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Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter dies at 68

Ash Carter, the former Defense secretary who oversaw sweeping personnel changes at the Pentagon, including opening all military occupations and positions to women, has died at the age of 68, his family announced Tuesday.  

Carter, who ran the Defense Department from early 2015 to 2017 during President Obama’s second term, died Monday evening in Boston after a sudden heart attack, according to the family’s statement.

While at the Pentagon, the 25th Defense secretary oversaw a range of national security issues, including the launch of the military strategy that would ultimately push back and defeat the Islamic State military group in Syria and Iraq.  

He also tackled numerous personnel matters, including ending a ban on transgender officers in the military and opening all military positions to women in 2016 — the first time in U.S. history that women could enter certain combat roles previously only open to men.  

Carter “devoted his professional life to the national security of the United States and teaching students about international affairs,” according to his family. “He was a beloved husband, father, mentor, and friend. His sudden loss will be felt by all who knew him.” 

Carter, who was born in Philadelphia in 1954, died just a month after his 68th birthday on Sept. 24. 

He attended Yale University, graduating in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in physics and medieval history before heading to Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and received his doctorate in theoretical physics in 1979. 

Carter would remain in academia over the next decade, working at Oxford, Rockefeller University, and M.I.T. before landing various teaching positions and directing roles at Harvard University from 1984 to 1993.  

“He believed that his most profound legacy would be the thousands of students he taught with the hope that they would make the world a better and safer place,” his family said. 

The Pennsylvania native eventually served presidents in both parties over five administrations. He first entered the government service sphere in 1991, when he served as a member of the Defense Science Board, before becoming assistant secretary of Defense for international security policy in 1993 during former President Clinton’s first term.  

While there, Carter was responsible for strategic affairs and overseeing the U.S. nuclear strategy, arsenal and missile defenses. 

The period proved to be a tumultuous one in the world and Carter found himself heading military planning during what is now known as the 1994 crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program – the result of which was a treaty between the U.S. and North Korea meant to freeze Pyongyang’s nuclear program. 

Carter also served as chairmen of NATO’s High Level Group, dealing with new defense and intelligence relationships with former Soviet countries after the Soviet Union collapsed.   

He later served as the Pentagon’s top acquisition official from 2009 to 2011, leading the restructuring of the F-35 fighter jet program, then as deputy defense secretary from 2011 to 2013, when he oversaw DOD’s massive annual budget and its more than three million civilian and military employees.  

He eventually reached the Pentagon’s top civilian role in February 2015 after he was nominated to replace then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and was confirmed 93-5 by the Senate. 

Under Carter, the U.S. military opened all roles to women, including positions in infantry, armor, reconnaissance and some special operations units previously closed to females, and ended a ban on openly serving transgender service members.  

But Carter’s latter move was quickly blunted in 2017 when then-President Trump decided to reimpose the transgender ban, a decision Carter harshly criticized at the time. 

“To choose service members on other grounds than military qualifications is social policy and has no place in our military,” Carter said. 

A Harvard University profile of Carter said he also “led the creation of the military campaign and international coalition to destroy ISIS, designed and executed the strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific, established a new playbook for the U.S. and NATO to confront Russia’s aggression, and launched a national cyber strategy.”

In addition, Carter was known for his attempt to bring the Pentagon and Silicon Valley together to more quickly bring new technology to the military. While ambitious, the effort had limited success.  

“While he was known for his keen understanding of military technology, nuclear weapons, and international affairs, Secretary Carter loved nothing more than spending time with the troops, making frequent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit U.S forces [with his wife Stephanie],” his family said in its statement. 

Carter on five occasions was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Pentagon’s highest civilian honor. 

After his time in government, he joined Harvard University’s Kennedy School as director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs until his death.

Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf, who announced Carter’s death to the school on Tuesday, praised “his lifelong efforts to serve this country, to defend the best values of this country, and to build a safer world for all people.” 

Elmendorf added: “For my part, I want to offer my gratitude for his insight and wisdom, his unwavering commitment to trying to make the world better, his confidence that the Kennedy School can make an important difference in the world, his generous spirit toward his students and colleagues, and his warm and gracious friendship with me. I will miss him so much.” 

Carter is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and children, Ava and Will. 

Updated: 11:47 a.m.

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The Hill's Morning Report — Political heavyweights take '22 down to the wire

Debates are the reality TV performances of the final sprint to Election Day, at least among the candidates willing to do them this year, or perhaps unable to duck at least one.

If debates, campaign ads and robocalls don’t sew up enough undecided voters, showy public events with big-name surrogates might do the trick. That’s the thinking behind a Pennsylvania swing planned on Nov. 5 featuring former President Obama and President Biden to help Senate candidate John Fetterman, the Democratic lieutenant governor who is in a close race against Republican Mehmet Oz, a TV personality (Axios and The Hill).

Fetterman and Oz will debate for the first and only time tonight in an event that pits the Democrat, who is recovering from a springtime stroke, against the GOP surgeon who is a newcomer to politics and has used health to question his opponent’s abilities. The Hill’s Julia Manchester previews the potential play-by-play in a race that has tightened since the summer and is considered a tossup, according to the RealClearPolitics average.

NewsNation: How to watch the Pennsylvania Senate debate from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, hosted by Nexstar, The Hill’s parent company.

Biden will help Fetterman with fundraising on Friday during a Pennsylvania Democratic Party reception in Philadelphia accompanied by Vice President Harris. Obama and the president will appear together in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh next week for public events in the Keystone State to help Fetterman and Josh Shapiro, the Democratic candidate for governor and the current attorney general, who has maintained a lead over Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano.

If Republicans win the Senate in two weeks, their party will likely want to thank some GOP gubernatorial candidates, reports The Hill’s Al Weaver. In some states this year, including Georgia, Ohio and possibly New Hampshire, Republican governors are lending much-needed altitude to some candidates, including some Senate contenders. That’s the case in Arizona where Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake holds a narrow lead and gives GOP Senate contender Blake Masters his only prayer against Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly.

▪ The Hill: Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a contentious Monday debate with Democrat and former Gov. Charlie Crist, refused to rule out a 2024 bid for the White House.

▪ The New York Times: New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate for governor, will hold a single televised debate tonight. Spectrum News and NY1 will host the event at 7 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, an ally of former President Trump, does not have to comply with a subpoena from a grand jury in Georgia investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, according to an administrative stay issued Monday by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The ruling is temporary. Prosecutors have until Thursday to lay out why they want to question the senator (The New York Times).

▪ SCOTUSblog, by James Romoser: John Roberts is the chief justice. But it’s Clarence Thomas’s court.

▪ The Hill: Jan. 6 panel’s legacy may go beyond the midterms.   

