Archive

Texas governor pardons man who shot and killed BLM protester

Top Headlines Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed new legislation Wednesday that will ban offshore wind power while deregulating the use of gas pipelines. “We’re restoring sanity in our approach to energy and rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots,” DeSantis said in a social media post. “Furthermore,

Alabama conservatives are trying to undermine unionization efforts

Plus, a defector from the right speaks out. Local Lens On Monday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed into law a new bill that will block economic subsidies for businesses that voluntarily recognize the conduction and results of a union election. The legislation comes as the United Auto Workers (UAW)

Right-wing organization concerned with 'election integrity' trying to throw sand into gears of presidential race

Plus, a GOP congressman circulates a racist video on social media. Top Headlines The White House reprimanded Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) today after the congressman approvingly shared a video on social media of a group of white Ole Miss fraternity brothers mocking a Black, pro-Palestinian protestor with monkey noises and

Despite praise from Trump, two potential VP picks flounder in the spotlight

Media Corner Over the weekend, two potential vice president options for Donald Trump engaged with contemporary, center-left news sources. And the results were not encouraging for both Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who appeared on Meet the Press and Face the Nation respectively.  Scott,

Florida's severe abortion ban goes into effect

But on the other side of the country, Arizona legislators have repealed its 1864 abortion prohibition. Post-Wade Dispatch Florida’s stringent, six-week abortion ban will take effect starting today. This new restriction was signed off by the state’s Supreme Court in April, when the court upheld Florida’s original

Trump and DeSantis prepare to team up despite ugly primary rivalry

Plus, Kristi Noem stands her ground on puppy murder. Top Headlines Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former President Donald Trump appear to have set aside any animosity from their contentious Republican presidential primary and joined forces. While DeSantis formally endorsed Trump after dropping out of the race, the governor

Trump argues presidential immunity before a Supreme Court he helped select

The results were about what you'd expect. Top Headlines Yesterday, the Supreme Court reviewed what could be one of the most consequential cases in years. The Court gathered to hear opening arguments concerning the nature of Donald Trump’s presidential immunity, which could hypothetically protect him from legal

MTG continues to threaten Speaker Johnson with a vote of no confidence

But both Democrats and Republicans seem completely adverse to the idea. Top Headlines Following calls by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from his post as the leader of Congress, Democrats are preparing to protect Johnson from being ousted.  Despite receiving a vote of confidence

Local anti-homeless law faces day in Supreme Court

Top Headlines  Today, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments concerning Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case that could criminalize homelessness across the country. This specific case concerns the government of Grants Pass, Ore., a town of 40,000 which passed multiple ordinances prohibiting camping in public areas. Such laws

Presidential polling presents counterintuitive conundrum for Democrats

Plus, bipartisan support for mass surveillance could prove problematic. Election Watch According to new research conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), former President Donald Trump may actually benefit from a high turnout election in 2024. While Democrats have typically been the ones to benefit from high turnout elections,

DeSantis rolls back independent police oversight

Policy Corner Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) quietly signed into law two bills that will make it harder for citizens to hold police officers accountable for civil rights violations.  And at the end of last week, DeSantis ratified House Bill 601 and Senate Bill 184, the former of which prevents

Trump attempts to mend riff between MTG and Speaker Johnson

Plus, an update on the rise of Christian Nationalism. Top Headlines After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) called for the ousting of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), former President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Johnson during a Friday press conference at Mar-a-Lago.  Last week, Greene wrote a letter to

Trump's call for states to handle abortion isn't stopping ideological clashes on the right

Plus, how Democrats in one of the most important Electoral College states in the country are trying to make it easier to vote in November's election. Top Headlines In the wake of the Arizona Supreme Court decision that could implement one the stricter abortion bans in the country,

Arizona's antiquated abortion ban back in effect, but could hit multiple road blocks

Even anti-abortion politicians in the state are voicing concerns. Yesterday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled by a 4-2 vote that the state may enforce a primordial abortion ban, which was revived after the Supreme Court nullified Roe v. Wade in 2022.  The ban, were it to officially be enforced, would

Texas universities scramble to become complaint with anti-DEI law

Culture War Dispatch In the wake of Texas’ new restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs within public colleges, the University of Texas-Austin announced this week that they were laying off 60 workers staffed in the university’s Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE).  “The layoffs were announced

