Maxwell Frost

House Democrats are heading to Republican districts to conduct town halls — a strategy designed to highlight the moratorium on those public events recently suggested by the head of the GOP’s campaign arm. “We’re filling a void,” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), who is planning “a few” town halls in Republican districts, told reporters during the [...]

House Democratic leaders — including, from left, Ted Lieu, Pete Aguilar, Katherine M. Clark, Hakeem Jeffries and Suzan DelBene — hold a news conference at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

House Democratic leadership privately confronted the roughly dozen progressive members of their caucus for apparently disregarding requests for decorum during President Donald Trump’s terrible speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.According to Axios, the three most senior House Democratic leaders—Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—gathered the group of disruptors on Thursday morning. The trio was reportedly “very unhappy” with the cadre of leftist lawmakers who (gasp!) coordinated outfits or refused to clap during Trump’s nearly two-hour speech. Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, were among the progressive lawmakers called into the “come to Jesus meeting.”A source familiar with the gathering stressed that the lawmakers were “not getting yelled at” nor were they “being talked to like they are children.” Instead, House Democratic leadership said they wanted the affected legislators to “understand why their strategy is a bad idea.”Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York and fellow Democrats protest President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress on March 4, 2025.“It doesn’t surprise me leadership is very upset. They gave specific instructions not to do that,” another source said, seemingly referring to a “dear colleague” letter that Jeffries sent to the caucus before Trump’s address. In the letter, Jeffries urged his colleagues to have a “strong, determined, and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber.” Democrats were also privately told not to use props during the president’s speech.But some rank-and-file Democrats ignored both requests. Stansbury, for instance, held a sign reading, “This is NOT normal,” which was yanked out of her hands by GOP Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas. And Frost wore a shirt donning the phrase, “No Kings Live Here,” an apparent reference to Trump’s description of himself as a “king” in a recent post on Truth Social.Democrats don’t seem to know how they plan to protest Trump—assuming they even want to at all. Those who vote in favor of the president’s agenda, even if they later admit that they screwed up, face few consequences. Meanwhile, silent protesters are admonished behind closed doors while those who object to Trump’s lies more blatantly—such as Rep. Al Green of Texas—get censured by the House, including by 10 fellow Democrats.Perhaps Democratic leadership wanted all protests to occur outside of the chamber. But considering that the bulk of their caucus has struggled to find an effective way to call out Trump, it’s shameful to pull aside the few members who have directly pushed back against the Trump administration.Surprising no one, other “Democrats”—like Rep. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania—have also admonished dissenters. On the day of Trump’s speech, Fetterman called the protests “a sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance” in a post on X.Notably, Democrats’ takedown of their own caucus’ protesting methods isn’t all that different from what Trump himself said shortly after Green was kicked out of the chamber. “This is my fifth such speech to Congress,” he said, “and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud.”Campaign Action

