Megyn Kelly tapped to host Alabama Presidential debate
On Thursday, the Hill announced that NewsNation, the cable news channel launched in 2021 by Nexstar Media Group, will host the fourth Republican presidential primary debate next month in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama. Megyn Kelly will be one of the hosts of the debate, along with Elizabeth Vargas and Eliana Johnson. The December 6 debate will air from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on NewsNation and be simulcast in the Eastern and Central time zones on Nexstar’s broadcast television network, The CW. The debate will have three moderators, including Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News and TODAY show host who has started a popular podcast since leaving the television business. Elizabeth Vargas hosts a show in prime time on NewsNation. Eliana Johnson is the editor-in-chief of the conservative website The Washington Free Beacon. Kelly has moderated five Republican primary debates during her career in the media, including the first GOP primary debate of the 2016 election cycle while at Fox. That debate was watched by a record 24 million viewers. Donald Trump famously said to Kelly that he could see “blood coming out of her eyes … blood coming out of her wherever,” as she questioned him. Kelly said that no ill will exists between her and the former President. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said that bringing the debate to Alabama has involved a lot of work and planning. “I am extremely excited that the national Republican Party is working on a debate for the state of Alabama,” Chairman Wahl said just prior to the official announcement. “This has been in the works for months, and I am thrilled we are getting close. Seeing Alabama host its first-ever official presidential debate is something that has been very important to me as ALGOP Chairman, and I am incredibly thankful for Debate Committee Chairman David Bossie and RNC Chairman Ronna McDaniel for their efforts to make this happen. There is still some work to be done, but I hope this historic event can be finalized soon.” Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination in 2024. He has skipped the previous three debates and is not expected to participate in the fourth, even though he is still wildly popular in Alabama. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie participated in the third debate on Thursday. The Republican National Committee requires that candidates be polling at six percent or better in the four early primary/caucus states to participate in the Tuscaloosa debate. NewsNation and The Hill are both owned by Nexstar Media Group. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
John Wahl says plan for Republican Presidential Debate in Alabama has been in works for months
The New York Times is reporting that the fourth Republican Presidential debate will be in Tuscaloosa on December 6. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl released a statement that neither confirms nor denies that reporting but does acknowledge that planning for an RNC Presidential Debate coming to Alabama has been underway for months. “I am extremely excited that the national Republican Party is working on a debate for the state of Alabama,” said Chairman Wahl. “This has been in the works for months, and I am thrilled we are getting close. Seeing Alabama host its first-ever official presidential debate is something that has been very important to me as ALGOP Chairman, and I am incredibly thankful for Debate Committee Chairman David Bossie and RNC Chairman Ronna McDaniel for their efforts to make this happen. There is still some work to be done, but I hope this historic event can be finalized soon.” There is a whole host of Republican presidential contenders, but former President Donald J. Trump is dominating the polls and the conversation. Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy were the only two Republicans who had successfully qualified for the Alabama ballot by the close of the business day on Friday, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Tim Scott, and others are expected to qualify by the November 10 deadline. Former Vice President Mike Pence has recently dropped out of the race. How many of those candidates will be on the debate stage for the fourth debate remains an open question. Will Trump be present, or will he continue to be a no-show at the GOP debates? Trump is the early frontrunner, but serious legal questions continue to swirl about Trump’s candidacy. Was January 6th, 2021, an “insurrection,” and if so, was Trump’s involvement consequential enough for him to be barred from running under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution? Secondly, Trump faces over 130 indictments in four different trials – trials that some believe were timed by partisan prosecutors to take place during the 2024 primary season. If even one of those many indictments produces a guilty verdict, does that disqualify Trump from running? Would Trump, as the Republican nominee, be barred from the ballot in some states? Will GOP voters abandon Trump over these legal concerns? The third Republican presidential debate will be Thursday in Miami. NBC News host Lester Holt will be the moderator. The deadline for candidates to qualify with both major parties is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Florida warns another company over its Israel policies