Nebraska governor seeks to change state's Electoral College law months before presidential election

Plus, a right-wing billionaire is astroturfing a movement to unseat a member of The Squad. Election Watch Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) called on the state legislature to reinstate Nebraska’s winner-take-all format for delegating electoral votes in the presidential election. Since passing a law in 1991, Nebraska has

Trump hints at civil rights policy that would help fight 'anti-white racism'

Plus, leaked video shows Texas anti-abortion group advocating for a total ban on abortion, Plan B and IVF. Top Headlines Should he assume office again, Donald Trump plans to undo many of the civil rights initiatives undertaken by President Joe Biden, as well as some long-standing federal policies related to

Georgia set to pass new, restrictive election law

Plus, the latest from the Arizona AG's fake elector investigation. Election Watch The Georgia Legislature passed a bill last night that could have a substantial impact on the 2024 presidential election. Votes in both the State Senate and House fell along party lines. Senate Bill 189, if signed

RFK Jr.’s VP selection espouses similar ‘anti-establishment’ views

With the election coming into view, the potential spoiler has recruited another affluent insider to spearhead what he’s calling a “We The People” party. Top Headlines Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his vice-presidential pick: Nicole Shanahan, a philanthropist, lawyer and member of the Silicon Valley elite.

NBC News causes newsroom controversy by bringing on former Trump ally

Plus, Alabama's new, repressive anti-DEI bill. Media Corner NBC staff are extremely bothered by the network’s hiring of former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel as an analyst. Concerns about McDaniel are rooted in her role in promoting doubt about the results of the 2020 presidential election — as well

Right-wing media attacks Biden's emissions plan

Murdoch-owned press claims that efforts to encourage electric car production are a "government mandate." Media Corner Following the Biden administration’s unveiling of new emission standards for consumer vehicles and trucks, the conservative press proceeded to paint the efforts to curb climate change as an oppressive government mandate

Judicial chaos colors rollout of new, draconian Texas immigration law

Plus, the impending war over IVF. Top Headlines Confusion has ensued after the enforcement of Texas’ new immigration bill, known as Senate Bill 4, was left up in the air following a gauntlet of legal rulings. Last night, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s attempts to block SB

Supreme Court rejects last-ditch effort to reinstate New Mexico politician tied to Jan. 6

Plus, Georgia Republicans are attempting to block state libraries from collaborating with a national librarian organization. Top Headlines Today, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Couy Griffin, a one-time New Mexico county commissioner who was challenging his removal from office due to his participation in the Jan. 6 attacks.

Trump tries to reverse Social Security, Medicare gaffe as Biden goes on the attack

Plus, the newest right-wing conspiracy involving cannibals. Top Headlines Former President Donald Trump is walking back comments he made last week about potentially cutting Social Security and other key federal welfare programs. In an interview with CNBC last week, Trump said that “there is a lot you can do in

Having secured the Republican nomination, Trump and allies shuffle RNC leadership

Plus, RFK Jr.'s celebrity VP options. Top Headlines After handily wrapping up the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump and his political allies continue to remake the party in his image — including staffing the Republican National Committee (RNC) with election deniers. The former president cleaned house at the

Trump attempts to further delay Stormy Daniels' hush money case

Plus, inside a secret fraternity dedicated to building a Christian autocracy in America. Top Headlines  Former President Donald Trump has requested that his March 25 trial, concerning the hush money he sent to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, be delayed until the Supreme Court has ruled on the nature of

Republicans dismayed with their party's SOTU rebuttal

Plus, tracking Ohio's most reactionary Senate candidate. Top Headlines The Republican rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, presented by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), did not go as planned. Britt, who delivered a speech from her kitchen table, was a stark contrast to Biden’

Texas government attempts to clamp down on charity that distributes aid to migrants

Plus, a warning for Democrats to consider as the election cycle picks up. Top Headlines Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is targeting an El Paso nonprofit that has spent decades providing resources to hundreds of thousands of migrants. Annunciation House, a Catholic charity that organizes temporary shelter, food services and

Texas governor unveils plans to create militarized border outpost

Plus, Tucker Carlson continues his praise of Putin following their controversial interview. Top Headlines This afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that the state will begin construction of an 80-acre base camp at Eagle Pass, where a standoff between the Texas National Guard and federal border patrol continues to

