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UPDATED 11:59 AM PT – Thursday, November 17, 2022

Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has announced that she will not concede the race to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

In a video address on Thursday, Lake maintained that she is still in the fight.

This comes after the Associated Press called the race in favor of Hobbs on Monday.

The Trump-endorsed Republican said that this past week has confirmed everything she has been saying about the elections in Arizona.

“When we called for Katie Hobbs to recuse herself, they ridiculed us… turns out, we were right,” Lake stated. “The Fox was guarding the hen house and because of that, voters have been disenfranchised.”

Lake continued to explain that polling stations had problems with tabulating machines and printers on election day.

The Republican announced that she has assembled a great legal team to “right these wrongs.”

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Rep. Greene Unveils Resolution to Audit Ukraine Aid (Newsmax)

By Solange Reyner | Thursday, 17 November 2022 07:34 PM EST

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Thursday unveiled a resolution to audit Ukraine aid, telling a crowd at a Trump rally in Iowa that Kyiv will not receive any more funding if Republicans take control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, reports The Daily Caller.

"The only border they care about is Ukraine, not America's southern border," she said of Democrats. "They don't care about our border or our people."

Greene said she is prepared to introduce the resolution in the next Congress when Republicans hold the majority.

Cosponsors include GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Barry Moore of Alabama, Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Rep-elect. Cory Mills of Florida was also at a Thursday press conference announcing the resolution.

Taylor Greene said she would also be calling for a "full audit."

"We voted 'no' to send money over there, but we're also going to audit what's happening in Ukraine," she said.

The U.S. has committed more than $18.2 million in security aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded earlier this year. The Biden administration last Friday announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine.

"Under Republicans, not another penny will go to Ukraine," Greene said at the rally in Iowa. "Our country comes first."

Original Article

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:53 AM PT – Thursday, November 17, 2022

Mike Pence has announced that he will not support Donald Trump’s campaign for president in 2024.

When speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper on Wednesday, Pence seemed to disapprove of a Donald Trump 2024 presidential bid. Additionally, Pence claimed that the Americans he’s spoken with do not want to return to the Trump administration’s economic policies.

“The American people are looking for new leadership,” Pence remarked. “Leadership that will unite our country around our highest ideals. Leadership that will reflect the civility and respect that most Americans have for one another. You know, once you get out of politics, you learn pretty quickly that while our politics is very divided, the American people actually get along pretty well every day, and treat each other with kindness and with decency and with respect.”

Pence, who disagreed with Trump’s claims of a stolen presidential election in 2020, has distanced himself from the 45th president since then.

Later in the interview, the former vice-president went on to claim that voters want a new face for leadership in this country and there will be better options in the 2024 presidential election than Trump.

“In the Republican Party, whether it’s as a candidate or simply a part of the cause, I, I think we’ll have better choices than my old running mate,” Pence said. “I think America longs to go back to the policies that were working for the American people. But I think it’s time for new leadership in this country that will bring us together around our highest ideals.”

Pence moved on to the nature of his relationship with President Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. The former vice-president made the decision to confirm Joe Biden’s victory, despite protests from Trump and his supporters. In subsequent interviews, Pence has repeatedly stated that his actions were in compliance with the duties imparted to him in the Constitution.

“We parted amicably, as much as we could in the aftermath of those events,” the former vice president said. “We spoke from time to time after we both left office. But Jake, after the president rhetoric that he was using before that tragic day in January, criticizing me and others who had taken a stand for the Constitution of the United States, I just determined it was best to go our separate ways. And we have”.

In the meantime, Pence has been floated around as a potential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

Original Article Oann

The China-based Global Times newspaper has characterized former President Donald Trump's formal pursuit of the White House in 2024 as a "tragedy of American democracy," while predicting that Trump's return to politics would generically lead to "violence." In the article, the …Original Article

Rep. Kiley to Newsmax: Pelosi Exit Sweetest Part of House GOP Victory (Newsmax/"Wake Up America")

By Jay Clemons | Thursday, 17 November 2022 05:19 PM EST

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., got credit for clinching the Republicans' victory in the House chamber this week.

