Trump-backed Kari Lake scores endorsements from Rand Paul and others as she seeks US Senate seat



Kari Lake, who is running in a U.S. Senate primary in Arizona, has received the endorsements of GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, and National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana.

"Kari Lake will go to DC to shake things up, and that's exactly the kind of leadership that Arizona needs in the United States Senate. I am proud to endorse Kari Lake for the United States Senate because she has the policies, the drive, and desire to defeat the Washington War Machine and restore American liberties," Paul noted, according to the Daily Caller.

"Kari Lake is MAGA to her core and cannot be bought by the establishment. I am proud to endorse her for the United States Senate in Arizona. I am very much look forward to watching her shake up the halls of power," Gaetz noted, according to the outlet.

Daines described Lake as "one of the most talented candidates in the country."

— (@)

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Lake for U.S. Senate last year.

Lake lost Arizona's 2022 gubernatorial election, but has claimed that she actually won that contest. Trump also endorsed Lake for governor, backing her well ahead of the Republican gubernatorial primary in the state

"I am so thankful to have the endorsement of America First warriors Senator @RandPaul and Rep. @mattgaetz. They are champions for fiscal responsibility, liberty, and fighting against the Washington War machine. I look forward to working with them to implement President Trump's agenda!" Lake tweeted on Monday.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is also running in the 2024 GOP U.S. Senate primary in Arizona.

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Matt Gaetz defends himself when criticized for going to 'Barbie' movie event



Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida defended his decision to attend a "Barbie" movie event even though Hari Nef, a man who identifies as a woman, plays one of the Barbie characters in the film.

According to Politico, Gaetz and several other lawmakers were spotted at the event held at the British Embassy on Monday.

"Glad to see @mattgaetz enjoying the Barbie premiere. The movie where 'Doctor Barbie' is played by a Trans actor. Wonder why we can't win culture wars? Republicans love being included with the rich and famous too much," Mindy Lafevers tweeted.

"If you let the trans stop you from seeing Margo Robbie……the terrorists win….." Gaetz responded.

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But others were also bothered by Gaetz's attendance at the event.

"This is why Republicans lose. These people make excuses, pretend to care about the issues we do, then mock us by doing things like this thinking their seats are safe. We’re out here boycotting while he’s going to premiers w/ men in woman face & mocking us," someone wrote in response to Gaetz's tweet. At the end of the tweet, the author added the hashtag "#RINO," an acronym that stands for "Republican in name only."

"I don't ever wanna hear your hot takes on culture wars ever again since you just proved you’re not serious about fighting them," someone else declared in response to Gaetz's tweet.

Gaetz's wife, Ginger, has recommended that people opt not to go see the "Barbie" movie.

"Thinking about watching the Barbie movie? I'd recommend sticking to getting outfit inspiration and skipping the theater," Ginger Gaetz wrote. "Here's why: The Barbie I grew up with was a representation of limitless possibilities, embracing diverse careers and feminine empowerment. The 2023 Barbie movie, unfortunately, neglects to address any notion of faith or family, and tries to normalize the idea that men and women can't collaborate positively (yuck)." One of her complaints was "Disappointingly low T from Ken."

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Another Florida Republican backs Trump for president



GOP Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida has endorsed former President Donald Trump for president, joining a group of Sunshine State Republicans who have thrown their support behind Trump even as the possibility that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may throw his hat into the ring looms large.

"There is only one leader at this time in our nation’s history who can seize this moment and deliver what we need - to get us back on track, provide strength and resolve, and Make America Great Again. That is why I am honored to endorse President Donald J. Trump for President in 2024, and I ask my fellow Americans to join me today," Donalds said in a statement.

\u201cI am honored to endorse President Donald J. Trump for President in 2024, and I ask my fellow Americans to join me today.\n\nRead my entire statement here: \nhttps://t.co/OAsUwWuoUk\u201d
— Byron Donalds (@Byron Donalds) 1680796271

Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Matt Gaetz, both of Florida, had already declared their support for Trump.

During a Trump rally in Texas last month, Gaetz said that DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas should both endorse the former president.