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor The state of Florida has placed another company, Morningstar-Sustainalytics, on its list of “Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel.” The company, which rejects the accusation, has 90 days to respond or be subjected to Florida’s divestment and contract prohibitions. Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and CFO Jimmy Patronis, all trustees of the State Board of Administration (SBA), made a joint announcement after they placed Morningstar-Sustainalytics under continued examination in August for its “controversial research methodology which categorizes companies as a risk for supporting Israeli interests in Judea and Samaria.” The SBA then had a meeting on Oct. 25 about the “environmental, sustainable, governance” (ESG) corporate governance research, ratings and analytics firm. As of June 30, the Florida Retirement System held 26,343 shares of Morningstar’s stock worth $5.9 million, Pensions & Investments reports. “Florida will hold companies accountable for discriminating against Israel,” DeSantis said in a joint statement. “We will continue to invest in companies that provide Floridians with the best return on investment and not companies that utilize arbitrary ESG metrics to advance a BDS agenda.” “Our actions on Morningstar-Sustainalytics should put the rest of the world on notice,” AG Moody said. “Florida will not stand by while companies use their economic power to attack Israel.” Morningstar issued a statement in response, saying, “Morningstar does not support the anti-Israel BDS campaign; it never has, and it never will.” Last year, the company faced similar scrutiny from a range of Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League, and the American Jewish Committee, among many others over its ESG products. Of the many concerns raised was language it used in its products, referring to the West Bank in Israel as “Occupied Palestinian Territory” or “occupied territory.” Israel, as a sovereign nation, doesn’t occupy any “territory” and has a right to defend itself from terrorists whose stated goal is to kill Jews and destroy Israel, DeSantis has argued. After a months-long engagement process with the organizations, Morningstar said it committed to “further fortifying” its ESG “research and ratings against any concerns of anti-Israel bias” and “strongly reinforces the fact that we repudiate the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions campaign.” It also agreed to adopt all recommendations made by an independent investigation into its anti-Israel bias allegations and commit to take specific actions. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued a warning to all companies doing business in Florida, saying, “Let me be clear – If you want to do business with the State of Florida, you cannot support BDS policies against Israel, or you will face the consequences.” The announcement came after Florida has taken unprecedented action to support its Jewish population, including expanding law enforcement resources statewide, shutting down pro-Hamas student organizations on state college and university campuses, and flying roughly 700 Americans to Florida who were stranded in Israel. Florida is the only state to bring home stranded Americans from Israel. Florida has cracked down on companies involved in the BDS movement before. In 2019, it added Airbnb to its Scrutinized Companies List. Airbnb then reversed its policy and was taken off the list. In 2021, Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, was added to the list and remains on it. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Florida has brought nearly 700 Americans home from Israel
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor Florida so far has brought home nearly 700 Americans who were stranded in Israel. Florida law enforcement officers also are arresting antisemitic agitators after the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people, including over 30 Americans. Hamas, the acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), was designated by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. “It is the largest and most capable militant group in the Palestinian territories and one of the territories’ two major political parties,” the National Counterterrorism Center says. On Oct. 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida and directed the Division of Emergency Management to execute a “Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency, including any logistical, rescue, or evacuation operations” to bring Americans home who were stranded in Israel. “Unlike the governments of other countries, the Biden Administration has failed to launch any form of rescue or evacuation operations for Americans, including Floridians, who are stranded in the region, and has failed to provide information requested by the State of Florida about any plans for such operations,” he said. Within three days of making the announcement, Florida brought home nearly 300 Americans. Since then, nearly 700 Americans have been flown to Florida on four flights to Tampa and Orlando international airports. By Oct. 20, the Florida legislature called a special session to expand state sanctions on Iran, among other issues. Florida has also beefed up security efforts to protect its Jewish residents. Since Oct. 8, Florida Highway Patrol Quick Reaction Force troopers and nearly 100 FDLE agents and crime intelligence analysts have been focused on safeguarding Florida synagogues, Jewish Day Schools, and Jewish residents by monitoring of events and investigating suspicious activity reports, the governor’s office said. As a result, several arrests have been made, including of an individual outside of the Capitol Complex in Tallahassee. The individual was known to law enforcement for engaging in “domestic disturbances and altercations, leaving harassing messages with local seated public officials and acting suspiciously outside of synagogues” as well as “being dressed in a tactical vest and acting suspiciously” outside of a