'We're in dangerous times': After 'terroristic threat' shuts down her HQ, Kari Lake remains steadfast, notes media's role



Kari Lake's campaign headquarters was targeted over the weekend by what her team reckoned to be a "terroristic attack." Lake noted that the alleged threat wasn't the first her team has had to deal with, but that it would be dealt with and the person responsible identified.

Dangerous times

On Sunday, Republican nominee for Arizona governor Kari Lake spoke to reporters in Queen Creek, Arizona, about her campaign headquarter's weekend encounter with suspicious packages, which allegedly contained white powder and threats.

Concerning the Oct. 5 discovery of the threats, Lake said, "We're in dangerous times. ... This is not the first time we've been threatened. I've been threatened many times. Our tires have been slashed. We've had screws drilled into our tires so that our tires would blow out while we're on the road."

Reiterating that these are dangerous times, Lake suggested "that's why we need to elect somebody who's strong and a fighter and not a coward. We'll get to the bottom of this. I really don't want to get too far ahead of it."

Katie Hobbs, the Democrat gubernatorial candidate who refuses to debate Lake, wrote in an op-ed on Saturday, "The new GOP is led by extremist, radical stone throwers like Kari Lake."

Hobbs, who has not recused herself from official duties overseeing the midterm election, also claimed, "We can't risk Kari Lake."

Arizona state Senator Wendy Rogers suggested that the potential risk to Lake's life must be addressed, demanding that the gubernatorial candidate be protected by the Arizona Department of Public Safety to "err on the side of caution."

\u201c.@KariLake must absolutely be protected by DPS who should deploy immediately to protect her, because she has clearly become #ArizonasGreatestAsset \u2026 it\u2019s a no-brainer. Err on the side of caution.\u201d
— Wendy Rogers (@Wendy Rogers) 1667764361

What happened in Phoenix?

Around 10 p.m. on Saturday, two envelopes allegedly containing a "suspicious white powder" and "abusive messages" were discovered at Lake's campaign headquarters in Phoenix.

Just days after former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stressed that Lake should not be elected, one of Lake's staffers reportedly opened one of the suspicious envelopes and was exposed to the powder.

A source told the DailyMail.com that in addition to the white substance, the envelope contained a letter with "a bunch of vulgarities and ranting and raving about Kari."

Having noticed that the second package resembled the first one, the young employee reported it.

The FBI, Phoenix Police, Phoenix firefighters, bomb squad units, and hazmat crews were dispatched to the scene

"When officers arrived, they learned there were suspicious items located inside the mail. Additional resources responded to collect the items and secure the area," said Sgt. Phil Krynsky.

Lake told reporters that "a couple" of staffers had been exposed, but that "so far they're doing okay."

"We're monitoring them," said Lake, "and we want to make sure that everything's okay."

Krynsky confirmed that there had been no reports of injury, but that the investigation was ongoing.

Although Colton Duncan, spokesman for the Lake campaign, indicated on Sunday that the powder was initially headed to Quantico for testing, Lake confirmed later in the day that it was now being tested at a local lab.

Lake said, "We're going to find out what it was."

Duncan emphasized that the Lake campaign's "resolve has never been higher, and we cannot be intimidated. We continue to push full speed ahead to win this election on Tuesday."

Media myopia, polarization

The alleged "terroristic act" that targeted the Lake campaign has not been met with the kind of media attention that the alleged attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband garnered in recent days.

GOP Chairman Ronna McDaniel tweeted, "More violent threats against Republicans that most of the media refuses to cover - the same media that has attacked @KariLake relentlessly. This is completely unacceptable."

\u201cMore violent threats against Republicans that most of the media refuses to cover - the same media that has attacked @KariLake relentlessly.\n\nThis is completely unacceptable. Happy to hear that at this time no one was hurt.\nhttps://t.co/EyoUVv8DJr\u201d
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1667757306

Lake, who previously was a TV news anchor, has long criticized the mainstream news media and its bias.

Fox News Digital reported that Lake emphasized that the "fake news media" has been a big part of political polarization in the nation and ramping up tensions.

"We are in such polarized times, and this is one of the reasons I walked away from the fake news media, because I realized that the media is a big part of it, pitting people against one another," said Lake.

Referencing the threats her campaign has faced from anti-conservative, anti-Republican forces, she posed the question to reporters, "You guys want us like this?"

Republican Senate nominee Don Bolduc was reportedly attacked before his New Hampshire debate last Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a Chicago man allegedly left a terrorizing voicemail threatening to assassinate the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Illinois, Darren Bailey.

