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Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Speaks on US Senate Floor in Advance of Vote on His Legislation to End Trump’s Global Tariffs

By
lowkell
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1

Good work by Sen. Tim Kaine, even if it’s basically impossible this becomes law. Still, gotta make the case to the American people and keep pounding away at facts, evidence, etc.

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VIDEO: KAINE SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR IN ADVANCE OF VOTE ON HIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO END TRUMP’S GLOBAL TARIFFS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the Senate’s expected vote later tonight on his bipartisan legislation to repeal President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs that the White House announced on April 2. These tariffs are a national sales tax – in total, Trump’s tariffs will cost the average American household nearly $5,000 per year. In the wake of President Trump’s trade wars, manufacturers have already laid off workers, foreign countries have imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods, and the economy has contracted.

“The Constitution of the United States puts two powers clearly … within the hands of Congress: the power to tax and the power to conduct trade policy, including the imposition of tariffs,” said Kaine. “But President Trump finds Congress an inconvenience, and he has decided to take both of these powers onto his own shoulders by imposing a national sales tax.”

“President Trump on Inauguration Day inherited the strongest economy on the Planet Earth,” Kaine continued. “We know this morning, that strong economy, which was growing for three years at a very solid pace, is now contracting. It’s not only the contraction of the economy, it’s the chaos of the stock market. It’s declining consumer confidence. It’s projections of recession by Federal Reserve districts and major economists.”

“Last week, I traveled around the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Kaine said. “I talked to businesses everywhere in my state—and they talked about the layoffs, and they talked about the spending cuts, and they talked about the tariffs. And they added those three together and said what those three add up to is chaos—the chaos of unpredictability.”

Kaine continued, “A tariff is nothing more than a sales tax. It’s a sales tax on the products that everyday Americans use, especially groceries and clothing, building supplies. For farmers, the cost of fertilizer that they need as they’re engaging in spring planting … This is a sales tax on everyone in the country, but it’s a sales tax—as all sales tax do—that falls hardest on those who can least afford it.”

“A larger share of manufacturers are reporting declines in new orders … Some of those declines are driven because of the price effect of tariffs, the price effect of retaliatory tariffs, but some are also being driven by the uncertainty. There is a chaos penalty to the economy. When you’re not sure what’s going to happen, you slow your investments, and that’s why you see a decline in manufacturing,” Kaine said. “Businesses want to have predictability.”

“So how did we get here? From an economy on Inauguration Day that was the strongest in the world—when President Trump stood 50 yards from here and said it was a golden age—to an economy that has nothing but red lights and question marks all over it?” Kaine asked. “We got here because one individual decided to bypass Congress to take both the taxing power and the trade power into his own hands without a debate, without a committee hearing, without deliberation, without considering what people thought about the plan, and that one man and his decisions have taken a chainsaw to the American economy.

Kaine concluded, “We must turn this around, and the good news is the Senate has the ability to turn it around … All the economic trends are pointing the same direction. We should take a different path on the economy before it gets worse. The vote we will have later today gives the Senate—the greatest deliberative body in the world—the chance to stand up and say ‘Let’s take a different path.’”

Earlier this month, bipartisan legislation led by Kaine to reverse President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, which amount to a 25 percent tax on imports, passed the Senate.

Video: Democratic Elected Officials Call Out Trump’s Destruction of Virginia’s Workforce and Economy During First 100 Days

By
lowkell
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0

From DPVA:

Democratic Elected Officials Call Out Trump’s Destruction of Virginia’s Workforce and Economy During First 100 Days
On Wednesday, Democratic elected officials called out Donald Trump’s destruction of Virginia’s workforce and economy during his first 100 days of his second term. Citing increasing unemployment numbers in Virginia and the new GDP figure released this morning—marking the first instance of negative U.S. economic growth in years—speakers warned of deepening financial instability and chaos under Trump’s leadership.

