Trumpdate (3.25.24):
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Ronna McDaniel was hired by NBC News, facing backlash over her ties to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In interviews, she condemned Jan 6th but previously enabled Trump's fake elector scheme. Demographic data shows Hispanic population growth driven more by births than immigration. US household wealth surged since the pandemic but risks a correction. The DailyWire cut ties with Candace Owens. Jim Jordan argued against tech companies removing misinformation. Texas AG Paxton neared deal to dismiss state fraud charges. Trump faces bond deadline as assets could be seized if he can't pay. Measles spread linked to Florida trips. Oath Keepers founder's son is running for office as a Democrat.
1.) NYT: Ronna McDaniel, Former R.N.C. Chair, Joins NBC News
[CONTEXT] Ronna McDaniel plays an active role in Republican politics, advocating for party interests and supporting conservative candidates. She's also the niece of Senator Mitt Romney R-UT (who is a frequent critic of Trump). Recently, she was forced out of the RNC by Trump — to be supplanted by his daughter in law Lara Trump (married to Eric Trump). In 2017 it was reported by WaPo that Trump asked Ronna if she would stop using her middle name [Romney] publicly:
Before Ronna Romney McDaniel took over as Republican National Committee chairwoman earlier this year, President Trump had a request: Would she be willing to stop using her middle name publicly?
Trump followed up by saying in a lighthearted way that McDaniel, the niece of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, could do what she wanted, according to two people familiar with the comments. But the change was soon plain for all to see. Though she had used her maiden name for years in Michigan, where her grandfather George W. Romney had been governor, McDaniel dropped “Romney” from most official party communications and has rarely used it since.
McDaniel took part in Trump’s plot to assemble a fake slate of electors to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
[CLIP] From the Jan 6th Committee Interview:
Then-President Donald Trump personally pressured two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to sign the certification of the 2020 presidential election, according to recordings reviewed by The Detroit News and revealed publicly for the first time.
On a Nov. 17, 2020, phone call, which also involved Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump told Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, the two GOP Wayne County canvassers, they'd look "terrible" if they signed the documents after they first voted in opposition and then later in the same meeting voted to approve certification of the county’s election results, according to the recordings.
"We've got to fight for our country," said Trump on the recordings, made by a person who was present for the call with Palmer and Hartmann. "We can't let these people take our country away from us."
McDaniel, a Michigan native and the leader of the Republican Party nationally, said at another point in the call, "If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. ... We will get you attorneys."
To which Trump added: "We'll take care of that."
Neither Palmer nor McDaniel and Trump, through spokespeople, disputed a summary of the call when contacted by The News. Hartmann died in 2021.
McDaniel did respond, telling The Detroit News,
“What I said publicly and repeatedly at the time, as referenced in my letter on Nov. 21, 2020, is that there was ample evidence that warranted an audit."
On Chris Wallace’s CNN show in Jul ‘23 she refused to answer whether she had spoken with special counsel Jack Smith in his investigation into alleged efforts by the former president and his allies to overturn the 2020 election.
[CLIP]
However, in the Fulton County, GA case (Case Background: An Atlanta-based grand jury on August 14, 2023, indicted Trump and 18 others on state charges stemming from their alleged efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 electoral defeat. Four people have pleaded guilty. Case is lead by DA Fani Willis) - Ronna McDaniel is listed as a “necessary and material witness:”
Based on the representations made by the State, the Court finds that Ronna McDaniel is a necessary and material witness. Ronna McDaniel possesses unique knowledge concerning communications between herself and Donald Trump as well as communications between herself and John Eastman regarding the conspiracy to cause certain individuals to falsely hold themselves out as the duly elected and qualified presidential electors for the November 3, 2020 presidential election.
On the same show, McDaniel also refused to say Biden won the election fair:
[CLIP]
[UPDATE] NBC is facing a big backlash for the hiring.
[UPDATE 2] Per WSJ “MSNBC Has No Plans to Have Ex-RNC Chief on Network:”
MSNBC has no plans to have former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on the cable network, its president told employees following the news of her hiring at NBC News.
Rashida Jones, the cable network's president, has been seeking to address internal backlash in the wake of an internal Friday announcement by NBC News regarding McDaniel's hiring as an on-air contributor. In that internal memo, the political chief, Carrie Budoff Brown, said McDaniel would contribute "across all NBC News platforms," causing turmoil among several of the network's on-air hosts and staffers, people familiar with the matter said. MSNBC is part of the NBC News division.
