Latest news with #RepublicanNationalConvention
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Virginia primary day: What to know
Virginia primary day: What to know November's winner will make history as the first female governor of Virginia: Abigail Spanberger for the Democrats or Winsome Earle-Sears for the GOP Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Gov. Glenn Youngkin's full Republican National Convention speech Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered an address at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Virginians are heading to the polls in one of this year's banner election fights where President Donald Trump's name isn't on the ballot but his second-term policies are very much top of voters' minds. The most consequential of the June 17 primary races center around who will be the next governor of the Old Dominion, a state that has seen its share of the federal government workforce shrink at the hands of Trump and former DOGE leader Elon Musk. Both of Virginia's expected major party nominees - former Rep. Abigail Spanberger for the Democrats and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for the Republicans - ran unopposed in their respective primaries and are readying for a general election race over the next five months that's expected to showcase a sharp contrast in approaches to working with the Trump White House. Whoever wins will make history as the first female governor of Virginia. More: A critical 2025 election race takes shape: 3 big takeaways from NJ primary Nationwide, politicos will be paying close attention to the results in both Virginia and New Jersey - the two states that hold gubernatorial contests that tap into voters' moods in the immediate odd year after a presidential election and before the midterms. Notably, the party opposite to whomever is currently in the White House has a history of winning the Virginia governor's mansion and the right to serve a single non-consecutive term. In a dozen governor races over the last 50 years, only once has a candidate from the same party as the sitting president won in Virginia - Democrat Terry McAuliffe in November 2013 while President Barack Obama was in his second term. Governor's race set Of the six statewide primary races in Virginia, only two feature more than one candidate on the June 17 ballot. Republicans have long had their nominee for governor in Earle-Sears, the 61-year old first female woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia. She locked down her spot after the only would-be competitor, former state Sen. Amanda Chase, failed to get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The GOP similarly already knows who its November general election candidates are for lieutenant governor - conservative radio host John Reid - and attorney general, the incumbent Jason Miyares. The Democrats are in the same boat for governor: 45-year-old Spanberger secured her spot back on April 3 after no other candidates emerged by that day's filing deadline. A former CIA officer who served three terms in Congress, Spanberger built a reputation on Capitol Hill as a moderate member of the centrist "Blue Dog" coalition. Her early jump into campaigning beginning in November 2023, and prolific fundraising, may have given Spanberger the advantage needed to discourage any potential challengers from even trying, said Professor David Richards, chair of the political science department at the University of Lynchburg. "It just became apparent that if you were going to challenge her, it was going to be very difficult," Richards said. Earle-Sears has long held the advantage among Republicans as the No. 2 under incumbent GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who because of Virginia's unique law cannot serve consecutive terms. Her only blip of competition came from Chase, who billed herself as "Trump in heels" and challenged Earle-Sears as not MAGA enough for the GOP nomination. Federal workers flashpoint Democrats in Virginia are hoping Trump's decisions next door in Washington, D.C., will help to curry them favor in the state's election − particularly his cuts to the federal workforce. Largely at the direction of Musk, the Trump administration has tried to get rid of tens of thousands of government employees since the outset of his second term. While the moves have been felt across the U.S., Virginia stands out with more than 140,000 federal employees who called the commonwealth home at the close of 2024. "We know that Virginia's economy, the health of our state, is tied intricately on the good work that is happening by so many who are working at the (Department of Veterans Affairs), at IRS, the Library of Congress, all throughout our government," Spanberger told a roomful of voters at an event in March. "As governor, I will stand up not just for the individuals who focus on serving our country in their day-to-day job, but our whole economy." Republicans counter that Trump is a popular brand who will help them win in November. "Democrats are using the same playbook: hoping President Trump will again galvanize their base and distract voters from their state-level failures," Edith Jorge-Tuñón, the president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, wrote in a June 2 Wall Street Journal opinion piece. "But this time Republicans are ready, and we're playing offense." Trump a main character in Democrats' AG race Trump's name has been popping up regularly in Virginia's primary to be the nominee for Democratic attorney general, with the winner entering the general election contest in November against Miyares. The two leading candidates - former state Rep. Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor, the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County - have made versions of a campaign promise to "stand up to Trump" if elected as Virginia's top legal official. If successful, they'd likely be quick to join other Democratic attorneys general who have spent the last several months filing ongoing lawsuits against Trump and his administration, including a case related to the federal workforce cuts. Trump has railed against other state attorneys general for similar campaigns, calling their scrutiny political persecution. It's an argument that Virginia Republicans plan to push against Democrats into the fall, too. "The law is a shield, not a sword to use against political enemies," Miyares' spokesman, Alex Cofield, told USA TODAY. "If they think that's the role of this office, then it's no small wonder why their policies keep getting rejected by voters. We look forward to the contrast in November."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
MTG rants over US involvement in Iran-Israel conflict and says ‘real America First/MAGA' don't want foreign wars