House and Senate Democrats silently protested President Donald Trump during his first speech to Congress of his second term — refusing to applaud, holding up signs calling him “king” and “liar,” and, for some, walking out of the address altogether.Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, didn’t get the memo. After Trump told lawmakers he had won a mandate, the progressive rabble-rouser rose, began waving his cane at Trump and yelled out repeatedly: “You have no mandate!”“Sit down!” retorted Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo. And two Trump loyalists, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., stood up, pointed at and jeered the Democrat. The sergeant at arms promptly removed Green from the chamber — a first during modern-day presidential addresses to Congress. It was not what Democratic leaders had wanted. They had warned their rank-and-file members before the joint address not to bring props and to stay on message — the focus should stay on the federal workers fired by Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, and the everyday Americans harmed by their policies and cuts.But it’s hard to keep every congressional Democrat in line. From the moment Trump walked onto the House floor, it was clear this would not be the usual speech to Congress. New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury, the top Democrat on the new DOGE subcommittee, silently held a sign behind Trump reading: “This is NOT normal.”After greeting Trump, Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, then reached across the aisle, ripped the sign away from Stansbury, then tossed it in the air — all on live TV.Senate Democrats, meanwhile, stood when Trump walked but did not applaud.Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., brought an erasable white board in the chamber and scribbled various messages to Trump throughout the night: “NO KING”;“THAT’S A LIE”; and “STOP LYING,” for instance.More than 20 other House Democrats also protested silently, holding up black and white signs during Trump’s speech that said, “Save Medicaid,” “Lies” and “Musk Steals, ”surely seen by the tech billionaire who was seated in the gallery above the chamber.Since arriving in Washington in January, Musk has been trying to upend the federal government, gutting agencies and carrying out mass firings of workers. Upon entering the chamber Tuesday, the world’s richest man broke rules of the House as he began taking video of the floor with his smartphone. Someone told him to stop recording. Minutes later, Musk violated a second House rule when he began drinking bottled water, as food and drinks are prohibited in the chamber.Still, Musk got two shout-outs from Trump — and two standing ovations from Republicans who have rooted him on as he’s worked to slash federal spending by any means necessary.And while Democrats were seething throughout Trump’s speech, Republicans — now running all of Washington — seemed in jubilant mood, cheering many of his lines and laughing as the president cracked jokes and mocked Democrats.The split reactions to Trump’s address underscored how one of the nation’s most polarizing political figures has become even more divisive upon his return to the White House. It was the first time he had set foot in the House since his supporters, four years ago, had stormed the Capitol and tried to take control of that hallowed chamber on Jan. 6 to keep him in power after his election defeat.Some of the silent protests were colorful. In 2019, Trump faced a sea of suffragette white as Democratic women celebrated the record number of women elected to Congress — a milestone Trump acknowledged during his speech. But on Tuesday, Democratic women, including Trump’s longtime foe, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, donned pink, what they called a “color of protest,” “women’s power, and persistence.”“We’re sending a message to Donald Trump that we’re not going to let him run over our women’s access to health care, to the care that is necessary for our families,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., sporting a pink blazer and pants. “As a breast cancer survivor, I want him to understand that not making sure that IVF is covered by insurance ... is unacceptable.”In addition to the smattering of pink, Congressional Black Caucus members wore black, while others including Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., wore blue and yellow, in solidarity with Ukraine after Trump’s blow up with that country’s president. The trio of House Democratic leaders — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar — sat quietly the entire speech stone-faced, with their hands in their laps.Others could not sit still. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., walked out in the middle of Trump’s address, as did Stansbury, Reps. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and Lateefa Simon, D-Calif.“I could not in good conscience sit through this speech and give an audience to someone who operates with lawless disregard for Congress and the people of this nation,” Pressley said in a statement after walking off the floor. “Donald Trump has used his bully pulpit to spread lies, demonize vulnerable communities, and double down on the hurt, hate, and harm in his first 43 days in office.”This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:Judge blocks Trump order threatening funding for institutions that provide gender-affirming care for youthsTrump adviser Alina Habba says veterans fired by DOGE are perhaps ‘not fit to have a job at this moment’Trump could scale back Canada, Mexico tariffs Wednesday, Lutnick says

