Terrorism expert: Trump remains a major ‘national security’ threat to the United States

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Some Republicans recently accused New York Times reporter Maggie Gallagher of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” when she reported that according to her sources, former President Donald Trump believes he will be “reinstated” as president by August. But in fact, Gallagher’s reporting was accurate, and John Cohen— the top counterterrorism official in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — believes that Trump’s delusion could lead to more political violence in the United States. On June 25, MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace discussed Cohen’s warning with MSNBC contributor and former FBI counterterrorism expert Clint Watts, who commented on how much of a national security threat Trump continues to be.

Wallace, a Never Trump conservative who served in the George W. Bush Administration, told Watts, “It’s just jaw-dropping that the disgraced, twice-impeached ex-president’s utterances are now a national security threat on an hourly, daily basis — to which Watts responded, “It is remarkable that it continues on.”

Watts told Wallace, “It’s also remarkable because there is still significant online discussion of this, which means —think if you’re a believer in this conspiracy, and you’ve seen everything from QAnon to January 6, the inauguration occurring, ballot recounts failing — and you still are pursuing this fantasy. How would it not lead to violence over time?” Continue reading.

In the Know: June 29, 2021

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Governor Tim Walz
Walz takes executive action on police reform as state leaders urged to do more, Star Tribune

Minnesota Legislature
House to debate public safety bill amid DFL objections, MPR News
With 2 days to go, Minnesota lawmakers spar over police accountability reforms, Duluth News Tribune
State moves forward with second daily Amtrak train to Chicago. Service could begin in 2024, Pioneer Press

Minnesota News
Derek Chauvin Closing In On Federal Plea Deal, Sources Tell WCCO, WCCO
Minnesota State Fair reveals 27 new foods for 2021, Star Tribune
‘Really amazing for families’: Child welfare reforms on the horizon in Minnesota, Minnesota Reformer
Why a new statue of Ojibwe leader Shaynowishkung was created to stand on the shores of Lake Bemidji, MinnPost

Continue reading “In the Know: June 29, 2021”

Trump PAC Raising Funds On Facebook Despite His Suspension

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Facebook’s latest policy carve-out for former President Donald Trump, which allows Trump’s political action committees to run ads as long they are not “in his voice,” has permitted Trump to fundraise and promote his events on the platform, even though he is suspended for at least two years. In return, Facebook has earned at least $10,000 in revenue on these ads.

On June 21, Politico reported that Trump’s Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, a joint venture between his Make America Great Again PAC and his newer Save America leadership PAC, had started sponsoring Facebook ads on the Team Trump campaign page. The Team Trump page, which hasn’t run any ads since the 2020 election, is also now managed by the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, and it was run by the Trump campaign as recently as May.

Media Matters analyzed data from Facebook’s Ad Library and found that Team Trump has run 258 ads since June 16, spending at least $10,200 and earning at least 1.3 million impressions on ads fundraising off Trump’s visit to the border, attacking President Joe Biden, supporting Trump and “the MAGA Movement,” or promoting his upcoming rally in Ohio. At time of publication, 37 of the ads are active. Continue reading.

Opinion: The Real Fraud: Republicans’ Voter-Fraud Scare

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Setting the record straight is our duty to democracy itself.

This week, Senate Republicans in lockstep blocked key reforms of the For the People Actthat would address gerrymandering and big money in politics, plus enhance ethics for federal office holders. The Act would also strengthen voting rights—on which a big battle is now underway across the country.  

While Democrats in more than half the states have lowered barriers to voting, Republicans are pushing them higher, with campaigns for at least 389  restrictive voter laws in 48 states. Already, 17 states have enacted 28 such bills. But now, the Justice Department is suing Georgia over its new voting restrictions.

Republicans often justify their opposition to lowering voting barriers with the argument that it encourages voter fraud. Arizona’s Republican Representative John Kavanagh told CNN earlier this year that Democrats are “willing to risk fraud” because they “value as many people as possible voting.” Republicans, he underscored, “are more concerned about fraud, so we don’t mind putting security measures in that won’t let everybody vote—but everybody shouldn’t be voting.” Continue reading.

Trump warned Wisconsin GOP legislative leaders to support 2020 election audit or be ‘quickly run out of office’

Former President Donald Trump on Friday put Wisconsin GOP legislative leaders on notice, saying that they would be “primaried” if they don’t back an audit of the 2020 presidential election in the critical swing state.

Last November, President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by roughly 20,000 votes out of nearly 3.3 million ballots cast. The results were certified with no verifiable evidence of voter fraud.

However, with Trump continuing to spread debunked claims of malfeasance months after his electoral loss to Biden, Republican leaders are feeling the heat from the former president’s loyalists, many of whom back partisan audits similar to what is occurring in Arizona, another swing state that Trump lost to Biden. Continue reading.