synagogue. One notable arrest was in Miami Beach on Oct. 17, when an individual told a security guard he was a member of Hamas and “was attempting to bomb a Jewish school in Miami Beach.” He was charged with “harassment, assault, disturbing school/religious assemblies, and threatening to discharge a bomb,” according to the governor’s office. Other notable arrests in the Miami area include an individual who allegedly resisted an officer without violence at the “Protest for Palestine” event at Miami Bayfront Park and a Miami man who threatened to kill hundreds of people “in a building or at a concert” if he didn’t receive federal protection “from Jewish people.” He was arrested by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the city of Miami Police Department “for making threats and extortion.” Miami-Dade Police also arrested three people at the “Protest for Palestine” demonstration at the Florida Atlantic University-Boca Raton Campus. One student was arrested on a felony battery charge after she allegedly elbowed a pro-Israeli woman; the others were arrested for battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Four individuals were also arrested at a “Stop the Genocide Against the People of Gaza” event held outside of the Coral Gables office of Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. A homeless individual was also arrested by Jupiter Police officers and charged with criminal mischief for scratching swastikas in the sidewalks along Indiantown Road and Military Trail in Abacoa. Attorney General Ashley Moody sent a memo to 21 college and university police chiefs statewide highlighting the statutes that prohibit and assign penalties for antisemitic hate crimes. She did so in the wake of Jewish students reporting feeling threatened by pro-Hamas groups on college campuses. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Florida House examines implementation of ‘responsible fatherhood’ law
By Andrew Powell | The Center Square Contributor A Florida House subcommittee met this week to discuss implementing some of the elements of a bill that passed during the 2022 session designed to promote responsible fatherhood. House Bill 7065 was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April of 2022 and was designed to “aid in creating and sustaining safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for children and families that allow children to grow up to their full potential,” and also focuses on responsible fatherhood. During the Florida House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Community Services Jess Tharpe from the Florida Department of Children and Families gave a presentation on the steps toward implementation the agency has taken since the bill was passed in 2022. “This was an important bill for the department, and we thank the House for spearheading this initiative and the investment made in fathers across the state of Florida,” Tharpe said. Tharpe added that approximately 39% of children live in a household with a single parent, 24% of children live in a fatherless household, and the majority of children who are removed from their homes and put into state care are from single-parent households. Married couples account for around 9% of situations where a child has been removed. “Fatherless youth are at increased risk of homelessness, dropping out of school, and suicide. When fathers are involved, we see higher levels of social competence and better peer relationships, better performance in school and educational outcomes, more advanced language skills, better flexibility and emotional control skills, and higher levels of self-esteem,” Tharpe said. Tharpe noted that even when fathers are not looking after their children full-time, research suggests that presence in the child’s life can still result in positive outcomes. The bill allows for the DCF to contract for an initiative to promote responsible fatherhood, and to provide services and resources to fathers to encourage more involvement with their offspring. The bill also creates the opportunity for non-profit organizations to provide a mentor program for at-risk youth and to address the needs of fathers. The DCF expects to launch the ‘Fathers First’ website in October, along with the full implementation of the initiative’s overall campaign across the Sunshine State. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Steve Flowers: Democrats indictment plan has made Donald Trump GOP nominee and maybe next President
In early April, I wrote that “Democrats give Trump a lifeline.” It was at that time that a Democratic district attorney in an overwhelmingly Democratic New York venue had indicted Donald Trump in a political ploy to disarm in some way, politically. There is an old saying that you can indict a potato or a ham sandwich. The legal threshold for getting a grand jury to offer a writ of indictment only requires that there is a scintilla of evidence that there may be a crime or misdemeanor. Therefore, a prosecutor can orchestrate an indictment. It looks like the Democrat’s plan is to replay the 2020 election in the courts, which is destroying Americans’ trust in their judicial system. They are making the courts a theatrical comedy political show. It used to be off-limits to use the courts to indict a person for political reasons. Make no mistake about it, all of these trumped-up indictments are just that, orchestrated political ploys. The Democrats have politically used the judicial system to indict Donald Trump – unbelievably, four times in four different Democratic venues with Democratic judges and Democratic juries. The last two plays are in slam-dunk Democratic clubhouses. The third indictment is in Washington D.C., which is 96% Democratic. The fourth is in Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia, which