Excellent job by Sen. Mark Warner this morning, questioning the odious “predator” (as Caroline Kennedy called him), pathologicl liar and sociopath RFK Jr. See below for video and a few highlights, including the following (h/t to Aaron Rupar for his continued great work in documenting these important hearings, etc):
Sen. Mark Warner to RFK Jr.: “When we’re looking at…the president’s ILLEGAL offer to try to buy out federal employees – which I would say to any federal employees, think twice, has this individual…ever fulfilled his contracts or obligations to ANY workers in the past?”
“WARNER: In a fundraising email, your presidential campaign celebrated the funding freeze. Did you put that out? RFK Jr: I don’t think my campaign exists anymore WARNER: Listen, I gotta tell you this — somebody is out there soliciting money for it”
“RFK JR: I will commit to not firing anybody who is doing their job WARNER: Based upon your opinion? RFK Jr: Based upon my opinion WARNER: So I guess that means a lot of folks who have any type of views on vaccines will be out of work”
The Democratic Party of Virginia asks (see below for their press release this morning), “Did Governor Youngkin lie to Virginians during a crisis?” DPVA also asks, “Why would he add to the confusion and chaos?” and says:
“Glenn Youngkin told Virginians that the news of Medicaid portals being shut down was ‘misinformation.’ Meanwhile, he knew the truth — they were temporarily suspended. Blatant lying and gross negligence to thousands of Virginians who rely on these benefits.”
And, DPVA adds, “Youngkin will always choose Trump over Virginians. Always.” True!
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Did Governor Youngkin lie to Virginians during a crisis?
Yesterday, after Donald Trump ordered a freeze on federal grants, Glenn Youngkin told Virginians that the “temporary pause by OMB does not impact individual assistance” and will not interrupt “healthcare for seniors or low-income families,” claiming that the news of Medicaid portals being shut down was purely “misinformation.” Today, Radio IQ reporter Brad Kutner reported that Glenn Youngkin was in fact aware of Medicaid portals being temporarily suspended following Trump’s orders, noting it in an internal memo.
Was Governor Glenn Youngkin lying to the thousands of Virginians who rely on Medicaid benefits? Why would he add to the confusion and chaos?
Questions that need to be answered:
Why did Glenn Youngkin call the Medicaid portal shutdown “misinformation” when he noted it in an internal memo?
How long was the portal shut down? Did his office receive calls about it?
Are there more issues pertinent to Virginians that Glenn Youngkin is hiding?
Departing the New York Times (“Despite the encomiums issued by the Times, it was not a happy departure.” Yes, the NY Times is badly, badly broken. For starters, the owner and top editors are f’ing IDIOTS – and cowards!)
Virginia districts face the prospect of ICE agents entering schools (“The Migration Policy Institute estimates there are more than 730-thousand school-aged children living in the U.S. without legal status, and the Trump administration has said federal agents may enter schools to take undocumented people into custody. Districts nationwide are preparing. The city of Denver has told principals to lockdown their campus if ICE agents try to come in, and San Diego schools say they won’t admit federal officers without a warrant.Here in Virginia, Sandy Hausman reports that fear has prompted some parents to keep children home, and other parents are offering to stand guard.”)
VIDEO: KAINE SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR REGARDING TRUMP’S PARDONS OF INDIVIDUALS FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICERS ON JANUARY 6, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to President Trump’s pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting police officers during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Kaine and his colleagues sought unanimous consent to pass their resolution condemning these pardons, but its passage was blocked by Senate Republicans. During Kaine’s floor speech, he also highlighted the five Virginia law enforcement officers who tragically lost their lives after defending the Capitol on that day, including Howie Liebengood.
A full transcript of Kaine’s speech as delivered is available below:
Mr. President.
I rise together with my colleagues to speak in opposition to the President’s action pardoning those who attacked this Capitol on January 6, 2021. I was here that day. I shared that day with these colleagues, and we all have memories of it—memories that we never would have imagined and hope never to repeat.
But I’m not going to talk about my experiences of the day.
I’m going to talk about a friend, a Virginian, Howie Liebengood, a Capitol Police Officer who spent his career protecting this building and who died as a result of that day. And the fact that President Trump would pardon the people who attacked this Capitol leading to Howie Liebengood’s death is a deep, deep stain to President Trump and frankly a stain on this body if we casually tolerate it.
Howie Liebengood is a Virginian who grew up in this building. His father was the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and prior to assuming that role, worked in other roles in the Senate. And Howie and his two siblings grew up coming to the capitol and treating it like it was sort of their playground and their yard, running through the halls, meeting senators, hearing their dad tell stories about what it was like to serve this Article I branch as a patriotic American public servant.
