Matt Gaetz

'Outrageous partisan poison pills is a nonstarter'

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — When El Salvador’s autocratic president, Nayib Bukele, celebrated his inauguration this summer, guests of honor included Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson and Rep. Matt Gaetz, the firebrand Republican from Florida.

Some Trump allies in Florida revealed their plans for voting on Amendment 4, which would enshrine the right to an abortion into the state's constitution.

Foreign policy experts say cozying up to autocrats helps legitimize them, and robs the U.S. of moral authority on the world stage.

A proposal to put golf courses in a Florida state park — which has landed Gov. Ron DeSantis in hot water politically — involved two of the biggest names in professional golf history: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.The proposal to build courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Southeast Florida is now put on hold after bipartisan pushback and protests across the state. But had the idea received state approval, and both Woods and Nicklaus would have been involved in course-design work.“There were actually going to be at least two courses; one would be a Tiger course and one would be a Jack course,” Eugene Stearns, an attorney who represents Nicklaus, told NBC News.He said Nicklaus, who has designed more than 300 courses across the world, would have done the work free of charge had the proposal become a reality. “For Jack, it was a charitable issue,” Stearns said. The proposal — which was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times — was part of changes to nine state parks that also included the addition of amenities like pickle ball courts and new lodges. Golf courses, however, were the biggest point of controversy from the proposal.A DeSantis administration official said the plans were not finalized and they expected pushback. But things spiraled too quickly before they were ready when they were made public.“We kind of lost the narrative on this one,” said a DeSantis administration official. “Leaks did not help.”DeSantis never said he backed the plan, and he has stated he never “approved” it. It came out of an agency whose head the governor appoints.The backlash ran the political spectrum, from Democrats to environmental groups to most state Republicans, including Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with Rep. Matt Gaetz.“I know you love our Florida environment. We campaigned together on saving the environment in 2018. I saw your sincerity firsthand, up close,” Gaetz posted on X, directing his comments to DeSantis. “Please use your excellent leadership skills to kill this anti-Florida Man initiative. Keep our parks natural.”There has also been pushback to past attempts to put golf corses in Florida state parks, with the general idea that people in the state are opposed to any additional development in those areas.TGR Design, Wood’s Florida-based golf course design company, did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment, but four sources, including the DeSantis administration official, confirmed that it was involved in the early stages of the proposal.The proposal was spearheaded by Folds of Honor, an Oklahoma-based non-profit organization that helps veterans. It uses golf, among other things, to raise scholarship money for families of members and first responders who were killed or disabled.The group, which has floated the idea of golf courses in Florida state parks in the past, issued a statement last week confirming its involvement. It said the plan was to bring “world class” golf to Southeast Florida and donate proceeds to military and first-responder families.The statement from the group was shared and amplified by nationally-known conservative firebrand Dan Bongino, who said the group personally assured him the proposal was not returning. “My good friends at ‘Folds of Honor’ have also assured me that they do not plan to move forward on this project,” Bongino, who lives in the area, wrote on social media. “They are great people, doing great things. They just didn’t understand the local passion for JD Park.”A second lesser-known group, Delaware-based Tuskegee Dunes Foundation, earlier posted on a newly-created website that it was also behind the proposal, but it has since backed away.“We have received clear feedback that Jonathan Dickinson State Park is not the right location,” the group posted. “We did not understand the local community landscape and appreciate the clarity. We will not pursue building in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park.”Little is known about that group, which shared an Oklahoma address with Folds of Honor, but the group in January did hire two Florida lobbyists, including Ryan Matthews, the former head of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, which is the agency that would have had broad authority to move forward with the plan and whose leader DeSantis appoints.DeSantis’ communications team initially supported the idea, even as public pushback grew.In a statement last week, DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern said that it was something former President Teddy Roosevelt, a well-known conservationist, would have supported.“Teddy Roosevelt believed that public parks were for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and we agree with him,” Redfern said. “No administration has done more than we have to conserve Florida’s natural resources, grow conservation lands, and keep our environment pristine. But it’s high time we made public lands more accessible to the public.”On Wednesday, though, DeSantis distanced himself from the proposal.“It was not approved by me. I never saw that,” he told reporters. “A lot of that stuff was just half-baked, and it was not ready for prime time.”This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:Parataekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi wins first medal for the Refugee Paralympic TeamCarlos Alcaraz loses to Botic van de Zandschulp in U.S. Open, ending 15-match Grand Slam win streakThe internet’s favorite tech reviewer is also an elite ultimate frisbee player

Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Jason Crow, D-Colo., are leading the official probe, which is being paralleled by an unsanctioned group of lawmakers and experts.

