B-2 POLITI-FILES
- Antony Blinkin - Earl Blumenauer - Richard Blumenthal - Jim Bolin - Andrea Bough - Alvin Bragg - Mike Braun - Eli Bremer - Mo Brooks - Ben Brown - Sherrod Brown - Ray Buckley - Ted Budd - Gino Bulso - Pete Buttigieg -
==antony blinkin======
Zorek Richards
April 7, 2023:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has “no doubt” that Russia has wrongfully detained an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested last week on spying allegations.
However, Blinken said a formal determination of Evan Gershkovich’s wrongful detention has not yet been made, something that would elevate the priority of his case within the U.S. government. Blinken said the legal process for such a determination would be completed soon.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has “no doubt” that Russia has wrongfully detained an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested last week on spying allegations.
However, Blinken said a formal determination of Evan Gershkovich’s wrongful detention has not yet been made, something that would elevate the priority of his case within the U.S. government. Blinken said the legal process for such a determination would be completed soon.
==earl blumenauer======
The Democrats calling on Biden to drop out of the 2024 election
Rep. Earl Blumenauer Ore. 3rd
“While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee." Said in an emailed statement.
(Washington Post 7/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Rep. Earl Blumenauer Ore. 3rd
“While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee." Said in an emailed statement.
(Washington Post 7/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==richard blumenthal======
Feb 10, 2023: Wisconsin Politics: U.S. Sen. Baldwin, colleagues: Introduce No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act
The legislation is led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) and cosponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
The legislation is led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) and cosponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
==jim bolin======
Feb 21, 2023: Aberdeen News: Gov. Kristi Noem's foreign ag bill dies in South Dakota Senate
This point was honed in on earlier by Republican Sen. Jim Bolin's, whose effective characterization of the state's ag groups, later referenced by Tobin herself, suggested a sympathetic image of the state's ag community.
"These are the salt-of-the-earth people, your pork producers, your corn growers, your soybean people, the [South Dakota] Farmers Union, the South Dakota Farm Bureau plus other groups," Bolin said. "These are some of our most patriotic, positive, conservative people in the United States that are opposing this bill. And the reason they're opposing this bill is that it's too broad."
This point was honed in on earlier by Republican Sen. Jim Bolin's, whose effective characterization of the state's ag groups, later referenced by Tobin herself, suggested a sympathetic image of the state's ag community.
"These are the salt-of-the-earth people, your pork producers, your corn growers, your soybean people, the [South Dakota] Farmers Union, the South Dakota Farm Bureau plus other groups," Bolin said. "These are some of our most patriotic, positive, conservative people in the United States that are opposing this bill. And the reason they're opposing this bill is that it's too broad."
==andrea bough======
Jan 13, 2023; KHSB: Kansas City, Missouri, City Council to consider antisemitism resolution
The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council is tentatively scheduled to introduce a resolution next week to “recognize the growing problem of antisemitism in America.”
The resolution is sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas and Councilwoman Andrea Bough.
The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council is tentatively scheduled to introduce a resolution next week to “recognize the growing problem of antisemitism in America.”
The resolution is sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas and Councilwoman Andrea Bough.
==alvin bragg======
May 1, 2023: Independent: Trump's lawyers says he should be able to talk about evidence in hush money case
They added that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg held a press conference after Trump was arraigned last month, and former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz published a book about the Trump investigation. Both also have made derogatory comments about Trump, they said, with Pomerantz likening him to a mafia boss.
They added that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg held a press conference after Trump was arraigned last month, and former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz published a book about the Trump investigation. Both also have made derogatory comments about Trump, they said, with Pomerantz likening him to a mafia boss.