On Oct. 18, the home of Republican congressional candidate Pat Harrigan's parents was reportedly riddled with bullets with his children sleeping inside.

In June, 26-year-old California resident Nicholas John Roske, who identified himself as a "trans gamer girl," allegedly attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Bret Kavanaugh. Roske was armed with a Glock 17 pistol and had in his possession a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, and duct tape.

Hundreds of pro-life pregnancy centers, pro-lifers, and churches were targeted in a series of attacks by pro-abortion terrorists in the lead up to and following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court gives Republicans an election integrity win, prohibiting counties from counting undated or incorrectly dated ballots



Pennsylvania election officials have been ordered to refrain from counting undated or improperly dated mail-in and absentee ballots. This is regarded as a big win for state Republicans, who have expressed concern over both the integrity of the Nov. 8 general election and consistency in how botched mail-in ballots are treated.

Lawrence Tabas, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said the ruling is "a tremendous win for election integrity, and for voters across the commonwealth whose faith in our elections is the very cornerstone of democracy."

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel deemed the result a "MASSIVE election integrity win in Pennsylvania," adding that "Republicans went to court. Now Democrats have to follow the law."

\u201cThe @GOP, @NRCC, & @PAGOP just secured a MASSIVE election integrity win in Pennsylvania.\n \nThe PA Supreme Court agrees with us that incorrectly or undated mail ballots can not be counted in next week\u2019s elections.\n \nRepublicans went to court. Now Democrats have to follow the law.\u201d
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1667338552

Since Democrats have relied more on mail-in ballots than Republicans since 2019, the AP suggested this ruling will likely lead to more disqualified Democrat votes.

The Republican push to shore up 'public trust'

The AP reported that last week, state and national Republican Party organizations, along with a number of GOP voters, sought immediate review by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. They successfully bypassed the lower courts, as it had become apparent there was a statewide disconnect on what to do with improperly returned ballots.

Some counties were counting ballots in envelopes where the declaration was not dated, whereas others were simply discarding them. PennLive reported that in anticipation of the court's ruling, a number of counties had even begun placing improperly dated envelopes into separate piles.

The Republicans who sought the injunction emphasized that the "General Assembly could not have been clearer" when it "mandated that a voter who chooses to vote via absentee or mail-in ballot 'shall . . . fill out, date and sign the declaration' printed on the outer envelope of the ballot."

It didn't hurt that a majority of the state supreme court had already held that "any absentee or mail-in ballot that does not comply with the General Assembly's date requirement is invalid and cannot be counted in any election after the 2020 general election."

Republicans argued that any "counting of ballots that the General Assembly has declared invalid ... are eroding public trust and confidence in the integrity of Pennsylvania's elections at a vital moment in the Nation's and the Commonwealth's history."

The court evidently agreed.

Upholding the letter of the law

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered that state county boards of elections are to refrain from counting "any absentee and mail-in ballots received for the November 8, 2022 general election that are contained in undated or incorrectly dated outer envelopes."

Such ballots are to be instead segregated and preserved.

WHTM indicated that 918,975 vote-by-mail ballots had been returned as of Nov. 1.

Outstanding issues

Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Leigh Chapman's Oct. 25 brief recommended against the order, claiming that the Republican petitioners did not have standing.

Chapman's brief alleged that by requiring voters to follow the law and by discarding their improperly dated ballots, the state would be in violation of federal law.

Chapman's brief cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states: "No person acting under color of law shall ... deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election."

Although the decision to grant the petitioners' request for injunctive relief was unanimous, the court, down one justice after Chief Justice Max Baer (D) died earlier this month, was split regarding Chapman's concern.

Three Democrat justices, Debra Todd, David Wecht, and Christine Donohue, thought it was a violation, whereas Republican Justices Kevin Brobson and Sallie Mundy were joined by Democrat Justice Kevin Dougherty in arguing it wasn't.

GOP launches voter registration drive at gas stations as fuel prices reach historic highs: 'Biden and the Democrats do not care'



Are you upset about historic gas prices under President Joe Biden? If so, the Republican National Committee hopes you join the party — at the very location of your gas price-related frustration.

What is the RNC doing?

The RNC is capitalizing on historic fuel prices by launching a new voter registration program targeting gas stations nationwide.

Over the weekend, the RNC held voter registration drives at gas stations in Arizona. The party will expand its campaign to other states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin in the coming weeks, The Hill reported.

"Under Joe Biden, families are paying more for gas than ever before," RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.

"After killing American energy independence, Biden is turning to our adversaries abroad for America’s energy needs," she added. "American families are feeling the pain at the pump, and Biden and the Democrats do not care and are making it worse."

