Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
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GasBandit
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1/ Trump asked the Supreme Court to block his sentencing in the New York election interference case involving falsified business records. The last-ditch request came after a New York appeals court refused to postpone his Friday sentencing – 10 days before his inauguration – on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Trump continues to claim that he is immune from all prosecution and sentencing because he is the president-elect. Further, Trump claims that sentencing would damage “the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government.” Justice Juan Merchan, however, has made clear he wouldn’t sentence Trump to prison and that an unconditional discharge – or a sentence without any punishment – was “the most viable solution.” The Supreme Court, meanwhile, ordered prosecutors to respond to Trump’s request by Thursday morning. (NPR / ABC News / Associated Press / CBS News / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / NBC News / Politico / Washington Post)
2/ The Justice Department plans to publicly release part of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters. Attorney General Merrick Garland, however, will withhold the second part of the report concerned Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Yesterday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, temporarily blocked the release of Smith’s two part report in order to prevent “irreparable harm,” while the matter is considered by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Both cases against Trump were dismissed after he won the election in November due to long standing Justice Department policies against prosecuting a sitting president. (ABC News / Politico / NPR / Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)
3/ A watchdog report found that three senior Trump-era Justice Department officials leaked details about COVID-19 nursing home death investigations in Democratic states to influence the 2020 presidential election. The leaks targeted Democratic governors in New York and New Jersey and violated department policies and potentially the Hatch Act, with one official calling it their “last play” before the election. (Reuters / Politico / The Hill)
4/ Biden insisted that he could have beaten Trump in the 2024 election while acknowledging he wasn’t sure he could’ve completed a full second term. “It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” Biden said when asked if he believed he could have won, citing polls he had reviewed. Asked if he had the stamina to serve another four years in office, Biden, 82, replied: “I don’t know.” He added: “Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?” Before Biden dropped out of the race in July, some polls showed he was falling behind Trump, and he lost further ground after his poor debate performance in June, which put his health, age, and cognitive abilities in question. (NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times / Axios)
1/ The New York Court of Appeals – the highest court in the state – denied Trump’s request to block his Friday sentencing. The decision leaves the U.S. Supreme Court as Trump’s final option to defer sentencing on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, meanwhile, urged the Supreme Court to deny Trump’s bid to halt his sentencing, saying the “defendant makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office.” Bragg added, “It is axiomatic that there is only one president at a time […] And as this court has repeatedly recognized, presidential immunity is strictly limited to the time of the president’s term in office.” Trump’s sentencing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday. (CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / Axios / ABC News)
3/ Trump urged a federal appeals court to block the release of both volumes of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to publicly release the volume on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters, but withhold the second part of the report concerning his handling of classified documents. (Washington Post)
4/ The Senate advanced the Republican-led Laken Riley Act in a bipartisan 84-9 procedural vote, marking a major step toward passing legislation that requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes. The legislation also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government for perceived failures in immigration enforcement and to push for visa sanctions against countries that refuse to accept deportees. While the legislation passed the House earlier this week, final passage in the Senate is uncertain due to Democratic calls for amendments addressing overreach and potential misuse of provisions, including those empowering states to sue the federal government over enforcement failures. Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, however have resisted any efforts to amend the bill, framing it as a critical tool for public safety and immigration reform. Nevertheless, 31 Democrats joined Republicans to clear a 60-vote threshold to begin debate. (Associated Press / New York Times / CNN / CBS News / NBC News / Politico)
5/ Trump reportedly plans to issue nearly 100 executive orders starting on his first day in office to address immigration, energy, and federal workforce policies, aiming to fulfill his campaign promises to reverse Biden-era regulations. Key priorities include reinstating Title 42 for rapid migrant expulsions, completing the border wall, implementing deportation mechanisms, and defunding sanctuary cities. Trump also plans to authorize drilling on federal lands, freeze hiring, mandate federal workers’ return to offices, and halt Biden-era regulations that are not yet finalized. (Axios / Bloomberg / Washington Post)
6/ A federal judge in Kentucky blocked Biden’s Title IX rule that expanded anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students, saying it exceeded presidential authority. The regulation, which barred discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, faced legal challenges from Republican-led states and was criticized for infringing on free speech by requiring educators to use students’ preferred pronouns. The ruling vacated the rule nationwide, marking a victory for conservative groups and setting the stage for Trump’s previous promise to end the rules “on day one.” (ABC News / Politico / New York Times)
2/ The Justice Department plans to publicly release part of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters. Attorney General Merrick Garland, however, will withhold the second part of the report concerned Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Yesterday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, temporarily blocked the release of Smith’s two part report in order to prevent “irreparable harm,” while the matter is considered by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Both cases against Trump were dismissed after he won the election in November due to long standing Justice Department policies against prosecuting a sitting president. (ABC News / Politico / NPR / Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)