Biden on Monday planted an elm tree on the South Lawn to pay tribute to the chief groundskeeper, Dale Haney, who has worked at the White House for half a century, and then visited staff and volunteers gathered not far away at the Democratic National Committee headquarters while pondering the future.

“Whether we maintain control of the Senate and the House is a big deal,” Biden said during his pep talk. “And so far, we’re running against the tide, and we’re beating the tide. But we just have 15 days until one of the most important elections in our lifetime. And it’s going to shape … the coming decade, for real” (The Hill).

Related Articles

▪ Axios: Biden officials are quietly discussing with some in the Senate a possible debt ceiling deal in the lame duck session while Democrats still have majorities. Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) would likely need 60 votes to raise the current $31.4 trillion debt limit, requiring support from at least 10 of the 14 GOP senators who supported the last debt ceiling increase in December 2021.

▪ Roll Call: Senate, House seats up for grabs as Nevada starts early voting.

▪ The Hill: Elections for top office could impact abortion access in these states. 

LEADING THE DAY

➤ SPIES  

The Department of Justice on Monday announced charges against 10 alleged Chinese government spies and three other Chinese nationals in three separate cases, including a matter in which two intelligence officers, still at large, sought to recruit a U.S. double agent in order to damage prosecution of tech company Huawei. The sprawling activity described by the government includes several different plots and is described as part of a pressure campaign aimed at the U.S.-based Chinese citizens, who had been critical of the Chinese Communist Party. The announcement, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, comes as the U.S. continues its 2019 criminal case against Huawei (The Hill and NBC News).

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

➤ INTERNATIONAL

In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party on Monday named former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak as the third prime minister of the year. Sunak, 42, gained sufficient nominations from within his party to block contender Penny Mordaunt, who withdrew, after former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said he was not a candidate. 

The first person of color to hold the post, Sunak is set to meet King Charles III today and inherits a country and economy in turmoil following Liz Truss’s resignation after a chaotic 45 days as his predecessor. Truss introduced, and was later forced to walk back, a sweeping economic and tax reform plan that sent the British markets plummeting and drew sharp criticism from within and outside her party (BBC and The New York Times). 

“There is no doubt we face profound economic challenges,’’ Sunak said Monday. “We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring my party and country together.”

▪ The Washington Post: Who is Sunak? What to know about the new U.K. prime minister.

▪ The Guardian: Sunak’s rapid change of political fortune.

A senior Ukrainian official said Monday that Russia’s occupation administration in Kherson, a strategically important port city, is leaving. Proxy officials are said to be abandoning the government headquarters as Ukrainian forces continue to make progress advancing on the city.

But there is no evidence that Russian soldiers are preparing for a mass withdrawal, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, said in a Monday interview with a Ukrainian news outlet (The New York Times).

“They are not preparing to exit now,” Budanov said of the Russian soldiers. “They are preparing to defend.”

▪ ABC News: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Kyiv today for his first visit since the war began. He said his visit was to demonstrate Germany’s solidarity with Ukraine.

▪ The New York Times: Where Russians retreated, Ukrainians find devastation.

▪ The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal: Group of 30 House liberals urge Biden to rethink Ukraine strategy, negotiate with Russia. White House says any talks with Moscow will be up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

▪ Bloomberg News: President Vladimir Putin’s threats worry Ukraine’s NATO allies as a sign of Russian desperation.

InRussia, American basketball star Brittney Griner heads today to an appeals hearing in a Moscow court facing a nine-year sentence for a drug possession charge to which she pleaded guilty. Griner, who was arrested in Russia in February, does not expect “any miracles to happen” as a result of the appeal, her lawyers said in a statement on Monday (Yahoo News).

The Biden administration has worked to secure Griner’s release through a proposed prisoner swap and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), acting privately as an experienced negotiator, has traveled to Russia to seek Americans’ release. Richardson said this month that he was cautiously optimistic that Griner and Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned in Russia, may be freed by the end of the year (CNN). 

The Wall Street Journal: U.S.-Saudi relations buckle, driven by animosity between Biden and Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this week is attending a forum in Zagreb, Croatia, aimed at supporting Ukraine. “Discussions will be centered on the international community’s efforts to support the Ukrainian people while holding Russia accountable for its documented war crimes and attempted illegal annexations,” her office said on Sunday (Reuters).

OPINION

■ How many shocks can the world take? by Stephen Walt, columnist, Foreign Policy. https://bit.ly/3N39S9p 

■ Plummeting U.S. test scores aren’t a red state vs. blue state thing, by Eugene Robinson, columnist, The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/3gCkRul

WHERE AND WHEN

The House meets at 11 a.m. for a pro forma session. Members are scheduled to return to the Capitol on Nov. 14. ​​

The Senate convenes at noon on Thursday for a pro forma session. Senators make their way back to Washington on Nov. 14. 

The president will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 10:15 a.m. Biden will receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster shot and deliver remarks about the current state of the pandemic in the United States at 2:05 p.m.

The vice president will fly to Albuquerque, N.M., to speak at 12:45 p.m. MT at a fundraiser with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) held at a private residence. Harris will join a moderated conversation at the University of New Mexico about reproductive rights at 2:30 p.m. MT accompanied by the governor and Eve Espey, a physician. The vice president will fly to Seattle and remain overnight.    

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet at 10 a.m. with United Nations Under Secretary-General Martin Griffiths. The secretary meets at 1 p.m.with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington, D.C. Blinken will host a reception at the State Department at 5:30 p.m. for policy planning directors and ambassadors with the Atlantic Council’s D-10 Strategy Forum, which brings together 10 leading democracies, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus the European Union

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will travel to Eagan, Minn., where he will join Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin at a political event focused on mobilizing voters at 12:30 p.m. CT. He will attend a similar door-knocking event in Edina, Minn., at 3:30 p.m., and another in Minneapolis at 5:45 p.m. at the Sabes Family Center. 

The White House daily press briefing is scheduled at 2:45 p.m.

ELSEWHERE

➤ PANDEMIC & HEALTH 

Fears of a U.S. “twindemic” are growing as the nation deals with children’s hospitals crowded with cases of respiratory syncytial virus just as the number of people with the flu is also rising across the country, writes The Hill’s Chia-Yi Hou. Experts had previously been talking about a possible “twindemic” as a simultaneous surge in COVID-19 and flu cases. Thankfully, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have leveled off in the United States — although that could change as temperatures drop and people move indoors— and if that happens, even more pressure could be placed on hospitals.

Axios: Biden faces COVID-19 dilemma as a winter wave nears.

Washing hands, public health experts say, is always a good idea even amid easily transmitted respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 mutations, which circulate through air and via aerosol droplets (The Atlantic). 

