is greater in his second term than the first. It’s clear that when he lost in 2020, and I mean this sincerely, something snapped in Trump. He just can’t accept he lost, and he lost it.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett Outs Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Racism On National TV– www.politicususa.com

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) explained on CNN why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attack on her was racist and the racism of MAGA.

Rep. Crockett said when CNN’s Jake Tapper asked her to explain why she thought that  Greene’s comments were racist, “I think her specifically doing it to me. Yes, that was the intent. As has been stated, you know, women wear makeup, we wear lashes, we wear all types of things to beautify ourselves. But MAGA has historically been on social media doing the things where they’re saying, oh she’s black with um lashes and nails and hair. And so she’s ghetto. And so to me, this was her buying into that rhetoric and trying to amplify this for the MAGA crowd. And so yeah, I absolutely think that she only did it to be racist towards me.”

Tapper asked, “Because it was towards you or because it was eyelashes. So in that sense, it’s kind of like in your view, buying into a racist trope?”

Rep. Crockett responded, “It is buying into a racist trope. But the reality is that women of all colors wear lashes, right?”

How Trump Judges Are Helping Him Escape Accountability and Return to Power – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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One reason Donald Trump’s trial this month is so notable is that it is actually happening. As recently as last summer, it appeared that Trump would face four criminal trials ahead of the 2024 elections: two in state court and two in federal court. Today, it looks like the New York state hush money case will be the only one to reach a jury before November, and possibly ever. There is plenty of blame to go around for the delays. But one person who deserves a lot of that blame—or credit—is Trump himself.

As the press and voters debate whether Trump’s authoritarian tendencies could be checked in a prospective second term, it’s important to recognize that Trump is already escaping accountability thanks to the judges he installed during his first term, who have pushed off both federal cases against him.

Add Rubio to the List of GOP Invertebrates Who Won’t Say if They’d Certify 2024 Election Results – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com

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Sen. Marco Rubio is the latest Republican potential vice presidential pick who refused to commit to certifying the election results. Aaron Schwartz/CNP/ZUMA

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Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)—all of whom are among the possible candidates, NBC News reported last week—have all failed to answer “yes” when television hosts have asked them if they will commit to accepting the results no matter who wins. Their responses have ranged from simply insisting Trump will be the next president, to spreading election misinformation, to falsely claiming that Democrats are trying to sabotage free and fair elections.

Today, one more lawmaker joined their ranks. When Kristen Welker, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, put that question to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)—who is also reportedly on the shortlist—he replied: “No matter what happens? No. If it’s an unfair election, I think it’s going to be contested by either side.”

HRC announces $15 million swing state campaign to reelect Biden– thehill.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ rights group, on Monday announced a $15 million investment to reelect President Biden in November and combat escalating anti-transgender rhetoric on the 2024 campaign trail.

The education campaign will cover six key swing states — Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and Nevada — and will include paid advertising, field efforts and grassroots engagement, the group said Monday in a news release.

Recent polling suggests former President Trump leads Biden in the battleground states that will decide November’s election, though the rivals are tied at 44.8 percent nationally, based on The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s average of 700 polls pitting the two against each other.

HRC also plans to maintain “a strong ground game” in California, Texas, New York and Delaware, where LGBTQ congressional candidates — including Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride, poised to become the nation’s first openly transgender congresswoman — are on the ballot.

Democratic group kicks off ad blitz targeting Trump’s abortion stance– www.dailykos.com

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Voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin get their first look Monday at an onslaught of Democratic attack ads against Donald Trump that will be coming their way for the remainder of the election cycle.

The inaugural ad from the Democratic group American Bridge 21st Century features Anna Igler, a Wisconsin OB-GYN and mother of two, who decided to abort her third pregnancy due to a devastating fetal abnormality.

Igler says she “had to end a wanted pregnancy because my baby was very sick.”

“So my husband and I made a decision to have an abortion,” she says, choking up as she recalls the moment her doctor told her the baby would not survive. “That’s not a decision for any politician, including Donald Trump.”

Pro-Israel group boosts Democrats in battleground races– www.politico.com

pgnewser May 20, 2024 0

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A prominent pro-Israel super PAC is throwing its backing behind Democrats running in a handful of competitive races, as the party grapples with how the Israel-Hamas war will impact races up and down the ballot in the fall.