Democrats are struggling to formulate a response to Donald Trump’s presidency nearly a month into his second term. But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has provoked the Trump administration and right-wing media by directly confronting them over constitutional rights.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries admitted to CNN that while the high cost of consumer goods like eggs are a serious concern for voters, Democrats failed to make the issue resonate as a reason to oppose Republicans in the 2024 election.Consumer prices, which often come up in focus groups and polls commissioned by Democrats, have remained the focus of Jeffries’ weekly press conferences. Meanwhile, issues like Trump’s abuse of constitutional rights have not been prioritized.Similarly, Jeffries recently attended a meeting of wealthy Silicon Valley donors to reportedly reassure them that despite the ongoing fights with DOGE Chair Elon Musk, Democrats intend to move further toward the center, forgoing possible opportunities to fight back against Trump.“The reason people feel angry about what’s happening is not because we’re not doing everything in our power,” Rep. Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois, told CNN.Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Democrat of Texas, is one of several young Democrats pushing back on President Donald Trump.But many Democratic voters are frustrated because some of Trump’s key Cabinet nominees received support from Democrats in Congress. For instance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s nomination sailed through with 99-0 votes. Garnering every Democrat’s vote, Rubio had bipartisan cover as he worked in concert with Musk and Trump to undermine U.S. agencies like USAID.Senate Democrats have also voted for cloture, which allows votes on nominees to proceed even if they ultimately voted against them.As many Democrats have failed to use force against Trump, Ocasio-Cortez has worked to educate immigrants and their families about their rights by creating educational guides about legal obligations during ICE raids, citing the Fourth Amendment protection against unwarranted search and seizure.In response, Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan has repeatedly whined to the media about Ocasio-Cortez, particularly in extremely sympathetic appearances on Fox News. Homan said he formally requested guidance from the Department of Justice on whether she is breaking the law by discussing the Constitution.Homan told Newsmax on Monday that Ocasio-Cortez is “the dumbest congresswoman ever elected to Congress.”“This is why you fight these cowards. The moment you stand up to them, they crumble. Homan has nothing. The Fourth Amendment is clear, and I am well within my duties to educate people of their rights,” she responded on Bluesky. “He can threaten me with jail and call names all he wants. He’s got nothing else.”Other recently elected Democrats have echoed Ocasio-Cortez’s aggressive posture toward the GOP, including Reps. Robert Garcia of California, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Maxwell Frost of Florida.In response, the right has fumed about these Democrats, standing in stark contrast to the relatively mild GOP responses to rhetoric from Democratic leaders like Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.The young Democrats appear to have found a soft, vulnerable spot on the right. Will the establishment follow their lead or stick to what hasn’t been working?Campaign Action

Rep. John Larson, D-Ct., froze and began slurring his speech while delivering remarks. In response to the incident, his office says that the congressman is "in good spirits."

Multiple members of Congress were denied entry to the Department of Education on Friday, according to videos and social media posts from lawmakers.

'America, we have a problem'