Kiley also received a public shout-out from Donald Trump Tuesday night, when the former president formally announced his reelection campaign for 2024.

However, from Kiley's perspective, the Republicans' House triumph produced an even sweeter consequence.

"It is exciting as a conference, as a party, to end the speakership of [outgoing House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi," Kiley told Newsmax Thursday morning, while appearing on "Wake Up America" with hosts Rob Finnerty and Alison Maloni.

Kiley's primary motivation for taking the speaker's gavel from Pelosi, a California Democrat:

As the House Republicans' first priority in 2023, "We have to hold the Biden administration accountable," said Kiley, while adding it's "something that Pelosi steadfastly refused to do" over the last 19 months.

Plus, with Pelosi being replaced by House Speaker-designate Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House Republicans will soon have the power and influence to hold oversight meetings, subpoena witnesses, conduct spending audits, and essentially keep the Biden administration's "feet to the fire" with matters of immigration, energy, potential corruption, and making sure that every dollar sent to Ukraine's war efforts against Russia has purpose.

"There has never been a [Democratic] party more in need of oversight" than the current group, said Kiley.

Regarding the Trump shout-out from Tuesday, Kiley admitted to being flattered by the "unexpected" public praise.

And Trump's reelection campaign "really underlines the choices the voters will have in the [2024] election," said Kiley.

Under Trump, Kiley said the American people enjoyed low inflation, diminishing crime, tougher stances on immigration, a wall covering most of the United States-Mexico border, workable gas and food prices, and parents "being respected for taking an interest in their kids' education."

Kiley then added: "Now that we have the majority, it's important to get back to the fundamentals" of what made America succeed during Trump's tenure.

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White House Prepares Response to GOP-Led House Probes (Newsmax)

By Luca Cacciatore | Thursday, 17 November 2022 04:53 PM EST

President Joe Biden won't be caught off-guard by House Republicans' investigation into his son and administration. In fact – he's been preparing for months, according to CNN.

Top White House officials gathered in the Roosevelt Room nearly four months ago to prepare for the possible scenario, which was fully realized Thursday morning when incoming House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer vowed to take them on.

"In the 118th Congress, this committee will evaluate the status of Joe Biden's relationship with his family's foreign partners and whether he is a President who is compromised or swayed by foreign dollars and influence," the Kentucky Republican stated. "I want to be clear: This is an investigation of Joe Biden, and that's where the committee will focus in this next Congress."

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has emerged as the top target for Republicans due to his controversial actions, or lack thereof, throughout the ongoing crisis at the southern border.

Both House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, have reportedly maneuvered to push for Mayorkas' impeachment, with a number of House members telling the outlet last month he "deserves" it.

"The situation they have intentionally, deliberately created leaves anyone with common sense to ask that question," Jordan told Newsmax's "American Agenda" about a potential impeachment, simultaneously refusing to take a definitive public stance on the move.

In response, the White House has convened with attorney Richard Sauber and Democratic communications aide Ian Sams to strategize an administrative roadblock to congressional oversight.

The Justice Department is also bracing for investigations, hiring American Oversight founder Austin Evers to gird against what likely probes into the FBI's raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

But the FBI's response to the Hunter Biden laptop story will also come under question, specifically the actions of FBI agent Timothy Thibault that Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have called attention to.

Original Article

Dick Morris to Newsmax: Trump's Appeal Beats Murdoch's 'Media Manipulation' (Newsmax/"American Agenda")

By Jay Clemons | Thursday, 17 November 2022 03:42 PM EST

Dick Morris, a best-selling author, TV host, and former adviser to Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, doesn't buy the notion of "many" supposedly fair-minded media outlets bashing Trump's Tuesday announcement of seeking the White House again in 2024.

From Morris's perspective, it's one guy largely pulling the messaging strings on the anti-Trump rhetoric: Media mogul and billionaire Rupert Murdoch, who owns the New York Post, Wall Street Journal, and Fox News.