The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC is issuing its first general election endorsements, shared first with POLITICO. The group is supporting three senators running in battleground states — Sens. Bob Casey (Pa.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) — along with three Democrats looking to flip House seats currently held by Republicans: Joe Kerr, a retired fire captain challenging Rep. Young Kim in California’s 40th District; former state Assemblymember Rudy Salas, who’s running in a rematch against Rep. David Valadao in California’s 22nd District; and former news anchor Janelle Stelson, who’s running against Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th District.

The group said it will roll out additional endorsements ahead of November. DMFI PAC does not announce its future spending plans, but has a record of notable investments in support of its endorsees. In 2022, the group spent more than $7 million on independent expenditures, primarily in House races. This cycle, it has so far spent more than $500,000 in a half-dozen House contests, along with the California Senate primary in support of Rep. Adam Schiff and for President Joe Biden.

Terrible News For Trump As Closing Arguments Delayed In Criminal Trial– www.politicususa.com

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Judge Merchan brought the parties into court early on Monday, and said that due to issues that have come up over the weekend closing arguments at the Trump criminal trial won’t happen until after Memorial Day.

Anna Bower of Lawfare posted from inside the courtroom:
First, Justice Merchan thanks the parties for coming in early. There were issues that came up over the weekend, he says.

As a result of some of those issues, it’s become apparent that we WON’T be able to move to summations tomorrow.

We will finish up evidence, the pre-charge conference, and so on this week, Justice Merchan continues.

And then we’ll move to closing arguments next week, after the long weekend.

Now we’re moving on to issues regarding objections to evidence that might be introduced during the continued cross examination of Michael Cohen.

The prosecution objects to the introduction of an email sent to Michael Cohen by Robert Costello’s law partner back in 2018.

The new schedule means that the jury might not get the case until sometime in June, and that is without any further issues or delays.

Trump ‘does not like to surround himself with yes people,’ says Ben Carson– thehill.com

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Ben Carson, who served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Trump, said his ex-boss “does not like to surround himself with yes people” when asked about his stance on abortion laws.

CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Carson on “State of the Union” to describe his conversations with Trump about abortion laws, noting that Carson has expressed support in the past for national legislation on abortion.

Trump said last month that he believes abortion law should be decided by the states in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“President Trump does not like to surround himself with yes people. And he likes to have healthy discussions about things and recognize that in terms of saving the lives of unborn he has done more than any other president. So I give him much credit for that,” Carson said.

Donald Trump says he’d consider Ken Paxton for US attorney general– www.dailykos.com

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Former President Donald Trump said he would consider tapping Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. attorney general if he wins a second term in the White House, calling his longtime ally “a very talented guy” and praising his tenure as Texas’ chief legal officer.

“I would, actually,” Trump said Saturday when asked by a KDFW-TV reporter if he would consider Paxton for the national post. “He’s very, very talented. I mean, we have a lot of people that want that one and will be very good at it. But he’s a very talented guy.”

Paxton has long been a close ally of Trump, famously waging an unsuccessful legal challenge to Trump’s 2020 election loss in four battleground states. He also spoke at the pro-Trump rally that preceded the deadly U.S. Capitol riot in January 2021.

Schumer tees up round two for bipartisan border bill– thehill.com

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is tee-ing up a second attempt at passing the bipartisan border bill — after Republicans blocked it earlier this year — a move that comes as the situation at the southern border remains top of mind for voters ahead of the November elections.

Schumer announced on Sunday that the Senate will take up the bipartisan border deal as a standalone measure this week. The vote is all but certain to fail amid opposition on both sides of the aisle, but it will allow Democratic leaders to flip the messaging switch on Republicans as the border dominates chatter on the campaign trail.

It will also give vulnerable Democrats an opportunity to go on the record in support of cracking down on the situation at the southern border.

“We are hopeful this bipartisan proposal will bring serious-minded Republicans back to the table to advance this bipartisan solution for our border,” Schumer wrote in a letter to colleagues.