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Oct 13, 2023: 102.5Block: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Says He’s Received ‘More Than 1,000’ Racist Death Threats From Trump Supporters
It’s a shame the way ex-president and federal fraud defendant Donald Trump keeps getting away with arbitrarily calling the Black prosecutors who have launched investigations into him racist without even providing an argument for why he says they’re racist. It’s a shame that white conservatives--who regularly dismiss Black people’s allegations of anti-Black racism even when they’re presented with tangible evidence--have not bothered to challenge Trump at all on what evidence he has that New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg or Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis are “racist” against white people. (Unless Trump is saying they’re specifically racist against horrendously over-tanned, orange-tinted Caucasians, but I doubt that’s the case.) |
April 13, 2023; The Independent
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Mar 31, 2023: Politico: ‘Unlawful political interference’: Bragg defends Trump indictment against GOP attacks
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg defended his office’s decision to indict Donald Trump in a letter to Republican lawmakers Friday, rejecting GOP accusations of political persecution as “baseless and inflammatory.”
“That conclusion is misleading and meritless,” wrote Leslie Dubeck, Bragg’s general counsel, in a six-page letter to three House Republican committee chairs who have sought internal details of the criminal probe.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg defended his office’s decision to indict Donald Trump in a letter to Republican lawmakers Friday, rejecting GOP accusations of political persecution as “baseless and inflammatory.”
“That conclusion is misleading and meritless,” wrote Leslie Dubeck, Bragg’s general counsel, in a six-page letter to three House Republican committee chairs who have sought internal details of the criminal probe.
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Mar 20, 2023: Denver Post: Trump indictment would be unprecedented moment in U.S. history
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team appears to be looking at whether Trump or anyone committed crimes in New York state in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them internally at the Trump Organization. |
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==mike braun======
Senators Seek Answers on Migrants, Delivery Services
A trio of Republican senators are demanding answers about reports that potentially dangerous immigrants are allegedly infiltrating Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub food delivery services and obtaining Americans' personal information, including home addresses. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Ted Budd of North Carolina on Thursday sent letters to the companies' chief executive officers, stating that President Joe Biden's open border policies have allowed "millions of illegal immigrants" to flood across the southern border and to be allowed to remain in the nation's cities. (Newsmax 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
A trio of Republican senators are demanding answers about reports that potentially dangerous immigrants are allegedly infiltrating Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub food delivery services and obtaining Americans' personal information, including home addresses. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Ted Budd of North Carolina on Thursday sent letters to the companies' chief executive officers, stating that President Joe Biden's open border policies have allowed "millions of illegal immigrants" to flood across the southern border and to be allowed to remain in the nation's cities. (Newsmax 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
January 13, 2023: Bloomberg Government: Kaine, Cardin May Be Next to Reveal Plans: Ballots & Boundaries
So far, one Senate Republican (Mike Braun, running for Indiana governor) and one Democrat (Michigan’s retiring Debbie Stabenow) have announced plans to leave the Senate rather than run in 2024.
So who’s next?
So far, one Senate Republican (Mike Braun, running for Indiana governor) and one Democrat (Michigan’s retiring Debbie Stabenow) have announced plans to leave the Senate rather than run in 2024.
So who’s next?
==eli bremer======
Richard Holtorf Jumps Into Colorado GOP Chairmanship Fracas
With a faction of members of the Colorado Republican Party’s central committee set to meet this weekend to vote on whether to oust embattled party chairman Dave “Let’s Go Brandon” Williams and his crew of allies in state party leadership–a meeting that the party has declared “illegal” and vowed to ignore the results of–another candidate to replace Williams besides failed GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eli Bremer has emerged. State Rep.
Richard Holtorf, who clashed repeatedly with Williams over the party’s formal endorsement of Lauren Boebert in the CO-04 Republican primary, says he’s the man to pull the party out of its latest terminal nosedive. From a letter Holtorf sent yesterday to central committee members: Great controversy and challenge has fallen upon the Colorado Republican party and as a result the State Central Committee must come together to have serious debate to determine the future of the COGOP’s strategic future… You see fellow Republicans, Colorado is like Baskin Robbins with 32 flavors of ice cream not just one ruby red, far right, Republican flavor. We have extreme disunity and many see these leadership shortcomings damaging the internal fabric of the Colorado Republican Party. (Amarillo Pioneer 3/23/24) READ MORE>>>>>
With a faction of members of the Colorado Republican Party’s central committee set to meet this weekend to vote on whether to oust embattled party chairman Dave “Let’s Go Brandon” Williams and his crew of allies in state party leadership–a meeting that the party has declared “illegal” and vowed to ignore the results of–another candidate to replace Williams besides failed GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eli Bremer has emerged. State Rep.