Murdoch still "resents that Trump wouldn't let him run the White House" from 2017-21, Morris told Newsmax Thursday afternoon, while appearing on "American Agenda" with hosts Bob Sellers and Katrina Szish.

Note: Get Dick Morris' new book "The Return" on Trump's secret plan for 2024. See It Here!

In terms of daytime programming with Fox News, Morris said the anchors and news editors "have flipped completely" on Trump in relatively short time. "Now, they're anti-Trump … and [FOX is] using [Florida Gov.] Ron DeSantis to try and stop Trump."

Also, Morris said the majority of Fox News anchors, reporters, and executives have never interacted with DeSantis on a personal level. They're simply making judgments from afar.

Fox News is "working with the [euphemism for 'Republican In Name Only'], anti-Trump establishment" on a daily basis. In that event, the coverage would be skewed, added Morris.

"It's not particularly significant [to hindering Trump's reelection campaign]," said Morris. "It's just another example of media manipulation."

Morris certainly understands the DeSantis hype, given his top-of-the-ticket impact in Florida's blowout races from Election Night.

That aside, Morris cannot envision the 44-year-old DeSantis risking "the end of his political career" by running for president in 2024, knowing he's ideally positioned to carry the Republican national ticket in 2028 — especially if Trump supporters join in that movement.

"I don't think it would come to" Trump and DeSantis battling one another in the 2024 Republican primaries, said Morris, who's also promoting "The Return: Trump's Big 2024 Comeback."

Morris's rationale: DeSantis might be faring well in one-on-one polls against Trump. However, when taking into account an entire field of prospective Republican presidential hopefuls two years from now, Morris — who hosts "Dick Morris Democracy" on Newsmax weekends — revealed that Trump still owns a significant advantage of 14 percentage points over all comers.

"And that's just with registered [Republican] voters," said Morris. "Trump would do even better with [on-the-fence Republicans and independents]" on Election Day.

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DeSantis' Redistricting Map Helped GOP Win House Majority Republican gubernatorial candidate for Florida Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera / AFP via Getty)

By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, 17 November 2022 02:52 PM EST

Republicans in Florida and nationally are praising Gov. Ron DeSantis for pushing lawmakers to adopt his redistricting of congressional maps, Politico reports.

The Florida Supreme Court in June declined to block the state's congressional redistricting plan, which had been implemented by DeSantis.

The governor had vetoed a map drawn by the Republican-led Florida Legislature and then crafted a plan that boosted Republican leaning seats to 20 out of 28, four more than the plan drawn by GOP lawmakers.

That court victory allowed the once-a-decade congressional redistricting cycle to match the Census' findings.

Although Republican lawmakers initially were reluctant to support DeSantis' mission, many now are praising the governor for encouraging his own party to approve his congressional maps, Politico reports.

Newsmax projects Republicans have won 219 seats – a net gain of 9 – and Democrats 209 in the next Congress, with seven midterms races still undecided.

"Republicans in Congress owe a big thank you to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose insistence on redrawing the state’s congressional districts led to a four-seat pickup in the U.S. House on Tuesday," said Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.

"Florida now has 20 Republican members of the House as a result of the governor’s insistence on his maps. Only one state has more Republicans in Congress."

Republicans controlling the House likely will result in Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., becoming speaker.

"The slim new Republican majority in the House would have been even smaller without Florida," Buchanan said.

"McCarthy needs to send DeSantis and [Lee] Zeldin fruit baskets," GOP lobbyist Liam Donovan told Politico.

The four additional GOP Florida seats, plus Republicans performing better than expected in New York, contributed greatly to the Republicans' House majority. The New York GOP flipped four seats.

"The gain in Florida and New York made a big difference for the majority," said Congressional Leadership Fund President Dan Conston. "Florida’s new map helped quite a bit."

Several groups have gone to court to get the current maps tossed for future election cycles. They claim the DeSantis-drawn maps were designed purely for political reasons.

