DeSantis press secretary steps down 'to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country'



Bryan Griffin announced that he is stepping down from his role as press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The announcement comes amid widespread anticipation that the Sunshine State's GOP governor may soon launch a 2024 White House bid.

Fox News Digital has reported that Griffin is stepping down to instead serve as press secretary for DeSantis' political operation.

"All of these things that Governor DeSantis has accomplished in Florida can be replicated nationwide. However, our nation is currently burdened with historic challenges," Griffin wrote. "The challenges can be overcome, and America is worth the fight. I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history. Because of this, I am stepping away from this role to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country. If I can be even a small part of the revival and restoration of our great nation, then I am prepared to give it my all."

Griffin described DeSantis as "a true and principled conservative" who "ensures that the people around him understand and personally hold the principles and values he leads by," which "ensures the success of his objectives."


\u201cIt has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Press Secretary for the Florida Office of @GovRonDeSantis. Thank you!\u201d
— Bryan Griffin (@Bryan Griffin) 1684172229


If DeSantis does throw his hat into the ring during the Republican presidential primary, he will be going up against former President Donald Trump and multiple other figures who have already announced presidential bids.

Trump, who has been taking shots at DeSantis, has referred to him as "DeSanctimonious" and "DeSanctus." Trump has suggested that the governor "needs a personality transplant."

\u201cRon DeSanctimonious needs a PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT!\u201d
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022)) 1683904721

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'Fauci Can Pound Sand': DeSantis campaign sells footwear called 'Freedom Over Fauci Flip Flops'



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's campaign store is selling flip-flops that are likely to appeal to critics of prominent public health figure Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The straps say "Freedom Over Fauci," and the words on the soles of the two sandals combine to convey the message that reads, "Fauci Can Pound Sand."

The DeSantis campaign is seeking to capitalize on many Americans' negative views of Fauci, who has been a prominent but controversial figure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After 600+ days of ineffective lockdowns & mandates, 3 things are certain with Dr. Fauci: He flips. He flops. He fails. To commemorate Fauci's flip flopping, we’re launching EXCLUSIVE Freedom Over Fauci Flip Flops on our Team DeSantis storefront," a Team DeSantis tweet declares.

After 600+ days of ineffective lockdowns & mandates, 3 things are certain with Dr. Fauci:\n\nHe flips. He flops. He fails.\n\nTo commemorate Fauci's flip flopping, we\u2019re launching EXCLUSIVE Freedom Over Fauci Flip Flops on our Team DeSantis storefront. \nhttps://bit.ly/3rxNsCO\u00a0pic.twitter.com/NCL07fwyBV
— Team DeSantis (@Team DeSantis) 1642779900

Fauci, who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for more than three decades, is the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden.

DeSantis, a conservative Republican who has become an very popular figure on the political right, is up for re-election this year in the Sunshine State.

A video promoting the DeSantis campaign's anti-Fauci footwear declares that Fauci "can't stop freedom in Florida."

The flip-flops shown in the video appear to be different than those currently listed in the campaign store.

Freedom Over Fauci www.youtube.com

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Judge allows forensic audit of Dominion voting machines in Antrim County, Michigan



A federal judge has ordered that a forensic inspection of Dominion voting machines can take place in Antrim County, Michigan, where 6,000 votes had been incorrectly flipped from President Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the early tabulation of votes, before being corrected.

The ruling, however, makes no mention of the presidential election. Rather, Judge Kevin Elsenheimer's order is in response to a lawsuit filed by plaintiff William Bailey, a local resident who is challenging the results of a proposal to allow a marijuana retailer in his village. The proposal initially failed before passing during re-tabulation, a change which Bailey alleges didn't count three damaged ballots, according to MLive.com.

Nevertheless, President Trump's legal team indicated they are the ones who have been granted access to inspect the voting machines.

"The big news coming out of Antrim County, Michigan, this morning ... is that a judge actually granted our team access to 22 of the Dominion voting machines for us to conduct a forensic audit," Trump attorney Jenna Ellis told Fox News Sunday morning.

"So our team is going to be able to go in there this morning and we'll be there for about eight hours to conduct that forensic examination and we'll have the results in about 48 hours and that will tell us a lot about these machines," she added.

.@JennaEllisEsq on the Antrim County, Michigan judge that gave Team Trump access to 22 Dominion voting machines to… https://t.co/IstQE81xsC
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022))1607264218.0

Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani called the ruling a "big win" on Twitter.