When Howie came of age, he started a career that he enjoyed and worked together with his father for a number of years as a NASCAR driver. And he worked on the NASCAR circuit—kind of working his way up from minor league races to more significant races.
But after a number of years of doing that—look, he was a child of the United States Senate, he was a child of this Capitol—and he decided he would enter the training program to be a Capitol Police Officer. And he told his siblings—by this time, his father had passed—I think my dad would be very, very proud of me.
Howie went through the Academy and became a Capitol Police Officer, and I came to know him—as I suspect many of my colleagues did—because he usually was staffing the Delaware door at the corner of Delaware and Constitution right here—the Delaware door to the Russell building. And this a door that I know Senator Murray’s office is right close to that door—maybe the closest office to that door and mine is close as well. We would come in in the morning, and Howie Liebengood would be there to greet us, to ask questions about the procedural vote from the night before or what was on today.
As much as he was a friend to mine, he was even more of a friend to my staff. My staff loved interacting with Howie, and he eventually served as a Capitol Police Officer for 15 years.
He was here on January 6 when his beloved Capitol was attacked. And as devastating as that attack was for many of us, for Howie—who had made this place his whole life, who had really been raised in these halls—that attack was very devastating.
In the aftermath of the attack, those working on the Capitol Police were put on extended hours—little sleep. Would there be more attacks? Where was this going? What would happen? It was a time of fear and anxiety and confusion.
And a few days later, within three days after that attack of January 6, Howie went to his home in Virginia. His wife Serena asked if he was doing okay. She could tell he was under enormous stress, and he said he just needed to sleep. And Howie went upstairs and using his own service revolver, ended his life.
Howie Liebengood would be alive today if President Trump hadn’t urged people to gather to do something wild in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 and then urged those gathering to go up and raise hell at the Capitol.
My friend would be alive if President Trump had not done what he did.
I’ve waited in vain, not naively, but with a hope that there might be some sign of remorse over what happened—for the pain suffered by Serena Liebengood and Howie’s siblings and family members.
Four other law enforcement officers, all of whom lived in Virginia, lost their life as a result of that day. Dozens of others were injured.
And I have waited for years to see if there might be some semblance of remorse shown by the president who inspired that attack, for the damage and pain and loss of life and injury that he’s caused, and I’ve seen not a shred of it.
But these pardons are the ultimate injustice, are the ultimate injury. The family’s still suffering. For them, it’s salt in an unhealed wound and an injury that will never heal.
And so I join with my colleagues in Howie’s memory, in support of Serena, in support of Howie’s family, to stand on this floor and deplore as strongly as I can—and words aren’t sufficient to really explain how I feel about this—but I stand here to deplore as strongly as I can the pardons of these law breakers who gathered for a particular time at a particular moment in a particular place to conduct violence in the cause of a particular result, the overturning of the peaceful transfer of power.
And as I sit down, Mr. President, I’ll just say this.
I lived in a military dictatorship in 1980 and 81 in Honduras when the military ran everything. I know what authoritarianism is. I didn’t live there for years like my Honduran friends, but I experienced it.
I was very naive. I was 22 years old when I lived there, and I saw what it’s like to have a society run by somebody who believes they are all powerful, who can change any rule, who can foment violence, who can make sure that those who commit violence escape with impunity.
I know what this is like, and we are in danger of moving into the same kind of authoritarian behavior when we casually pardon and excuse those who perpetrate violence to overturn our democracy.
That’s a big concept, but it all comes down to the effect that it has on individual people like my friend Howie Liebengood.
WARNER & KAINE DEMAND HOLD ON VOUGHT NOMINATION TO OMB AMID ORDER TO HALT FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS
Trump Administration’s freeze of federal funding has sowed confusion among federal agencies and left Virginians wondering about whether federal support for key programs will continue
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), members of the Senate Budget Committee, joined Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Democratic Budget Committee members in demanding that Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) postpone a vote on Russell Vought’s nomination to serve as Director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) until he answers questions regarding his role in the illegal freeze of many federal grants and loans that have already been appropriated by Congress. The freeze has sowed confusion among federal agencies. Since the Trump Administration announced this freeze, the senators have heard concerns from across Virginia—including community health centers, child care centers, community organizations, and more—about how they could be impacted. The Administration’s broad directive has left many Virginians wondering about whether federal support for health care, housing, substance use, transportation, and other critical programs will continue.