DeSantis earned nearly 60% of the vote on Nov. 8 to win reelection by defeating former governor Charlie Crist.

The dominating victory has propelled DeSantis, already touted as a possible 2024 GOP presidential nomination contender, even higher in the eyes of many Republicans.

He generally has been considered the chief threat to former President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday night announced his run to reclaim the nation's top office.

Original Article

Trump Endorsed by Ronny Jackson, Marjorie Greene, Many Others (Newsmax/"Greg Kelly Reports")

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 02:11 PM EST

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, former White House doctor for President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, has officially endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential election.

"President Trump is the greatest president I've ever seen," Jackson posted on Truth Social, as hailed by Trump in a recent Save America PAC statement. "I'm on his side 100%! President Trump has my complete and total endorsement!!!"

Jackson's endorsement was among a number of the earliest endorsers for Trump's 2024 campaign, which he made official in a Tuesday night Mar-a-Lago address, which aired live on Newsmax.

Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., made their endorsements before Trump even officially declared his intention to run.

Trump endorsed hundreds of midterms candidates who he now will call on to return the favor sooner than later as he gets ahead of what could become a growing 2024 GOP presidential primary field.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.

"I am proud to give my complete and total endorsement of President Trump," Gosar tweeted Wednesday. "He was there for America when we most needed him. And we need him again more than ever. We are blessed to have him."

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill.

"Under President Trump, we had border security, energy independence, and a booming economy," Miller wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday night. "President Trump kept his campaign promise to defend life and deliver a pro-life majority on the Supreme Court.

"After two years of Joe Biden, America is suffering from an invasion of crime and fentanyl across our open southern border, while energy and groceries have become unaffordable because of record inflation and the communist 'Green Bad Deal.'"

Miller was a runaway winner in Illinois' 15th Congressional District, earning almost 71% support after having Trump's endorsement.

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas

"My friend @realDonaldTrump has my complete and total endorsement for president in 2024," Nehls posted on Truth Social from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night. "He is the leader of the Republican Party, and we will make America great again!"

Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake

"President Trump (@realDonaldTrump) announces his '24 Presidential run," Lake posted. "He has my complete and total endorsement!"

Rep.-elect Wesley Hunt, R-Texas

"Congratulations to President Trump on his announcement to become the 47th President of the United States," Hunt posted with a lengthy statement of support. "Our country is in a rapid decline thanks to Joe Biden and the Democrat Party. It's time to save America."

Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton

"I am proud to endorse his campaign for president so he can once again put America first & heal our nation," Paxton wrote in a statement shared by Trump on Truth Social.

Rep.-elect Max Miller, R-Ohio

"I wouldn't be here without his support, and President Trump will always have my support," Miller wrote in a statement.

Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio

"I completely endorse President Donald Trump," Carey tweeted with a statement.

Rep.-elect Eli Crane, R-Ariz.

"Great news and congratulations to President Donald Trump," Crane tweeted. "I look forward to supporting your 2024 presidential campaign and Making America Great Again."

Among the other endorsements reTruthed by Trump on his social media network:

• Popular social media influence Terrence Williams.
• Political pundit Leo Terrell, a former Democrat.
• Mixed martial artist Colby Covington.
• Media personalities Diamond and Silk.
• Former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon.
• Arizona GOP Attorney General nominee Abe Hamadeh.

Join the Trump List: Get latest news on Trump's 2024 campaign on Newsmax's Trump list! Just text REMIND to 39-747 and you can join instantly.

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Arizona's Kari Lake: 'I'm Still in This Fight' (Newsmax)

By Jeffrey Rodack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:31 PM EST

Republican Kari Lake put together a legal team and is planning to contest her loss in the gubernatorial race to Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.

Lake made her comments in a video posted to her Twitter account on Thursday.

"I wanted to reach out to you to let you know that I am still in this fight with you," she said. "For two years, I've been sounding the alarm about our broken election system here in Arizona. And this past week has confirmed everything we've been saying. Well, we called for Katie Hobbs to recuse herself over a year ago.