American conservative organizations and lawmakers offer support to Ugandan anti-LGBTQ bill

Plus, anti-migrant content brings in the big bucks and Wisconsin GOP pushes for relaxing of child labor standards. Top Headlines The new, draconian anti-LGBTQ laws that recently were passed in Uganda have received the backing from American conservatives organizations and lawmakers.  The Anti-Homosexuality Act, which passed last May, doubles down

Federalist Society leadership is using dark money to influence Trump court case

Plus, continued neglect of the railway system and Tucker Carlson's Putin kowtow Top Headlines Influential conservative activist and Federalist Society Vice President Leonard Leo has been linked to efforts to overturn the removal of former President Donald Trump from Colorado’s 2024 presidential ballot.  Leo, who oversees a

Haley's impending NV defeat, a failed impeachment attempt and an upcoming Tucker/Putin meet-up

Hey readers! We’re reimagining The Lede into a more dynamic space to cover the American right, from the top conservative actors in Washington to the paranoid fringes. The plan is for this to be a vertical that helps you understand how the political strategies and policies being used by

Anti-immigrant mob descends on border in support of Texas standoff

The reactionary “border convoy” organized by far-right extremists is nearing its intended destination: Eagle Pass, a small Texas city that has become the epicenter of an ongoing standoff between state law enforcement and federal Customs and Border Patrol officials.  The convoy is being billed as a “peaceful assembly” by MAGA-affiliated

Border deal negotiations sidelined by GOP partisanship

Attempts to negotiate a bipartisan deal that would effectively shut down the U.S.-Mexico border in exchange for an aid package to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine continue to be undermined by Republicans loyal to former President Donald Trump, who sees such efforts as a potential blow to reelection.  As

Biden and Abbott administrations continue to spar over border standoff

The standoff between the state of Texas and the federal government concerning the Southern border has reached a boiling point. Following several different legal conflicts regarding the implementation of anti-migrant buoys along the Rio Grande and the use of state law regarding immigrant enforcement, the administrations of Texas Gov. Greg

New research finds that thousands of Texas residents are being forced to carry rape-related pregnancies to term

CW: This story contains references to sexual violence. A new, disheartening study by the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that in the 18 months since Texas banned all abortions without exception, 26,313 rape-related pregnancies have occurred in the state.   The study, which examined the 14 states that

The dreary state of Trump's 2024 rallies

The melancholy, yet incandescent pop song “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” by the post-punk band The Smiths has somehow become a staple at Donald Trump rallies. Though it appears the Trump campaign team has been blasting the indie rock classic for some time, former Smiths guitarist

Anti-migrant buoys to remain (for now) as Texas continues legal fight with Biden Administration

Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it will continue to allow the use of controversial floating barriers implemented by the state of Texas along the Rio Grande as they reexamine legal efforts to overturn the policy.  Installed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) last July, the 1,000-foot-wide

Ohio woman's abortion case highlights the limitations of state-level reform

The fallout from the repeal of Roe v. Wade continues to reverberate across the country, as a case involving a miscarriage provides a startling example of the criminalization of pregnancy. In Ohio, where voters recently installed a constitutional protection to reproductive rights, a woman named Brittany Watts faces felony charges

GOP leadership uses Jan. 6 anniversary to dilute insurrection narrative

Over the weekend, a litany of GOP congressional members took to various media pulpits to propagate disinformation around the events of Jan. 6. Both mainstream outlets like CBS and fringe sources like the new “Tucker Carlson Network” addressed the anniversary of the insurrection as the upcoming 2024 election loomed.   Several

New leaked audio reveals inner workings of Trump's fake elector plot

Yesterday, CNN and the Detroit News published audio that revealed new details surrounding the fake elector scheme concocted by Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign following his electoral loss. The audio is of Kenneth Chesebro, one of Trump’s key legal representatives, who explained to investigators how as the presidential certification

Both sides of the aisle are antagonizing migrants as the 2024 election looms

Following criticism of his cruel and outlandish rhetoric surrounding migrants, Donald Trump doubled down on his comments. Trump — who recently claimed that documented and undocumented immigrants from South America, Asia and Africa were “poisoning the blood” of the United States — doubled down on his comments at a campaign rally in