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported as of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (trackers all vary slightly): 1,067,882. Current U.S. COVID-19 deaths are 2,566 for the week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (The CDC shifted its tally of available data from daily to weekly, now reported on Fridays.)

➤ EDUCATION 

The nation’s report card, or the National Assessment of Educational Progress, revealed significant drops in math and reading scores during the pandemic, cementing experts’ warnings about learning loss. The report, released Monday, sampled fourth and eighth graders across the country and marked the steepest declines ever recorded. 

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia saw double-digit drops in scores, declines that did not necessarily correlate with higher- or lower-performing states, or red and blue states and schools that closed for COVID-19 and those that opened quickly.

“I want to be very clear: The results in today’s nation’s report card are appalling and unacceptable,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. “This is a moment of truth for education. How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery, but our nation’s standing in the world.”

The biggest question is what the federal government, states and school districts will do to help students catch up. In 2021, the administration made its largest single investment in U.S. schools — $123 billion, or about $2,400 per student. School districts were required to spend at least 20 percent of the money on academic recovery but some experts believe the threshold is inadequate for the magnitude of the problem (The New York Times).

▪ The Hill: Political, legal battle heats up over student loan debt forgiveness.

▪ The Washington Post: Schools got $122 billion to reopen last year. Most of the money has not been used.

THE CLOSER

And finally … 🦎 Love is in the air — for lizards. New research into the social behavior of lizards and other reptiles suggests they can live in family groups, lovingly care for their young and even form monogamous bonds. Scientists say social behavior in reptiles has been largely overlooked for decades, but with the help of camera traps and genetic testing, researchers have made strides to better understand their social behavior, The New York Times reports. 

“There’s more socially going on with reptiles than we give them credit for,” Sean Doody, a conservation biologist at the University of South Florida, told the Times.

And this research isn’t happening just because they love lizards. Experts estimate that 1 in 5 reptile species are threatened with extinction and learning more about their behavior could be crucial for conservation.

Stay Engaged

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Five things to watch in the only Pennsylvania Senate debate between Fetterman and Oz

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz are set to face off on Tuesday evening in the first and only debate of the Pennsylvania Senate race.

The race is one of a handful that will decide control of the upper chamber and the debate itself is seen as particularly consequential as Oz gains on Fetterman and the lieutenant governor seeks to dispel concerns about his health after a stroke earlier this year.

NewsNation, which is owned by The Hill parent company Nexstar, will air the debate exclusively. The debate will take place from 8-9 p.m. Eastern, with pre- and post-debate analysis also featured on the channel.

Here are five things to watch for in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Senate debate in Harrisburg:

Does Fetterman’s health impact his debate performance?

Fetterman’s recovery from a stroke he suffered just before the primary has been closely watched and all eyes will be on him Tuesday to see whether the lingering symptoms affect his performance. 

It’s been widely known the Democratic nominee uses a closed captioning system to conduct interviews with reporters, which his campaign says is to make up for auditory processing issues but does not indicate any cognitive problems. But an NBC News interview with Fetterman earlier this month that showed what the system looked like drew scrutiny from his critics, particularly after NBC’s Dasha Burns, who conducted the interview, said it wasn’t clear Fetterman could understand the “small talk” without captioning.

Fetterman will use the system onstage at the debate, a first for a televised Senate debate. 

Last week, Fetterman’s doctor released a letter saying the candidate is in good health and “has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.”

“He spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits. His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty. Occasional words he will ‘miss,’ which seems like he doesn’t hear the word but it is actually not processed properly,” Fetterman’s doctor, Clifford Chen, wrote. “His hearing of sound such as music is not affected.”

How does Oz navigate Fetterman’s health?

Democrats and Fetterman’s allies have conceded that Oz, who has years of experience in television, has the upper hand in the debate. But they also say voters’ perceptions of Oz’s performance could depend in part on how the Republican nominee conducts himself in regard to Fetterman’s health.

“The TV studio is Oz’s comfort zone. This guy is a media-savvy performer who literally built his career (and his fortune) by playing to the cameras as a daytime TV host,” Fetterman’s campaign said in a memo on Monday. “He hosted his scammy talk show for 13 seasons, filming over 2,000 episodes where he hawked miracle cures and magic diet pills to prey on hard-working Americans.”

Oz’s campaign faced criticism in August after an aide mocked Fetterman over his stroke. 

Republicans and Oz’s allies say the candidate needs to show compassion toward Fetterman while attacking his record as lieutenant governor. Last week, Oz’s campaign released a statement responding to the letter, saying it was “good news that John Fetterman’s doctor gave him a clean bill of health.”

“The bad news is that John Fetterman still supports releasing convicted murderers out on the streets and has zero explanation for why he didn’t pay his taxes 67 times,” Oz’s campaign said. “And now that he apparently is healthy, he can debate for 90 minutes, start taking live questions from voters and reporters, and do a second debate now too.”

Does Oz zero in on crime and the economy?

Republican candidates in close races across the country have focused in on crime and inflation and Oz, who has seen his poll numbers rise in recent months, is no exception.

On Monday, Oz’s campaign rolled out a six-point plan to fight crime, which included stopping drug crimes, smart sentencing reform, increasing resources for safer streets, prosecuting crime, victims and users relief, and reducing crime in prisons. 

The Republican has taken aim at Fetterman’s record on clemency as lieutenant governor, painting him as a soft-on-crime leader. Oz and his outside allies have run a number of ads drawing attention to cases Fetterman oversaw as head of the state pardons board. 

GOP Senate nominees in other battleground states have sought to pivot to crime in their own debates and it is likely Oz will try to do the same. 

Oz will also likely work to tie Fetterman and his Democratic allies to rising inflation and gas prices as well. The Republican’s campaign has pledged to cut taxes for working families and lower health care costs, while Fetterman has emphasized strengthening the working class and fighting corporate greed. 

Oz’s attacks on Fetterman’s record on crime have arguably made the most headlines recently, but it’s the economy that has proven to be the top issue for Pennsylvania voters. A Monmouth University poll released earlier this month found that 87 percent of Pennsylvania voters see jobs, the economy and the cost of living as “extremely or very important to them this election.” 

Will Fetterman’s attacks on abortion stick?

While Oz has zeroed in on crime as a top issue, Fetterman has spent quite a bit of time hitting Oz over abortion, particularly over his stance on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) proposed nationwide 15-week abortion ban. 

Democrats in other high-stakes Senate races have also employed the attack line, painting their GOP opponents as extreme on the issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Numerous Democratic Senate candidates have used the issue against Republicans in their own televised Senate debates this month. The topic stands to galvanize the Democratic base and abortion rights supporters, and even attract independent and swing voters from areas like Philadelphia’s suburbs. Fetterman held a rally for more than 3,000 attendees in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in September where he addressed the issue, vowing to be the “51st vote for abortion rights.” 