Jones told employees the cable network has no plans to have McDaniel on the channel, according to people familiar with the conversations. A number of MSNBC anchors and producers have voiced concern internally about McDaniel's ties to former President Donald Trump and the NC's role in his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
[UPDATE 3] Ronna McDaniel went on ‘Meet the Press’ this Sunday (24th). (Interview starts 4m10s). Kristen Welker addressed the interview prior to having McDaniel on:
[CLIP]
Additional highlights from the interview:
McDaniel said she was neutral as RNC chairwoman even when she told Haley to drop out, criticizes the Democrats / DNC for not having primary debates:
[CLIP]
[TS] In a vacuum, it’s a fair criticism against the DNC for having no debates, even for an incumbent president. Her reasoning about “at the time there was no math and no path (re-Haley)” doesn’t make much sense, because it’s doubly true for Biden/Democrats. Biden beat the third party candidates worse than Trump beat the 3rd party candidates. Talking about not having debates is also rich coming from McDaniel….
[CONTEXT] In 2020 when Trump was the incumbent, the RNC did not hold any official presidential primary debates during the 2020 election cycle. Ronna McDaniel was the Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee during the 2020 election cycle when the decision was made not to hold any Republican presidential primary debates.
Similar to 2024 (ie with an incumbent President), Donald Trump was the incumbent president running for re-election, and the RNC made the decision fairly early on to forego primary debates and essentially clear the field for Trump as the presumptive nominee.
A handful of other Republican candidates did initially launch long-shot primary challenges against Trump, such as former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld and former U.S. Representatives Joe Walsh and Mark Sanford. However, none gained significant traction, and the RNC formally provided Trump with its unified endorsement in January 2020.
[TS] McDaniel widely condemned Jan 6th in the interview:
[CLIP]
[TS] However, in Feb of 2022 (Feb 4th) the RNC voted to censure Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) for serving on the House Jan. 6 select committee, which the resolution called a"persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."
RNC chairperson Ronna McDaniel in a statement to Axios following the vote suggested the “legitimate political discourse” referred to in the resolution “had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol,” likely a reference to the rallies that preceded the riot.
“Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger crossed a line,” she said of them joining the committee. “That’s why Republican National Committee members and myself overwhelmingly support this resolution.”
Says she’s talking about things now because she doesn’t have to “take one for the whole team” being the chairwomen for the RNC
[CLIP]
[TS] This line of reasoning is synonymous with cowardice.
Liz Cheney was a little more blunt in her reaction to the clip:
Ronna facilitated Trump’s corrupt fake elector plot & his effort to pressure MI officials not to certify the legitimate election outcome.She spread his lies & called 1/6 “legitimate political discourse.” That’s not “taking one for the team.” It’s enabling criminality & depravity.
Refuses to say she regrets the Michigan phone call with Trump (outlined above)
[AFTERTHOUGHT]
[TS] I thought this was revealing: Ronna McDaniel (multiple times) repeated that she didn’t think Trump wanted that attack to happen on he Capital:
[CLIP]
[TS] And also reiterated that
-“…the RNC was not there - on Jan 6th”
-”The RNC was not there, we did not coordinate, we were not apart of the planning that day.”
[CLIP]
[TS] If it was so obvious to Ronna that Trump wanted nothing to happen that day - which would lead you to believe the communication/planning of that event was also fine - then why go to such pains reiterating that the RNC “wasn’t there” and “didn’t plan” or “coordinate” anything?” Why make a point to distance yourself?
No way Trump wanted the attack….BUT I WASN’T THERE AND I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!
It was a totally normal plan but I DIDN’T PLAN ANY OF IT I SWEAR!
[UPDATE 4] Post interview “Meet the Press" publicly dissented from hiring decision made by NBC News. Chuck Todd to Kristen Welker: "Our bosses owe you an apology." Then two other panelists explained on air why hiring Ronna McDaniel is such a credibility disaster.
[CLIP] - only Chuck’s portion:
2.) PEW: Newborns, not immigrants, have driven the recent population growth among U.S. Hispanics:
[TS] I do wonder how much of a factor the current demographics of immigrants plays a role here given that the more recent immigrant makeup was not skewed as heavily toward a Hispanic background.
3.) US Household Are Much Wealthier Since the Pandemic:
The runup in stock and house prices since the pandemic is eye-popping. Stocks are up 60% and homes 50%. Household net worth has swelled by $300k per household. While only 2/3 of households are benefiting, this is big money and a big part of the U.S. economy’s current success.