They also called out Winsome Earle-Sears for defending Trump’s mass firings and saying, “The media is making this out to be a huge, huge thing, and I don’t understand why.”

Speakers said that this is exactly why Virginians are ready to elect Abigail Spanberger as the next Governor and Democrats up and down the ballot—because they want leaders who will stand up to Trump’s extreme, reckless agenda and protect Virginia families.

Please see below for quotes and clips from the call:

“We’re hearing stories before the numbers are even being reported. We are getting phone calls from families saying they need support. We’re also hearing not only from the Trump administration, but our Governor and Lieutenant Governor who say, ‘We’re well aware that folks are going to lose their jobs and are going to be hurting, but get over it, it happens to people every day,’” said Chairman Sen. Lamont Bagby. “There’s so much good that we have done, and continue to do, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but now we are in the position where we are not only fighting against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, but we are fighting against Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Earle-Sears, and Jason Miyares.”

FULL CLIP HERE

“Every job lost in Northern Virginia, every job lost in our Commonwealth, sends shockwaves throughout the entire country’s economy. Small businesses are losing customers, families are tightening their budgets, and communities are stretched thin. The damage is very real,” said Congressman Don Beyer. “Donald Trump and Winsome Earle-Sears have shown us exactly who they are and the damage they can do in a short amount of time. We want a Virginia where Virginia comes first, and we need to fight for it. That fight starts now, and it starts with electing Abigail Spanberger and significantly expanding our majority in the House of Delegates.”

FULL CLIP HERE

“In just 100 days, Donald Trump has shown Virginians exactly who he is. He’s fired thousands of hardworking public servants—not because they did anything wrong, but because they wouldn’t fall in line with his political agenda. These are neighbors, parents, providers—people who help keep Virginia running. And when they lose their jobs, the consequences ripple through every community—from my district of Henrico to Roanoke to Northern Virginia,” said Senator Lashrecse Aird. “This November, we have a historic opportunity. We have the chance to send a clear message that we will not stand for Donald Trump’s destruction of our economy. We can show that Virginia’s voters will stand up for a better future by electing Abigail Spanberger and expanding our majority in the House of Delegates.”

FULL CLIP HERE

“In just his first 100 days back in office, Donald Trump has reminded us of the extreme person he is—and what that means for Virginia. He has already fired thousands of federal workers, not because they failed at their jobs, but because they simply did their jobs without an agenda. These are our neighbors here in Hampton Roads. They’re Coast Guard families, defense contractors, federal employees at Naval Station Norfolk and beyond. The economic pain doesn’t stop at the pink slip. It hits our small businesses. It hits our schools. It hits the entire Virginia Beach economy. And to make matters even worse for Hampton Roads, Trump is escalating his reckless trade war,” said Delegate Alex Askew. “This is why we need Abigail Spanberger as our next Governor. Abigail gets it. She’s fought to lower costs, protect good-paying jobs, and hold leaders accountable—no matter what party they’re in.”

FULL CLIP HERE

Throughout Trump’s First 100 Days, Winsome Earle-Sears Cheered on Trump’s Devastating Agenda Instead of Fighting for Virginians

By
Blue Virginia
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0

From DPVA:

Throughout Trump’s First 100 Days, Winsome Earle-Sears Cheered on Trump’s Devastating Agenda Instead of Fighting for Virginians

Winsome Earle-Sears: “I’m supporting what the President is doing.”

VIRGINIA – With today marking the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term, here’s a reminder that Winsome Earle-Sears has cheered on Trump’s agenda instead of fighting for Virginians. Sears has defended Trump’s attacks on Virginia jobs that have devastated working families and dismissed and laughed off Virginians losing their jobs. Sears also called Trump’s tariffs which have caused chaos for Virginia businesses “good” and a “benefit.”

“Instead of fighting to protect Virginians from Donald Trump’s reckless agenda that’s throwing the Commonwealth’s economy into chaos and raising prices for Virginia families, Winsome Earle-Sears has spent the last 100 days cheering him on. Virginians deserve a leader who will fight for them,” said DPVA Spokesperson Maggie Amjad.