However, a divide has emerged among Democrats over how much the party’s candidates should focus on abortion as opposed to the economy in the closing days of their campaigns and whether continuing to talk about abortion is an effective strategy when numerous polls show the economy and crime outranking it as a top issue. 

Will Biden, Trump play role?

Like other Senate candidates this cycle, Fetterman and Oz have worked to tie each other to President Biden and former President Trump throughout the campaign. 

On Monday, Fetterman’s campaign rolled out a statement on recent reporting from Rolling Stone, which says Trump is pushing Pennsylvania lawmakers to repeal a 2019 no-excuse mail-in voting law. The reporting also detailed how Trump would reportedly plan to challenge election results in the state. 

“It’s clear that Donald Trump, Dr. Oz, and the GOP will do whatever it takes to try and steal this race on Election Night. Trump has already said he ‘needs’ people like Oz in office to challenge the 2024 election,” said Fetterman spokesperson Joe Calvello. “Trump is trying to steal the 2022 election for Oz so that Trump can steal the 2024 election for himself.” 

On the other side of the aisle, Oz has worked to tie Fetterman to Biden’s policies on a host of issues including the economy, crime and energy. 

“Joe Biden and John Fetterman would rather rely on other countries than open up our energy production – as PA’s next Senator, I will always support American energy,” Oz tweeted last week. 

Biden and Trump have hit the campaign trail for Fetterman and Oz, respectively, in Pennsylvania. In September, Trump held a rally for Oz and the state’s other down-ballot GOP candidates. Last week, Biden made a campaign stop for Fetterman and stumped for him at a fundraiser. 

The latest Emerson College-The Hill poll shows Biden with a 43 percent approval rating and a 51 percent disapproval rating. In a head-to-head match-up, Trump leads Biden 46 percent to 45 percent, well within the poll’s 3-point margin of error. 

Source: TEST FEED1

Biden gets punchy as midterms go down to the wire

When a reporter asked Joe Biden last week if there should be any restrictions on abortion, the president got saucy. 

“In Roe v. Wade. Read it man. You’ll get educated,” Biden said before hastily walking off to board Marine One on the White House South Lawn. 

It was a moment that reflected Biden’s punchiness with the midterms quickly approaching and with the the prospects of Democrats losing at least one chamber of Congress. Increasingly, Biden has shown off his more unscripted and candid side, something he has held back throughout his presidency. 

The president has largely stuck to the script since taking office nearly two years ago, rarely veering off message during larger, more publicized events. But with his approval ratings hovering around 41 percent, according to fivethirtyeight, he is resorting to the looser verbal tactics he employed as senator and vice president. 

In some ways, it’s similar to the approach taken by his political rival, former President Trump, who frequently feeds his crowds and online supporters exactly what they want: unvarnished attacks on his foes. 

And Biden’s allies applaud the president’s plucky tone.

“The thing is, it works for him,” said one longtime Biden ally. “I like the punchier side of Joe Biden, and it runs against that bullshit narrative of him being ‘sleepy Joe Biden.’” 

On Friday, Biden responded abruptly to a question about former President Trump’s longtime adviser, Steve Bannon, being sentenced to prison for contempt to Congress. 

“I’ve never had a reaction to Steve Bannon,” Biden retorted. 

A day earlier, he bashed Republican Senate hopeful Mehmet Oz before donors at a Philadelphia fundraiser, saying that his home state of Delaware was “smart enough to send him to New Jersey,” a reference to carpetbagging allegations that have plagued the Pennsylvania hopeful 

Biden, who rarely mentions Trump by name, also called him out in remarks to the Democratic National Committee on Monday, telling volunteers, “because you exercised your vote, Donald Trump was the defeated former president of the United States.”

He’s also been using the phrase “MAGA Republicans” throughout the midterm cycle to paint some conservatives as extreme, and this week he’s added “Mega MAGA trickle-down” to describe GOP economic policies.

And Biden of late hasn’t just been feistier. He’s also gone back to his tendencies of being more candid, particularly in smaller venues with a captive audience. 

During those receptions, the room is usually full of big donors, longtime Democrats and hardcore supporters of the president, while reporters are allowed into the room to take notes on the president’s remarks. 

In a recent string of fundraisers – without the presence of teleprompters and television cameras – Biden has provided glimpses of his “Uncle Joe” persona, offering the crowd his views on everything from the state of the Republican Party to the risks of nuclear “Armageddon” springing from the Ukraine war.

“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” he said earlier this month, while speaking at the home of James and Kathryn Murdoch.

“We’ve got a guy I know fairly well,” Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He’s not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming.”

At another fundraising event in Los Angeles this month, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the crowd, Biden also swiped at the press. 

“There are no editors anymore,” he said. “The ability of newspapers to have much impact is de minimis.” 

A noticeable uptick in the asides began in late August when Biden went after Republicans. 

“What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,” he said, before completely unleashing. “It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to stay something — it’s like semi-fascism.” 

Steve Schale, a longtime Biden ally who ran the super PAC Unite the Country that supported him, said the moments of candor work for Biden and play to his strengths. 

“I think he gets the media better than he gets credit for, and there are moments that he wants to get out there that are better to do than from behind the podium,” Schale said. “I believe he absolutely knows what he’s doing.” 

Speaking candidly and off-the-cuff, however, hasn’t always been a good strategy for Biden, who is known to make gaffes. But that’s the Biden that Democrats want to see, they say.

“As the president in public settings, Biden tends to want to appear statesman-like. As a campaigner in a more political setting, Biden is not afraid to be more ‘direct’ in expressing his views about the opposition,” said former Rep. Chris Carney (D-Pa.), a Biden ally.

“Biden is a consummate politician, and understands that in purely political settings, his audiences sometimes want an unscripted, unfiltered message,” Carney said.

Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau, who served as an aide to the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), said Biden is at his best when he’s not in front of a lectern and he’s “just Joe.” 

“It’s one of the reasons people elected him in the first place,” Mollineau said. “I understand the need to script politicians and the need for message discipline. 

“But sometimes you’ve just got to let politicians go with their instincts,” he added.

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Natural gas ban threats spark fear for restaurants

Restrictions on natural gas-powered appliances have sparked alarm among chefs and restaurant owners alike, who worry any bans on gas stoves will fundamentally change the way some cuisines are prepared and pose significant cost challenges.  

Although 21 states have preemption laws in place prohibiting any future legislation from banning natural gas, more than 60 cities in California have taken steps to phase out the appliances, while similar proposals have been enacted in New York and other states to help combat climate change. 