3/ A watchdog report found that three senior Trump-era Justice Department officials leaked details about COVID-19 nursing home death investigations in Democratic states to influence the 2020 presidential election. The leaks targeted Democratic governors in New York and New Jersey and violated department policies and potentially the Hatch Act, with one official calling it their “last play” before the election. (Reuters / Politico / The Hill)
4/ Biden insisted that he could have beaten Trump in the 2024 election while acknowledging he wasn’t sure he could’ve completed a full second term. “It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” Biden said when asked if he believed he could have won, citing polls he had reviewed. Asked if he had the stamina to serve another four years in office, Biden, 82, replied: “I don’t know.” He added: “Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?” Before Biden dropped out of the race in July, some polls showed he was falling behind Trump, and he lost further ground after his poor debate performance in June, which put his health, age, and cognitive abilities in question. (NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times / Axios)
- Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least two people, destroyed over 1,000 structures, and burned nearly 6,000 acres. Trump, meanwhile, blamed the disaster on Gov. Gavin Newsom for not signing a non-existent “water restoration declaration.” In his first term, Trump also blamed California’s wildfires on “poor” forest management despite nearly 60% of the state’s forests being under federal management. He also suggested the state should “rake” their forests. (Politico / New York Times / Forbes)
- A watchdog group accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of voter fraud, alleging that Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary voted in the 2024 election using a New York address that New York courts “had already determined was not his legal residence.” (Politico / Axios)
- Trump was provided with questions in advance for a Fox News town hall during the 2024 campaign by someone within the network. Fox announced plans to investigate the alleged leak but denies evidence supporting the claim, while Trump’s communications team called him the “most accessible and transparent candidate” in U.S. history. (CNN)
- The Federal Reserve said it was concerned about elevated inflation risks linked to Trump’s proposed tariffs and immigration changes, leading officials to slow the pace of interest rate cuts. While the Fed lowered its benchmark rate to 4.25%-4.5%, most officials viewed further cuts as a “close call” and signaled plans for only two additional cuts in 2025 – down from four previously forecasted. Uncertainty over Trump’s economic policies, combined with persistent inflation pressures, has prompted the Fed to take a cautious approach moving forward. (Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNBC)
- Trump is reportedly considering declaring a national economic emergency to impose his proposed universal tariffs. By invoking the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, Trump would have broad authority to impose tariffs on imports without needing to prove national security grounds. “Nothing is off the table,” one person said. (CNN)
1/ The New York Court of Appeals – the highest court in the state – denied Trump’s request to block his Friday sentencing. The decision leaves the U.S. Supreme Court as Trump’s final option to defer sentencing on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, meanwhile, urged the Supreme Court to deny Trump’s bid to halt his sentencing, saying the “defendant makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office.” Bragg added, “It is axiomatic that there is only one president at a time […] And as this court has repeatedly recognized, presidential immunity is strictly limited to the time of the president’s term in office.” Trump’s sentencing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday. (CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / Axios / ABC News)
- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification in the election interference case against Trump. “No Georgia court has ever disqualified a district attorney for the mere appearance of impropriety without the existence of an actual conflict of interest,” Willis said. (Axios)
3/ Trump urged a federal appeals court to block the release of both volumes of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to publicly release the volume on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters, but withhold the second part of the report concerning his handling of classified documents. (Washington Post)
4/ The Senate advanced the Republican-led Laken Riley Act in a bipartisan 84-9 procedural vote, marking a major step toward passing legislation that requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes. The legislation also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government for perceived failures in immigration enforcement and to push for visa sanctions against countries that refuse to accept deportees. While the legislation passed the House earlier this week, final passage in the Senate is uncertain due to Democratic calls for amendments addressing overreach and potential misuse of provisions, including those empowering states to sue the federal government over enforcement failures. Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, however have resisted any efforts to amend the bill, framing it as a critical tool for public safety and immigration reform. Nevertheless, 31 Democrats joined Republicans to clear a 60-vote threshold to begin debate. (Associated Press / New York Times / CNN / CBS News / NBC News / Politico)
5/ Trump reportedly plans to issue nearly 100 executive orders starting on his first day in office to address immigration, energy, and federal workforce policies, aiming to fulfill his campaign promises to reverse Biden-era regulations. Key priorities include reinstating Title 42 for rapid migrant expulsions, completing the border wall, implementing deportation mechanisms, and defunding sanctuary cities. Trump also plans to authorize drilling on federal lands, freeze hiring, mandate federal workers’ return to offices, and halt Biden-era regulations that are not yet finalized. (Axios / Bloomberg / Washington Post)
6/ A federal judge in Kentucky blocked Biden’s Title IX rule that expanded anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students, saying it exceeded presidential authority. The regulation, which barred discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, faced legal challenges from Republican-led states and was criticized for infringing on free speech by requiring educators to use students’ preferred pronouns. The ruling vacated the rule nationwide, marking a victory for conservative groups and setting the stage for Trump’s previous promise to end the rules “on day one.” (ABC News / Politico / New York Times)
Florida Accidentally Paid Healthcare Company $5 Million Instead of $50K; CEO Used Extra Funds to Run for Congress: Report
Florida is suing a healthcare company after mistakenly paying it $5.7 million instead of $50K, with accusations that the CEO used the funds to run for congress.
www.latintimes.com
--Patrick