New polling finds that Biden is losing the youth vote heading into 2024

A 2024 presidential election poll released by The New York Times and Siena College today has some troubling results: Donald Trump is now reportedly holding a lead over Joe Biden amongst young voters.  The data, released this morning, found that 49% of 18 to 29-year-olds polled preferred the presumptive GOP

Rep. Comer's blatant hypocrisy reaches new heights

An Associated Press investigation found that Rep. James Comer (R-KY), who has been leading the charge in the Joe Biden impeachment “scandal,” engaged in some of the same behavior that he has accused the president of.  Comer, a multimillionaire who owns some 1,600 acres of farmland in his home

Supreme Court to assess crucial reproductive rights lawsuit

Today, the Supreme Court announced it will review its first case involving reproductive rights since the fall of Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022. The case involves how the pill mifepristone, which is involved in 53% of abortions, would be distributed in states that restrict reproductive rights.  The

Plaintiff in key abortion case forced to leave Texas

Plus, Trump insiders have leaked potential VP and cabinet picks. WHAT YOU MISSED Over the weekend, the Texas Supreme Court blocked a lower court’s ruling that would have allowed a Texas resident to receive an abortion. According to her legal representatives at the Center for Reproductive Rights, Kate Cox,

Wisconsin GOP finally forced to accept results of 2020 election following lawsuit

But one of the fake electors continues to serve on the state's Election Commission. WHAT YOU MISSED One of the fake electors who organized in Wisconsin to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race could still oversee the upcoming 2024 election. On Wednesday, the 10 fake electors

Texas lawsuit results in exception to abortion ban

CW: This article contains imagery that may be disturbing to some readers. For the first time since the Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling in 1973, a Texas judge has ruled that someone must be allowed to receive an abortion. Kate Cox, a 31-year-old woman from Dallas, was forced to

Speaker Johnson attempts to spread more Jan. 6 disinfo

Plus, a spotlight on his support for anti-LGBTQ causes, both past and present. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-AL) told reporters that his office obscured the profiles of those seen in Jan. 6 security camera footage who sought to overturn the 2020 election to protect them from potential prosecution.  “We have

Trump's lackeys have a blueprint for his potential second term

And it's just as bleak as you'd imagine. As we move into what will likely be the third consecutive presidential election involving Trump, one may wonder how the former commander-in-chief plans to pitch a second term. Looking past the bumbling bluster and wanton cruelty, the Trump

Newsom-DeSantis debate is more than a kayfabe

ON THE HORIZON  The debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is just around the corner. The pair will meet on Thursday in Alpharetta, Ga. at an event moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity. While Hannity has pitched the intellectual duel as a

Wisconsin Supreme Court poised to strike down gerrymandered voting districts

Plus, several legislative victories signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer WHAT YOU MISSED After hearing three hours of oral arguments today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court could overrule the electoral map for the state’s highly gerrymandered districts. In Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, the plaintiffs argue that the district

Santos won't seek reelection following release of Ethics Committee findings

On Thursday, the House Ethics Committee released a damning report on the conduct of the much-maligned Rep. George Santos (R-NY). The bipartisan investigation confirmed that before and after Santos won a congressional seat in 2022, he engaged in numerous, federal counts of fraud, identity theft and campaign finance violations. The

Biden and Xi attempt to smooth out U.S.-China relations

Plus, Republicans in Ohio are trying to dilute newly won abortion protections, marijuana legalization. WHAT YOU MISSED After a rare, one-on-one meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping outside San Francisco, they announced that the two countries will resume direct military communications after more than a year

GOP politicians are quite literally bullying their adversaries.... and allies

Plus, the failure of the media to properly cover Trump's rhetoric, and the Supreme Court's attempts at a new ethics code prove flimsy. WHAT YOU MISSED At a Veteran’s Day rally over the weekend, Donald Trump made — even for his standards — alarming comments about his

Dems pull off significant victories in Ohio, Kentucky while GOP falls flat in school board races

ELECTION DAY RECAP The results of yesterday’s races have been tallied and the final results — from the gubernatorial to ballot measures, to underestimated local races — have been announced. Here’s our rapid-fire assessment of the 2023 off-year elections:  Beshear triumphs over Trump-backed candidate Despite presiding over a predominantly conservative