The error, which incorrectly awarded 6,000 votes to Biden which had actually gone for Trump, was originally described as a technical malfunction with the counting equipment. However, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson later clarified that the error was a result of a Republican clerk "accidentally [not updating] the software used to collect voting machine data and report unofficial results." She suggested that the "human error" would have have been detected during a county canvass anyway.

But the president's legal team has been suspicious of that claim and allege that what happened in Antrim County was representative of what happened all over the state and all over the country — the difference being that in Antrim County the bad actors attempting to rig the election were simply caught.

It was not immediately clear why Ellis suggested it was Trump's team that would be conducting the inspection, but it likely had to do with the presence of members of Allied Security Operations Group during the audit. ASOG, a group affiliated with Trump's legal team, was responsible for producing a report used as evidence in Bailey's lawsuit.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Antrim County announced on Saturday that ASOG technicians would conduct the audit in the presence of county clerk Sheryl Guy, county administrator Pete Garwood, county attorney Haider Kazim, three county commissioners, a county IT technician, and a member of the sheriff's department.

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Amy Coney Barrett sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas in White House ceremony



Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as the newest justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by its longest-serving member, Justice Clarence Thomas, on Monday night, less than two hours after she was confirmed to the high court by the U.S. Senate.

The Senate confirmed the nomination of Barrett by a vote of 52-48.

What are the details?

President Donald Trump praised his third successful nominee to the Supreme Court in a speech, telling his audience on the South Lawn of the White House that Barrett "is one of our nation's most brilliant legal scholars, and she will make an outstanding justice on the highest court in our land."

After thanking a number of Republican leaders who were influential in moving forward Barrett's nomination, the president also acknowledged Barrett's husband, Jesse, who was in attendance. Trump then recognized the Barretts' seven children, who watched the ceremony from their home in Indiana, saying the kids had "become very, very popular in this nation."

"I speak to everyone when I say that the Barrett family has captured America's heart," he added. "It is highly fitting that Justice Barrett fills the seat of a true pioneer for women, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg."

The president noted that Barrett, 48, is the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and the first mother of school-age children to be confirmed.

Justice Thomas administered the Constitutional Oath to Barrett before the crowd of 200 following the president's speech. Chief Justice John Roberts is slated to administer the Judicial Oath to the newest associated justice on Tuesday, after which she will be able to begin her work in the lifetime position.

Justice Clarence Thomas administers the oath of office for Justice Amy Coney Barrett https://t.co/iESj58o9SA
— Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022))1603761732.0

After being sworn in at the White House, Barrett took to the lectern, thanking the cheering audience, the president, and the Senate, saying, "I thank you for the confidence you have expressed in me, and I pledge to you and to the American people that I will discharge my duties to the very best of my ability."

Clarence Thomas swears in Amy Coney Barrett at Rose Garden ceremonywww.youtube.com

How did the Democrats respond?

Several congressional Democrats vowed reform and revenge immediately following Barrett's confirmation, after the minority party in the Senate failed to stop Republicans from pressing forward with Trump's latest nominee ahead of Election Day.

Far-left progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) led calls on Twitter to "expand the court."

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) declared, "Today Republicans denied the will of the American people by confirming a Supreme Court justice through an illegitimate process — all in their effort to gut the Affordable Care Act and strip health care from millions with pre-existing conditions. We won't forget this."

Today Republicans denied the will of the American people by confirming a Supreme Court justice through an illegitim… https://t.co/ZPDbtQDdO3
— Kamala Harris (@Kamala Harris)1603757415.0

Trump supporters crash Biden rally, Joe calls them 'chumps;' Trump says Biden rallies have 'tiny crowds'



President Donald Trump and Joe Biden both held rallies on Saturday as both candidates make a final push before the Nov. 3 presidential election. Unfortunately for the Biden campaign, their rally turned into a Trump rally.

Biden held a drive-in rally in Bristol, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. There were reportedly 170 cars at the drive-in rally for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Joe and Jill Biden arrive at Bucks County Community College in Bristol, Pa. https://t.co/frc78iwnKn
— Tyler Pager (@Tyler Pager)1603553240.0

The Biden rally quickly became a Trump rally when supporters of the president swarmed the area. CNN political correspondent MJ Lee said, "Practically a Trump drive-in rally here now outside the Biden drive-in event."