“While Mr. Vought stonewalled Committee members, he was already planning on halting programs that feed hungry children, heat the homes of low-income families, support farmers, and bring relief to those suffering from natural disasters. The laws Congress passes are not suggestions, and Mr. Vought willfully ignoring them harms the constituents of every Member of the Committee,” the senators wrote.
The senators continued, “It is simply unconscionable that the Budget Committee could vote to confirm Mr. Vought to be Director of Office of Management and Budget without getting some real answers from him about his ongoing efforts to stymie the will of Congress. Mr. Vought is a clear and present danger to Congress’s Power of the Purse; his outright refusal to discuss his plans that were already in development is a slap in the face to every Member of the Committee, Democrat and Republican alike.”
Last week, Warner and Kaine questioned Mr. Vought during his Budget Committee nomination hearing regarding Vought’s comments to “traumatize the federal workforce” and plans to slash critical federal funding for programs like SNAP.
In addition to Warner, Kaine, Merkley, and Schumer, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Senator Graham:
During the Budget Committee’s hearing on Wednesday, January 22 to examine the nomination of Russell T. Vought to serve as the Director of Office of Management and Budget, Mr. Vought was repeatedly evasive about whether, if confirmed, he would advise the President to impound Congressionally-appropriated funds in clear violation of Article II of the Constitution and the unambiguous text of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
In written responses to questions following the hearing, Mr. Vought continued his refusal to answer direct questions about how executive orders to pause foreign aid funding, as well as funding authorized and appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, complied with the law.
Now, less than a week after the hearing, it is clear that Mr. Vought’s non-answers were an effort to thwart the Committee from getting the truth of the Trump administration’s plan, per OMB memorandum M-25-13, to freeze all funding for “Federal financial assistance programs.” While Mr. Vought stonewalled Committee members, he was already planning on halting programs that feed hungry children, heat the homes of low-income families, support farmers, and bring relief to those suffering from natural disasters. The laws Congress passes are not suggestions, and Mr. Vought willfully ignoring them harms the constituents of every Member of the Committee.
It is simply unconscionable that the Budget Committee could vote to confirm Mr. Vought to be Director of Office of Management and Budget without getting some real answers from him about his ongoing efforts to stymie the will of Congress. Mr. Vought is a clear and present danger to Congress’s Power of the Purse; his outright refusal to discuss his plans that were already in development is a slap in the face to every Member of the Committee, Democrat and Republican alike.
For those reasons, we request that the business meeting to consider Mr. Vought’s nomination, currently scheduled for Thursday, January 30, be postponed for two weeks so the Committee may get full responses to the questions Mr. Vought has thus far refused to answer.
This vote alone should disqualify Winsome Earle-Sears from being elected governor of Virginia. See below for more, including video and press releases from the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Abigail Spanberger for Governor campaign.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears Votes Against Access to Contraception
Today, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate of Virginia against SB1105 — legislation to protect Virginians’ right to access birth control and emergency contraception. DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement:
“Access to contraception is about allowing a woman to make decisions about her health. It is about allowing women to have a right to privacy. By casting a vote against legislation to protect access to birth control and other forms of contraception, Winsome Earle-Sears proved once again that she will not protect women’s freedom to make personal medical decisions. Virginia needs a governor who will strengthen Virginia’s status as a reproductive healthcare haven in the South.”
SB1105 was later passed by 21 to 19 votes.
Spanberger Statement on Senate of Virginia Passing Legislation to Protect Right to Contraception
Spanberger: “Virginians Deserve a Governor Who Will Defend Their Reproductive Freedoms — Not Pretend That Threats to Their Rights Aren’t Real”
RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after a majority of the Senate of Virginia voted to protect Virginians’ right to access contraception.
“Virginia is the only state in the South that hasn’t passed further restrictions on women’s reproductive healthcare since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — but we don’t know what the next attacks on our fundamental rights will be. Over the past two and a half years, we’ve seen how the Dobbs decision opened the door for renewed attacks on birth control and emergency contraception in states across the country.
“As a proud mom of three girls, I find it unacceptable that some politicians believe they’re entitled to a say in families’ personal medical decisions. I believe in Virginians’ fundamental right to privacy — and I believe we must make sure that right is protected for future generations. Today, the Senate of Virginia took a real step to do just that. I want to thank Senator Hashmi and every legislator who has continued to stand up for Virginians’ fundamental rights.
“Virginians deserve a Governor who will defend their reproductive freedoms — not pretend that threats to their rights aren’t real. When this legislation comes across my desk as Governor, I will sign the right to contraception into law.”