“It’s spreading pretty quickly,” said Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) in an interview with Changing America. “Thinking globally, acting locally is important, but developing an energy policy city by city is not a smart way to do this. And we’re kind of watching this unfold in real time,” Condie said.  

The CRA is in the midst of a lawsuit brought against Berkeley, Calif. — the first city in the country to implement a ban on natural gas hookups in all new building constructions. A ruling is expected before spring of 2023, Condie said.  

The majority of implemented policies do not immediately ban the use of natural gas in commercial buildings. Instead, they’re aimed at transitioning new constructions or renovations away from using the fuel, by mandating future structures don’t include gas hookups or infrastructure. Some laws carve out exceptions for commercial restaurants. 

According to internal data from the National Restaurant Association, 76 percent of U.S. restaurants use natural gas, while 94 percent of owners who use gas in their establishment say any ban would negatively impact their business.  

What are the tradeoffs? 

Burning natural gas does not emit nearly as much carbon dioxide as other fossil fuels like coal and oil. But methane and pollutant leaks during the extraction, production and distribution process pose environmental concerns.  

Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas resulting from human activity, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and is 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.  

Natural gas appliance leaks also pose health concerns. A new study carried out by researchers in California found that even when off, gas stoves in kitchens can leak benzene concentrations comparable to those found in secondhand smoke. 

Benzene is a known carcinogen and exposure can cause leukemia. 

“Natural gas leaks are a source of hazardous air pollutants that have largely been overlooked,” said study co-author Drew Michanowicz in a release.  

“Policies that phase out gas appliances are not only good for our climate, our study shows that these policies also provide important public health benefits by improving indoor and outdoor air quality.”  

But for restaurants, the policies have been adopted too quickly and without much consideration for the industry, owners and representatives say.  

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“There are certain types of food and certain culinary techniques that really require a flame in some way, shape or form to work and also for consistency and quality purposes,” said Mike Whatley, vice president of state affairs and grassroots advocacy at the National Restaurant Association. “This is an issue that particularly, uniquely impacts restaurateurs in that it impacts the very product that we’re serving.” 

The organization’s data show 90 percent of operators who use natural gas say losing the ability to cook with an open flame would negatively impact the quality of food served. “The technology to replicate the flame just isn’t there for a commercial setting yet,” Condie said.  

Gas appliances are also traditionally cheaper to run than electric ones, though depending on where a restaurant is located, utility costs can vary.  

A lack of policy uniformity poses challenges for restaurant groups that operate in different states or cities, as some only apply to new buildings and others to renovations.  

“We want to be a productive player and part of the conversation when it comes to environmental stewardship,” Whatley said, but “as a whole, the industry has concerns about flat-out losing the ability to have a natural gas flame via a natural gas ban.”  

Other restaurateurs make the argument that only a small proportion of emissions come from the commercial sector, with the majority resulting from transportation or industrial pollution.  

In California, six percent of greenhouse gases comes from the commercial sector and an even smaller portion is attributable to restaurants, Condie said. In 2020, commercial and residential sectors accounted for 13 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with the majority resulting from natural gas consumption.  

“I think everybody understands that climate change is absolutely at a crisis level,” he noted, but “it just seems like they’re attacking this issue first at the local level, [with] an industry that can least afford it and is least able to transition to electricity than probably many other industries.”  

What owners are saying 

In 2020, the city of Ann Arbor, Mich., adopted its A2 Zero plan aimed at reaching carbon neutrality by 2030. The plan does not ban new natural gas infrastructure, but does include initiatives aimed at cutting down commercial use of natural gas by promoting business electrification.  

A preemption law that would prohibit legislation on natural gas bans has been introduced in the state, but has not been enacted.  

Kevin Gudejko is the president and CEO of Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group, which operates nine restaurants in Michigan and four in Ann Arbor. The group also operates in Florida, Ohio and West Virginia. 

A few years ago, one of Mainstreet’s restaurants switched to solely using induction burners. “We spent in the neighborhood of about 12 or $13,000 to redo our electric system there,” Gudejko said, as the previous infrastructure couldn’t provide enough energy.  

A midsize company, Mainstreet Ventures will be able to adapt and afford some of the transitioning costs, Gudejko said, but he worries going electric might be less feasible for smaller, family-owned establishments.   

Increased demand on the state’s electricity grid, which is already facing challenges, could pose additional problems.  

“I think there’s a place for it, but I just don’t see how an outright ban can work for our industry.”  

Induction burners do heat quickly and can be energy efficient, but when it comes down to fine dining and more finesse, there are open flame techniques that can’t be replicated with burners, Gudejko said.  

For example, at some of Gudejko’s steakhouses, “we use char broilers to get that really crusty outside edge. [It] is really pretty difficult, nearly impossible, to char something on an induction burner.”  

Tom Hutchinson, co-owner of La Posta de Mesilla and Hacienda de Mesilla in Las Cruces, N.M., raised additional concerns about the move away from gas stoves. Hutchinson previously served on the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors and currently sits on the New Mexico board of directors. 

Hutchinson uses natural gas for all the equipment at his restaurants. “Converting it to electrical certainly can be done, but all it does is put demands on the grid,” he said. “I don’t think the grid’s in place, the electric power is in place, to be able to make the conversion,” for all restaurants in the state.  

New Mexico has no proposals pending for a gas ban but is also not among those with preemption laws in place. It ranks among the top 10 natural gas-producing states in the country.  

Echoing Gudejko’s worries, Hutchinson said “we’d have to go out and purchase all new equipment for our restaurants, we’d have to reengineer our kitchens,” if a ban were to be enacted. “It would be terribly costly to make that conversion today.”  

Although chefs probably could make the transition to induction over time, many have been trained to prepare food over an open flame, while the ability to control the size of that flame is crucial for some cuisines.  

“These are folks that are very, very good at their craft. They’re professionals. They understand the importance of the power source they’re using to heat the foods and cook their foods,” Hutchinson said.  

“I think, too often, we’re quick to leap to these new ideas without understanding what’s really happening and what the true impact is,” Hutchinson added, suggesting test cases could be carried out to better understand how the conversion could play out. 

“We’ve got to be very, very careful that we don’t move too fast.” 

Source: TEST FEED1

Why GOP Senate nominees may need to say 'thanks' to Republican governors

If Senate Republicans win back the majority in two weeks, they might have to write a thank you note to a certain group: GOP governors. 

With the hourglass winding down on the 2022 midterm cycle, Republicans are looking to governors or gubernatorial nominees in a number of key states to push their Senate candidates to victory — or at least give them a better chance of pulling off an upset. 