The 2023 Election Day primer

Tomorrow will see the majority of off-year elections take place throughout the country. Here’s what races we’ll be keeping a close eye on and the impact they could have on both the local and national level:  Southern gubernatorial races In Kentucky, incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear (D) will seek

Santos plans to run in 2024 despite indictments and efforts to remove him from office

Plus, Nancy Mace's quest for relevance and new polling which should concern Democrats. WHAT YOU MISSED Rep. George Santos (R-NY) says he will still run for reelection even if he’s ousted from office. Santos — who was recently slapped with a 23-count superseding indictment that included charges of

Speaker Johnson's financial disclosures look a little fishy

Plus, two of the alleged Whitmer kidnappers are granted state-level award by a GOP lawmaker. WHAT YOU MISSED A new, exclusive investigation by the Daily Beast found that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has hardly disclosed any financial information since becoming a member of Congress.  “Over the course of seven

The finances of Speaker Johnson's tasteful NRA endorsement

Plus, geopolitical insight from Tommy Tubberville. WHAT YOU MISSED Only days after the horrific mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine that left 18 dead, the National Rifle Association (NRA) shared a video of House Speaker Mike Johnson from 2019 where he praises the organization.  “...When Democrats are trying to push their

Tom Emmer is now the latest GOP frontrunner for speaker

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. We’ve now entered round three of the GOP speakership debacle, and a host of new candidates have made themselves known. Over the weekend, Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Austin

House Republicans nix Jordan's bid for speaker

Plus, a look inside the inner workings of the conservative education movement WHAT YOU MISSED The saga of Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) quest for the speakership has finally ended. Following a secret vote held among House Republicans, Jordan was shelved as their nominee — and reportedly by a significant margin.

Jordan's second round failure could mean the end of his speakership campaign

Plus, the collateral damage of RFK Jr.'s anti-vax crusade. WHAT YOU MISSED Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) once again failed to be elected to the speakership after a second round of voting today. Yesterday, the longtime Trump ally was unable to secure support from 20 of his fellow Republicans.

Despite election denier record, Jim Jordan remains GOP favorite for succeed McCarthy

However, today he failed to secure the necessary votes to take the Speakership. After a first round of voting, almost two dozen Republicans have blocked Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) from taking up the gavel. In fact, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received 12 more votes than Jordan. Other congressional

Jordan to replace Scalise as GOP Speaker nominee

Plus, new leaked audio from "education reformers" and Christian nationalist revisionism WHAT YOU MISSED Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) appears to be the next Republican choice for House Speaker after Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) pulled himself out of the race. Scalise’s announcement comes less than 24 hours after

Scalise nominated for Speakership

Plus, Democrats spar over Israel-Palestine, and new, bewildering economic polling WHAT YOU MISSED It appears that House Republicans will nominate Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) to fill the vacant Speakership. Scalise, who currently serves as the House Majority Whip, is one of the most right-wing members of Congress: He’s been

Conservatives try to pin Israel attack to Biden

Plus, voting rights lawsuit brings favorable redistricting to Alabama WHAT YOU MISSED As the dust settled on one of the deadliest episodes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, right-wing weirdos began to spread disinformation. For starters, Donald Trump Jr. took to X to falsely blame the attack on President Joe Biden’s

Trump floated as a ( highly unlikely) Speaker candidate

Plus, monumental labor action in the healthcare sector and new polling on about "The New Conservative Voter." With the ousting of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), an unprecedented vacancy has some Republican lawmakers and pundits suggesting former President Donald Trump should assume the mantle of

Newsom announces Feinstein's successor

Plus, Clarence Thomas to rule on a case with ties to his friends in the Koch network WHAT YOU MISSED Following the death of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced late last night that he had selected Laphonza Butler to fill her seat. “An

Trump, GOP grifters attempt to paint themselves as pro-worker

While the “haters and losers” that make up the 2024 Republican presidential primary were taking shots at each other on the debate stage, former President Donald Trump again tried to upstage his competition by hosting counter-programming. But as opposed to the first round of debates, where Trump chose to instead

Federal judge blocks Texas drag ban

Plus, a look at tonight's GOP debate. WHAT YOU MISSED On Tuesday, a federal judge struck down a law signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) that would have banned drag queen performances in the state. In Judge David Hittner’s ruling, he determined that Senate Bill 12,