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During her three terms representing Virginia’s Seventh District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Spanberger worked to protect the right to access reproductive care. As a Member of Congress, Spanberger voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act to codify Americans’ right to access and use birth control into federal law.
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Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears Leads Republicans in Blocking Progress on Protecting Contraception Rights
RICHMOND, Va. — Americans for Contraception (AFC) today sharply criticized Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears for casting the tie-breaking “no” vote against the Virginia Right to Contraception Act (SB 1105), vital legislation patroned by Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond) to protect Virginians’ fundamental right to contraception.
The legislation only passed the Senate by a vote of 21-18 after a subsequent vote was called, overcoming the Republican opposition fueled by the tie-breaking “no” vote from Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears. Republicans’ unified opposition underscores their ongoing disregard for the health care rights and reproductive freedoms of Virginians. Americans for Contraception urges Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears to stop putting extreme ideology over the rights and reproductive freedoms of Virginians and to take action to safeguard the fundamental right to contraception for all Virginians.
Katie Baker, spokeswoman for Americans for Contraception, stated the following:
“Senator Hashmi’s persistence in advancing Virginia’s Right to Contraception Act demonstrates a steadfast commitment to protecting contraception for all Virginians. In stark contrast, by leading Senate Republican opposition to this bill, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears prioritized extreme ideology over the rights and reproductive freedoms of Virginians. This blatant disregard for Virginians’ reproductive freedoms comes amid mounting right-wing judicial threats and growing uncertainty over the future of reproductive health care under Donald Trump.”
Senator Hashmi and Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price (D-Newport News) reintroduced the Virginia Right to Contraception Act to safeguard the fundamental right to contraception and provide legal protections for all Virginians. Their renewed effort follows Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto of the legislation in May 2024 and growing national uncertainty over reproductive rights, which includes President Trump’s suggestion of restrictions on contraception and Justice Clarence Thomas’ call to revisit Griswold v. Connecticut, which established the right to contraception.
HB 1716, introduced by Delegate Price, passed the Virginia House of Delegates last week by a vote of 53-44, with nearly every House Republican voting against the bill.
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Americans for Contraception is a leading advocacy organization committed to protecting and expanding the fundamental right to contraception nationwide.
MUST ASK: “Governor Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears — do you support Trump unilaterally killing Virginia jobs you were so proud to announce?”
In December, Governor Glenn Youngkin praised Micron Technology’s expansion project in Manassas – funded by the CHIPS and Science Act – as a win for economic development. After Hurricane Helene, he said disaster relief was necessary for thousands of Virginians who lost their homes. He has claimed that financial support and workforce expansion for students is a priority for his administration.
So why are Governor Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears silent about Donald Trump’s freeze on economic development and disaster assistance they so proudly announced?
Have they reached out to Trump to save these jobs and economic opportunities? Does Governor Youngkin care about Virginia or just his next MAGA political opportunity?
Virginia reporters – Virginians need answers to these questions. Their jobs and their livelihoods are on the line.
Will our governor and his administration lead on our behalf or continue to follow Trump down the dark spiral he is taking us down?
WARNER AND KAINE BLAST TRUMP ORDER TO ILLEGALLY STOP ALL FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS
WASHINGTON– U.S. Sens. Mark R.Warner and Tim Kaine(both D-VA) today blasted the Trump administration for halting all federal grants and loans disbursed by the federal government in a statement:
“President Trump’s reckless and illegal order to stop all federal grant and loan programs will have an immediate and profound negative impact on Americans all over the country. This is money that builds roads and bridges, helps small businesses make payroll, and makes our communities healthier, safer, and more economically competitive.
“In every corner of Virginia alone, there are enormous, game-changing economic developments projects happening right now that depend on federal spending appropriated by Congress. Whether it’s Helene recovery in Southwest… semiconductor manufacturing in Northern Virginia… pharmaceutical jobs in Richmond… renewable energy in coastal Virginia… or the Microporous expansion in Southside – every one of these projects is in part the result of federal funding from laws we fought tooth and nail to pass in Congress, and could now be endangered thanks to President Trump’s mess.
“We call on the administration to immediately reverse course and allow the dollars Congress approved to continue reaching the places where it is so badly needed before millions of Americans are forced to pay the price for President Trump’s chaos.”
According to press reports, in a two-page memo, the Office and Management and Budget yesterday ordered all federal agencies to unlawfully withhold vast swaths of congressionally approved federal spending.
See below for a press release from Democrat John McAuliff, who is announcing his candidacy for House of Delegates district 30 (88% Loudoun, 12% Fauquier; Trumnp won it 49.2%-48.4%; incumbent right-wing Republican Del. Geary Higgins, who won the 2023 election by a 53%-47% margin over Democrat Rob Banse, who has endorsed McAuliff this time around).