Joe Biden leaving his only public event of the weekend, forced to drive through a Trump rally that drowned out and… https://t.co/A6tQWOMA3e
— Joe Shikhman (@Joe Shikhman)1603568833.0

Reportedly, the Trump supporters were honking their horns and using megaphones, including one person who chanted, "Four more years!" Biden called the Pennsylvania Trump supporters "chumps" twice during Saturday's rally.

"By the way, we don't do things like those chumps out there with the microphone are doing, the Trump guys," Biden said. "Look, we've got to come together."

"I'll work as hard for those who don't support me as those who do, including those chumps at the microphone out there," Biden said, then coughing into his hand. "That's the job of a president, the duty to care for everyone. The duty to heal."

A parade of Trump supporters showed up to Biden’s drive-in rally in PA and kept honking until he completely lost it https://t.co/SeAkfSHT3w
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸)1603559739.0

Biden seemed extra angry on Saturday

Slow Joe Biden says he is "sick and tired of smart guys." https://t.co/yf92vqVD62
— Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022)1603575404.0

Meanwhile, Trump held a campaign rally in Lumberton, North Carolina. During his speech, the president lampooned Biden over his "tiny crowds" at his drive-in rallies.

"People in cars. I don't get it. They're in cars," Trump said. "There were so few cars. I've never seen an audience like this."

"His partner, the media, the media made a mistake. They made a tragic mistake. They showed the crowd," Trump told the audience. "They were screaming, 'Don't do it! Don't show the crowd!"

Trump called the rally a "tiny, tiny little crowd." "You heard a couple of horns — honk! Honk!"

After the North Carolina rally, Trump is scheduled to make two more campaign stops on Saturday in Circleville, Ohio, and Waukesha, Wisconsin.

President @realDonaldTrump on Joe Biden's very tiny event in #Pennsylvania earlier, a state where Biden called resi… https://t.co/02CrmOF0kN
— Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022))1603560025.0

President Trump clarifies stance, says Proud Boys should 'stand down'



President Donald Trump clarified his stance regarding the "alt-right" group, "Proud Boys," on Wednesday, encouraging them to "stand down and let law enforcement do its work."

What are the details?

The president made the clarification when speaking with reporters in front of the White House. In his remarks, he added that he is not aware of who the Proud Boys are, adding "you'll have to give me a definition."

"But whoever they are, they have to stand down and let law enforcement do its work," he said.

President @realDonaldTrump: I don't know who the Proud Boys are but they have to stand down, let law enforcement do… https://t.co/LcXp9QF0pk
— Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022))1601493049.0

Trump would also go further and say that "everybody" — not just the Proud Boys — but any group that is acting as a militia and preventing law enforcement from doing its work needs to stand down.

The president then pivoted to discussing radical left-wing groups such as Antifa, who he suggested are the "real problem."

What's the background?

Trump's updated remarks came after swift and harsh blowback from liberal media figures and politicians who suggested that he refused to condemn white supremacist groups during Tuesday night's presidential debate in Cleveland.

During the debate, moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump to condemn white supremacist and militia groups onstage. Trump responded by saying "sure ... I want peace" but didn't specifically utter words of condemnation.

When he prompted Wallace to name a specific group, former Vice President Joe Biden stepped in and shouted, "Proud Boys!"

"Proud Boys, stand back and stand by," Trump then said.

Chris Wallace asked President Trump during Tuesday's debate whether he was willing "to condemn white supremacists a… https://t.co/UZyFYpfmzA
— The New York Times (@The New York Times)1601437220.0

The comments appeared to be received by members of the Proud Boys as a rallying cry. Several members reportedly took to private social media channels to celebrate what they perceived as a tacit endorsement by the president.

Republican Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) told reporters Wednesday that he believed Trump "misspoke" when he addressed the Proud Boys Tuesday night during the debate.

"White supremacy should be denounced at every turn," Scott said. "I think the president misspoke, and he needs to correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak."

Who are the Proud Boys?

According to their website, the Proud Boys call themselves "Western Chauvinists" who believe that the "West Is The Best." The website lists tenets such as minimal government, maximum freedom, anti-racial guilt, anti-racism, pro-free speech, and pro-gun rights.

The FBI categorizes the Proud Boys as an "extremist group with ties to white nationalism."

Their presence has become more pronounced in recent months as members of the controversial group have organized counter-protests against left-wing riots in American cities.