Donald Trump is being slammed for granting pardons to more than 1,500 people who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. While Trump and other Republicans have frequently touted the Republican Party as the party of “law and order,” one of his first acts in the presidency gave a green light to the criminal element.Trump’s pardon unravels hundreds of prosecutions that made their way through the Department of Justice and the criminal courts. Trump called the people who attacked Capitol police officers and were attempting to overturn the presidential election he lost “patriots” and “hostages” in the order.Before taking office, Vice President JD Vance claimed that people who engaged in violence on Jan. 6 would not be given a pass by Trump. “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned,” he told Fox News Sunday on Jan. 12.That turned out to be a lie.Among those who will be released thanks to Trump’s actions is former Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio. Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy against the United States and sentenced to 22 years in prison in September 2023. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, oversaw Tarrio’s case and found that he had engaged in an official act of terrorism. He is expected to be a free man soon.Another figure helped by Trump’s action is Robert Keith Packer, who attacked the Capitol while wearing an antisemitic shirt reading “Camp Auschwitz,” referencing the infamous death camp where thousands of Jewish people were executed by Nazis during the Holocaust.Former Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell, who served at the Capitol on Jan. 6, spoke out against Trump’s action.“One of the first things that he does is pardon the criminals who nearly took my life,” Gonell told HuffPost. “It’s a desecration to our service and the sacrifices made to keep everyone safe. It’s a violation to our democracy and a disgrace to the title he holds once again.”Gonell sent reporter Sam Stein photographs showing the pro-Trump mob attacking him on Jan. 6, as well as pictures depicting the serious injuries he received.xFormer U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell sent me these pics of what happened to him on Jan. 6 as well as the injuries he endured that day[image or embed]— Sam Stein (@samsteindc.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 8:29 AMHarry Dunn, another former Capitol Police officer, told the outlet, “This decision is a betrayal to the officers who were severely injured—and died—as a result of the insurrection. This decision puts Americans at risk as these violent criminals return to their communities. These pardons are a reflection of what abuse of power looks like and what we the people are bound to witness over the next four years.”Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost criticized Trump’s pardons, writing, “President Trump pardons Nazi & white supremacist that tried to overthrow the government. Fascists look out for fascists.”xPresident Trump pardons Nazi & white supremacist that tried to overthrow the government. Fascists look out for fascists.— Maxwell Frost (@maxwellfrost.bsky.social) 2025-01-21T04:39:27.830ZOne the same day Trump issued the pardons, his administration released an executive order purportedly showing his opposition to criminal activity, promising to restore the federal death penalty. He criticized former President Joe Biden for commuting the sentences of 37 facing the federal death penalty and that his administration would take action to ensure that “these offenders are imprisoned in conditions consistent with the monstrosity of their crimes and the threats they pose.”The administration also released a list of priorities claiming that crimes against law enforcement would be punished with the death penalty.Simultaneously, Trump appointed conservative activist Ed Martin to serve as Washington, D.C.’s interim U.S. attorney. Martin served on the board of the Patriot Freedom Project, which advocated for the release of Jan. 6 offenders.Despite the criticism from law enforcement and members of Congress, the administration continues to stand by the assistance Trump delivered to convicted criminals.In an appearance on the pro-Trump Fox News Channel, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “I don't think it's causing much controversy.” She later added, “President Trump is restoring faith in our justice system.”xBrian Kilmeade: Does that have anything to do with President Trump pardoning all the J6ers, which is causing some controversy?Trump spox Karoline Leavitt: I don't think it's causing much controversy! ... President Trump is restoring faith in our justice system.— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) 2025-01-21T13:23:45.471ZTrump is the first convicted felon to be elevated to the presidency. On his first day in office, criminals convicted at the highest levels of the justice system received a gift from the most powerful position in the American government.Campaign Action

A controversial judicial advocacy organization funded by left-wing nonprofits continues to work with judges and experts involved in climate change litigation.

Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements.

House Leader Hakeem Jeffries won reelection Tuesday as the Democratic leader

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., seen here last month campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in Michigan, won a contested race to chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

The Florida Democrat launched a bid to become co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) on Thursday launched a bid to become the first member of congressional leadership in either party from Generation Z.Why it matters: The 27-year-old is running a very Gen Z campaign for the role, pitching programs for House Democrats to book digital influencers and artists and to revamp their online branding.Driving the news: In a letter to his fellow House Democrats, Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress, said he is running for co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.The announcement came after Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said she is not seeking reelection to the role, which helps craft House Democrats' political messaging.Frost's candidacy comes as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), another younger, tech-savvy member, is challenging Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) for her DPCC chairmanship.What he's saying: "I plan to bring one of the founding principles of my office to the entire caucus – the idea that to be effective communicators we must try to bridge the divide between cool and consciousness and cede no form of communication to our Republican counterparts," Frost wrote.Among his proposals is a booking program to connect lawmakers with "non-traditional media, local digital creators, micro-influencers on specific policy issues, as well as musicians and artists."Another is to offer trainings for lawmakers and staff that "emphasize the importance of a cohesive brand for your image and offer tips and tricks for creating an external and internal style and writing guide."Between the lines: Frost was something of a youth ambassador for Democrats in the 2024 election.He traveled to more than a half a dozen states campaigning for Vice President Harris and other Democrats, including visits to the University of North Carolina, Northern Arizona University, Michigan State, Penn State, Georgia State and the University of Minnesota."I've traveled the nation over the past several months, primarily connecting with young and working-class Americans," he wrote in his letter on Thursday.What we're hearing: One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios they think "a lot of members are open" to proposals like those Frost put forward to modernize congressional communications.But "some are going to resist," the lawmaker predicted, because many older lawmakers are resistant to such changes.Go deeper: Rep. Maxwell Frost stresses housing as priority for young voters

Missed the second half of the show? The latest on...Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida has signed a letter urging Congress to return from recess to replenish relief funds, telling "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that although FEMA currently has enough funding, "why would we leave it up to chance" for the remainder of the hurricane season, and The latest CBS News poll shows that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are effectively even in all of the battleground states likely to determine the presidential election. CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto joins "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" to break down the poll the latest CBS News poll shows that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are effectively even in all of the battleground states likely to determine the presidential election. CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto joins "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" to break down the poll.

