'Utter lawlessness': Appeals court BLOCKS construction of White House ballroom — but Trump might get the last laugh



An appeals court ruled against the Trump administration and blocked the construction of the White House ballroom on the basis that it was not properly approved.

President Donald Trump has urged the speedy construction of the ballroom after the alleged attempt on his life at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April.

'The bold assertion that the Executive can act with utter lawlessness, destroying treasured national landmarks and harming the interests of individuals, and that no court can stop it flouts our constitutional order.'

On Friday, an appeals court ruled in a 2-1 decision that the president had acted "lawlessly" by demolishing the East Wing of the White House in order to build the ballroom without congressional approval.

"Executive actions that take control of that property out of the hands of the people's representatives while irreparably harming the historical and visual architecture of perhaps the most prominent public building in the United States seriously intrude on the public interest," two judges wrote in the joint majority opinion.

However, the administration has two weeks to seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court.

If the court does not intervene, above-ground construction at the White House would need to stop.

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The president has argued that security concerns necessitated the construction of the ballroom with increased law enforcement features. The appeals court found that these concerns could have been addressed without ignoring federal statutes on project funding.

"The bold assertion that the Executive can act with utter lawlessness, destroying treasured national landmarks and harming the interests of individuals, and that no court can stop it flouts our constitutional order," the two judges said.

"While this court accords great weight and deference to invocations of national security and the safety of the President, such arguments are not an automatic get-out-of-law-free card," they continued.

In her dissenting opinion, Judge Neomi Rao agreed with the administration and said the security concerns outweighed the legal concerns brought up by the plaintiff, the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The group praised the decision in a statement, citing the 250th anniversary of the country.

"This is a great day for our country and for the American people's right to voice their opinions about the historic places they cherish, including the White House," the trust said. "From the beginning, our position has been clear and consistent: The law states that only Congress can authorize the construction of a ballroom at the White House."

While the president has touted the private money being used to construct the ballroom, the contractor has since said the budget has surged to $600 million, according to a Washington Post report. The gap will reportedly be filled in by taxpayer funding.

The two judges who ruled against the ballroom were Patricia Millett, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Bradley Garcia, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden.

Judge Neomi Rao is a Trump appointee.

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Jim Banks Demands Census Bureau Fix Errors That Gave Dems 6 Extra Seats

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How Congress' balance of power continues to shift



Just months into the 119th Congress, the balance of partisan power continues to shift within historically narrow margins.

Although Republicans held on to their House majority, Democrats managed to flip nine seats, while Republicans flipped eight seats, narrowing their advantage. The GOP also took a hit when several members of the Republican conference, such as former Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida, were tapped to serve in President Donald Trump's administration.

With multiple vacancies and several special elections, the House's partisan split continues to fluctuate, and every seat counts.

Former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida was also initially recruited to head the Department of Justice, although he eventually dropped his bid and announced that he would not return to serve in the 119th Congress.

These vacancies leave Johnson with just a one-seat majority, requiring Republicans to vote in lockstep for every partisan vote.

To fill the Floridians' vacancies, the state will hold a special election on April 1. While both seats are expected to be filled by Republicans, Johnson is bracing himself for another vacancy in New York once the Senate confirms Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.N. ambassador. As a result, Republicans have made an effort to prolong Stefanik's confirmation, given how valuable her vote is in the House.

Once Stefanik does vacate her seat, Republicans will have a challenging time replacing her. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York reportedly plans on slow-walking the special election to fill Stefanik's seat, prolonging Republicans' narrow majority.

On the other hand, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas is also tasked with replacing Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner after he passed away on March 5 at the age of 70.

With multiple vacancies and several special elections, the House's partisan split continues to fluctuate, and every seat counts.

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'If the Senate goes, this COUNTRY goes': Lifelong Democrat Vernon Jones issues powerful warning for Republicans



"Lifelong Democrat" and Georgia State Representative Vernon Jones says it's crucial that Republicans win Georgia's two Senate seats if we want America as we know it to continue. "If the Senate goes, this country goes," he told Glenn Beck on the radio program Wednesday.

Jones explained why he believes Georgia is the last line in the fight for freedom and issued an urgent warning to Republicans about the importance of maintaining a balance of power in Washington, DC.

"I believe with all my might that we understand, here in Georgia, that we have to do what's best for this country," he said. "And I'm surprised that Republicans, the Republican leadership throughout Georgia, hasn't stood up taller and stronger in an effort to make sure that we ... help Senator Perdue (R) and Senator Loeffler (R) get re-elected, so there will be a balance of power in Washington, DC. Or else this country will be destroyed over the next four years."

Vernon also shared a powerful message about party politics. "I didn't leave my party; my party left me," he told Glenn.

Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:


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