"They ridiculed us. It turns out we were right. The fox was guarding the hen house, and because of that, voters have been disenfranchised when we raise concerns.

"On Election Day, nearly half of all polling locations had problems. … What happened to Arizonans on Election Day is unforgivable. Tens of thousands of Maricopa County voters were disenfranchised. Now I'm busy here collecting evidence and data. Rest assured, I have assembled the best and brightest legal team and we are exploring every avenue to correct the many wrongs that have been done this past week.

"I'm doing everything in my power to right these wrongs. My resolve to fight for you is higher than ever.

"This fight to save our republic has just begun. I love you, Arizona. And I love you, America.”

Lake, an ally of former President Donald Trump, lost to Hobbs by less than 1 percentage point.

Hobbs received 50.34% of the vote versus 49.66% for Republican Kari Lake, according to Newsmax's numbers..

Hobbs waged a campaign warning that Lake, a former television news anchor, would be an agent of chaos.

Original Article

Newsmax Has Not Called Dem Rep. Ami Bera's Reelection in California-6 (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:32 PM EST

Despite some outlets having called the reelection of Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., in the 6th Congressional District, Newsmax still considers the race too close to call.

The Associated Press called Bera's reelection two days ago, but it was one full day behind Newsmax in calling the majority officially for Republicans.

Bera leads Republican Tamika Hamilton by more than 13 points and almost 16,000 votes in the latest tally, making this a potential hold for Democrats despite having already lost the majority in the House.

Republicans hold a 219-209 majority thus far, needing just 218 to hold the House gavels in the next Congress. Republicans have been projected to win two more seats by some analysis, which includes the pending reelection of Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., who was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump after he left office in 2021.

California Republican nominee John Duarte, Rep. Lauren Boebert, and Valadao lead three of the seven remaining races to be called, potentially giving the GOP a 222-213 majority come January.

Original Article

GOP House Candidate John Duarte Back in Lead in California-13 (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:14 PM EST

Republican John Duarte has retaken a razor-thin lead in California's 13th Congressional District in a race that remains among seven too close to call, according to Newsmax.

Duarte and Democrat Adam Gray have been swapping leads in recent days after the Nov. 8 elections closed. Duarte now leads by 963 votes.

Republicans hold a 219-209 majority thus far, needing just 218 to hold the House gavels in the next Congress. Republicans have been projected to win two more seats by some analysis, which includes the pending reelection of Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., who was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump after he left office in 2021.

Duarte, Rep. Lauren Boebert, and Valadao lead three of the seven remaining races to be called, potentially giving the GOP a 222-213 majority come January.

Original Article

Sen. Cruz to Newsmax: Biden's Role in Son's Actions Must be Probed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (AP)

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:06 PM EST

One of the most important consequences of Republicans taking majority control of the House is that there will be "congressional oversight of the abuses" of President Joe Biden's administration, so Reps. Jim Jordan and James Comer are "exactly correct" with their assessment that an investigation into Hunter Biden must look at the role that his father had in his actions, Sen. Ted Cruz said on Newsmax Thursday.

"We've seen the Biden Department of Justice engaged in abuses of power," the Texas Republican said on Newsmax's "National Report." "Let's be clear that the story is not about a poor, troubled soul who has substance abuse issues. That's what the DOJ is trying to make it about. They're saying well, we're going to go after him on drug charges or tax charges, all of which are personal to Hunter Biden."

Jordan, R-Ohio, and Comer, R-Ky., said Thursday that the president was allegedly involved in overseas dealing with his sons, with Comer, citing whistleblowers, asserting that the Biden family "flourished and became millionaires by simply offering access to the family," reports Fox News.

"Was Joe Biden directly involved with Hunter Biden's business deals, and is he compromised? That's our investigation," he said.

"We know that Hunter Biden was on the board of Burisma, the Ukrainian natural gas company," said Cruz. "He didn't speak a word of Ukrainian. He didn't know a thing about oil and gas, but they paid him $83,000 a month. And the only reason they paid him that was because daddy was vice president, not just vice president, but [Barack] Obama had put him in charge of Ukraine in particular."