“There’s a lot of Senate candidates who have run lackluster campaigns, but because of the environment or someone else on the top of the ticket, they’ll make it over the finish line,” one GOP operative involved in midterm races told The Hill. 

As the old adage has it, a rising tide lifts all boats, and in Arizona, Georgia, Ohio and other battlegrounds, incumbent Republican governors or those seeking a first term are polling well ahead of their Senate counterparts.

In Georgia, Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker remains deadlocked with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), but Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is gliding to what will likely be a comfortable victory over Democrat Stacey Abrams.

According to the latest RealClearPolitics average of surveys, Kemp leads his two-time Democratic challenger by 8 percentage points — a major uptick from their 2018 battle when Kemp won by just north of 1 percentage point. 

It’s simple: the more Kemp wins by — the more his presence on the ticket drives Republicans to the polls — the better Walker’s chances are to emerge victorious.

“Walker owes Kemp everything,” a GOP strategist involved in Senate contests said, pointing to the sprawling apparatus Kemp put into place across the state after the Georgia runoffs in January 2021 that cost the party the Senate majority. 

“Walker’s about to be the big beneficiary of that,” the strategist continued. “As long as Kemp can turn out voters at the level his campaign claims, Walker will finish this race on top.” 

Kemp’s ability to turn people out in November could be particularly crucial for Walker, the famed University of Georgia running back. If neither Walker nor Warnock clear the 50 percent threshold to sidestep a runoff, they will square off again on Dec. 6, this time without Kemp on the ballot.

“That’s a whole new ballgame,” the strategist involved in Senate contests continued, pointing to what the stakes are for that potential race. 

Will Kiley, a spokesperson for Walker, told The Hill that the Georgia GOP ticket was united.

“Democrats like Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams have failed this country, given us sky-high inflation, and empty grocery stores. Herschel has a great relationship with the Governor and the entire ticket is united and going to win,” he said.

The Hill reached out to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for comment.

The Senate majority could be decided in November. If either party wins both Nevada and Pennsylvania, for example, it would control the upper chamber, making a Walker or Warnock win in December the cherry on the proverbial sundae. If not, the Georgia race could instead be the lynchpin. 

Similarly, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) holds a lead that nears 20 percentage points over Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (D), giving a helping hand to J.D. Vance in the “Hillbilly Elegy” author’s bid to defeat Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and keep the state’s Senate seat in Republican hands.

While Vance remains the favorite, some polling shows a close race, and DeWine’s crossover appeal to moderates and some Democrats means Vance and other congressional candidates will receive a lift from some voters that normally might not side with him. 

“He’s very strong with a bunch of squishy Republicans and a bunch of Democrats, and that’s especially helpful, and oddly helpful, to all Republicans across the ballot,” a second GOP operative involved in Senate races told The Hill. “It’s oddly helpful that a bunch of MAGA Republicans hate the governor, but that’s not a problem for J.D. Vance and other candidates running.”

“You get the best of both worlds,” the operative added. 

Vance currently holds a 2-percentage point polling advantage over Ryan. 

In other states, GOP gubernatorial candidates likely have less of a chance at pushing Senate nominees over the finish line but are nonetheless providing them a lift — and perhaps some hope.

New Hampshire is known for crossover voting, but the presence of Gov. Chris Sununu (R), who ironically skipped out on a Senate run of his own, could give Republican Senate nominee Don Bolduc a boost in his quest to unseat Sen. Maggie Hassan (D). Still, Bolduc, who was backed by former President Trump, is polling behind Hassan by double-digits and both the NRSC and an outside group associated with Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have pulled resources from the race.

Similarly, Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D) campaign remains the prohibitive favorite over Republican Blake Masters in Arizona, but the presence of Kari Lake, the GOP’s gubernatorial candidate, has given Masters a small glimmer of hope at springing the upset. 

“One of the challenges facing the GOP Senate map over the cycle has been candidate quality and the ability for some of these candidates to win in red or purple states,” said Colin Reed, a GOP strategist. “Things are closing really fast, really hard at the wrong time for Democrats.”

Not all gubernatorial campaigns are turning out to be helpful to the GOP, however. In the Keystone State, state Sen. Doug Mastriano’s (R) sagging campaign against state Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) is providing the opposite effect.

Republican Mehmet Oz is running neck and neck against state Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R). But according to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Shapiro leads Mastriano by 9 percentage points, creating a mountain for Oz to overcome in a race that is considered crucial to the GOP’s hopes of retaking the majority. 

“What campaign? … They’re not running a non-traditional campaign. They’re not running a campaign,” one Pennsylvania-based GOP operative told The Hill recently about Mastriano. “There’s clearly going to be ticket splitting, and that should benefit Oz.”

Source: TEST FEED1

Political, legal battle heats up over student loan forgiveness

The political and legal battle over President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan has hit its biggest roadblock yet with a temporary legal hold on the program leaving borrowers in further limbo.

It has also opened up the potential for more opposition by Republicans, but the White House is vowing to fight back after a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the program should be halted.

“It’s not going to stop our message. We know that there are opponents out there who don’t want us to help middle-class Americans, but it’s not going to stop us,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday. “It is a temporary order. … It does not reverse the fact that a lower court dismissed the case — let’s not forget that — or suggested that the case has any merit at all.”

Friday’s order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit stops the administration from disbursing relief while the court considers a challenge from six Republican-led states. A federal district judge had dismissed the case a day before, ruling that the six attorneys general representing the states did not have standing to sue because they did not demonstrate that the policy directly harms their states.

Biden on Monday also bashed Republican backlash against the plan, calling it extreme and touting the policy as a way to help working Americans bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Republican response? Sue the federal government and block, block that relief. That’s what they’ve done. I mean, think about this. That’s mega MAGA trickle-down politics in the extreme. I’ll never apologize for helping working and middle-class folks, Americans, as they recover from the pandemic,” he said in remarks at the Democratic National Committee.

The order marks a temporary victory for Republicans until a larger panel can weigh in, but it could lead to more actions against student loan forgiveness, said Robert Moran, a former senior policy adviser in the Education Department under former President George W. Bush.

“Republicans will continue to look for avenues to block forgiveness, and this may spur other efforts. However, the court hasn’t really ruled on anything,” Moran said. “This fight is far from over. Whoever loses the appeals court decision will inevitably appeal and won’t likely be decided until the Supreme Court weighs in.”

The president celebrated his own temporary victory just hours before the order was issued.

He touted in remarks on Friday that 22 million Americans had applied for student loan forgiveness in the first week of the applications being available. He also bashed Republicans who have attacked his student loan plan, including Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (Ga.)., asking, “Who the hell do they think they are?”

