CNN has a new senior political commentator. The cable news network announced it had hired just retired Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger Wednesday. Kinzinger, a Republican, emerged as one of former President Trump’s fiercest critics before serving as one of two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee. In an interview with Don Lemon, Kinzinger debuted in his new role, where he outlined the latest concessions Kevin McCarthy has made to win over his detractors. The Hill has more on Kinzinger’s new role: He famously gave a tearful speech during one of the committee’s early hearings as he reflected on the events of Jan.…
Author: Patrick Houck
Patrick Houck
Patrick Houck is an avid political enthusiast based out of the Washington, D.C. metro area. His expertise is in campaigns and the use of targeted messaging to persuade voters. When not combing through the latest news, you can find him enjoying the company of family and friends or pursuing his love of photography.
Former Fox Business reporter Lou Dobbs took a decidedly personal shot at former President Donald Trump. Dobbs’ salvo comes as the Republican Party has failed for a second day to consolidate power after regaining the House of Representatives in the midterms. Dobbs’ harsh words for Trump contrast sharply with his praise for the “20 patriots” who have opposed McCarthy through the ongoing votes. Mediaite reports: Trump was pointedly reluctant to stand by his initial McCarthy endorsement Tuesday, but eventually he came out again and urged Republicans to end the stalemate and elect McCarthy as Speaker. Dobbs linked to a Fox…
Jordan Peterson may lose his license to practice psychology in the Canadian province of Ontario. What was Peterson’s crime, you ask? Fraud, drug use, professional negligence, maybe? No, according to Peterson, he’s merely tweeted criticisms of liberal policies in general and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in particular. Now, the world’s most famous conservative intellectual claims he’s being persecuted by the powers that be. In a dramatic tweet, Peterson broke the news yesterday, revealing that the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) is demanding he complete mandatory training “regarding professionalism in public statements” or face a disciplinary hearing. As The…
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told CNN Wednesday morning that “preliminary talks” have begun between moderate Republicans and Democrats to select a consensus candidate for speaker should Kevin McCarthy’s speakership bid collapse. Bacon wrote an op-ed in the Daily Caller two days ago that he would work with Democrats if the “small handful of people” obstructing McCarthy’s road to becoming the next speaker continued to push for “unreasonable” demands. Chief among them, according to Bacon, was the group’s request that any single member of the Republican caucus could call for a vote of no confidence in McCarthy. Bacon said that the…
While Democrats hooted and howled at Republican dysfunction on the floor of the U.S. House this afternoon, Breitbart News corroborated an earlier claim by Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Speaking to reporters before he failed to win the required votes the first time to become speaker, McCarthy said that Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said he didn’t care if House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., won the speakership over McCarthy. https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1610322988418859008 Gaetz wasn’t the only Republican who expressed indifference to the prospect of a liberal Democrat becoming the next speaker of the House. According to Breitbart’s Jacob Bliss, Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and…
For the first time in more than 100 years, the House of Representatives will need more than one round of voting to choose its next speaker. An unidentified voice rang out from the House floor, “Let the show begin,” as the 118th Congress was gaveled in shortly after noon. It was the last time Rep. Nancy Pelosi would sit in the speaker’s chair. But there was an air of uncertainty coming from Republicans. George Santos, R-N.Y., sat by himself in the back of the House chamber, with colleagues from both parties demanding answers for his fabrications and embellishments. Near the…
“I am not a criminal,” Rep.-elect George Santos, R-N.Y., declared in a recent interview with the New York Post. Authorities in Brazil would disagree. They intend to reopen a criminal case into Santos on charges of alleged check fraud back in 2008. The Rio de Janeiro prosecutor’s office abandoned its case against Santos after losing track of his whereabouts. He was wanted on charges of elder fraud and check forgery in Brazil. The New York Times explains: A spokeswoman for the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor’s office said that with Mr. Santos’s whereabouts identified, a formal request will be made to…
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., is threatening to work with Democrats to select the next speaker of the House. Bacon represents Omaha in Congress and has a 65% lifetime rating from Heritage Action. The moderate Republican explained in an op-ed for the Daily Caller why he would work with Democrats if the five Republicans who have opposed McCarthy continue to refuse to budge. Per Mediaite: “I support Kevin McCarthy, but a small handful of people are holding us hostage,” Bacon writes to kick off the op-ed, which also has a “counter point” column published on the website. “The vast majority of…
Kevin McCarthy has agreed to a major concession to secure his bid to become the next speaker of the House. On a Sunday night conference call with members of the House Republican caucus, McCarthy, R-Calif., said he would agree to the “motion to vacate,” a parliamentary procedure by which as few as five members of Congress could trigger a vote to oust him. It’s still far from certain that the California Republican will become speaker. Even McCarthy admits he doesn’t know if he has the votes to lock down his speakership bid. He can only afford to lose four Republicans…
With only hours left in its term, the 117th Congress is suddenly one member short. North Carolina Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D) resigned Friday afternoon, days ahead of the expected end of his congressional career. Butterfield had represented North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2004. He announced in November of last year that he would not run for reelection in 2022. Butterfield’s resignation came one day before his first day at a prominent D.C. law firm where he’ll serve as a lobbyist. Though there is a one-year ban on lobbying Congress, former lawmakers can lobby other parts of government, including…