But asset prices look pricey and vulnerable to a serious correction, especially if the Fed doesn’t follow through on expectations and cut rates. Price-to-earnings in stocks and price-to-rent in housing look high. Sharply lower prices would diminish, even undermine, the economy.
4.) The DailyWire cuts ties with Candace Owens.
f
5.) [TS] Not news, but I found this funny:
6.) Jim Jordan on 60 minutes argues that tech companies shouldn’t remove most of what they call misinformation:
7.) STATESMAN: Texas AG Ken Paxton could see criminal charges dropped in deal with prosecutors.
Felony charges would be erased in exchange for community service and six-figure restitution.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is nearing a resolution to the 9-year-old securities fraud charges that have dogged his tenure as the state's top attorney through a special agreement with prosecutors, the American-Statesman has learned.
Under a draft agreement, prosecutors would dismiss felony charges against Paxton if he successfully completes the terms of the deal, according to three sources familiar with the negotiations.
The sources, with knowledge of the discussions between Paxton's legal team and prosecutor Brian Wice, a Houston attorney appointed to handle the case, said the terms could include community service, advanced legal education classes and a six-figure restitution, among other possible punishment. Two sources said the restitution could be between $300,000 and $400,000.
Under the conditions, Paxton likely would not have to formally enter a plea but must not violate any law for an extended period. Paxton, a 61-year-old Republican, could have faced up to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Such agreements generally do not require a judge's approval, underscoring the wide authority that Texas prosecutors have to resolve cases.
[TS] These are the state charges. The DoJ is also doing an investigation that is separate from these.
8.) The deadline for Trump to post a $454M bond against him is today.
What happens if he can’t post bond? Per CNN:
Seizing bank accounts and cash
In theory, officials can begin the complicated legal process of taking his assets, barring any other strategic legal maneuvering from state prosecutors and countering from Trump’s legal team. Officials will have to weigh what assets they want to take, whether it’s his bank accounts or his properties. Experts think the first action should be seizing his bank accounts.
“The banks are the easiest part, they’ll receive the judgment from the Attorney General - the court order - then the banks will enforce,” said attorney Peter Katz, a former federal prosecutor at the Eastern District of New York who has handled fraud cases. “They take the funds from the account and put it in the attorney general’s accounts. The other stuff is a little more challenging.”
What about buildings and businesses?
Seizing property takes much longer.
Once state prosecutors figure out what property they want to take, they give the sheriff’s office the execution order, along with a fee for $350, Pollock said. The sheriff then posts the notice for the property in three places and the Attorney General’s office must advertise it four times, Pollack said. Then, in 63 days from when the execution order is given to the sheriff, a public auction is held for the property, according to Pollock.
What about Mar-a-Lago?
No other judgments have been filed, but the process could play out in other states where Trump has assets, most notably Mar-a-Lago in Florida, though other properties might be less challenging to take.
“The attorney general’s office is the largest firm in New York State, if you think about it as a law firm. The office has zero lawyers in Florida. I would see execution on properties in New York before you see anything in Florida, Pollack said.
[TS] Unclear who the originator of this was so I’m not crediting an author (yet):
9.) CBS: Measles spread to at least 3 other states after trips to Florida.
Measles cases that turned up in at least three states this year were linked to visits to Florida, federal and state investigators concluded, shedding light on some of the early infections that have fueled an uptick of the highly contagious virus.
Florida's health department thinks families of the cases earlier this year from Indiana and Louisiana may have crossed paths in the state, according to messages sent between local investigators and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through late February.
[TS] The relatively recent distrust in vaccines, which was exasperated by the COVID vaccine is terrible. If you’re looking for a good writeup of the COVID anti-vax lies - I recommend Richard Hanania’s piece in Substack: ‘Vaccines and the Tightrope of Progress.’
10.) DAILYBEAST: Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes’ Son Is Running For Office—as a Democrat
Democrat Dakota Adams, 27, is mounting an uphill battle for a seat in the Montana Legislature in a deep red corner of the state. But even if his campaign fails, he expects a lifelong future in politics—drawing a stark divergence from his father, who founded the far-right Oath Keepers and is serving an 18-year sentence for conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Adams revealed his abusive upbringing at the hands of Stewart Rhodes, and the new path that he seeks to chart.
He said living with Rhodes was a constant process of moving around and starting over, as the Yale-educated militant convinced his family the government was spying on them and the end of days was imminent.
“We lived in extreme isolation in one particular cultural bubble in increasingly paranoid and militant right-wing political spheres everywhere we moved in the country, until eventually we ended up in Montana,” Adams said.