GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz reverses course, announces re-election bid



After announcing last year that she would not run for office in 2024, GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana has now indicated that she will seek re-election.

"Deciding where your duty lies - family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family. However, looking where we are today, and urged by many of my constituents, I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress, with the current failed leadership in Washington, D.C., on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on," Spartz said in a statement.

"As someone who grew up under tyranny, I understand the significance of these challenging times for our Republic, and if my fellow Hoosiers and God decide, I will be honored to continue fighting for them. We must carry on the sacrifice of countless Americans for our liberties and keep the American dream alive for our children," the lawmaker added.

Spartz, who grew up in Ukraine under the Soviet Union, has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2021.

Her re-election bid announcement comes as a reversal from her announcement last year that she would not run for office in 2024.

"I won a lot of tough battles for the people and will work hard to win a few more in the next two years. However, being a working mom is tough and I need to spend more time with my two high school girls back home, so I will not run for any office in 2024," Spartz said in a statement last year.

Spartz described then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year as a "weak Speaker," and McCarthy reportedly responded by saying that if Spartz was "concerned about fighting stronger," he wished the congresswoman would "not quit."

"I wish @SpeakerMcCarthy would work as hard at governing our country as he does at collecting checks but his wish might come true," Spartz fired back in response.

McCarthy, who was ousted from the role as House speaker last year, is no longer a member of Congress because he decided to leave office before the end of his term.

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Matt Gaetz moves to oust Kevin McCarthy from House speakership



Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has moved to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the speakership post.

"Today I'm filing a motion to vacate against @SpeakerMcCarthy," Gaetz declared in a post on X.

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The House GOP tapped McCarthy to serve in the role earlier this year, but only after a whopping 15 rounds of voting. During that battle, Gaetz voted against McCarthy in the first 13 rounds of balloting before voting present in the last two rounds.

When asked about a potential McCarthy replacement, Gaetz mentioned House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, saying that he thinks "very highly" of him and would be willing to vote for him. Scalise has been getting treated for cancer. "I would probably vote for at least a hundred Republicans in our caucus," Gaetz said, suggesting that he'd also be open to supporting people who aren't members of Congress.

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GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona has also expressed a desire to see McCarthy ousted from the speakership. "Last November, I ran for House Speaker because I feared that Kevin McCarthy would not rein in federal spending and take on Democrats. As seen by his latest CR, these fears are now reality. He cannot remain Speaker," Biggs tweeted.

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But many Republicans will likely line up behind McCarthy.

"@SpeakerMcCarthy and the @HouseGOP have consistently delivered strong results for the American people. I support Speaker Kevin McCarthy as we continue to work to save America from the Far Left Democrats led by Joe Biden," House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has declared.

"My fellow Republican Representatives: Look at the replies. Don't walk the plank with Elise," Gaetz responded. "You can fight alongside me and tens of millions of patriotic Americans who know DC is broken and we can do better than this. No more for Ukraine. No CR's. Cut Spending," he wrote, along with the hashtag "#VacateMcCarthy."

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Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal tries to walk back anti-Israel remarks amid backlash



Rep. Jamila Jayapal (R-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, attacked Israel during a leftist conference in Chicago over the weekend, prompting significant backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party comprises members who have historically had trouble containing their hostility toward Israel.

For instance, prior to taking office, Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) tweeted in 2012, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel."

Not much has changed since she took office, as reflected by her statement last week, when Omar indicated there is "no way in hell" she would attend Israeli President Isaac Herzog's speech to Congress on July 19.

Jayapal, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and other progressive Democrats have similarly refused to attend the speech.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) claimed in 2021 that Israel was "promoting racism and dehumanization" under an "apartheid system."

Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) has taken issue with the suggestion that Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas' terror attacks.

The latest of many similar outbursts, which have proven embarrassing for the purported party of inclusivity and anti-racism, took place Saturday at the annual Netroots Nation conference where Jayapal gave a keynote along with Omar.
Anti-Israel protesters waving Palestinian colors interrupted the corresponding panel, prompting Jayapal to walk to the stage's edge. Instead of rebuking those hijacking the event, Jayapal championed their resentments.

"Can I say something as somebody that's been in the streets and has participated in a lot of demonstrations?" said Jayapal. "I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state! ... That the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it does not even feel possible."

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Following her remarks at the leftist conference, Jayapal was met with a flurry of denunciations online.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called the congresswoman "despicable," suggesting her claim was "truly disgusting, especially coming from a member of Congress."

Bryan Leib, the executive director of the Combat Antisemitism Everywhere PAC, wrote, "Jayapal has been spreading lies about Israel for years. These comments are nothing new, but they went unchecked under the leadership of the former @SpeakerPelosi. It's time for @SpeakerMcCarthy to take action. Censure!"

AIPAC noted, "Israel is a U.S. ally with an open, free and diverse society comprised of Jews, Muslims, Christians and people from across the world who vote and participate in its democracy as equal citizens. @RepJayapal should be embracing our democratic ally as a model, not demonizing it."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Vice Chair Ted Lieu issued a statement Sunday, stressing, "Israel is not a racist state."