DeSantis poll numbers continue to collapse

Plus, a Holocaust denier runs for a school board seat in suburban Minnesota. WHAT YOU MISSED Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis continues to fall out of favor with GOP voters. With the second Republican debate around the corner, polling out of the crucial primary state of New

Trump to vist Detroit to 'support' striking workers

Plus, Elon Musk's monkey murders and Clarence Thomas' latest scandal WHAT YOU MISSED Donald Trump will once again skip the Republican primary debates in favor of another publicity stunt. However this time, it won’t be a one-on-one interview on friendly turf. Next week, Trump’s campaign

Civil war brewing between House Republicans

Plus, Haley's bogus anti-union talking points and changing tides in the electoral map. WHAT YOU MISSED For its upcoming election cycle, Pennsylvania will require some 40,000 poll workers to execute a safe and fair voting process. Such liaisons will be needed for the 2023 municipal elections taking

Trump plays the hits on Meet the Press, Missouri gubernatorial candidate vows to burn books.

Plus, Wisconsin Republicans continue to assault democracy. WHAT YOU MISSED Over the weekend, former president Donald Trump spoke with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” in what was billed as his “first network interview since leaving office.” The most indicted man on Earth brought out many of the usual hits

Auto workers initiate strike, Brandon Johnson to tackle budget deficit

Plus, a GOP state senator thinks corporal punishment in schools should make a comeback. WHAT YOU MISSED In a vote that fell along party lines, the Wisconsin Senate voted not to reinstate Meagan Wolfe, who held the highest position within the state’s Election Commission. Wolfe, who has no official

Romney to wrap up political career in 2025, lawsuit to stop Trump might prove ineffective.

Plus, Laura Boebert's temper tantrum. WHAT YOU MISSED Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) announced today he will not pursue a second term, citing a need for a younger crop of politicians that will “step up” to “shape the world they’re going to live in.” Romney also believes that

Ohio Republican steps down, Comer's blunderous impeachment attempts

Plus, concerning poll numbers for Biden heading into an election year. WHAT YOU MISSED On Friday, Ohio state Rep. Bob Young (R-Green) resigned following a tumultuous summer that saw him indicted for assaulting his wife in July and ordered to wear an ankle monitor after disobeying a protective order by

Gloria Johnson joins the race, PragerU in Oklahoma schools

Oklahoma's Ryan Walters brings conservative politics into public classrooms. WHAT YOU MISSED Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has some new competition for her 2024 race: Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) said on Tuesday that she will be seeking to unseat Blackburn. Johnson is a part of the so-called

Tensions reach a breaking point in Tennessee

Plus, Vivek's farcical fossil fuel fustian. WHAT YOU MISSED Following Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) public health scare, former South Carolina Gov. and 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley calls for term limits and “mental competency tests” for anyone in office over the age of 75. "The Senate

Vivek's sophistry, Haley's austerity

Plus, a major win for American workers and new data for the GOP primary field.   WHAT YOU MISSED: GOP frontrunner and World’s Most Indicted Guy Donald Trump is officially scheduled to appear in court for election interference on March 4, 2024, in Washington D.C. Trump’s legal team

Just another ordinary week for the GOP

Plus, a new chapter in Hot Labor Summer. WHAT YOU MISSED We know you saw the mugshot. We all saw the mugshot. But did you see the wolf man supporting the judicial prosecution of Trump outside the Fulton County jail? Another man, flanked by pro-Trump protestors near the carceral complex

Expectations for tonight's GOP carnival ride

Plus, a suspicious plane crash in Russia and policing turmoil in Minneapolis. WHAT YOU MISSED Today, Russian media reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Russian mercenary company Wagner Group, has been killed in a plane crash. At one point, Prigozhin acted as a close ally of Russian President Vladimir

As fall semester begins, educators in red states prepare for a brave new world

Plus, Elon’s gesticulating geopolitics and the second death of Ronald Reagan. WHAT YOU MISSED North Dakota schools are bracing for the first semester since the state’s Legislative Assembly passed a series of anti-LGBTQ bills. They include: House Bill 1522, which compels transgender students to use bathrooms that do

Jan. 6 defendants may receive decades in prison, Trump bails on the primary debate