Don't like the #BidenGasHike? Vote!\n\nRepublicans are coming to gas stations nationwide to register voters! #LeadRighthttps://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2022/03/19/republican-aim-register-to-vote-phoenix-gas-stations-gas-prices/7096709001/\u00a0\u2026
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1647720588

Gas prices hit a historic high on March 11 when the average price of gas in America reached $4.33 per gallon. The price has dropped about 10 cents from its high to $4.24 per gallon as of Tuesday, according to AAA.

Gas prices have climbed for two years straight after reaching historic lows at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average price of gas in 2020 — former President Donald Trump's last year in office — was $2.18 per gallon. Prices rose under Biden to an average $3.02 per gallon in 2021.

What is the background?

Whether or not Biden's administration is fully to blame for historic gas prices, the narrative from the administration is certainly playing into the hands of Republicans.

Case in point: The administration has abdicated any responsibility for historic fuel prices, looking toward anyone and everything else to blame for economic woes.

Last year, Biden blamed growing economic problems — like inflation and high gas prices — on the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain problems. Now, the administration is blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, some Democrats are even targeting oil companies, while climate groups hope Democrats exploit the moment to further demonize the oil industry as greedy profiteers.

Republican National Committee censures Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, will 'immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party'



The Republican National Committee voted on Friday to censure Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, two outspoken critics of former President Donald Trump who are the only Republicans serving on the House select committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The censure resolution and several other resolutions were all approved together via a voice vote.

VIDEO here >>>pic.twitter.com/vM7srkbAXp
— Allan Smith (@Allan Smith) 1643998011

The resolution declares that the RNC "formally censures" the the two lawmakers "and shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference."

It declares that they "have engaged in actions in their positions as members of the January 6th Select Committee not befitting Republican members of Congress, which include the Committee’s disregard for minority rights, traditional checks and balances, due process, and adherence to other precedent and rules of the U.S. House and which seem intent on advancing a political agenda to buoy the Democrat Party’s bleak prospects in the upcoming midterm elections."

The resolution says that the lawmakers "are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse, and they are both utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes."

While Kinzinger is not seeking re-election, Cheney is pursuing another term in office. Trump has endorsed Harriet Hageman, a challenger seeking to defeat Cheney in the Republican primary.

"This was January 6th. This is not 'legitimate political discourse,'" Cheney tweeted in a post Friday that also included a video.

This was January 6th.\nThis is not \u201clegitimate political discourse.\u201dpic.twitter.com/lKgbVyVcJr
— Rep. Liz Cheney (@Rep. Liz Cheney) 1644005028

"Cheney and Kinzinger chose to join Pelosi in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol," RNC chair Ronna McDaniel tweeted. "I have repeatedly condemned violence on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, this committee has gone well beyond the scope of the events of that day."

I have repeatedly condemned violence on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, this committee has gone well beyond the scope of the events of that day.
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel) 1644005626

Cheney and Kinzinger were among the 10 House Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching then-President Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6 episode.

Cheney was ousted from her role as House Republican conference chair last year.

Both lawmakers had already issued statements prior to Friday.

"Rather than focus their efforts on how to help the American people, my fellow Republicans have chosen to censure two lifelong Members of their party for simply upholding their oaths of office. They've allowed conspiracies and toxic tribalism hinder their ability to see clear-eyed," Kinzinger had said in a statement.

"The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy," Cheney had said in a statement. "I’m a constitutional conservative and I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump. History will be their judge. I will never stop fighting for our constitutional republic. No matter what."

New York Post reporter says she resigned over being 'forced' to write 'incorrect' Kamala Harris story



A reporter said that she resigned from the New York Post after she was "forced" to write the "incorrect" story about Vice President Kamala Harris's book being given to migrant children.

Laura Italiano tweeted about the story and her resignation on Tuesday, a day after the article was retracted and clarified by several news outlets.

"An announcement: Today I handed in my resignation to my editors at the New York Post," tweeted Italiano.

"The Kamala Harris story -- an incorrect story I was ordered to write and which I failed to push back hard enough against -- was my breaking point," she added in a second tweet.

"It's been a privilege to cover the City of New York for its liveliest, wittiest tabloid," she concluded, "a paper filled with reporters and editors I admire deeply and hold as friends. I'm sad to leave."

Critics of the vice president pounced on the report claiming her children's book was added to care packages sent to migrant children at detainment centers.

After learning officials are handing out Kamala Harris’ book to migrants in facilities at the border, it’s worth as… https://t.co/8gG2DNM1dq
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel)1619444171.0

"Was Harris paid for these books? Is she profiting from Biden's border crisis?" asked GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services clarified to Newsweek that the book was donated as a part of an effort in the city of Long Beach, California, to collect books and toys as donations for the children being detained at the HHS center in that city.