The following is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Maxwell Frost, Democrat of Florida, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired on Oct. 13, 2024.

Democrats have spent too much time drawing symbolic distinctions with Republicans without illuminating substantive differences.

She is scheduled to appear in Douglas, Arizona.

District 10 leans heavily Democratic, and Frost has raised far more money than his Republican opponent in his effort to win a second term in Washington, D.C.

Democrats hope to flip at least five House seats in November, looking to undue gains Republicans made in 2022 in districts around Orlando that look winnable.

Government buildings in Springfield, Ohio, where Republicans have amplified baseless accusations against Haitian immigrants, received bomb threats on Thursday.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee issued a subpoena Wednesday for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, in relation to a nonprofit in his state that has been charged with defrauding the government during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota-based Feeding Our Future (FOF) has been accused of misusing $250 million in taxpayer [...]

The campaign tells NPR that it plans to invest in new digital ads on campus and social media, double its youth organizing staff around the country, and launch a college campus tour in battleground states.

Kamala Harris, Gretchen Whitmer and Al Sharpton all took turns taking swipes at Trump on the final night of the convention.

The final night of the DNC defined Kamala Harris as a strong leader and patriot while highlighting her plans to help young people, regulate guns and manage foreign policy.

Gun violence, race, climate change and, of course, Donald Trump were themes of the night that culminated in Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

The fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention is underway, culminating with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party’s nomination for president

Kamala Harris and the Democrats are relying on vibes rather than specific policies to win over voters ahead oft he 2024 election against Donald Trump.

The appearance is likely to help cement the 27-year-old Congressman's place as an up-and-comer in Democratic politics.

As delegates are excited to hear from VP Harris on Thursday, there is a lengthy list of speakers to take the stage on Thursday.

A week of rallying will end with a speech from the presidential nominee herself, Kamala Harris.

A report from MSNBC's Mike Brzezinski on Donald Trump attacking Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) late Wednesday night where the former president curiously led by pointing out the Democrat is a "Jewish Governor" set off a wave of disbelief and seething anger on "Morning Joe" on Thursday morning.On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, in part: "The highly overrated Jewish Governor of the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, made a really bad and poorly delivered speech talking about freedom and fighting for Comrade Kamala Harris for President, yet she hates Israel and will do nothing but make its journey through the complexities of survival as difficult as possible, hoping in the end that it will fail."As Brzezinski read the posting, MSNBC regular Donnie Deutsch loudly exclaimed, "What!?"ALSO READ: ‘Stop the Steal’ organizer hired by Trump campaign for Election 2024 endgamePrompting her panel, Brzezinski sarcastically commented, "Willie Geist, it's always helpful to your campaign when you attack the governor of a state you desperately need."Co-host Joe Scarborough interjected, "By the way, identify him as the highly overrated Jewish governor," which led MSNBC host Jonathan Lemire to look down and shake his head."This is a moment where people go, 'There he goes again,'" Geist added. "No, no, no, let's stop for a moment — the man who wants to be president again is calling Josh Shapiro a 'Jewish' governor, sending up smoke signals to some of his supporters.""I mean, he's lost his ability, if he ever had it to use innuendo," he continued. "And now he's just coming out and saying these things absolutely out loud about Josh Shapiro. 'He's Jewish. So take what he says with a grain of salt.'"Watch below or at the link right here.- YouTubeyoutu.be

By The Associated Press The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept [...]

The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening.

By The Associated Press The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept [...]