is 80% Democratic. There will never be a conviction upheld by a superior unbiased appeals court. It would also take six years of appeals to get resolved, and by that time, Trump and Joe Biden might not be here, and if they are here, may not know they are here. The 2024 race will long be over and forgotten. These political indictments are designed and orchestrated to derail Trump in 2024. Make no mistake about it, these charades are politically motivated but not for the reason you think. Most would assume that the Democrats wanted to bloody Trump in order to beat him in the General Election next November against Biden. Not so. They want him to be the Republican nominee because he will be easy to beat, and they know that. This courtroom ploy is playing out with the Republican base with such anger and outrage that it is making Trump a martyr. Indeed, as late as March, polls showed that Trump could not be elected president under any circumstances. He was probably not going to be the Republican nominee. He had dropped to 25% among Republicans with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 40% without DeSantis even being in the race. After every indictment, the sensationalism was met with glee by the liberal media. However, it was met with more glee by one, Donald Trump. It not only gave him a political lifeline, it essentially assured him the Republican nomination. The latest polls reveal Trump has a demanding lead in the GOP horserace. He is sitting on 54% vote to DeSantis’s 15%, and the rest of the dwarfs are at 5% or less. Trump will more than likely carry Alabama, overwhelmingly in our March 5 GOP Primary. All six of our current Republican Congressmen have endorsed him, as well as our Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, who, by the way, is probably Trump’s closest and most loyal ally in the U.S. Senate. Trump was met by enthusiastic, energetic enthusiasm when he spoke to a record-breaking crowd of Alabama Republicans at their summer dinner in Montgomery on August 4. Folks, the Democratic plan to make Donald Trump the Republican nominee has been successful. They have used Democratic courts to orchestrate his nomination. However, they may have overplayed their hand. There is such a thing as “piling on,” to use a football analogy. Every time one of these indictments comes down, it makes it look more and more frivolous and political. It has become viewed by Republicans as over the top and hitting below-the-waist politics. They may be making some Independent voters reconsider their distaste for Donald Trump. In addition, every time one of these ploys comes down, Trump raises tons of money. The Democrats may have succeeded in making Trump the nominee they wanted. However, they may have gone too far. They may elect him President. During Trump’s visit to Montgomery, when he spoke to the GOP faithful following the third indictment out of Washington D.C., you could tell he was delighted with the latest pile-on. He gleefully told the audience, “One more indictment, and they will make me President.” He may be right. Then the fourth indictment came down, and his polls and fundraising took off again. He would like nothing better than to hold a rally outside each courtroom next year. If political prosecution is the Democrat’s gameplan, they may have overplayed their hand. We will see. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Legal fights over voting districts could play role in control of Congress for 2024
Democrats got a potential boost for the 2024 congressional elections as courts in Alabama and Florida ruled recently that Republican-led legislatures had unfairly diluted the voting power of Black residents. But those cases are just two of about a dozen that could carry big consequences as Republicans campaign to hold onto their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Another trial alleging racial violations in voting districts got underway Tuesday in Georgia, where Democrats also hope to make gains while voting rights advocates in Ohio decided to drop a legal challenge to that state’s congressional districts — providing a bit of good news for Republicans. Legal challenges to congressional districts also are ongoing in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. And new districts seem likely in New York and North Carolina, based on previous court actions. Though much remains to be settled, there’s a good chance congressional districts will be changing in numerous states. It’s likely that “a significant number of voters will be voting for a different person than they voted for in 2022,” said Doug Spencer, an election law professor at the University of Colorado who manages the All About Redistricting website. Republicans currently hold a 222-212 majority in the U.S. House, with one vacancy in a previously Democratic-held seat. Boundaries for the nation’s House districts were redrawn in all states before the 2022 election to account for population changes noted in the 2020 census. In some states, majority party lawmakers in charge of redistricting manipulated lines to give an edge to their party’s candidates — a tactic known as gerrymandering. That triggered lawsuits, which can take years to resolve. The court battle in Alabama, for example, already has lasted about two years since the legislature approved U.S. House districts that resulted in six Republicans and just one Democrat, who is Black, winning election in 2022. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s finding that the map likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act by failing to provide Black residents — who comprise 27% of the state’s population — an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates in two districts. Alabama lawmakers responded in July by passing a revised map that maintained only one majority-Black district but boosted the percentage of Black voters in a second district from about 30% to almost 40%. A federal judicial panel on Tuesday decided that wasn’t good enough. But Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office said it will again ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review that decision. Ongoing lawsuits in Georgia and Louisiana are using similar arguments to push for additional districts where Black voters could have more power. Democrats stand to gain because a majority of Black residents tend to vote for Democrats instead of Republicans. A Florida redistricting case decided Saturday by a state judge also involved race, though it relied on provisions in the state constitution instead of the Voting Rights Act. That judge said the U.S. House map enacted by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis diminished Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in northern Florida. The judge directed Florida lawmakers to draw a new congressional map — a ruling that is likely to be appealed before it’s carried out. The litigation in southern states is “more of a racial representation issue than it is a political representation issue,” said Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida who specializes in elections and redistricting. “But we can’t escape the political consequences, because we have a very closely balanced House of Representatives at the moment.” Though Democrats stand to gain from court challenges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana, Republicans appear poised to pick up seats in North Carolina, which also has experienced a series of legal twists. North Carolina currently is represented in Congress by seven Democrats and seven Republicans after the state Supreme Court — under a Democratic majority — struck down the Republican legislature’s map as an illegal partisan gerrymander and instead allowed a court-drawn map to be used in the 2022 election. While that case was on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, voters elected a Republican majority to the North Carolina Supreme Court. Those judges in April reversed the previous ruling and declared there was no constitutional prohibition on partisan gerrymandering. The state’s GOP-led legislature is expected to pass new districts that favor their candidates before the 2024 election. A similar reversal could benefit Democrats in New York, where a state appeals court in July ordered an independent redistricting commission to start work on a new set of U.S. House districts that could be used in the 2024 election. The New York Commission had failed to reach a consensus before the 2022 election, leading to maps drawn by the Democratic-led legislature that were struck down as an unconstitutional gerrymander and replaced with court-approved maps. Republicans fared better under those maps, picking up several suburban New York City seats that could be put back into play if the districts are redrawn again. Political observers also had been keeping an eye on Ohio, where the state Supreme Court previously ruled that Republican-drawn maps were unconstitutional. Despite that, those districts were allowed to be used in the 2022 election, and Republicans won 10 of the state’s 15 U.S. House seats. The U.S. Supreme Court in June ordered the state court to take another look at the case. But voting rights groups on Tuesday told the state court that they are willing to accept the current districts in order to avoid “the continued turmoil brought about by cycles of redrawn maps and ensuing litigation.” Though lawsuits have become common after each decennial redistricting, they can lead to confusion among voters if congressional districts get changed after only a few years. “It does undermine a little bit the theory of representative democracy if you don’t even know who represents you election to election,” Spencer said. “It’s another reason why these redistricting games are so problematic.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Alabama Resiliency Council meets for first time
On Wednesday, the Alabama Resiliency Council met for the first time. The Council was joined at its inaugural meeting by Governor Kay Ivey. “Today, I kicked off the inaugural meeting of the Alabama Resilience Council,” Gov. Ivey said on Twitter. “I established this council to help us better prepare for when disaster strikes so we can preserve lives, protect jobs, and ensure our state’s future remains bright.” As the Council met, our neighbors to the west in Louisiana are fighting wildfires due to a historic drought, and Hurricane Idalia is wreaking havoc on our neighbors to our east, Florida and Georgia. According to the Council’s website, in the last 40 years, more than 1,100 Alabamians have died in disasters. In the last 20 years, Alabama has spent at least half a billion dollars simply to match FEMA funds, and in the last 20 years, Alabamians themselves have spent tens of billions on property damages and losses. Alabama has led the nation in tornado deaths since 1948, when we first started keeping accurate records. The Alabama Resilience Council was created by Gov. Ivey when she signed Executive Order 736. This action is a key part of the Ivey Administration’s effort to make Alabama the most resilient state in the nation by protecting the lives, property, and economic well-being of Alabamians against possible hazards, both natural and man-made. The Alabama Resilience Council will work with local, state, federal, and private partners to help communities build stronger, live safer, and recover quicker. The work of the Council will be aimed at better preparing Alabama’s communities to withstand events that result