Read more about Sears’ record cheering on Trump at Virginians’ expense: 

Winsome Earle-Sears has defended Trump’s attacks on Virginia’s workforce and economy.

  • The Youngkin-Sears administration’s response to workers at risk of losing their jobs was “update your resume.”
  • As Donald Trump attacked Virginia’s workforce and economy, Sears declared she would help Trump “get the job done” if she were governor.

Winsome Earle-Sears praised Trump’s tariffs calling them “good” and a “benefit” as they caused chaos for Virginians and hurt economic growth.

  • When asked about tariffs causing layoffs at the Volvo Trucks New River Valley plant in Pulaski County, Winsome Earle-Sears dismissed the harm they are causing Virginians, ignoring the layoffs and doubling down on her support of Trump.
  • As business owners are hit by Trump’s tariff chaos and former Republican Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen spoke out against the massive tariffs, Sears has continued to support the tariffs.

Video: Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA09) Says He Hopes “Somebody’s Doing Polling,” Because at This Point “it would be very very difficult for [John Reid] to be able to win the race”

By
lowkell
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0

Great material this morning, with “Freedom Caucus” (aka, far-right-extremist) Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA09) being interviewed by Donald Trump’s former Virginia campaign chair, John Fredericks. See below for video and highlights of their discussion, with a particular focus on the Glenn Youngkin/John Reid fiasco.

First, Rep. Griffith said:

“I support the party’s nominee unless I personally know of some criminal activity that has not come to light or or that there has not yet come to justice. And that’s my position on the whole thing. I was pleased with Winsome’s statement last night; I think the governor has taken that position too. There is no legal way to get Reid out of the race – he is the nominee and only he can decide if the pathway is unwinable for him. And you know, politics can be strange, but certainly if you look at the conventional wisdom, it would be very very difficult for him to be able to win the race. And I understand the governor’s concerns, but he is the nominee and that’s where we stand, so only he can make the decision as to whether to stay in or to get out…If you think we’re going to do better with somebody from the far left, one of the crowd of six that’s running for lieutenant governor, you’re mistaken. And if you think that we don’t need that vote if in two years we can get even get a tie in the Senate, if we have the lieutenant governor that gives us a working majority in the Virginia Senate and that is huge to stopping things like the repeal of Virginia’s right to work law…”

More from Rep. Morgan Griffith:

“We have to win. Analysis would say it’s difficult for Reid to be a part of a winning team but it’s not impossible. But only he can make the decision and you know, I hope he’s doing polling, I hope somebody’s doing polling, so that we can determine with all this on the table that’s come out, true or not true, what does the public think and what would happen in the election. And there needs to be a path to victory. I don’t say it has to be a guarantee…I would suggest that John Reid needs to get very good polling data and if the other members of the ticket or the governor want to help, that’s where they could help get polling data and determine is there any way, is there a pathway to victory with Reid on the ticket…If there’s not, then he should make a decision on his own as to what’s best for our party and our conservative values. And I don’t know the answers to those questions, but as long as he’s the nominee he has my support.”

Interesting exchange between Rep. Morgan Griffith and John Fredericks regarding how this story came to light in the first place. First, Rep. Griffith argues:

“You know, and it will be debated for decades as to how the press got a hold of this. I don’t think that the governor made a mistake in raising the issue with John Reid, the problem was once it hit the press I think they were both locked into…”

Then, John Fredericks corrects Griffith:

