Unexpected good news out of Texas, with Democrats getting the Speaker they wanted. However, does anyone know why three Democrats instead supported David Cook for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives? Could there really be any doubt that Dustin Burrows was the more rational candidate and thus the better choice?
I am not sure why, but these three Democrats voted for David Cook: Sergio Munoz Jr. (36th district), Richard Pena Raymond (42), and Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (102).
You wrote Democrat twice: "Burrows, however, cobbled together a coalition of 36 Democrats and 49 Democrats." I believe the diary meant to say "49 Democrats and 36 Republicans", which is what Jacob M. wrote yesterday.
Caricature of yesterday’s Senate confirmation hearings, per Alex Blechman:
Republican Senator: "I'll speak in [Pete Hegseth’s] defense because to err is human. Who among us hasn't shown up drunk to work? Who here hasn't cheated on his wife?"
Hegseth: "Please stop helping me."
Senator: "Who hasn't taken off their pants at the zoo?"
Funny story. Years ago, I took a cocktail-making class, and at the end of the class, the instructor handed out the various leftover ingredients to the participants. I took home a container of fresh tomato juice.
A couple of days later, poking around the fridge one afternoon, I decide that that tomato juice is looking good. So I pour myself a glass and head back to my desk (since I work from home). It *was* good—a little *too* good.
A few minutes later, I'm feeling awfully chill. In fact, you might say, even a bit buzzed! Turns out it was sangrita with some tequila already mixed in. Only I couldn't taste the tequila, since it was subtle and the tomato juice was strong. I only noticed its effects on me after I'd drunk it.
So yeah, I once got tipsy at work. Totally by accident. Now I am qualified to be secretary of defense!
It might be fun to have a three martini (or whatever your tipple of choice) Downballot lunch session in which you chat with participants and maybe we give you info and analysis on political races for the newsletter, and get in some non-political chat as well.
At my previous job, especially after COVID had us all working from home, we would have online Zoom/Microsoft Teams happy hours where we could all chat remotely over a drink if we wished (we didn't drink while actually working.)
Democrats are unlikely to unseat Senator Lindsay Graham. However, I’m open to seeing how he could possibly be primaried out of office.
There are plenty of things a GOP challenger could throw against Graham. I’d like to see he gets the Jeb Bush treatment where he’s put on the spot for the Iraq War. This got Bush to flip flop on the issue.
Graham though unlike Jeb! has a voting record. He bankrolled the Iraq War ever since he was in the Senate and never apologized for his votes.
I despise Graham, but his replacement will surely be worse, barring some fluke. You think South Carolina is going to replace Graham with someone more moderate? At least Graham votes for Democratic Supreme Court nominees.
The only federal SC seat we might be able to flip, barring redistricting, is SC-01, probably the least red of the 6 GOP seats and represented by Nancy Mace who sometimes seems to go out of her way to piss people off.
I thought Nancy Mace started off in her first term in the House with a moderate persona and came across as intelligent, well-read even if she’s serving the wrong party.
Then she did everything she could to worship Trump and her messaging ended up making her a hypocrite. Mace still has some moderate views but her agenda can get cluttered with what the GOP wants her to do.
In other words, Mace has become another Elise Stefanik, who like her also had moderate views as a House member (including being pro-environment) but became Trump’s dedicated, loyal foot soldier.
Graham does vote for Democratic Supreme Court nominees. However, that’s low bar and his history of holding on well in the general election makes it extremely hard for any Democratic Candidate (liberal or moderate) to unseat him.
However, the 2026 midterms are coming and whoever the GOP candidate(s) are would have to be more right wing than Graham. There’s no way the GOP would get a moderate to primary him out.
I’m not hoping the GOP does this but it would be entertaining to watch the debates.
Senator Lindsey Graham was halfway decent when John McCain was still alive. Hard to understand what happened to him since then – I often wonder what Trump has on him.
Graham was in fact more sane and reasonable than Tea Party Republicans were back in the 2010’s. He even had respect for plenty of Democrats who were working on a bipartisan basis.
However, I agree on Graham being more sane when McCain was still alive.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 42-day cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, President Biden and other leaders announced on Wednesday, raising hopes that a 15-month war that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave could soon come to an end.
The cease-fire was set to take effect on Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar, a mediating country, told reporters. He added, though, that both sides were still working on concluding some of the logistical matters.
“This cease-fire is essential and overdue. Too many lives have already been lost and ruined over the last 15 months of the conflict,” David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement. He added that “a surge of aid is desperately needed to provide immediate relief to civilians” in Gaza and that added assistance “can lay the foundations for the even harder work of development and peace.”
"Washington — Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio was removed from his position atop the powerful House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, telling CBS News that House Speaker Mike Johnson fired him, citing "concerns from Mar-a-Lago." Turner also confirmed Friday night that he had been removed from the committee entirely."
Unexpected good news out of Texas, with Democrats getting the Speaker they wanted. However, does anyone know why three Democrats instead supported David Cook for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives? Could there really be any doubt that Dustin Burrows was the more rational candidate and thus the better choice?
I am not sure why, but these three Democrats voted for David Cook: Sergio Munoz Jr. (36th district), Richard Pena Raymond (42), and Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (102).
You wrote Democrat twice: "Burrows, however, cobbled together a coalition of 36 Democrats and 49 Democrats." I believe the diary meant to say "49 Democrats and 36 Republicans", which is what Jacob M. wrote yesterday.
Thank you for the catch!