Plus, massive fines for Florida abortion clinic and wildfire revisionism. WHAT YOU MISSED Wisconsin Republicans have yet to find a proper opponent for Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D), who is up for re-election in 2024. Neither U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay) nor U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) accepted

GOP candidate continues to maintain financial ties to Norfolk Southern, "X" allowed neo-nazi to monetize their content

THE IMPACT OF HEARTLAND SIGNAL We need your support. As we’ve mentioned in this newsletter before, our journalists at Heartland Signal work to uncover stories that often get overlooked by the mainstream press. That’s one of our driving goals: filling the coverage gap for local reporters and nudging

Grim records in Hawaii, Argentinian demagogues and the forthcoming GOP debates

Plus, a former Republican legislator will see time behind bars and the wonderful financial benefits of being indicted. WHAT YOU MISSED A massive wildfire in Hawaii that occurred late last week set a horrific national record. Reports put the current casualty count at 96, making it the deadliest wildfire in

GOP donor sentenced for sex trafficking and Justice Thomas' latest opulence

A Midwestern Epstein, Pence's national approach to abortion and RFK Jr.'s latest polling numbers are in the headlines as the dog days of summer reach their twilight.   WHAT YOU MISSED * A federal court sentenced Anthony Lazzaro, a major Minnesota GOP donor, to a 21-year prison sentence

Anti-abortion campaign collapses in Ohio, Trump legal memo reveals electoral conspiracy

In today's headlines, Ohioans stood up against "pro-life" politics, a Trump lawyer's secret plot and a bizarre attempt at book banning in Arkansas. WHAT YOU MISSED * Ohio’s special election concerning Issue 1, a public referendum on the necessary votes in which ballot initiatives

Kagan voices need for Supreme Court reform

WHAT YOU MISSED * At a “Fancy Farm Picnic” event in rural Kentucky Saturday, constituents greeted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) with a sea of boos and chants, calling for the longest-serving U.S. senator in the state’s history to retire. Former President Donald Trump later shared the video

Who is behind the Minnesota Miracle? Meet ISAIAH

Loyal Lede Readers, While the rest of the world is fixated on the latest Trump indictment, we wanted to bring you a behind-the-scenes look at a progressive powerhouse that has helped shape Minnesota politics over the last decade. Below, you are getting first peek at a piece that will be

Top five embarrassing Republican stories from July

Loyal Lede Readers, We're already through July! Here's a look back at the month via a story from Heartland Signal's Richard Eberwein, where he catalogues the top five Republican limelight-catchers over the last 31 days. Who did we miss? Who would make your top

History à la DeSantis

WHAT YOU MISSED * It appears U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) drunkenly cussed out several Senate pages while giving a tour of the Capitol. * During a House hearing on the impact of COVID-19, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), a licensed physician who chairs the subcommittee, claimed that the

Financial troubles befall state GOP parties

WHAT YOU MISSED * Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced plans to expand pressure on private insurers into providing better access to mental health care.  "Despite the repeated bipartisan efforts aimed at mental health parity, insurers  too often make it difficult to access mental health treatment, causing millions of  consumers to

Dispatch from the culture war trenches

THANK YOU! Thank you, Lede readers! You took action to support progressive journalism by signing up as supporters of Heartland Signal (our digital newsroom) and WCPT 820 AM (our radio station). On Thursday of last week, we asked you to give $5, $25, or $50 monthly to support our work.

No Labels, No Policy, No Problem!

WHAT YOU MISSED * HYPOCRISY: Heartland Signal’s Richard Eberwein broke a story about leading Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy’s nearly $800,000 PPP loan forgiveness. This is despite Sheehy raging against President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. “Take a loan, pay it back,” Sheehy said (but…

Fake electors face criminal charges in Michigan

WHAT YOU MISSED * Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) stated at a recent event that his new party, the center-right “No Labels,” could run presidential candidates in the event of a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024. * In a Newsmax interview Tuesday, GOP presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki

Ron DeSantis' private police force?