“Bu…this didn’t leak, Morgan, I mean they released it to the press, they had their PAC release it to the press  -they released it, it’s not like it internally, leaked this phone call, they made public…this was what gave me pause…And look, I don’t have the relationship with Governor Youngkin that you have, I just don’t have it, his staff doesn’t like me at all…because I backed [Pete] Snyder [for governor in 2021]…so they just ostracized me and kicked me out of their sphere of people that they talk to…But they released it to the press, I mean they’re the ones that did that and then when I said to myself okay, I mean this guy’s running for president in 2028, he’s got to go to Iowa and he’s got this great record as governor, like why would you do that? Just why would you do that? Like if it leaked, if it was a private phone call, that’s one thing…I’ve got these pictures John, we really need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting because these got the potential to sink the whole ticket and we get blown up and lose five or six seats in the house and we’re done, we’ll never get them back. We really have come-to-Jesus meeting about this, what the hell’s going on here, you know meet me at 7 am tomorrow. That’s one thing. But they made the call, told him to get out and then they didn’t leak it to the press, they went to the press. That’s what gave me pause about backing Reid to stay in the race.”

Rep. Griffith then explains how he thinks it all went down:

“…of course I wasn’t in on any of this, but I have reason to believe that there may have been two phone calls and…in between the two phone calls, the press not getting a hold of the fact that the governor called him and advised him what he was thinking, but that in between the two phone calls – and I have reason to believe, I’m not going to say it’s fact –  I have reason to believe there were two phone calls. And it was only after the press had the pictures, that the second phone call was made where the governor then made a stronger request that he leave the race.”

Innnnnteresting.

John Fredericks:

“The other thing is, when John Reid first came to me and said he was running for, he was thinking about running for lieutenant governor…I remember telling him ‘Look you’re a colleague, I’m going to back you obviously, you’re a friend of mine, John, but the problem is you know you’re just not going to get any votes in Southwest Virginia, I don’t care what you say or what you do, there’s a contingent down there that’s just not going to vote for you, that’s why they kicked out Riggleman, I mean they’re just not going to vote for you. So you got to do your math and see how you’re going to win with giving up an entire constituency because they’re not voting for you dude no matter what…”

Rep. Griffith:

“…the worst case scenario...nobody’s alleged that John Reid was doing this to make money, the delegate [candidate Susanna Gibson] was doing that as a part of her income…that was…one of the ways they made money, that’s a big difference…In all fairness, I don’t like the fact that there are pictures, Reid has denied that that’s the case; there are other things that I would disagree with him on. But there’s a completely different analysis between the House of Delegates candidate that as a part of her income stream was involved in actual sex acts on video, that’s a little bit different than what we’re seeing here, like it or dislike it, the two are not comparable.

John Fredericks:

“Look, John Reid has a right to do what he wants. He’s going to be hosting my show tomorrow for four hours, hopefully he’ll have you on as a guest, and then he comes back and he does it again on May 7th. So I’m giving the guy eight hours of airtime and he’s not talking to me now, so he stopped talking to me…It is what it is, I’m a nice guy, I got a right to my opinion, he has his, so it’s all good… Youngkin’s staff hates me, it doesn’t mean that I hate them, right, I’m not a hater, I just do my job, it is what it is, it’s all good.”

Yeah, unfortunately a LOT of political operations are like this – they hold grudges, ostracize you if you’re not 100% “loyal” to them, mostly just talk to people who don’t cross them in whatever ways, etc. It’s pathetic, but it’s political reality…with both Republicans and Democrats.

Abigail Spanberger: “President Trump and Republican Lawmakers Are Willfully Threatening Virginians’ Access to Care by Putting Medicaid Funding in the Crosshairs”

By
Blue Virginia
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1

From former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for Virginia governor:

Spanberger Reacts to U.S. House Republicans’ Proposal Posed to “Unravel” Virginia’s Medicaid Expansion, Cut Healthcare for 600,000 Virginians

Spanberger: “President Trump and Republican Lawmakers Are Willfully Threatening Virginians’ Access to Care by Putting Medicaid Funding in the Crosshairs”

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement in response to reports about a new proposal led by U.S. House Republicans to “unravel” federal funding for Medicaid and threaten Virginia’s Medicaid expansion — which provides healthcare coverage to more than 600,000 Virginians — as part of a “Trump agenda bill.”