Rudy Giuliani’s New York suspension proves dangers of Trump’s lies

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The court has sent a strong message about the real harm posed by those individuals who continue to push falsehoods about the 2020 election.

Rudy Giuliani’s license to practice law in New York state was suspended on Thursday by a state appellate court. For those who have been following the antics of former President Donald Trump’s former lawyer for the past five years, this may not be shocking. But while in some ways it feels like the predictable culmination of years of questionable and offensive conduct, it’s still a big deal — and good news for anyone who cares about the integrity of the law profession.

It’s probably too much to hope that this finding will pierce the right-wing information bubble, where 56 percent of Republicans still believe the election was stolen from Trump. But it should leave Giuliani’s credibility in tatters with anyone not immune to the truth. And it sends a strong message about the real harm, and indeed danger, posed by those individuals who continue to push falsehoods about the election.

Disbarment — a punishment meted out by a court for code violations — is always devastating to a lawyer. This punishment occurs when a lawyer commits an offense that directly relates to his or her fitness to practice law. Such offenses may include dishonesty and negligent representation. Giuliani, whose license is now suspended, is likely on his way to permanent disbarment, but he does have the opportunity to contest the court’s ruling in a post-suspension hearing. His lawyers indicate they will do this, claiming in a statement that they “believe that once the issues are fully explored at a hearing, Mr. Giuliani will be reinstated as a valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well in his many capacities for so many years.” Continue reading.

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: June 28, 2021

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Dear Neighbors, 

Over the past few weeks, we have been able to pass several key bipartisan budgets in a number of areas to ensure Minnesotans can access resources, investments and recover from the impacts of this pandemic. Below are some more information on what is included in these bills. In addition, please stay tuned for another update later this week on the rest of the budget topics!

Housing

Minnesotans deserve safe, secure, and affordable housing. The Minnesota affordable housing crisis predates this COVID-19 pandemic, but now, with the approved compromise agreement with the Senate on the Housing budget, will invest in innovative solutions to take on housing insecurity as we build back from the pandemic. This legislation protects renters and provides resources for housing providers whose tenants have not been able to pay rent during COVID-19. It also provides affordable housing around the state through public and private investments. 

Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: June 28, 2021”

2 secretaries of state undercut Trump’s fraud claims in key, GOP-controlled states. Republicans have now voted to strip both of power.

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Georgia Republicans earlier this year passed new voting restrictions, leading corporations including Major League Baseball to protest. What followed was a big to-do about whether that was an overreaction. The bill didn’t exactly match up with Democrats’ claims of a modern-day “Jim Crow,” and many of the new provisions were within the mainstream of even blue states.

But the bill was also watered-down from much-bolder proposals that had previously passed, including one transparently targeted at limiting voter drives by Black churches. Mix in the effort’s proximity to Republicans losing the state for the first time in 28 years — and to similar efforts in other GOP-controlled states despite no proof of actual, significant voter fraud — and it wasn’t difficult to draw conclusions about why this was done.

And there was perhaps one part of the law that best drove home how much this was aimed at gaming the system. It removed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) from the state election board. This effectively allowed the GOP-controlled state legislature to appoint a majority of the board. Continue reading.

Rep. Phillips (CD3) Helps Secure $60 Million in Federal Investments to Minnesota’s I-494 Corridor

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips announced that the Interstate 494 Corridor Project, which runs through Eden Prairie, Edina, and Bloomington in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District, has been awarded $60 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program.

“I’m on a mission to bring more of our hard-earned tax dollars back to Minnesota,” said Phillips. “This grant will make crucial investments in safety improvements, traffic mitigation, and environmental protection, benefitting thousands of Minnesotans who travel the stretch of highway each day and local businesses who rely on the I-494 thoroughfare to move freight. Many thanks to the team who came together to secure this critical investment for our state.”

In a May 2021 letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Phillips joined a chorus of leaders from the government and private sectors, including Governor Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Reps. Angie Craig and Ilhan Omar, county commissioners, mayors, chambers of commerce, and business leaders from FedEx, Starkey Hearing, and CH Robinson, in advocating for the project’s funding.

Click here to read the letters.

Georgia GOP lawmakers’ flaws could be exposed in DOJ lawsuit

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The U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Georgia could place the state’s Republican lawmakers under a microscope to unveil their biased intent where voting restrictions are concerned. 

A new piece published by The Daily Beast outlines the details of the complaint, the DOJ’s options, and the legal path it could take. On Friday, June 25, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the DOJ filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Georgia.

The lawsuit, which was also filed before Trump-appointed Judge J.P. Boulee, alleges that some provisions of the Georgia law SB-202 “violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” Continue reading.