Although the statement did not mention Jayapal by name, the Democratic leadership noted, "Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure. We are determined to make sure support for Israel in the Congress remains strongly bipartisan."

Jayapal, whose term won't end until 2025, issued a statement Sunday to "clarify" her previous remarks.

"Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist. I do, however, believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," wrote the leftist congresswoman.

"Many policies of the current Israeli government, including rampant settlement expansion, make it extremely difficult for Palestinians who simply want the same rights as their Israeli neighbors to believe such a solution is possible," added Jayapal.

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Enes Freedom says LeBron James bows to China and has '0 Morals'



Basketball star LeBron James made history on Tuesday when he broke the NBA record for most career points scored, but former NBA player Enes Freedom is publicly slamming James.

Freedom accused James of bowing to China, tweeting a list that included, "38,388 Points," "0 Morals," "0 Values," "0 Principles," "0 Empathy," and "1 Bow Down to #China."

"Congratulations to @KingJames," Freedom wrote.

"People get mad when I speak the truth because I'm the only athlete who actually speaks the truth," he wrote in another post. "I don't care about your endorsement deals or your dirty money. You can NOT buy me #CCP! Don't expect me to respect you or your game when your shoes are literally made by SLAVE KIDS."

\u201cPeople get mad when I speak the truth because I\u2019m the only athlete who actually speaks the truth.\nI don\u2019t care about your endorsement deals or your dirty money.\n\nYou can NOT buy me #CCP!\n\nDon\u2019t expect me to respect you or your game when your shoes are literally made by SLAVE KIDS\u201d
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1675869415

Freedom is a staunch critic of human rights abuses around the globe, including those perpretuated in China. He has described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "brutal dictator."

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy invited Freedom to the State of the Union address as a guest.

"@EnesFreedom loves the USA. He understands freedom. And he is willing to sacrifice his job in order to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party. I was proud to have him as one of my guests for State of the Union," McCarthy tweeted.

Freedom expressed his gratitude for McCarthy's "friendship, leadership and support."

\u201cI\u2019m deeply honored and humbled to attend the State of the Union address as @SpeakerMcCarthy\u2019s guest.\n\nI appreciate your friendship, leadership and support.\u201d
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1675732846

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who invited an "abortion rights activist" to the speech as a guest, wore an "ABORTION" pin with a heart-shaped cutout to the State of the Union address.

Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania also posted a photo of herself wearing the "ABORTION" pin. She invited an "abortion patient advocate" as a guest for the address.

\u201cI say the word, I wear the word.\n\nAbortion care is health care.\n\nAbortion care saves lives.\u201d
— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@Congresswoman Madeleine Dean) 1675802099

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Speaker McCarthy lays down the law when reporter tries gotcha question to defend Schiff, Swalwell



House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shut down a reporter on Tuesday who suggested that his decision to boot Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) from the House Intelligence Committee was hypocritical.

At a press conference, PBS reporter Lisa Desjardins asked McCarthy how he can allow Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), the controversial alleged serial liar, on House committees while at the same time booting Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) from the prestigious House Intelligence Committee.

"You said that lying to us is something that means you should be removed from the Intelligence Committee. But why is it not a factor [for Santos]?" Desjardins asked. "This is a man who should not be on committees, something you have power over."

When McCarthy began to answer, Desjardins interrupted him and charged that he was not answering the question. McCarthy responded forcefully.

"Let me be very clear and respectful to you. You ask me a question. When I answer it, it's the answer to your question," he shot back. "You don't get to determine whether I answer a question or not, OK? In all respect."

\u201c.@SpeakerMcCarthy to reporter: Let me be very clear & respectful to you. You ask me a question when I answer it it's the answer to your question. You don't get to determine whether I answer a question or not, okay? In all respect...what happens in the Intel Cmte you don't know.\u201d
— CSPAN (@CSPAN) 1674610370

The California Republican, who became House speaker less than three weeks ago, then explained the important distinction between the House Intelligence Committee and other committees.

"The Intel Committee is different, you know why? Because what happens in the Intel Committee, you don't know. What happens in the Intel Committee, of the secrets going on in the world, other members of Congress don't know," he explained.

"What did Adam Schiff do as chairman of the Intel Committee? What Adam Schiff did was use his power as a chairman and lie to the American public, even the inspector general said it. When Devin Nunes put out a memo, he said it was false. When we had a laptop, he used it before an election to [play] politics and say it was false and it was the Russians when he knew different," McCarthy continued.

Indeed, after the Hunter Biden laptop story broke in October 2020, Schiff claimed on CNN that it came directly "from the Kremlin." Then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe disputed that.

Now, more than two years later, we know that Schiff was wrong and Ratcliffe was correct.

Therefore, McCarthy explained, Schiff "does not have the right to sit" on the Intel Committee.

Regarding Swalwell, McCarthy said that he and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) received a briefing from the FBI about Swalwell's alleged connections to China because the "FBI was concerned" about placing Swalwell on the Intel Committee, and thus he, too, does not belong on the Intel Committee.

In the end, McCarthy said he will respect the voters who elected Schiff, Swalwell, and Santos — three men he accused of lying. But, he added, they will not serve on committees privy to intelligence critical to national security.

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