House GOP ‘May Dig Their Own Grave’ With Fringe Political Investigations
Plus, Cowardice and Desperation: How Republicans Responded to Trump’s Constitution Comment.
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JOE PERTICONE: House Republicans ‘May Dig Their Own Grave’ With Fringe Political Investigations.
The Republican majority in the House is planning to launch full-throated investigations into Hunter Biden and other political bugbears when the new Congress convenes in January, prompting Democrats on the other side of the Capitol to respond with the powers of their Senate majority.
Democrats who spoke with The Bulwark said House Republicans’ stated oversight priorities are nakedly political, but won’t help the GOP’s future electoral efforts. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are poised to take the baton on what they consider critical investigations, such as that of the House January 6th Committee.
WILLIAM SALETAN: Cowardice and Desperation: How Republicans Responded to Trump’s Constitution Comment.
On Saturday morning, Donald Trump claimed, falsely, that the 2020 election was fraudulent because Democrats had been “working closely with Big Tech Companies” to defeat him. He concluded: “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.”
It’s hard to imagine a clearer declaration of war against American democracy and the rule of law. But the same Republican lawmakers who excused Trump’s behavior for years—including his dinner with overt antisemites two weeks ago—are now excusing his explicit assault on the Constitution. Here’s how they’re responding.
Join us in Seattle on January 21 for No B.S. with The Bulwark with special guest Dan Savage.
Republicans are big mad about Herschel’s loss, but they won’t name the guy who got this production off the ground. Meanwhile, low-energy Trump is plotting how to take out the charmless but ruthless DeSantis. Mark Leibovich joins Charlie Sykes on today’s podcast.
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TNL: Free Speech Nudes
PHILIP ROTNER: Verdict: Trump’s Company Guilty of Fraud, Financial Crimes.
The Trump Organization’s website features a 4,000-plus-word tribute to its eponymous founder. This tedious, nearly unreadable paean to the wonder that is Donald J. Trump adoringly trumpets legion acquisitions and projects undertaken over a span of decades, but one word is conspicuous by its almost complete absence in this portrait: “Organization.”
Instead, almost every overhyped accomplishment is presented as the work of the man himself. “Donald J. Trump,” not the Trump Organization, set “the standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, sports, and entertainment.” “Mr. Trump,” not the Trump Organization, “was also the developer of the largest parcel of land in New York City.” “Mr. Trump,” not the Trump Organization, built 610 Park Avenue, built the Trump Hotel in Chicago, purchased the Delmonico Hotel, built a “portfolio of holdings” that includes Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, rebuilt the Wollman Skating Rink, and acquired the rights to the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants.
DENNIS AFTERGUT: Warnock’s Victory Does Not Mean Georgia Has Turned Purple—Yet.
Reports of the death of red Georgia have been greatly exaggerated. It took a strong blue incumbent, Sen. Raphael Warnock, to beat a Herschel Walker candidacy with so many weaknesses that it couldn’t stand up to a second-string JV football team.
It could barely stand up at all. Walker was so unfit that it almost felt impolite to talk about it. From hidden children to abortion scandals to incidents of Russian roulette to credible allegations of domestic abuse, the former NFL star had more skeletons in his closet than a Halloween party.
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