“Back in 2017, I made the decision to run for Congress after watching my congressman vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act — which expanded healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of Virginians. And when I got to Capitol Hill, I focused on actually protecting affordable healthcare coverage for Virginia families.

“Throughout the years, as I speak with Virginians in communities across our Commonwealth, I continue to hear real worries from families who are struggling to access care. And now, President Trump and Republican lawmakers are willfully threatening Virginians’ access to care by putting Medicaid funding in the crosshairs. If Republicans in Washington gut this program, they’re threatening the care of nearly two million Virginians, including more than 700,000 children — and setting up more than 600,000 of these Virginians to lose their coverage with the stroke of President Trump’s pen.

“Virginians deserve more leaders who are focused on avoiding this devastating potential reality. As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always stand up to extreme politicians who are content to rip away healthcare from hundreds of thousands of our neighbors.”

Day #6 of the VA GOP’s Bitter Civil War: Youngkin, Earle-Sears Appear to Throw in the Towel; WaPo Columnist Wonders If “bigotry trumps ideology in the Republican Party”

By
lowkell
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1

So clearly, after Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears yesterday both essentially threw in the towel (see below) on the intra-Republican civil war launched by Youngkin’s people against presumptive Republican LG nominee John Reid last Friday, a few things appear to be the case:

  1.  As Richmond Times-Dispatch political columnist Jeff Schapiro says in his column this morning: “…how does Youngkin, who’s coming across as a priggish bully, reconcile his apparent distaste for Reid’s private life with his acceptance of Trump’s smarmy conduct? This includes Trump’s caught-on-video remark about grabbing women by their genitals, his sexual abuse of a New York writer in a posh department store dressing room and his payment of hush money to a porn star with whom he romped…In trashing Reid, he, in effect, heaps more garbage on the entire ticket. Earle-Sears, Reid and Jason Miyares, seeking a second term as attorney general, have enough to answer for with Trump’s attack on federal cash and jobs that keep Virginia’s economy strong. Should the Republican trio get wiped out, Youngkin can’t lay the blame with Trump — without accepting blame, himself.”
  2.  As the WaPo headline says, “In Virginia, a gay GOP candidate is proving difficult for MAGA to accept,” as Reid “will become either an object lesson in how bigotry trumps ideology in the Republican Party, or proof positive that there is no bottom to the party’s hypocrisy.”
  3. As that same WaPo article, by Marc Fisher, points out: “Reid’s online and on-air record is replete with rants that show him to be as closed-minded and exclusionary as the Republicans who now want to dump him. The Juneteenth holiday that celebrates the freeing of enslaved people is nothing but an effort by “bad guys” to “make people hate their own country.” “Taliban-esque leaders” in Congress are “purging the United States in a very un-American way” by taking down Confederate memorials. “The Democrat party in Virginia is the party of criminals … from the guy they’ve selected as the speaker of the House to the decisions they’re making … to help criminals get out,” he said, referring to the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, Del. Don Scott (Portsmouth).” So really, the issue shouldn’t be Reid’s sexuality at all, it should be his utterly noxious, extreme, offensive, far-right radical views on pretty much every topic.
  4. As the Virginia Mercury reports, “In a stunning escalation of Virginia’s Republican infighting, Matt Moran — head of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC — has emerged as the central figure blamed for the widening rift between the governor and John Reid, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor.” And “In a phone interview Tuesday, [5th CD GOP Chair Rick] Buchanan went even further, telling The Mercury that Youngkin must fire Moran to salvage party unity.” Also, Loudoun County Chair Scott Pio “whose committee hosted a rally for Reid in Sterling Monday evening, suggested that Moran’s dual loyalties allowed him to shape Virginia policy while benefiting financially.” Of course, whatever you think of Matt Moran, the bottom line is that the proverbial “buck” stops with Moran’s boss – Glenn Youngkin – so if you’re going to demand that Moran be fired, you also should demand that Youngkin be fired too?
  5.  Attorney General Jason Miyares continues to dodge making any comment about this entire situation, even as Gov. Youngkin and LG Earle-Sears have both weighed in. So what’s Miyares’ deal? Doesn’t want to anger is far-right, homophobic base? Other?
  6.  In this article by the Virginia Mercury, it quotes “Virginia Wesleyan University professor Leslie Caughell, whose work focuses on the intersection of gender and politics” as saying: “We have that culture of ‘boys will be boys…[Susanna] Gibson (and others) didn’t get that treatment because ‘women aren’t supposed to do this’…'[Reid] knows that the rules that apply to a heterosexual man don’t apply to him’.”