McAuliffe has an impressive background – including having “spent three years in the House of Delegates as Chief of Staff to Del. David Reid,” as well as being part of “President Biden’s Office of Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation,” which “managed the $140+ Billion in clean energy and conservation in the largest climate investment in American history, the Inflation Reduction Act.”
As for Higgins, his legislative “batting average” in 2024 was a miserable 14% (2 for 14), which shows you how (in)effective this guy is and how the district would be much better served by somebody else – such as John McAuliff!
John McAuliff Announces Candidacy for Virginia’s 30th District
Small Business Owner Committed to Protecting the Piedmont
Fauquier County, VA— Today, John McAuliff, small business owner and advocate for clean energy and rural prosperity, announced his candidacy for Virginia’s 30th District in the House of Delegates. As the 10th generation of his family in Virginia, McAuliff is committed to championing policies that strengthen Virginia’s communities and protect the land and way of life of the Piedmont.
“Growing up, I learned the value of hard work and community from my grandparents in Piedmont,” McAuliff said. “From my experience renovating my family’s home into a thriving small business to my work helping farmers and small businesses lower their electric bills by embracing clean energy, I’ve seen firsthand how we can create opportunity when we work together. I’m running for Delegate to protect our farmland, defend our rights, and help Virginians buy their first home and start their first business – an American dream that’s becoming harder to achieve.
McAuliff is the owner of Chilton House Suites, a bed-and-breakfast in Old Town Warrenton. He’s also the former Chief of Staff to Delegate David Reid (HD-28) and played a key role in expanding health insurance access for 400,000 Virginians, freezing tuition at public colleges for three years, and advancing the Virginia Energy Plan to transition off fossil fuels by 2050.
McAuliff also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and President Biden’s Office of Clean Energy Innovation & Implementation, where he managed investments from the historic Inflation Reduction Act and ran the Rural Energy for America Program that created over 10,000 good paying jobs in rural America.
McAuliff’s campaign has also been endorsed by Delegate David Reid-HD28, Delegate Marty Martinez-HD29, Former Senator John Bell, Rob Banse, and Travis Nembhard. His platform focuses on protecting reproductive rights, expanding mental health care, and advancing clean energy while preserving the District’s rural heritage.
Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, January 28. What follows is just a small sampling of all the dangerous, unconstitutional, etc. sh** that Trump’s doing, and the lack of serious response from the Republicans who control Congress, etc. In sum, we’re in deep, deep trouble.
Exclusive: Images show China building huge fusion research facility, analysts say (“China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation.”)
The Impoundment Crisis of 2025 (“The Trump administration’s Monday spending freeze is likely to provoke a crisis over the constitutionality of “impoundment”—one that the justices could well have to resolve *very* soon.”)
The Awful Absurdity of Trump’s First Week Back in Power (“A watchdog purge. A proposal to “clean out” Gaza. Immigration raids starring Dr. Phil. It was an appalling return to Trump politics—and it’s only going to get worse.”)
Trump goes full dictator (“Trump has broken faith with the Constitution. He is no longer operating within the pale of the law. On Monday, January 27, Trump dropped all pretense of being a ‘president’ within the meaning of Article II of the US Constitution and began wielding power for his own benefit and without regard for constitutional restrictions.”)
Scoop: Top House Dems plot first big battle with Trump (“Leading House Democrats are weighing legal, investigative and legislative options to respond to President Trump’s firing of at least a dozen agency inspectors general last week…”)
The Democrats’ Fear Factor (“It’s the consultants, stupid! Future candidates need to be themselves, take control on social media, and immediately push back on right-wing spin.”)
Acosta La Vista (“The anchor signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend that he intends to depart the network, Status has learned.”)
Senate panel kills controversial campus terrorism bill amid free speech concerns (“The proposal sought to prohibit terrorist organizations, countries or groups supporting terrorism, representatives of such groups, and individuals attempting to recruit for terrorist activities from operating on Virginia college campuses. However, the bill faced strong opposition from speakers who argued that its broad language could stifle free speech and unfairly target student groups, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights.”)
Woman killed, man critically hurt in crash at major Arlington intersection (“At about 2:40 p.m. in the Ballston area, a man driving a pickup truck east on Wilson Boulevard at a high rate of speed struck a white sedan as it turned onto Wilson from N. Vermont Street, police said. The cars struck two other cars stopped at the traffic light at Wilson and N. Glebe Road.”)