Dueling Monday events focused on the assassination attempt against former President Trump highlighted the challenge that the official House task force investigating the attack could have in keeping the effort bipartisan and apolitical. In its first in-person and public official action, members of the bipartisan task force toured the Butler, Pa., Farm Show site where [...]

Party faces a leadership standoff as the November election looms.

Trump and his allies have continued to court foreign autocrats, including several who would likely not get such treatment in a Democratic White House.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party’s vice presidential nomination, and repeated claims he has made before about the Republican ticket.

The DNC presents Fox News Channel with a delicate challenge — how to cover a party suddenly enthused about its election chances when much of its audience has a different political view.

Vice President Kamala Harris will close out the Democratic National Convention when she accepts her party’s historic presidential nomination.

Rep. Matt Gaetz introduces the ALIEN Act to let federal judges award damages to victims harmed by illegal immigrants, amending the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. By Mary Ellen McIntire, Daniela Altimari and Niels Lesniewski Editor’s note: At the Races will not come out on Aug. 29. It will return [...]The post At the Races: Can ‘joy’ give Democrats the House gavel? appeared first on Roll Call.

When you turn on the TV to see what’s going on in Chicago or tune in to the speeches from Gov. Tim Walz and VP Kamala Harris, look at the stage and the audience and you’ll see America.

After eight House GOP members helped oust Kevin McCarthy last fall, he vowed revenge. It didn’t turn out the way he planned.

To date, the only McCarthy target to lose renomination was Virginia Rep. Bob Good, who was also opposed by Trump because he initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president.

Key primary races will kick off in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming next week as the 2024 primary cycle wraps up. In Florida, a noteworthy Senate race is about to be solidified. Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) battles a challenger backed by his political nemesis, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R), while Democrats duke it out in [...]

Compared with the wild twists and turns of the presidential election, Florida's primary Tuesday will be relatively tame. The only statewide race on the ballot is for the Senate seat held by Republican Rick Scott, who will learn who he'll face in November.

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Compared with the wild twists and turns of the presidential election, Florida’s primary Tuesday will be relatively tame. The only statewide race on the ballot is for the Senate seat held by Republican Rick Scott, who will learn who he’ll face in November. Local races will be the [...]

Former UF President Ben Sasse stepped down unexpectedly in July, citing concerns about his wife’s health. But nine current and former administrators and top donors say there was more to the story.

As Kamala Harris considers the FTC chair's fate, Khan's effort to ban noncompete agreements highlights how anti-monopoly policy affects ordinary people.

Republicans are getting to work selecting a challenger to United States Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the blue-leaning Midwestern state of Minnesota.

Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has long been an advocate for expanding legal marijuana access, was the driving force behind a bill legalizing low-THC medical marijuana a decade ago. In 2023, Gaetz proposed to stop testing members of the U.S. military for cannabis use. Gaetz says he will be voting against Amendment 3, Florida’s ballot proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana. His opposition to the amendment came to light following a re-election campaign rally in Pensacola, reported Florida Politics on Monday.Gaetz Flips In One Direction, Trump In The OtherWhen asked about his stance on the marijuana initiative, as well as another amendment concerning abortion rights, Gaetz said that such issues should not be decided through state constitutional amendments. "Regardless of how someone feels about abortion or marijuana, I don't believe that those issues should be resolved in the state constitution," ...Full story available on Benzinga.com