As for Democrats, they are mostly staying quiet about all this intra-Republican-civil-war turmoil. Which makes perfect sense, of course, if you adhere to the belief that when your opponent is self destructing, your best move is to step back and let them do so. Of course, at some point, Abigail Spanberger and other Democrats running statewide this year will be asked about this situation, at which point their options will be either to pile on or to say something like “this is up to Virginia Republicans to resolve; not our problem.”

Meanwhile, as I wrote the other day, Youngkin publicly demanding that John Reid drop out, then not forcing him out, simply makes Youngkin look pathetic/weak – not qualities generally admired in the super-macho, hardass Trump/MAGA GOP.  So where does this leave Youngkin’s future political ambitions? Definitely not better off than they were a few days ago, that’s for sure!

Wednesday News: “Trump Melts Down at Being Fact-Checked Right to His Face”; “After 100 days, Trump has destroyed Trumpism”; Trump Admits He’s Defying SCOTUS; “Priggish Bully” “Youngkin blows up the Republican Party he built”; Earle-Sears Says “We all have our race to run”

By
lowkell
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0

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, April 30.

DNC War Room – “100 Days of Trump: Crashing Economy, Crashing Approvals”

By
lowkell
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0

UPDATE 3:32 pm: Here’s a statement from VA Speaker Don Scott on Trump’s disastrous first 100 days.

Speaker Don Scott Statement on President Trump’s First 100 Days
Richmond, VA –Virginia Speaker of the House of Delegates, Don Scott, issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office:

“One hundred days into the Trump administration, Virginians are already feeling the pain — especially our veterans, federal workers, and working families. Jobs have been lost. Livelihoods disrupted. Access to healthcare is being stripped away, including for the very veterans who put everything on the line for this country. Trump’s reckless trade war is raising costs on everything from groceries to goods, and everyday consumers are left to bear the burden. His attacks on due process — the foundation of our principals— strike at the core of which our country was founded on.

“There’s no sugarcoating it: these first 100 days haven’t just been chaotic — they’ve been destructive. And as Virginia Republicans are too terrified to stand up to Trump, the people are making their voices heard. As I travel across the Commonwealth, I am inspired by the energy, grit, and resolve I see from our communities. Virginians are standing up, speaking out, and demanding better. They don’t recognize the direction this country is heading — and they’re fighting to reclaim our values: due process, the pursuit of the American dream, human decency, and empathy.

“Now more than ever, I am committed to continuing the fight — alongside Virginians from all walks of life — to defend our values and protect our communities. I won’t rest until we’ve built a Commonwealth and a country that delivers opportunity, fairness, and justice for every single person who calls it home.”

From the VA Senate Democrats and the DNC War Room on Trump’s utterly disastrous first 100 days…from hell.

Virginia Senate Democrats Hands President Trump a Failing Grade for the First 100 Days of His Disastrous Second Term

RICHMOND, V.A. — The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus released the following statement regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s Failing First 100 Days of his second term:

”Today marks 100 days into the failing second term of a failing president. In these 100 days, Donald Trump has made his mission crystal clear, to dismantle the American middle class. His goal is to create a country where only two classes exist: the rich and the poor.