Over the weekend, Gov. DeSantis’ paramilitary approach to “public safety” is already running into criticism, Iowa’s abortion ban takes effect, and RFK Jr. prepares to meet before a Jim Jordan-led committee. WHAT YOU MISSED * OHIO SENATE: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is taking a break from attempting to

Partisan defense bill slashes abortion, gender-affirming care funding, Hollywood goes on strike

WHAT YOU MISSED * Ohio state Rep. Bob Young (R-Green) is facing calls to resign after he allegedly slapped his wife, threw her phone in a pool as she tried to call the police, followed her as she fled to her brother-in-law's house with her children and got tackled

Iowa’s medieval abortion ban, the benefits of full employment and the return of primetime Tucker Carlson

WHAT YOU MISSED * That Supreme Court ruling in favor of a web designer refusing same-sex wedding work? Well, a Michigan salon is citing it to refuse service to LGBTQ customers, saying queer people looking for a haircut can go to a local "pet groomer" instead. * Wisconsin Democrat Rebecca

Trump hits DeSantis in Nevada, DeSantis hits China

Today is Monday, July 10. President Joe Biden is overseas, the Senate is back in session and Iowa Republicans are heading back to Des Moines to consider a restrictive abortion ban. Weekend Catch Up * A Wisconsin judge has ruled that a legal challenge to the Badger State's 1849

Expanded abortion bans in Iowa, MTG gets the boot and a challenge to the "Death Star"

1. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and GOP legislature prepare to introduce a new, six-week abortion ban next week. 2. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who helped defeat Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan, places liability on Biden for creating “false expectations." 3. End of student loan forgiveness could

Wisconsin budget vetos, DeSantis' legal crusade

Wisconsin governor vetoes key cuts in state budget Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has issued 51 vetoes concerning line items in the state's biannual budget after the Republican-controlled Legislature slashed spending on child care, school safety, public universities and other crucial social infrastructure. “In many ways, Republicans in

Brutal SCOTUS rulings, 1849 abortion laws and the battle for gender-affirming care

Speed Read SCOTUS WATCH: Yesterday, a Supreme Court ruling resulted in the end of affirmative action for college admissions. Today, the Court struck down President Joe Biden’s proposed student debt relief program and undercut LGBTQ rights. SILVER LINING: However, another ruling by the Court could mean the end of

Upcoming Supreme Court rulings, child care subsidies

Impending Supreme Court rulings could have huge impact on civil liberties, social justice UP NEXT: This coming Thursday will see the highest court in the land pass judgment on a plethora of crucial lawsuits with massive implications for issues ranging from LGBTQ rights to affirmative action. The Supreme Court is

GOP Rep. rants against birth control, Nevada candidate backs political executions, Del. Democrat could be first out trans Congressperson

Here are the stories we're following this week.

Republicans supporting child marriage, RFK Jr. at Moms for Liberty, Stefanik’s abortion ban, and more

We'll get you caught up on the news you missed during the week.

What’s happening in the Midwest, Tradwives, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

We'll get you caught up on the news you missed during the week.

Banning TikTok, Pence’s and Burgum’s presidential announcements, Trump missing in Iowa, and more.

Speed Read 1. Republicans across the Midwest have introduced bills that ban or lead to banning the social media app TikTok. 2. This week, both former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum unveiled their 2024 presidential campaigns. 3. The Biden administration announces a new program to

It's Monday. Here are the stories we're following this week.

McCarthy continues to float cuts to social security and public health care

Despite securing a series of austerity measures, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) said in a recent Fox interview that he will explore more options for cutting federal spending. The tentative agreement to raise the debt ceiling, which passed the House and cleared the final hurdles of the Senate on Thursday,

The Take: DeSantis vs. Mickey is a lose-lose for progressives

On the crafts and clothing site Etsy, you can now show your disdain for Florida Gov. and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis with a button embroidered with the phrase “Fuck DeSantis” in the signature Disney font. And all at the low price of $6.79! Below the denigrating phrase

Democrats in Michigan expand gun safety laws

On Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a new, comprehensive gun control legislation that would implement so-called “red flag” laws, safe storage regulations and universal background checks. Such reforms come in the wake of multiple school shootings that rocked the state. Most recently, in February of this year,

Minnesota governor vetoes progressives bill that guaranteed wages for rideshare drivers

Minnesota governor vetoes progressives bill that guaranteed wages for rideshare drivers Over the weekend, the Minnesota Senate successfully passed landmark legislation that would create a base pay model for gig workers contracted with ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber. While similar bills have been installed in cities like Seattle and