The Morning Digest is compiled by David Nir, Jeff Singer, and Stephen Wolf, with additional contributions from the Daily Kos Elections team.Subscribe to The Downballot, our weekly podcast Embedded ContentLeading Off● Primary Night: We've entered the homestretch of the 2024 primary season, but as Jeff Singer details in our election night preview, there's still plenty to watch Tuesday in Wisconsin and Minnesota.Badger State Democrats have a competitive battle to decide who will take on freshman Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in an ancestrally blue southwestern Wisconsin seat that veered hard to the right after Donald Trump took over the GOP. This area, though, may not be lost to the Democrats. Van Orden only beat state Sen. Brad Pfaff 52-48 in 2022 after national Democrats canceled their ad reservations, while progressive Janet Protasiewicz decisively carried it months later in the officially nonpartisan state Supreme Court race.Van Orden is one of the last vulnerable House members anywhere in the nation who doesn't yet know the identity of his general election opponent. We'll all find out soon, though, if he'll be going up against businesswoman Rebecca Cooke, who took second to Pfaff in the last primary, or state Rep. Katrina Shankland. House Majority PAC has reserved millions in ad time to support whichever Democrat wins on Tuesday.There's more to see in the Upper Midwest on Tuesday. One Wisconsin Republican is about to find out if voters will nominate him after Trump himself told him to drop out, while the state GOP is hoping voters will approve two state constitutional amendments that would strip Democratic Gov. Tony Evers of key powers.Over in Minnesota, we're going to find out if Republicans are willing to gift the thumbs up to a far-right conspiracy theorist who, among other things, shared a map of public drinking fountains by writing, "Crime in Minneapolis...Out of control." You can find more on these races, and more, in Singer's preview.We'll be liveblogging the results at Daily Kos Elections on Tuesday night, starting when the first polls close in the Midwest at 9 PM ET/8 PM local time. Join us for our complete coverage!Senate● OH-Sen: The National Republican Senatorial Committee has canceled its entire $700,000 TV reservation for Ohio's Senate race, reports AdImpact, but an unnamed source soon relayed to Politico's Ally Mutnick that it would instead run so-called hybrid ads with Republican nominee Bernie Moreno's campaign.This arrangement, as we explained when Democrats ran similar ads in an Oregon primary earlier this year, allows the NRSC and Moreno to share the cost of advertising and take advantage of federal rules requiring stations to charge lower rates to candidates rather than the higher rates third-party groups face.These hybrid spots, though, are subject to more stringent content requirements than commercials from candidates or outside groups. Most notably, the ads are required to reference a political party writ large, as opposed to just a single candidate.This rule, however, won't be much of an obstacle in a red state like Ohio: With the GOP poised to do well at the top of the ticket, a message broadly attacking the Democratic Party will likely be popular. Conversely, don't expect Democrats to pursue a similar strategy, because Sen. Sherrod Brown is trying to win over voters who are prepared to back Republicans in other races, including Donald Trump for president.The NRSC also utilized hybrid ads last cycle, though it didn't work out well. Rick Scott, the committee's chair, insisted that hybrid ads would allow the party to get more bang for its buck, but critics argued it would unnecessarily restrict the kind of messages it could run. In the end, the Senate Republican caucus wound up shrinking a seat thanks to the GOP's loss in Pennsylvania.But the NRSC's new chair, Steve Daines, seems convinced that this particular element of Scott's strategy wasn't to blame and has forged ahead with a new onslaught of hybrid ads. One unnamed operative, however, seemed to acknowledge the limitations of this approach, telling Reese Gorman of NOTUS that the committee "is relying on [the Senate Leadership Fund] and other outside groups to carry the super PAC message in Ohio and Montana."Governors● NJ-Gov: Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill recently confirmed her long-reported interest in running to succeed termed-out Gov. Phil Murphy by telling Axios, "I'm strongly considering running for governor in 2025. I'd make that decision after Election Day."Fellow Rep. Josh Gottheimer is also publicly mulling entering next year's Democratic primary, though not everyone thinks either House member still needs to decide on anything. Politico's Matt Friedman wrote in June that both Gottheimer and Sherrill will each announce they're in after they're reelected in November even though they're already "all-but-running."The Democratic field to succeed Murphy already includes the mayors of New Jersey's two largest cities, Ras Baraka of Newark and Steven Fulop of Jersey City. The primary also features former state Senate President Steve Sweeney and New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, who recently finished his stint as mayor of Montclair.House● NH-02: Former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern has earned the endorsement of SEA/SEIU Local 1984, an influential labor group that represents state employees, ahead of the Sept. 10 Democratic primary for the 2nd District.