Richard Holtorf, who clashed repeatedly with Williams over the party’s formal endorsement of Lauren Boebert in the CO-04 Republican primary, says he’s the man to pull the party out of its latest terminal nosedive. From a letter Holtorf sent yesterday to central committee members: Great controversy and challenge has fallen upon the Colorado Republican party and as a result the State Central Committee must come together to have serious debate to determine the future of the COGOP’s strategic future… You see fellow Republicans, Colorado is like Baskin Robbins with 32 flavors of ice cream not just one ruby red, far right, Republican flavor. We have extreme disunity and many see these leadership shortcomings damaging the internal fabric of the Colorado Republican Party. (Amarillo Pioneer 3/23/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==mo brooks======
==ben brown======
Benjamin "Ben" Brown is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the Missouri Senate for the 26th district. Elected in November 2022, he assumed office on January 4, 2023.
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Bill would open Missouri public school sports to homeschool students
A bill to allow home-educated students to participate in Missouri public school activities is back for the upcoming legislative session — and has been coupled with provisions rolling back state oversight of homeschooling families. Sen. Ben Brown, a Washington Republican, pre-filed a 52-page bill that largely resembles the version he sponsored that cleared the Senate last session. While it initially was only two pages and focused on giving homeschool kids the opportunity to play sports and join clubs in public schools, it now would add a new category for home-educated students and rescind attendance officers’ authority over homeschool families. (Anelise Hanshaw/Muddy River News 12/30/23) READ MORE>>>>> |
State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said what concerns her about the legislation is “simply not knowing which students are being homeschooled.” |
==Sherrod Brown======
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown to Skip DNC, Will Not Campaign with Kamala Harris
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will reportedly skip the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and will not be campaigning with Kamala Harris in her bid for president. Brown, who finds himself in a difficult reelection battle in a state trending toward former President Donald Trump, will also reportedly not issue a defense of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Southern Border with Mexico, per CNN. Brown will instead keep his focus on Republican challenger Bernie Moreno by attacking his character and past business practices. (Breitbart 8/4/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will reportedly skip the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and will not be campaigning with Kamala Harris in her bid for president. Brown, who finds himself in a difficult reelection battle in a state trending toward former President Donald Trump, will also reportedly not issue a defense of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Southern Border with Mexico, per CNN. Brown will instead keep his focus on Republican challenger Bernie Moreno by attacking his character and past business practices. (Breitbart 8/4/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==ray buckley======
Raymond "Ray" Buckley (born 1959) is an American politician from the state of New Hampshire who currently serves as chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Buckley previously served as President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, and as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee. On December 21, 2016 he announced his candidacy to be Chair of the DNC in its chairmanship election. He withdrew his candidacy February 18, 2017.