in harmful societal impacts. The purpose of the Council is “to provide a forum for coordinating activities of state government and for facilitating interactions between state government and the private sector to proactively address harmful impacts on Alabama communities and infrastructure before they occur.” “Protecting the well-being of our people, both physically and financially, should be a top priority shared by leaders at all levels of government,” Ivey said. “Alabama is growing like never before, and it’s imperative we take necessary steps today to preserve our historic progress for tomorrow. By proactively reimagining our approach to events with harmful effects on Alabamians before they occur, we can save lives, protect jobs, and ensure our state’s future remains bright.” “This council presents a great opportunity to bring stakeholders together to explore partnerships and create synergy in our efforts in our state,” said Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman. “It creates a platform to include key players that can significantly increase the strength and resilience of Alabama from harmful societal impacts.” “I want to thank Governor Ivey for her leadership and vision in creating this important Council,” said Alabama Commissioner of Insurance Mark Fowler. “We believe Alabama will set the national standard for preparedness and resilience. The Alabama Resilience Council will be a whole-of-government response, with the input of private industry, aimed at making that a reality.” The Alabama Resilience Council coordinates the numerous multi-disciplinary local, state, federal, and private partners in setting priorities, leveraging resources, communicating effectively, and delivering measurable results to shape a supple and vibrant future. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman and Alabama Department of Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler will serve as co-chairs of the Council. Permanent Members of the council include: · The Alabama Emergency Management Agency · The Alabama Department of Insurance · The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries · The Alabama Department of Commerce · The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources · The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs · The Alabama Department of Environmental Management · The Alabama Department of Public Health · The Alabama Department of Transportation · The Alabama Forestry Commission · The Alabama Geological Survey · The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency · The Alabama National Guard · The Alabama Office of Information Technology Sixteen other local, state, federal, and private partners will be invited to appoint a representative to the Council. Gov. Ivey has sent two Alabama National Guard Black Hawk helicopters and a Chinook to help the Governor of Louisiana combat the wildfires there. The Governor’s office is reportedly consulting with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on how Alabama might be of assistance to the people of Florida. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republicans hold first presidential debate – minus Donald Trump
The Republican Presidential Debate was held on Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The debate revealed some major policy differences between the candidates. Over 80 members of the combined Shelby County, St. Clair County, and Greater Birmingham Young Republicans were present at Hoover Tactical Firearms to watch the event and eat barbecue. Former President Donald Trump was conspicuous by his absence. Former Vice President Mike Pence said that Trump asked him to violate his oath to the Constitution by invalidating the Electoral College results on January 6, 2021. Pence said that he will always follow the Constitution. Trump claimed then, and still does, that the election was “stolen.” His efforts to overturn the 2020 election results have resulted in his being indicted. The other candidates said that Pence did the right thing that day. Both former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said President Trump violated his oath of office and likely cannot run again. Hutchison cited the 14th Amendment, which prevents anyone who has led an insurgency against the United States from serving. Christie said that Trump has been indicted 99 times and that lawlessness cannot be allowed. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy said that Trump was the greatest president of the twenty-first century. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Republicans should move on from this issue as it only benefits Democrats. U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) said that he was raised in poverty by a single mother and that his success shows that the American dream is alive and well. The candidates all seemed to agree that President Joe Biden’s economic policies have led to inflation, homelessness, and a significant reduction in the quality of life of most Americans. They blamed government spending. They also agreed that Biden is in mental decline. Ramaswamy, who is 38, said that America needs a new generation of leadership to lead a new American Revolution. Pence disagreed, saying that he has been in the halls of power as a member of Congress, Governor of Indiana, and Vice President, making him the most qualified to serve as President. The United States has spent $77 billion in aid for Ukraine, and President Biden has asked for $24 billion more as it appears that Ukraine’s summer offensive has stalled. Ramaswamy objected to giving any money to Ukraine, saying he wanted to move those resources to the U.S.’s southern border. “Ukraine is not a priority for the U.S.” “We can do both at the same time,” Pence said, objecting to Ramaswamy’s isolationist foreign policy. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley slammed Ramaswamy, saying, “You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows.” Haley said that Ramaswamy’s policies would lead to a world war. Pence agreed, saying that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to win in Ukraine, eventually, he will cross a NATO border, and the U.S. will have to send American troops to stop him. Haley said that Republicans need to tell Americans the truth and acknowledge that the GOP does not have the 60 votes required for the U.S. Senate to pass a nationwide abortion ban. Pence strongly disagreed and advocated for the passage of a nationwide abortion ban, saying that he would be a staunch defender of life as President. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said that he represents a very pro-Life state but agreed with Haley that abortion policy should be left to the states and there should be no nationwide ban. Christie condemned the lawlessness on the U.S. southern border. Since Biden has been president, six million migrants have entered this country. Ramaswamy wanted to put troops and military forces on the border. DeSantis said that the U.S. should use deadly force and kill migrants crossing the border illegally. Pence said in his (and Trump’s) administration, illegal border crossing decreased by 90% (and they didn’t gun anyone down). Hutchison said that his tenure as the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) taught him how to interdict dangerous drugs like fentanyl. Hutchison noted that there also needs to be an education component to combat fentanyl. DeSantis said that the COVID lockdowns “should never have happened.” Ramaswamy said that if he had been President during the COVID-19 pandemic, he would have fired Dr. Anthony Fauci. Scott said his mother taught him to work hard, have faith, and “if God made you a man, you compete in sports against men.” Ramaswamy called the concept of manmade global warming a “hoax” and called on the U.S. to mine for coal, drill for oil and natural gas, and adopt nuclear energy. Haley said that climate change “is real” but noted that the U.S. should be focused on getting India and China to reduce their carbon emissions rather than mandating that Americans buy electric cars where half the batteries are made in China, While the other contenders for the Presidency were on Fox News debating, Trump gave a lengthy interview to Tucker Carlson. Trump will surrender to Georgia authorities on Thursday. The Alabama presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Candidates pledge to support, pardon Donald Trump ahead of his arrest
Nearly all of the Republican primary candidates pledged to support former President Donald Trump during the debate Wednesday, even if he is convicted of any of his myriad legal charges. Trump is expected to be arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, Thursday over charges that he conspired to change the state’s 2020 election results. Those charges are part of the fourth indictment Trump faces, raising real concern that he could be convicted and jailed even as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president. “NOBODY HAS EVER FOUGHT FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY LIKE PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” the former president wrote on social media Wednesday. “FOR DOING SO, I WILL PROUDLY BE ARRESTED TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN GEORGIA. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!” These are the candidates who qualified for the debate Wednesday night: When asked if they would still support Trump for president if he were convicted in one of the 91 charges he faces, all of them except Hutchinson and Christie raised their hand. Christie seemed to start to raise his hand but then changed his mind. Notably, the candidates had to pledge to support the Republican nominee as a condition of participating in the debate. Christie said he would not support Trump and ended up in a sparring match with Ramaswamy, who said the indictments were politically motivated. Christie was booed for an extended period of time and had to stop speaking. That was one of multiple tense exchanges between Ramaswamy and Christie. “I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” Christie said of Ramaswamy earlier in the debate. Ramaswamy also called out Pence, saying he was the only candidate on stage who would pardon Trump on day one. “If people at home want to see a bunch of people blindly bashing Donald Trump without an iota of vision for this country, they can just change the channel to MSNBC right now,” Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy asked Pence to commit to pardon Trump, but Pence gave a vague answer, saying he would give a pardon “fair consideration.” “I don’t know why you assume Donald Trump will be convicted of these crimes,” Pence said. “That is the difference between you and me. I have given pardons when I was governor of the state of Indiana. It usually follows a finding of guilt and contrition by the individual that’s been convicted.” Haley and Ramaswamy went at it during a debate over the issue of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. “You have no foreign policy experience and, you know what, it shows,” Haley said. “It shows.” Her comments came after Ramaswamy said he wished Haley well in her future career on the boards of defense companies because of her support for defense funding. DeSantis avoided much of the fighting and attacks, which largely went to Ramaswamy and whoever he was sparring with at the time. The cheers and boos bolstered and opposed different candidates throughout the night, depending on the issues and their answers. The candidates came into the debate facing an uphill battle against former President Donald Trump, who leads by a significant margin. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights in July, found that Trump is far out ahead of his Republican competitors. The survey found that 53% of surveyed Republicans support Trump, followed by 18% supporting DeSantis. Former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy came in third and fourth place with 7% and 6% support, respectively. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley tied for fifth place at 4% support. Trump’s legal issues risk putting him behind bars, making second place in the primary more important than ever. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis currently holds that spot, it remains unclear how the debate may move that needle. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Republican Presidential Debate set for tonight; Donald Trump not participating
The first Republican presidential debate is on Wednesday at 8:00 pm on Fox News Channel. “The Republican Party is officially kicking off the primary process in Wisconsin with the first debate and ending it in Wisconsin with the convention,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said on Twitter. “We need every Wisconsin Republican to go to http://BankYourVote.co/gopchair and join the team that will Beat Biden!” Frontrunner former President Donald Trump is not participating. “New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers,” Trump said, explaining why he was not participating. “TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%,” Trump wrote. “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” Coming into the debate, polling shows that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is running in second place, followed by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. The other candidates on the stage will be U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence. A key issue overshadowing the normal presidential political process is the over 50 indictments against Trump. To this point, the legal controversy has benefited Trump, but will that continue? There are also concerns by some that Trump may not be able to serve if he is found guilty of participating in an insurgency. Trump supporters scoff at assertions that President Trump could be barred constitutionally and dismiss the indictments as Democrats politicizing the legal system. The Madison County Young Republicans are hosting a Republican presidential debate watch party. The debate Starts at 8 pm and ends at 10 pm. The event will be at The Best Pizzeria in Huntsville. The St. Clair County Young Republicans, the Shelby County Young Republicans, and the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans are co-hosting a debate watch party at Hoover Tactical Firearms. The event is from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, and food will be provided. Dues-paying YRs get in for free, $5 tickets for everyone else. The Republican delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will formally select the GOP nominee. Incumbent President Joe Biden appears to be the Democratic nominee, but he is being challenged by former Congressman Robert Kennedy. At present, President Biden has not agreed to any Democratic presidential debates. The Republican primary season will begin in Iowa in January. The Democratic primary season this year will start in South Carolina. The Alabama presidential primary is on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Donald Trump confirms he will skip Republican debate
Former President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that he will skip the Republican presidential primary debate this week. In a post on TruthSocial, Trump’s social media site, he touted a recent CBS poll showing a 46-point lead on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump announced he will “not be doing the debates,” saying he is already well-known enough. “New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers. TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%,” Trump wrote. “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” The CBS poll of 2,061 adults was conducted Wednesday through Friday and has a ±3% margin of error. It began two days after Trump’s fourth indictment, this time from a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll of 2,500 registered voters, was conducted July 31-Aug. 3, in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights, found that in a potential general election matchup, Biden and Trump are nearly tied. That survey found Trump has 41% support compared to Joe Biden’s 44% support, while 15% remain unsure. The poll also found DeSantis doing a tick better than Trump against Biden. DeSantis also had 41% support, but Biden against him was 43%, with 16% unsure. The first Republican debate hosted by the Republican National Committee and the Fox News Channel is Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, site of next July’s national party convention. The only other debate thus far on the schedule is Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California. The New York Times was first on Friday to report Trump would skip the debate and instead do an interview with Tucker Carlson, the former show host fired by Fox in April. Carlson does interviews now on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter and considered something of a rival to Trump’s TruthSocial. The platform to broadcast the interview has not been announced. The Washington Post, citing the Times, reported Saturday the interview would be released about the same time as the debate and that it already had been recorded. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