He has done nothing of significance. He and co-President Musk have worked hard to erase the history and contributions of Black and Brown people in this country, bully foreign countries with increased tariffs, torment federal workers, attack our higher educational institutions and issue illegal distracting executive orders …. and this is the highlight reel. We all know there has been an attempt to destroy our country as we once knew it all in the name of shrinking government. We know however this is all in a desperate attempt to cover up his failures as an ineffective and inexperienced world leader.

What a total embarrassment.

When someone shows you who they are over and over again, believe them! Trump continues to prioritize billionaires over everyday Americans while pushing policies that have no place in the 21st century. His administration is out of touch, out of ideas, and out of step with the values of a diverse and modern America.

These 100 days are not a celebration of success for America. They are a sad reminder of a dark time in our country’s history. But know this: Senate Democrats are doing everything we can here in Virginia to protect the dignity, safety, and future of individuals and families. We are standing firm, we are fighting back, and we are not backing down from his administration.”

**************

MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: DNC War Room
DATE: April 29, 2025
RE: 100 Days of Trump: Crashing Economy, Crashing Approvals 

Donald Trump promised Americans a new “golden age” on Day One — but it’s Day 100 and the only thing that’s “golden” is the decor in his Oval Office while the economy is headed toward a “serious Trump recession.” Prices are hitting record highs, and retirement savings are going up in smoke. Instead of making good on his campaign promises, he and the GOP are scheming to make life even more expensive by ripping away Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security — all to pay for another round of tax handouts for billionaires like himself.

Here’s the reality: In 100 days, Trump has done nothing to make life better for working families, and they have buyers’ remorse. Bills are piling up. Kids are going hungry. Seniors are at risk of losing their hard-earned benefits. Rural communities can’t access health care. Trump is putting the worst components of the Project 2025 blueprint into action. Trump and the wealthiest people on the planet control our government, making sure it only works for them — not you.

Trump is to blame for the fact that life is more expensive, it’s harder to retire, and a “Trump recession” is at our doorstep. Americans are overwhelmingly rejecting Trump: He already has the lowest approval rating of any president at this stage, going back generations. Everyone knows Trump’s first 100 days have been a colossal failure — and it’ll only get worse.

On Day 100, here are the facts about:

  1. Trump’s Crashing Economy
  2. Trump’s Crashing Approval Ratings  
  3. Trump’s Broken Promises
100 Days of Trump: Crashing Economy and Crashing Approvals
Trump’s Crashing Economy
Trump’s Crashing Approvals
  • Trump’s job performance has tanked to 39% — lower than previous presidents at this point in their term.
  • 3 in 4 Americans believe the economy is faltering and are preparing for a recession, with a majority believing Trump is to blame.
  • 53% of Americans say their financial situation is getting worse, marking the first time since 2001 that a majority has expressed financial pessimism.
  • Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy.
  • A majority of Americans have lost confidence in Trump’s ability to make sound economic policy decisions.
  • 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, with 1 in 3 Republicans saying the cost of living is on the wrong track.
  • 52% say Trump is making it more expensive for them to retire, while 58% say it is a bad time to find a quality job — the most pessimistic outlook since the peak of COVID.
100 Days of Trump: Breaking Promises & Screwing Over Working Families
Crashing Economy and Higher Costs:
Reckless Cuts to Critical Programs:
Corrupt Cabinet Full of Extremists:
Threats to Americans’ Rights and Safety:

Ranking Members Gerry Connolly, Jamie Raskin, and Bennie Thompson Demand Trump Administration Provide the Contract They Crafted With El Salvador to House Hundreds of Migrants in Brutal Mega-Prison

By
lowkell
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0

Despite battling cancer (that’s unfortunately come roaring back), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) keeps fighting for democracy, rule of law, due process, etc. So impressive – thank you!