Biden had turned his attention last week to the student loan plan and other issues such as reproductive rights to attract young people, a voting bloc that typically has low voter turnout in midterm elections.

Jean-Pierre on Monday denied the notion that it was the White House’s goal to have borrowers see any loans forgiven prior to the midterms in light of the order stopping the program.

Nonetheless, the order does cast a shadow over the plan.

But Debra Dixon, former chief of staff at the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development at the Education Department under former President Obama, argued the block could take away from the Democrats’ campaign message with two weeks until Election Day.

“The timing on the stay means that Democratic candidates probably will not be able to point to it as a win heading into Nov. 8. It isn’t clear whether the Republican attorneys general ultimately will be found to have standing, but slowing down the opportunity for bragging rights can be a win in and of itself,” she said. “We’ll see what the courts say.”

Following the order, the White House encouraged people to keep applying for the debt relief because the order does not prevent the administration from reviewing applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers.

The plan, which is set to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers earning under $125,000 and as much as $20,000 for borrowers who received Pell Grants, has faced multiple legal challenges.

Last week, the Cato Institute sued the Department of Education over the plan, claiming the plan is illegal because Congress didn’t authorize it. On Thursday, Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied an emergency bid by a group of Wisconsin taxpayers for the Supreme Court to block the program by ruling that the cancellation plan illegally encroaches on Congress’s exclusive spending power.

Moran, a principal at Bose Public Affairs Group, said the Barrett determination shows that legal standing has to be demonstrated through the opposition. The midterm elections, though, which are critical for Democrats fighting to hold onto their majority in Congress, could be a huge factor in the future of the student loan plan.

“The election will have a major impact on the outcome of what happens to the life of this plan.  If Republicans win the House, they may try to appeal directly to the Supreme Court for an injunction until they take over in January,” Moran said. “I don’t know whether this is possible legally, but we do know that Congress has standing to challenge the plan.”

Republicans are continuing to slam the administration for the student loan plan, regardless of the order on Friday. The GOP has painted it as an unfair burden on taxpayers, who have to pay for the plan, and bashed it as a bad idea during a time of high inflation.

“Joe Biden’s plan to bail out wealthy college grads is just as unpopular and out of touch as he is,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Emma Vaughn told The Hill.

“From fueling rampant inflation to unfairly burdening those who chose a different career path or already paid off their loans, this bailout reveals that Biden and Democrats do not care about hardworking Americans,” she added.

Source: TEST FEED1

Five takeaways from the DeSantis-Crist debate in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday squared off against former Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) for the first and only time in a debate that put into stark contrast their visions for the Sunshine State little more than two weeks out from Election Day. 

The debate highlighted some of the most pressing issues for the state, including rising property insurance rates and what to do with Florida’s budget surplus. But it also spilled into the realm of national politics, with the two candidates staking out very different positions on issues such as abortion rights and immigration.

Here are five takeaways from Monday night’s showdown.

Crist comes out swinging

Crist wasted no time during Monday night’s debate in holding his opponent’s feet to the fire.

With the FiveThirtyEight polling average showing him running nearly 8 points behind DeSantis in a state known for ultra-close elections, Crist barreled into the debate with force, hammering the governor over everything from his focus on culture war issues such as abortion to his unwillingness to rule out a 2024 White House bid.

“He won’t even tell you if he’ll serve four years if reelected,” Crist said. “You deserve better than that. Florida deserves better than that.”

Of course, Crist isn’t new to debates. After all, he ran successfully for Florida governor as a Republican in 2006 and has made a couple of runs for statewide office since then. 

Still, his performance on Monday night was that of a candidate who recognized he needed a big moment to turn around his increasingly slim prospects in a state that has shifted quickly toward the GOP in recent years.

DeSantis fuels more 2024 chatter

It’s no secret that DeSantis is seen as a potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee. 

And on Monday, he did little to dispel such chatter. Throughout the debate, Crist questioned DeSantis about his future political prospects, pressing him on whether he would commit to serving out another four-year term in the governor’s mansion.

“You’re running for governor,” Crist said. “And I have a question for you. … Why don’t you look at the eyes of the people of Florida you will serve all four years?” 

“Will you serve a full four year term?” he asked.

DeSantis repeatedly refused to answer those questions, instead pivoting to the Biden administration and Crist’s record in Congress. 

Of course, the candidates weren’t permitted to ask each other questions. Still, DeSantis’s silence on the matter is likely to raise further questions about his future political ambitions.

DeSantis seizes on President Biden, inflation

For DeSantis, the Monday debate didn’t do much to surface new positions or talking points. The conservative Florida governor largely stuck to the same lines of attack, going after the Biden administration and reminding voters that the nation is dealing with the highest inflation in decades.

Even in opening the debate, DeSantis was quick to accuse Crist of voting “with Joe Biden 100 percent of the time” and blaming “Biden-Crist” policies for the ever-increasing cost of living.

It’s a familiar strategy for DeSantis, who has built a national reputation as one of Biden’s chief Republican antagonists. 

And there’s reason to believe that it will pay off. Biden lost Florida in 2020 by an unusually large margin for the Sunshine State and still holds an underwater approval rating there. DeSantis, meanwhile, has an above-water approval rating and has a reputation among Republicans as a conservative bulwark against a Democratically controlled Washington.

Abortion, immigration are flashpoints

Florida’s population has swelled in recent years as out-of-staters have poured into the Sunshine State. It’s no wonder, then, that national political issues dominated the conversation in Monday night’s debate just as much as state-specific issues did.

Crist, seizing on Democrats’ 2022 playbook, repeatedly reminded the audience that conservatives have worked for years to dismantle protections for abortion rights, warning that DeSantis and the state’s GOP-controlled legislature would impose further restrictions if given the chance.

DeSantis, meanwhile, accused Crist of being an accomplice to illegal immigration, tying the former congressman to the Biden administraiton’s “open border” policies.

One central topic in the debate was DeSantis’s decision to use state funds to fly dozens of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, the elite Massachusetts resort town. Crist accused DeSantis of playing with people’s lives for political gain, while DeSantis said he succeeded in putting the country’s migrant crisis “front and center.”

Democrats still face an uphill climb

Crist held his own against DeSantis throughout the debate, keeping his focus on the governor’s record in office and pressing him over some of his most controversial decisions.

Whether that will be enough to alter the course of the Florida gubernatorial race remains an open question.

Public polling has repeatedly shown DeSantis as the favorite to win reelection, and the Florida governor has a loyal base of conservative support that he’s relying on to push him to victory on Election Day.

At the same time, he’s cast himself as the person best suited to tackle towering inflation and economic uncertainty, despite the rapid rise in the cost of living in the Sunshine State. That could help earn the support of moderates who are eager for financial relief.