\u201cWATCH: At the Trump Rally in Waco, @MattGaetz calls on Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz to stand with MAGA and endorse Donald Trump for President.\n\nCrowd erupts in a standing ovation.\u201d
— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1679775317

While DeSantis has not announced a presidential bid, GOP Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Thomas Massie of Kentucky have both already endorsed him.

DeSantis has said that he believes he has what it takes to be president and that he thinks he could defeat President Joe Biden.

Biden has not yet launched a re-election bid but has said that he intends to run. Democrat Marianne Williamson, who ran during the last election cycle before ultimately dropping out, is running again. And a statement of candidacy filed with the Federal Election Commission indicates that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to run for president as a Democrat.

So far on the Republican side, Trump is being challenged by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

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Conservatives blast 13 GOP lawmakers who voted for Biden's $1.2 trillion 'socialism bill'



Conservative House Republicans are furious with 13 of their moderate colleagues who crossed the aisle and voted with Democrats to pass President Joe Biden's $1.2 infrastructure bill late Friday night.

The bill, which passed 228 to 206, would not have been sent to Biden's desk were it not for the Republicans who voted for it. It is projected to add $256 billion to the national deficit and empowers the federal bureaucracy to issue a host of new regulations that are not directly related to improving roads, bridges, and utilities.

Some of the Republicans who voted for it are retiring. Others are from swing districts and hope they can withstand the ire of their colleagues and anger from voters and conservative commentators who are accusing them of politically bailing out Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Democrats nationally who were reeling from this week's elections losses in Virginia and elsewhere.

For weeks, House progressives had withheld their support from the bipartisan infrastructure deal while waiting for the Senate to reach an agreement on a $1.75 to $3.5 trillion spending bill that would fund progressive priorities like expanding Medicare and Medicaid, providing universal pre-K, extending the child tax credit, and a host of climate policies.

But after Republicans swept the statewide elections in Virginia on Tuesday and came close to unseating New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), the fear that Democrats were losing because Biden's agenda was stalled in Congress prompted all but six holdouts to vote for the infrastructure bill.

Those six progressives who voted against the bill, included squad members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).

Democrats could only afford to lose three votes and still pass infrastructure. But thirteen Republicans joined with them to advance the bill.

Those Republicans are:

  • Rep. Don Bacon (R–Neb)
  • Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R–Pa.)
  • Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R–N.Y.)
  • Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R–Ohio)
  • Rep. John Katko (R–N.Y.)
  • Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R–Ill.)
  • Rep. Nicole Malliatokis (R–N.Y.)
  • Rep. David McKinley (R–W.Va.)
  • Rep. Tom Reed (R–N.Y.)
  • Rep. Chris Smith (R–N.J.)
  • Rep. Fred Upton (R–Mich.)
  • Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R–N.J.)
  • Rep. Don Young (R–Alaska)

Their votes drew condemnation from more conservative colleagues.

"I can't believe Republicans just gave the Democrats their socialism bill," said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

I can\u2019t believe Republicans just gave the Democrats their socialism bill.

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) 1636171794

"That 13 House Republicans provided the votes needed to pass this is absurd," said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas). "Any House Democrats claiming to be moderate after voting to pave the way for a social transformation bill with massive amnesty, against American energy, for budget-busting and unpaid-for spending with massive tax increases, and for massive OSHA fines for vaccine mandates should be laughed out of the room."

Conservative media commentators were dismayed by the vote, viewing it as handing Biden a win unnecessarily.

"Given the chance to deal a severe blow to President Biden's flailing agenda, they instead rescued him by providing Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the votes she needed to overcome resistance from the far Left of her party," wrote Philip Klein for National Review.

"With only three 'no' votes to spare within her own caucus, Pelosi lost six Democrats — enough to sink the bill. Yet 13 Republicans swooped in to rescue Pelosi, provide Biden with the biggest victory of his presidency, and put the rest of his reckless agenda on a glide path to passage in the House," he explained, calling the move "political malpractice" and a "betrayal."

Klein also called out House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for failing to keep his conference unified against the president.

In the final days leading up to the vote, McCarthy pushed for Republicans to vote against the bill, which had bipartisan support in the Senate. He had repeatedly predicted it would fail if it came to a vote. But in the end he lost 13 moderate Republicans and now Democrats are celebrating.