Ranking Members Connolly, Raskin, and Thompson Demand Trump Administration Provide the Contract They Crafted With El Salvador to House Hundreds of Migrants in Brutal Mega-Prison

Ranking Members Seek Urgent Answers on Removal of Migrants to Salvadoran Torture Prison as Administration Plots Deportations of Americans
Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2025)— Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security sent a letter to Trump Administration officials demanding to see the agreement they crafted with El Salvador to hold more than 200 individuals from the United States in the notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) mega-prison and possibly other detention centers in El Salvador.

“Congress has the right and the obligation to conduct oversight over the executive branch and determine what deals our government has struck with a foreign dictator to imprison individuals—non-citizens but perhaps soon U.S. citizens too—seized in the United States, shackled, and shipped off on planes in the dead of night in an effort to place them beyond the reaches of our courts,” wrote Ranking Members Raskin, Thompson, and Connolly in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Last month, the Trump Administration removed planeloads of migrants from the U.S. to El Salvador, claiming that all of the individuals removed were members of the Tren de Aragua gang and attempting to justify these removals under the 1789 wartime Alien Enemies Act.

In the midst of these removals, Chief Judge Boasberg of the District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order preventing further deportations and ordered that any planes in the air at the time of the ruling be turned around. The government failed to comply with the order and denied these individuals an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to due process.

Disproving the government’s claims, studies indicate that approximately 90 percent of the 200-plus people sent to CECOT lack any criminal record in the U.S. And yet, the Administration removed hundreds of migrants without evidence of criminality and without providing the constitutionally obligated right to due process before removing them to a notoriously brutal Salvadoran mega-prison. Now the Administration is seriously discussing sending American citizens for imprisonment in El Salvador as well.

The Ranking Members demanded the Administration provide the transfer agreement between the U.S. and El Salvador to accept and hold non-Salvadoran nationals; the number of individuals with withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture who have been removed to El Salvador since the start of the Trump Administration; and a detailed briefing regarding how immigrants are screened for protection claims prior to being removed or transferred out of the U.S.

Click here to read the letter.

Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says “100 Days In [of Trump Administration Part 2], Costs Chaos and Corruption Are All Rising”; Vows, “I’ve got a hell of a lot of fight left in me”

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lowkell
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Sen. Mark Warner nails it on Trump’s first 100 days:

“100 days in – costs, chaos and corruption are all rising. Americans elected Donald Trump to bring down costs. Instead, he’s spent the first 100 days igniting a global trade war that on average will raise costs $4,000 a family. It’s made America look weak, chaotic and unfortunately alone in the world. Stocks have tumbled, cutting in to your hard-earned retirement savings. He’s gone so far as to alienate virtually all of our allies and made our adversaries look like more reliable trading partners. And if that wasn’t enough, this administration is doing huge damage to our national security. Pete Hegseth has made one mistake after another. This is a guy in a job way beyond his capabilities…pure case of nepotism…he’s spending taxpayer dollars to set up a make-up studio inside the Pentagon.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in this administration’s mountain of chaos. They’ve started just-plain cruel policies that terrorize immigrant communities, cut back on due process, and in many ways undermine the security of all Americans. They’ve deported American children, as well as…people who had legal status and had no accusations made against them. In healthcare, they’re cutting essential program after essential program…they’ve stopped studies mid-stream on critical diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.

And some of these folks are just a small portion of the literally thousands of federal employees that have been fired regardless of the quality of the work they’ve been doing in these totally unwarranted cuts at places like the V.A. and Social Security…And my fear is ultimately the benefits folks deserve will be held up.

This first 100 days, Trump has done nothing to lower costs, but instead simply weakened our position with allies and friends all across the world. But I tell you, Democrats are ready to keep fighting…whatever the next 100 days holds. We’ve started fighting in all of the courts. We’re ready to  raise our voices both on the floor of the Senate and in protests. And we will do everything we can to stop their crazy tax bill. I’ve got a hell of a lot of fight left in me. And I’m going to continue to work to bring down people’s costs, make sure your rights are protected and restore America’s standing in the world.”

Good. Please “make it so!”

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