● NJ-09: Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell was "rushed back to the hospital" on Sunday evening less than a week after he was discharged from a rehabilitation facility, the New Jersey Globe was first to report. The 87-year-old congressman's team did not initially provide information about his condition.The Globe also relays that local Democrats are now working to fill vacant seats on the local county committees in case they're needed to pick a new nominee should Pascrell end his reelection campaign. The story notes that Aug. 27 is the deadline for Pascrell to drop out in time for him to be replaced on the ballot, though judges have given parties extra time in the past. New Jersey's 9th District, which is based in North Jersey, favored Joe Biden 59-40 in 2020.● OH-13: The NRCC has released an internal survey from Cygnal that shows freshman Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes with a small 44-40 advantage over Republican Kevin Coughlin in the race for Ohio's 13th District, a contest where we hadn't previously seen any polling.The memo for this poll, which was first publicized by the National Journal's James Downs, did not include 2024 presidential numbers. President Joe Biden four years ago scored a small 51-48 win in this constituency, which includes the Akron and Canton areas.● TX-18: Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has released a list of endorsements from 30 of the 88 precinct chairs in the Harris County Democratic Party who will decide Tuesday who will replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on the general election ballot. The eventual nominee will have no trouble in this dark blue seat, which includes parts of central and northern Houston.Turner is one of several notable names who are competing to succeed Jackson Lee in the next Congress. The roster includes two notable candidates who unsuccessfully challenged Jackson Lee for renomination: state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, who lost in 2010, and former Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, who failed to beat the incumbent earlier this year. The field also features state Rep. Christina Morales, Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer, and Corisha Rogers, who is a local party official.Obituaries● Steve Symms: Idaho Republican Steve Symms, an ardent conservative who won his Senate seat in 1980 by narrowly unseating the state's last Democratic senator, Frank Church, died Friday at the age of 86. The Idaho Statesman's Ian Max Stevenson has more on Symms' volatile career, including his narrow 1986 reelection win and his role spreading a damaging smear against Democrats in the 1988 presidential campaign, in his obituary.Poll PileMI-Sen: Siena College for the New York Times: Elissa Slotkin (D): 46, Mike Rogers (R): 43 (50-46 Harris in two-way, 48-43 Harris with third-party candidates)MI-Sen: Bullfinch Group for The Independent Center: Slotkin (D): 48, Rogers (R): 38 (48-43 Harris in two-way, 46-40 Harris with third-party candidates)PA-Sen: Siena College for the New York Times: Bob Casey (D-inc): 51, Dave McCormick (R): 37 (50-46 Harris in two-way, 46-44 Harris with third-party candidates) (July: 50-42 Casey)PA-Sen: Bullfinch Group for The Independent Center: Casey (D-inc): 51, McCormick (R): 39 (49-45 Harris in two-way, 45-41 Harris with third-party candidates)WI-Sen: Siena College for the New York Times: Tammy Baldwin (D-inc): 51, Eric Hovde (R): 44 (50-46 Harris in two-way, 49-43 Harris with third-party candidates) (May: 49-42 Baldwin) WI-Sen: Bullfinch Group for The Independent Center: Baldwin (D-inc): 50, Hovde (R): 41 (51-42 Harris in two-way, 49-40 Harris with third-party candidates) NC-Gov: YouGov Blue (D) for Carolina Forward: Josh Stein (D): 46, Mark Robinson (R): 36 (46-46 presidential tie with third-party candidates) NC-AG: YouGov Blue (D) for Carolina Forward: Jeff Jackson (D): 42, Dan Bishop (R): 40 NC Supreme Court: YouGov Blue (D) for Carolina Forward: Allison Riggs (D-inc): 42, Jefferson Griffin (R): 41Ad PileFL-Sen: Stanley Campbell (D)NV-Sen: Sam Brown (R); Brown and the NRSCPA-Sen: Dave McCormick (R) - anti-Bob Casey (D-inc)DE-Gov: Matt Meyer (D)FL-01: Matt Gaetz (R-inc)MI-08: Kristen McDonald Rivet (D) - anti-Paul Junge (R)MT-01: Monica Tranel (D) - anti-Ryan Zinke (R-inc)NH-01: Russell Prescott (R)PA-01: Ashley Ehasz (D) - anti-Brian Fitzpatrick (R-inc)Campaign Action