"No taxpayer dollars were used to purchase Vice President Harris' book," said the HHS spokesperson.

A spokesperson for the city of Long Beach confirmed the origin of the book.

"The single book you reference is one of hundreds of various books that have already been donated. The book was not purchased by HHS or the City," the city said.

Here's more about the Harris book story:

Fox News reporter PRESSES Psaki on why migrant children are getting copies of Kamala Harris bookwww.youtube.com

Kamala Harris receives coronavirus vaccine after saying she wouldn't take it if developed during Trump admin



Vice president-elect Kamala Harris received the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday after saying she wouldn't take it if it were developed under President Donald Trump before or after the election.

Harris happily posed for photographs while receiving the Moderna vaccine injection at the United Medical Center in southeast Washington, D.C.

Harris had said in September that she wouldn't receive a coronavirus vaccine developed under the Trump administration because she had doubts on whether he would streamline the process in order to improve his voter support.

"Well, I think that's gonna be an issue for all of us," Harris said to Dana Bash on CNN.

"I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about," she explained. "I will not take his word for it."

She went on to say that the president was "grasping for whatever he can get to pretend that he's been a leader on this issue when he's not."

Later in October, Vice President Mike Pence criticized Harris during the vice presidential debate for undermining public trust in the development of the vaccine.

"If the public health professionals, if Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, I'll be the first in line to take it," Harris said during the debate. "But if Donald Trump tells us we should take it, I'm not taking it."

Pence called her statement "unconscionable" and accused her of playing politics with people's lives.

On Tuesday, Harris appeared to reiterate her anti-Trump pro-science comments when she received the vaccine.

"I trust the scientists and it's the scientists who created and approve the vaccine," Harris said. "I urge everyone when it's your turn to get vaccinated."

Republican chairwoman Ronna McDaniel slammed Harris for hypocritically changing her position on the vaccine.

"Over the summer, Kamala Harris shamefully decided to play politics and undermined confidence in a vaccine," she tweeted.

Over the summer, Kamala Harris shamefully decided to play politics and undermined confidence in a vaccine. Today,… https://t.co/88Ike2t0AO
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel)1609263902.0

"Today, she was able to get one because of [President Donald Trump's Operation Warp Speed]," she added.

Here's more about Harris and the vaccine:

Kamala Harris: I WON'T take Coronavirus vaccine if Trump tells me to | VP Debatewww.youtube.com

WATCH: Kayleigh McEnany and RNC's Ronna McDaniel reveal hundreds of affidavits alleging voter fraud

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show Tuesday night to reveal 11,000 incident reports and 500 sworn affidavits alleging election irregularities in multiple states.

White House chief of staff says President Trump is experiencing 'mild symptoms' after COVID diagnosis



White House chief of staff Mark Meadows addressed the public on Friday morning following the announcement of President Donald Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

What are the details?

In statements to reporters outside the White House, Meadows said that the president is experiencing "mild symptoms."

"He has mild symptoms," Meadows admitted. "The doctor will continue to provide expertise in the residence. He's in the residence now. In true fashion, [Trump] is probably critiquing the way I'm answering these questions."

He added, "I can tell you that a number of us will be reporting back to him on the task at hand."

In the early hours of Friday morning, Trump tweeted about his and the first Lady's COVID-19 diagnosis.

He wrote, "Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!"

Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately.… https://t.co/CIIB2LDQtr
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1601614446.0

Pence, second lady, senior advisers test negative

The president has yet to tweet any follow-up statements regarding the status of his health or anything else at the time of this reporting.

In a Friday morning letter, the White House physician said that Trump and the first lady were "both well" and that he anticipated the president would continue carrying out his presidential duties.

According to Meadows' Friday morning tweets, Vice President Pence and his wife, senior advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin all tested negative for coronavirus as of Friday morning.

GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tests positive

A spokesperson for the RNC told TheBlaze on Friday that GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis on Friday after coming in contact with an infected family member.

The spokesperson said, "After a member of her family tested positive for COVID-19, the Chairwoman was tested for the virus. On Wednesday afternoon, she got confirmation she was COVID-19 positive. She has been at her home in Michigan since last Saturday."

McDaniel tweeted her well-wishes for the president and his wife on Friday morning.

"Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump a speedy recovery," she wrote. "We are praying for you!"

Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump a speedy recovery. We are praying for you! https://t.co/VNFKhJRlKu
— Ronna McDaniel (@Ronna McDaniel)1601643827.0