Caricature of yesterday’s Senate confirmation hearings, per Alex Blechman:
Republican Senator: "I'll speak in [Pete Hegseth’s] defense because to err is human. Who among us hasn't shown up drunk to work? Who here hasn't cheated on his wife?"
Hegseth: "Please stop helping me."
Senator: "Who hasn't taken off their pants at the zoo?"
I've never shown up to work drunk. I guess that disqualifies me from being a Senator.
Funny story. Years ago, I took a cocktail-making class, and at the end of the class, the instructor handed out the various leftover ingredients to the participants. I took home a container of fresh tomato juice.
A couple of days later, poking around the fridge one afternoon, I decide that that tomato juice is looking good. So I pour myself a glass and head back to my desk (since I work from home). It *was* good—a little *too* good.
A few minutes later, I'm feeling awfully chill. In fact, you might say, even a bit buzzed! Turns out it was sangrita with some tequila already mixed in. Only I couldn't taste the tequila, since it was subtle and the tomato juice was strong. I only noticed its effects on me after I'd drunk it.
So yeah, I once got tipsy at work. Totally by accident. Now I am qualified to be secretary of defense!
You are a drunkard.
Perhaps. But in the morning David will be sober.
It might be fun to have a three martini (or whatever your tipple of choice) Downballot lunch session in which you chat with participants and maybe we give you info and analysis on political races for the newsletter, and get in some non-political chat as well.
At my previous job, especially after COVID had us all working from home, we would have online Zoom/Microsoft Teams happy hours where we could all chat remotely over a drink if we wished (we didn't drink while actually working.)
Secretary Nir has a nice ring to it
SC-SEN:
Democrats are unlikely to unseat Senator Lindsay Graham. However, I’m open to seeing how he could possibly be primaried out of office.
There are plenty of things a GOP challenger could throw against Graham. I’d like to see he gets the Jeb Bush treatment where he’s put on the spot for the Iraq War. This got Bush to flip flop on the issue.
Graham though unlike Jeb! has a voting record. He bankrolled the Iraq War ever since he was in the Senate and never apologized for his votes.
I despise Graham, but his replacement will surely be worse, barring some fluke. You think South Carolina is going to replace Graham with someone more moderate? At least Graham votes for Democratic Supreme Court nominees.
Yep. Sadly we aren't flipping South Carolina anytime soon. There's no Raleigh, Charlotte, or Atlanta to help us.
The only federal SC seat we might be able to flip, barring redistricting, is SC-01, probably the least red of the 6 GOP seats and represented by Nancy Mace who sometimes seems to go out of her way to piss people off.
I thought Nancy Mace started off in her first term in the House with a moderate persona and came across as intelligent, well-read even if she’s serving the wrong party.
Then she did everything she could to worship Trump and her messaging ended up making her a hypocrite. Mace still has some moderate views but her agenda can get cluttered with what the GOP wants her to do.
In other words, Mace has become another Elise Stefanik, who like her also had moderate views as a House member (including being pro-environment) but became Trump’s dedicated, loyal foot soldier.
Outside of Jim Clyburn’s district which is blue, SC-01 has more room for growth for Democrats.
But that’s not enough as the rest of SC is deep red.
Graham does vote for Democratic Supreme Court nominees. However, that’s low bar and his history of holding on well in the general election makes it extremely hard for any Democratic Candidate (liberal or moderate) to unseat him.
However, the 2026 midterms are coming and whoever the GOP candidate(s) are would have to be more right wing than Graham. There’s no way the GOP would get a moderate to primary him out.
I’m not hoping the GOP does this but it would be entertaining to watch the debates.
Senator Lindsey Graham was halfway decent when John McCain was still alive. Hard to understand what happened to him since then – I often wonder what Trump has on him.
Graham was in fact more sane and reasonable than Tea Party Republicans were back in the 2010’s. He even had respect for plenty of Democrats who were working on a bipartisan basis.
However, I agree on Graham being more sane when McCain was still alive.
OH-13: 2024 Presidential Results
Harris: 195,944 (49.56%)
Trump: 195,768 (49.52%)
Total Cast: 395,302
Closest district in the country.
Every vote matters, as they say!
That’s quite a swing district!
Is this Emilia Sykes' district? 💙🇺🇲
Yes.
The FDA bans Red 3 dye, and food manufacturers have until January 15th, 2027 to comply with the new guidance.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-bans-red-no-3-artificial-coloring-beverages-candy-rcna185479
President Biden has officially gotten the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Done. And only days before he leaves office!
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/15/world/israel-hamas-cease-fire-deal-gaza
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Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 42-day cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, President Biden and other leaders announced on Wednesday, raising hopes that a 15-month war that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave could soon come to an end.
The cease-fire was set to take effect on Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar, a mediating country, told reporters. He added, though, that both sides were still working on concluding some of the logistical matters.
“This cease-fire is essential and overdue. Too many lives have already been lost and ruined over the last 15 months of the conflict,” David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement. He added that “a surge of aid is desperately needed to provide immediate relief to civilians” in Gaza and that added assistance “can lay the foundations for the even harder work of development and peace.”
"Washington — Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio was removed from his position atop the powerful House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, telling CBS News that House Speaker Mike Johnson fired him, citing "concerns from Mar-a-Lago." Turner also confirmed Friday night that he had been removed from the committee entirely."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mike-johnson-removes-mike-turner-house-intelligence-chairman/
Seems like he is taking on the chin but if he resigns be curious to see how much Trump won it by this time around. about 4.5% last time.
From the data provided in todays thread 5.7% much more doable than the three vacancies so far.