Biden Celebrates Black Leadership While Navigating Gaza Crisis Tensions at HBCU Commencement – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com

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President Biden faced minimal disruptions from protesters during his Sunday commencement address at Morehouse College—though some speakers, including the valedictorian, mentioned the plight of Palestinians.Paras Griffin/WireImage/Getty

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For weeks preceding President Biden’s commencement speech on Sunday at Morehouse College—a historically Black men’s college in Atlanta—students and faculty opposed his appearance, alleging that the president should not be the guest of honor given his ongoing support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Impeach Samuel Alito! Impeach Clarence Thomas!– www.thenation.com

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Corrupt insurrectionists have no place on the Supreme Court.

In the wake of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the failed attempt to overturn the presidential election results, hard-core supporters of an insurrection on behalf of Donald Trump started flying the American flag upside-down. The inverted Old Glory was flown not just by the goons who fought with Capitol police but also, shockingly, over the household of a Supreme Court justice. On Thursday, The New York Times reported, “One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., in Alexandria, Va., according to photographs and interviews with neighbors. The upside-down flag was aloft on Jan. 17, 2021, the images showed.” The timing of the topsy-turvy banner is noteworthy: It came a little over a week after the coup attempt was crushed—but before Joe Biden was inaugurated, a tense period when Washington, D.C., had a heavy military presence, as the possibility of further violence hung in the air. According to the Times, the insurrectionist flag flew for “several days” during this anxious and fluid period.

Trump Appears To Be Spending Most Of His Day In Court Asleep– www.politicususa.com

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Donald Trump can’t seem to stay awake during his trial, and multiple reporters have noted that Trump is asleep or has his eyes closed for long periods of time.

Read: Samuel Alito Is The Insurrectionist Threat To Democracy On The Supreme Court

Norm Eisen posted:

Anna Bower posted that the trend of Trump either asleep or with his eyes closed continued until the lunch break:

Marco Rubio Melts Down As His Election Lies Get Debunked On Meet The Press– www.politicususa.com

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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results then melted down as NBC’s Kristen Welker debunked his election lies.

Welker asked Rubio if he would accept the election results no matter what happens.

Rubio said, “No matter what happens. No, if it’s an unfair election, I think it’s gonna
be contested by one side or the other. No matter who wins.”

Sen. Rubio then said, “I think you’re asking the wrong person. The Democrats are the ones that have opposed every Republican victory since 2000, every single one. It’s Hillary Clinton who refused to concede.”

SNL Open: Trump Announces His Surprise Pick For VP– crooksandliars.com

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In SNL’s cold open Saturday, Trump says he’s invited a few people from “my short bus––I mean my shortlist.” Via Yahoo News:

He brings out South Carolina Governor Tim Scott (played by Devon Walker). “I’m here to help Trump win the Black vote,” he says. Trump adds, “I’m more popular than you among the Blacks, which is really saying something.” Walker, as Scott says, “Black people have called my support humiliating, but trust me, I am my own man!”

Trump then brings out South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (played by Heidi Gardner), wearing a red MAGA hat, holding a stuffed dog, and pointing a fake gun at the dog (a reference to her shooting a dog). “She shot a dog, which you really can’t do…but on the other hand, she shot a dog, which is pretty awesome.” Gardner, as Noem chimes in and says, “I kill goats, too!”

Trump gives NRA fear-mongering speech with a QAnon ‘musical interlude’– www.dailykos.com

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Donald Trump suggested that he might run for three terms during his visit to Dallas, Texas, this weekend to speak at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting.

The NRA awarded Trump its endorsement as he went on stage. He delivered his usual rambling, non sequitur fest by comparing himself to Al Capone, talking about his inherited “genius,” and bragging about how he ended Roe v. Wade. Trump also shared a good amount of fear-mongering, claiming that President Joe Biden had eroded gun rights but failing to give any examples.

But the most impressive part of Trump’s speech has to be when he didn’t say anything for 35 seconds. The teleprompter froze, and so did Trump—as the creepy theme song of QAnon played for the gun-loving audience.

Arizona judge helped revive 1864 abortion ban. His wife helped Democrats repeal it– www.dailykos.com

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When it was Shawnna Bolick’s turn to speak, the words tumbled out of her for 20 minutes. The conservative lawmaker was in the middle of a heated debate in the Republican-led Arizona Senate on a bill to repeal an 1864 law banning nearly all abortions.

Democrats needed at least one more vote from the right to advance the bill.

Bolick, head hung low and tripping over her words, described her three difficult pregnancies, including one that ended in miscarriage. She said she wouldn’t have got through it “without the moral support of my husband.”