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, saying that supporters of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement do not support foreign intervention. The firebrand MAGA congresswoman, who has regularly promoted unsubstantiated conspiracy theories — including one involving California wildfires being sparked by 'space lasers' funded with money from Jewish bankers — posted on Facebook that Israel's decision to hit Iran, and the subsequent support from Republican officials to that action, separated the true Trump supporters from 'fake' Republicans. 'Everyone is finding out who are real America First/MAGA and who were fake and just said it bc it was popular,' she wrote. 'Unfortunately the list of fakes are becoming quite long and exposed themselves quickly. Last week, Israel conducted strikes on Iran, which led to Iran responding in kind. Initially, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States did not have any involvement on Israel's strikes. But shortly afterward, Trump offered his support for Israel. Greene said that a large-scale war between Israel and Iran would force countries and foreign alliances like NATO to 'take a side.' 'Real America First/MAGA wants world peace for all people and doesn't want our military killed and forever injured physically and mentally,' she wrote. 'We love our U.S. military and love them helping to secure our borders and our cities for the defense of OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY.' Greene's comments about using the military to defend cities come as Trump has deployed the National Guard and Marines into Los Angeles in response to demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which occasionally led to destruction of property and automobiles. Trump did so without the approval of the governor and a court delayed the deployment of troops into Los Angeles. 'I don't want to see Israel bombed or Iran bombed or Gaza bombed,' she said. 'I don't want to see Ukraine bombed or Russia we do NOT want to be involved or required to pay for ANY OF IT!!!' The remarks echo the sentiment of other MAGA voices on the right. Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who spoke at the Republican National Convention, said that Trump was 'complicit' in Israel's attacks on Iran. Greene's sentiments contrast with those of many Republicans in the Senate, who offered their full support for Israel. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, whom Trump beat for the 2016 Republican nomination for President, said that 'I think it is very much in the interest of America to see regime change.' But Greene, who has also opposed sending aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, said that she opposed all foreign intervention. 'We have giant planks sticking out of our own eyes while we complain about splinters in other's eyes,' she said. 'Every country involved and all over the world can be happy, successful, and rich if we all work together and seek peace and prosperity.' Greene has consistently opposed supporting Israel should it strike Iran. Last week, she said 'Americans don't want to bomb Iran because the secular government of Israel says that Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear bomb any day now.' Greene also defended herself from accusations of antisemitsm. 'Taking this position is NOT antisemitic,' she said. 'It's rational, sane, and loving toward all people.'
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Greene defends Carlson after Trump ‘kooky' crack
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) defended pundit Tucker Carlson after he was attacked by President Trump late Monday over the commentator's criticism of the president's posture toward Iran. Trump, in a Truth Social post, called Carlson 'kooky' and insisted he and others urging the U.S. to stay out of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran should understand 'Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.' Greene, a staunch Trump supporter, pushed back on the president's criticism of the former Fox News host. 'Tucker Carlson is one of my favorite people. He fiercely loves his wife, children, and our country,' Greene wrote on the social platform X. 'He unapologetically believes the same things I do. That if we don't fight for our own country and our own people then we will no longer have a country for our children and our grandchildren.' 'And foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction,' she added. Greene continued, saying 'that's not kooky. That's what millions of Americans voted for.' Carlson has been a favorite host and commentator of Trump's for years, granting him an exclusive interview as he launched his new media company and hosting him at the Republican National Convention last summer. The spat between Trump and Carlson over Middle East policy is being seen by many as a microcosm of GOP divisions on how the U.S. should respond to the crisis in the Middle East and Trump's willingness to criticize even his closets allies who break from him publicly.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump looms over Virginia governor's race: What to know on primary day
Trump looms over Virginia governor's race: What to know on primary day November's winner will make history as the first female governor of Virginia: Abigail Spanberger for the Democrats or Winsome Earle-Sears for the GOP Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Gov. Glenn Youngkin's full Republican National Convention speech Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered an address at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Virginians are heading to the polls in one of this year's banner election fights where President Donald Trump's name isn't on the ballot but his second-term policies are very much top of voters' minds. The most consequential of the June 17 primary races center around who will be the next governor of the Old Dominion, a state that has seen its share of the federal government workforce shrink at the hands of Trump and former DOGE leader Elon Musk. Both of Virginia's expected major party nominees - former Rep. Abigail Spanberger for the Democrats and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for the Republicans - ran unopposed in their respective primaries and are readying for a general election race over the next five months that's expected to showcase a sharp contrast in approaches to working with the Trump White House. Whoever wins will make history as the first female governor of Virginia. More: A critical 2025 election race takes shape: 3 big takeaways from NJ primary Nationwide, politicos will be paying close attention to the results in both Virginia and New Jersey - the two states that hold gubernatorial contests that tap into voters' moods in the immediate odd year after a presidential election and before the midterms. Notably, the party opposite to whomever is currently in the White House has a history of winning the Virginia governor's mansion and the right to serve a single non-consecutive term. In a dozen governor races over the