All told, Crist needed more than just a good night on Monday to turn things around for his campaign; he needed a game changer.

It’s not clear he actually got what he was after.

Source: TEST FEED1

Progressive Caucus tries to clarify call for Biden to find diplomatic solution to Ukraine

The Congressional Progressive Caucus on Monday evening sought to couch a statement from earlier in the day requesting that President Biden shift his administration’s policies on Ukraine and start some form of negotiations with Russia.

In a move that raised questions among fellow Democrats, a group of dozens of liberal House lawmakers led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) sent a letter earlier in the day to the White House calling for a possible diplomatic solution to end Moscow’s unprovoked conflict with Ukraine.

“Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we also believe it is in the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict,” Jayapal wrote on behalf of the caucus. “For this reason, we urge you to pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.”

Several hours after the letter, which was first reported by The Washington Post, was released, the caucus sent a rare follow-up statement intended to fine-tune its original message.

“In a letter to President Biden today, my colleagues and I advocated for the administration to continue ongoing military and economic support for Ukrainians while pursuing diplomatic support to Ukraine to ensure we are helpful partners on efforts to reach ‘a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine,” wrote Jayapal.

“Let me be clear: we are united as Democrats in our unequivocal commitment to supporting Ukraine in their fight for their democracy and freedom in the face of the illegal and outrageous Russian invasion, and nothing in the letter advocates for a change in that support,” she added.

The initial correspondence was met with skepticism from some Democrats who questioned Jayapal’s leadership and motivation for calling for a new strategy. She sought to tweak her caucus’s stance, reaffirming her commitment to Biden’s foreign policy at a time when the party is facing divides over ideology and messaging on a number of fronts ahead of next month’s midterm elections. 

“Diplomacy is an important tool that can save lives — but it is just one tool,” she wrote. “As we also made explicitly clear in our letter and will continue to make clear, we support President Biden and his administration’s commitment to nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

The letter comes just two weeks before Election Day as Democrats struggle to find an economic message that resonates with voters. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war have had a ripple effect on the U.S. economy and Americans’ daily lives, including through higher fuel prices.

Source: TEST FEED1

Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr. add fire to GOP whip race

An angry call from Fox News host Tucker Carlson and public swipes from Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over an anonymous quote in a story are whipping up a frenzy over the race for what would be the No. 3 leadership slot if Republicans win the House.

Carlson, Trump, Jr. and other figures in former President Trump’s orbit are going after Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and a contender for House GOP whip, over a quotation from an unnamed source in a Daily Beast article published last week.

The quotation mentioned Buckley Carlson, the 25-year-old son of the Fox News host, who is an aide to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee and a rival contender for whip.

Emmer’s team has strongly denied that anyone connected to the Minnesota Republican is behind the quote, but they are in a tough position in trying to prove a negative.

“Chairman Emmer and his staff have never attacked any other members’ staff. Period. These baseless accusations are meant to distract and divide Republicans. Our focus is on retaking the majority and firing Nancy Pelosi,” NRCC Communications Director Michael McAdams said in a statement.

The quote in question came from an unnamed source looking over the dynamics of the three-way race for House majority whip. Emmer, Banks and Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), who is currently chief deputy whip, are vying for the post.

“Deep down, he dies to be liked by the Establishment. He hires Tucker Carlson’s son, a 24-year-old kid, to be his communications director,” states the controversial quotation, which is cited to a GOP strategist.

Trump Jr., who has started to be more open about his preference for Banks being in leadership, immediately blamed Emmer’s team for planting the quote and said in a tweet that the move was “pathetic.”

The Fox News host on Friday called Emmer directly to demand he name which staff member was responsible for the quote, or else he would assume Emmer himself is to blame, Axios reported Sunday.

Axios said Emmer also tried to shift blame to another House GOP leadership staff member, but Carlson still believes Emmer’s team was behind the quote.

GOP firebrand and Trump ally Greene, as well as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, also took swipes at Emmer over the weekend.

“I stand with Buckley Carlson,” Greene said in a tweet on Sunday, following up with another: “Consultants at national party political action committees should only focus on helping their party’s candidates win. They shouldn’t fund or not fund races based on candidate’s conservative views. And they should never attack Member’s staff to left wing activist bloggers. Ever.”

Kirk also accused Emmer of being part of a group of “establishment swamp creatures” in a tweet on Sunday, and endorsing Banks for the post to create “a real MAGA majority.”

The elder Carlson has a reputation of being fiercely protective of and loyal to his family in the press, and angering the influential conservative host is thought to be political malpractice among Republicans.

An alleged mention of Buckley Carlson was a brief flashpoint in the shadow race for House GOP whip months ago. That has raised suspicions that Buckley Carlson controversies are being manufactured to go after rivals to Banks.

A Politico story in May said allies of Donald Trump Jr. had confronted Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who considered a possible contender for whip but has since decided to seek another term as House GOP conference chairwoman, about an effort to plant negative stories about Banks that allegedly included bringing up Buckley’s name. The outlet added that it was “unable to confirm the veracity of the pro-Stefanik whisper campaign against Banks,” and Stefanik’s team vigorously denied any of her team brought up the Fox News host’s son.

Consultants connected to Trump Jr. are also running a PAC started last month supported by Banks. The group has raised $2 million and is helping a smattering of House GOP candidates, and is serving as counter to an argument that Banks is not a big enough of a fundraising powerhouse compared to Emmer and Ferguson.

No matter who is behind the quote, the controversy and attacks have thrown a late wrench into the race for a position that is not officially open yet. 

A source close to Carlson said that host has been bombarded in recent days with information about Emmer’s background that clashes with the host’s ideology, such as starting a Congressional Somalia Caucus with former Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), creating the potential to spook GOP members out of publicly supporting Emmer if they are wary of getting on Carlson’s bad side.

It is unclear, though, whether fear of crossing Carlson or MAGA allies will make any measurable impact on GOP members who will vote to elect the next House GOP whip in a secret ballot soon after the midterm election if Republicans win.

“It won’t influence my vote, because all I’m concerned about right now is myself getting elected,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who said he has not committed to supporting any whip contender yet. “I’m gonna vote for the person who I think is going to do the best job as whip.”

“I understand the whole psychological game that people are playing, but generally this stuff is just stirred up by folks inside the beltway,” Burchett added.

Another GOP member supportive of Emmer who requested anonymity to speak candidly said that the public drama could backfire on Banks.

“People are like, ‘We don’t need this. This is mudslinging,’” the GOP member said. “People may just say, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna vote this way or that way,’ but they’re gonna go in and vote however they damn well please, because there’s no way they can be attributed to a vote since it’s a secret ballot.”

Source: TEST FEED1