“Haley’s refusal to admit that the Civil War was rooted in slavery last night in Berlin is just the latest of her shameful attempts to whitewash our country’s history," said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. "From defending the Confederate flag and leaders to equating Black History Month with Confederate History Month, Haley’s record bowing to the extreme fringes of the MAGA base speaks volumes and is yet another reason why New Hampshire voters will reject her next year.” |
Nikki Haley expands on Civil War comment after backlash
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday addressed the backlash to her Wednesday night comments about what she thought was the cause of the American Civil War, during which she notably did not cite slavery as a cause, sparking criticism. “Of course, the Civil War was about slavery," said Haley at a Thursday town hall in New Hampshire. "We know that. That’s unquestioned. Always the case. We know the Civil War was about slavery.” (Abby Cruz/ABC News 12/27/23) READ MORE>>>>> |
DNC chair contender drops out, endorses Keith EllisonA contender to be chair of the Democratic National Committee dropped out of the race Saturday and endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., just days before Democratic officials vote on a leader at the DNC’s meeting next week. “While it was a tremendous honor to run for DNC Chair over the past few months, I am proud to throw my support behind Keith so we can ensure that the next Chair of the DNC is dedicated to investing in and strengthening state parties and ensuring that the DNC is an accountable organization,” New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said in a statement first reported by NBC News. “As I’ve talked to the DNC membership, it’s clear Keith has widespread support, and I know as our next DNC Chair Keith will successfully unite and grow our party.” (Washington Examiner 2/18/17) READ MORE>>>>>
==ted budd======
Beltway lawmakers seek a Congressional block on DOL fiduciary rule
Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga, is sponsoring the House CRA resolution. Sen. Budd, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., are sponsoring the Senate CRA measure..
(Insurance News Net 5/15/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga, is sponsoring the House CRA resolution. Sen. Budd, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., are sponsoring the Senate CRA measure..
(Insurance News Net 5/15/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Senators Seek Answers on Migrants, Delivery Services
A trio of Republican senators are demanding answers about reports that potentially dangerous immigrants are allegedly infiltrating Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub food delivery services and obtaining Americans' personal information, including home addresses. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Ted Budd of North Carolina on Thursday sent letters to the companies' chief executive officers, stating that President Joe Biden's open border policies have allowed "millions of illegal immigrants" to flood across the southern border and to be allowed to remain in the nation's cities. (Newsmax 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
A trio of Republican senators are demanding answers about reports that potentially dangerous immigrants are allegedly infiltrating Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub food delivery services and obtaining Americans' personal information, including home addresses. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Ted Budd of North Carolina on Thursday sent letters to the companies' chief executive officers, stating that President Joe Biden's open border policies have allowed "millions of illegal immigrants" to flood across the southern border and to be allowed to remain in the nation's cities. (Newsmax 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==gino bulso======
Tennessee lawmakers send bill to ban first-cousin marriages to governor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-led Tennessee Legislature has overwhelmingly voted to send GOP Gov. Bill Lee a proposal that would ban marriage between first cousins. The House cast a 75-2 vote Thursday on the bill after the Senate previously approved it without any opposition. But a particularly vocal opponent, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, took up most of the debate time, as he argued for an amendment to allow first-cousin marriages if the couple first seeks counseling from a genetic counselor.
(Journal Courier 4/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-led Tennessee Legislature has overwhelmingly voted to send GOP Gov. Bill Lee a proposal that would ban marriage between first cousins. The House cast a 75-2 vote Thursday on the bill after the Senate previously approved it without any opposition. But a particularly vocal opponent, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, took up most of the debate time, as he argued for an amendment to allow first-cousin marriages if the couple first seeks counseling from a genetic counselor.
(Journal Courier 4/11/24) READ MORE>>>>>
=PETE BUTTIGIEG======
Feb 25, 2023: NPR: In East Palestine, who 'shows up' isn't necessarily a sign of who's helping
Then, under political pressure, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made his way there, too, met with local leaders and offered his own rejoinders for the former president.
Then, under political pressure, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made his way there, too, met with local leaders and offered his own rejoinders for the former president.
Jan 11, 2023: Bloomberg Government: ‘Deeply Troubling’ Meltdown at FAA Set for Lawmaker Probes
The Federal Aviation Administration halted thousands of flights nationwide early Wednesday after a pilot notification system failed. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he has directed an after-action review from his agency to determine causes and recommend next steps. The head of the Senate panel that oversees aviation also vowed to look into the meltdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration halted thousands of flights nationwide early Wednesday after a pilot notification system failed. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he has directed an after-action review from his agency to determine causes and recommend next steps. The head of the Senate panel that oversees aviation also vowed to look into the meltdown.