last 50 years, only once has a candidate from the same party as the sitting president won in Virginia - Democrat Terry McAuliffe in November 2013 while President Barack Obama was in his second term. Governor's race set Of the six statewide primary races in Virginia, only two feature more than one candidate on the June 17 ballot. Republicans have long had their nominee for governor in Earle-Sears, the 61-year old first female woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia. She locked down her spot after the only would-be competitor, former state Sen. Amanda Chase, failed to get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The GOP similarly already knows who its November general election candidates are for lieutenant governor - conservative radio host John Reid - and attorney general, the incumbent Jason Miyares. The Democrats are in the same boat for governor: 45-year-old Spanberger secured her spot back on April 3 after no other candidates emerged by that day's filing deadline. A former CIA officer who served three terms in Congress, Spanberger built a reputation on Capitol Hill as a moderate member of the centrist "Blue Dog" coalition. Her early jump into campaigning beginning in November 2023, and prolific fundraising, may have given Spanberger the advantage needed to discourage any potential challengers from even trying, said Professor David Richards, chair of the political science department at the University of Lynchburg. "It just became apparent that if you were going to challenge her, it was going to be very difficult," Richards said. Earle-Sears has long held the advantage among Republicans as the No. 2 under incumbent GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who because of Virginia's unique law cannot serve consecutive terms. Her only blip of competition came from Chase, who billed herself as "Trump in heels" and challenged Earle-Sears as not MAGA enough for the GOP nomination. Federal workers flashpoint Democrats in Virginia are hoping Trump's decisions next door in Washington, D.C., will help to curry them favor in the state's election − particularly his cuts to the federal workforce. Largely at the direction of Musk, the Trump administration has tried to get rid of tens of thousands of government employees since the outset of his second term. While the moves have been felt across the U.S., Virginia stands out with more than 140,000 federal employees who called the commonwealth home at the close of 2024. "We know that Virginia's economy, the health of our state, is tied intricately on the good work that is happening by so many who are working at the (Department of Veterans Affairs), at IRS, the Library of Congress, all throughout our government," Spanberger told a roomful of voters at an event in March. "As governor, I will stand up not just for the individuals who focus on serving our country in their day-to-day job, but our whole economy." Republicans counter that Trump is a popular brand who will help them win in November. "Democrats are using the same playbook: hoping President Trump will again galvanize their base and distract voters from their state-level failures," Edith Jorge-Tuñón, the president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, wrote in a June 2 Wall Street Journal opinion piece. "But this time Republicans are ready, and we're playing offense." Trump a main character in Democrats' AG race Trump's name has been popping up regularly in Virginia's primary to be the nominee for Democratic attorney general, with the winner entering the general election contest in November against Miyares. The two leading candidates - former state Rep. Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor, the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County - have made versions of a campaign promise to "stand up to Trump" if elected as Virginia's top legal official. If successful, they'd likely be quick to join other Democratic attorneys general who have spent the last several months filing ongoing lawsuits against Trump and his administration, including a case related to the federal workforce cuts. Trump has railed against other state attorneys general for similar campaigns, calling their scrutiny political persecution. It's an argument that Virginia Republicans plan to push against Democrats into the fall, too. "The law is a shield, not a sword to use against political enemies," Miyares' spokesman, Alex Cofield, told USA TODAY. "If they think that's the role of this office, then it's no small wonder why their policies keep getting rejected by voters. We look forward to the contrast in November."
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Bill Maher torches Sean Penn for Donald Trump meeting hypocrisy: ‘You met with Castro and Hugo Chavez'
Bill Maher torched Sean Penn for criticizing the HBO host's meeting with President Trump – hitting back that the 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' actor had no qualms about sitting down with dictators Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. During an episode of Maher's 'Club Random' podcast on Sunday, Penn ridiculed some of Trump's comments, like his threat to annex Canada, as the pair smoked cigars and drank booze. Maher interjected: 'But you do, I hope, think I did the right thing to have dinner with him.' 'Absolutely, you're so smart,' Penn quickly replied. But Penn said he would not accept an invitation to meet with Trump if he received one, and that he wished Maher didn't spend so much time discussing the visit on his show. 'Really, you meet with f****** Castro and Hugo Chavez, but not the president of the United States?' Maher retorted. Maher shared on his show in April that he met with Trump during a dinner at the White House organized by musician Kid Rock, a close Trump ally who performed at the Republican National Convention last year. Penn, a longtime Democratic activist, landed big-name interviews in the early 2000s with Communist leaders Raul Castro and Hugo Chavez. Penn previously said he met with Fidel Castro, though that discussion was not made public. He also traveled to Iran to cover the country's elections in 2005. 'I saw good results come out of some of those things,' Penn replied. 'I just personally wouldn't trust anything that was said in the room [with Trump], including the personality.' Maher dismissed Penn's argument, adding that it's 'not a matter of trusting it.' 'It's like saying, 'I don't want this medical test because I don't want to know.' I want to know,' Maher continued. Penn said he wished Trump's dinner would have been seen 'as less successful.' 'Well it was less successful because I never stopped saying all the things I've always said about him,' Maher argued. 'It would've been successful if he had somehow seduced me into supporting him, so it wasn't successful.' Originally published as Bill Maher torches Sean Penn for Donald Trump meeting hypocrisy: 'You met with Castro and Hugo Chavez'