The recount was possible under Virginia law because the margin between the two candidates was less than 1 percent.

Kamala Harris is already facing an onslaught of gendered attacks. Will they hurt her campaign?

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. The Democratic veepstakes and former President Donald Trump’s apparent inability to understand how Vice President Kamala Harris could be Black and Asian at the [...]The post At the Races: Meanwhile, on the House battlefield appeared first on Roll Call.

A 27-page Air Force guidebook warns airmen not to use a variety of "micro-aggressions" that could possibly trigger their fellow members of the military.

'Good arguments for different approaches'

Trump, who appointed Christopher Wray as FBI Director in 2017, accused him of "sweet talking" the committee on his platform Turth Social.

The families of civilians killed by the U.S. in Somalia share their ideas of justice in a new report. The Pentagon has no response.The post U.S. Has Never Apologized to Somali Drone Strike Victims — Even When It Admitted to Killing Civilians appeared first on The Intercept.

Organizers say attacks from the Israeli prime minister, who faces charges of war crimes, showed the strength of their movement.The post Netanyahu Insulted and Smeared the Pro-Palestine Protest Movement. Congress Clapped. appeared first on The Intercept.

Although House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is enthusiastically supporting Donald Trump in the United States' 2024 presidential race, he has cautioned fellow Republicans to be careful in the way they criticize presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The speaker has warned against using racist or sexist language to attack her.Regardless, right-wing pundit Larry Kudlow — during an appearance on Fox Business — said of Harris, "Her whole history is DEI: diversity, exclusion and equity."DEI stands for "diversity, equity and exclusion." And Kudlow's critics are calling out that attack as a racist and sexist dog whistle.READ MORE: Kentucky's Andy Beshear 'auditions' for Kamala Harris' running mateOn X, formerly Twitter, journalist Aaron Rupar commented, "That's code for she's a black woman."Far-right Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) used a "DEI" attack on Harris as well, saying, "Intellectually, (she's) just really kind of the bottom of the barrel.... I think she was a DEI hire. And I think that that's what we're seeing, and I just don't think that they have anybody else."Meanwhile, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) is, like Johnson, urging Republicans to stick to policy-based criticism of Harris. And Johnson fears that racist or sexist language could backfire on Republicans.The Associated Press' Lisa Mascaro, in an article published on July 23, explains, "The warnings point to the new risks for Republicans in running against a Democrat who would become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian decent to win the White House. Trump, in particular, has a history of racist and misogynistic attacks that could turn off key groups of swing voters, including suburban women, as well as voters of color and younger people Trump's campaign has been courting."READ MORE: Hillary Clinton looks forward to Kamala Harris' 'compelling case against Trump'Mascaro adds, "The admonitions came after some members and Trump allies began to cast Harris, a former district attorney, attorney general and senator, as a 'DEI' hire — a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives."READ MORE: SBC's PR chief fired after Biden statement 'immediately sparks backlash from far-right factions'Read the Associated Press' full report at this link.

The signatories also call out Biden for favoritism toward Israel ahead of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.The post Human Rights Groups Call on Biden to Investigate Israeli Influence Campaign Against American Lawmakers appeared first on The Intercept.

It’s time once again to dive into another round of quick takes on the people, places and events that were being talked about over the past week:

Dancing, pomp and celebration and a star-studded line up of speakers headlined an eventful four days that culminated in former President Trump formally accepting the GOP’s nomination for president. Here are some of the most memorable moments from the 2024 Republican National Convention. Trump tells the story of the shooting Trump recounted the story of [...]

“No violence, just fight for our country,” said a New Jersey delegate on the presidential nominee's calls to mobilize post-shooting.

Homophobic and transphobic remarks were unmistakably present throughout the first three days of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

‘Look, everybody has different people in their party. Unfortunately, Matt happens to be here. I think at the end of the day, he probably shouldn’t be on the streets,’ Speaker McCarthy says.

J.D. Vance's semi-public Venmo account reveals former President Donald Trump's running mate mingling with lobbyists, never Trumpers and leaders behind the notorious campaign platform Project 2025, Wired reported Thursday.Wired analyzed more than 200 payments and a public "friends list" the outlet said reveals "the populist's close ties to the very elites he rails against." ALSO READ: Sen. J.D. Vance finally dumps stock in 'slave labor' company"Friends" — which the app culls from cellphone and social media contacts — include vocal Trump critic former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), a Manhattan federal court prosecutor and lawyers in President Joe Biden's Justice department, Wired reports.It also reportedly includes government relations director Amalia Halikias, from the Heritage Foundation, several lobbyists and pundits Bari Weiss and Tucker Carlson.Lanny Davis, "a well-known political operative and former lawyer for Trump antagonist Michael Cohen," may also appear on Vance's Venmo account, Wired reports. It remains possible that the account belongs to another Lanny Davis, Wired reports, but adds, "the account in question, which Davis declined to confirm or deny was his, was also linked to someone named Michael Cohen.""Gladden Pappin, for instance—president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs and a figure with close ties to the intellectual wing of the far right—shows up as one of Vance’s friends," Wired reports.There are other "far-right activists like Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe, Laura Loomer, and Ali Alexander," also on the list of "friends," according to the report.The Venmo account "was first discovered by a law enforcement and extremism researcher who asked to remain anonymous, citing security concerns," Wired reports. Very few of Vance's transactions are public and appear mundane, Wired notes. But his former Senate campaign manager, Jordan Wiggins, appears to have more "eyebrow-raising" transactions, according to Wired. "Some labeled for things like 'Back waxing & Happy Ending,' and adult 🎥,'" Wired reported. "While these descriptions are likely jokes between friends, Wiggins didn’t respond to a request for comment."The campaign refused to respond to Wired's request for comment. After the request was made, Vance's transactions were made private.