And, Cruz said, "that doesn't even begin to touch the Chinese communists who paid millions. To Hunter Biden with as you know the phrase, '10% for the big guy.'"

Meanwhile, Cruz said that he voted against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remaining the party's leader in the chamber, because he is "p***ed off at the election results from last week."

"Millions of Americans are as well, given the national environment getting the disaster of Democrat policies from inflation to crime, illegal immigration," said Cruz. "We should have a significant majority in the Senate. We should have a massive majority of the House. Instead, the Democrats kept their Senate majority, and we have only a tiny majority in the House."

Cruz said he argued in the conference meeting Wednesday that it is easy to blame others, but Senate Republicans must ask what they could have done differently.

He said he also made a motion to delay the leadership elections until after Georgia's runoff race so that if elected, Herschel Walker could have a voice in the leadership debate.

"This was the first leadership battle we've had in 10 years," he said. "This hasn't happened in the Senate at the end of the day, 16 Republicans voted with me to delay the election but that wasn't enough. We needed 25. And 10 Republicans voted against Mitch McConnell. That's the first time that has ever happened."

Cruz also commented on former President Donald Trump's announcement for a 2024 presidential race, and about the potential he could challenge Trump again, as in the 2016 race.

"I am focused very much on the United States Senate and standing up and fighting the disastrous policies from Joe Biden and the Democrats that are hurting the American people," Cruz said. "The Herschel Walker race is incredibly important … I think it is incredibly important for anyone in Georgia to support him, because if the Democrats win in Georgia, they will be just one vote away from ending the filibuster in the United States Senate and from being able to adopt policies to permanently damage democracy."

And, he said that he was Trump's "strongest ally" in the Senate, and if he's the nominee in 2024, he will "enthusiastically support his candidacy," but for now, he's focused on Georgia.

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Sen. Cruz to Newsmax: Biden's Role in Son's Actions Must Be Probed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (AP)

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:06 PM EST

One of the most important consequences of Republicans taking majority control of the House is that there will be "congressional oversight of the abuses" of President Joe Biden's administration, so Reps. Jim Jordan and James Comer are "exactly correct" with their assessment that an investigation into Hunter Biden must look at the role that his father had in his actions, Sen. Ted Cruz said on Newsmax Thursday.

"We've seen the Biden Department of Justice engaged in abuses of power," the Texas Republican said on Newsmax's "National Report." "Let's be clear that the story is not about a poor, troubled soul who has substance abuse issues. That's what the DOJ is trying to make it about.

"They're saying, Well, we're going to go after him on drug charges or tax charges, all of which are personal to Hunter Biden."

Jordan, R-Ohio, and Comer, R-Ky., said Thursday that the president was allegedly involved in overseas dealing with his sons, citing whistleblowers, asserting that the Biden family "flourished and became millionaires by simply offering access to the family," reports Fox News.

"Was Joe Biden directly involved with Hunter Biden's business deals, and is he compromised? That's our investigation," he said.

"We know that Hunter Biden was on the board of Burisma, the Ukrainian natural gas company," said Cruz. "He didn't speak a word of Ukrainian. He didn't know a thing about oil and gas, but they paid him $83,000 a month. And the only reason they paid him that was because daddy was vice president, not just vice president, but [Barack] Obama had put him in charge of Ukraine in particular."

And, Cruz said, "that doesn't even begin to touch the Chinese communists who paid millions. To Hunter Biden with as you know the phrase, '10% for the big guy.'"

Meanwhile, Cruz said that he voted against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remaining the party's leader in the chamber, because he is "p***ed off at the election results from last week."

"Millions of Americans are as well, given the national environment getting the disaster of Democrat policies from inflation to crime, illegal immigration," said Cruz. "We should have a significant majority in the Senate. We should have a massive majority of the House. Instead, the Democrats kept their Senate majority, and we have only a tiny majority in the House."

Cruz said he argued in the conference meeting Wednesday that it is easy to blame others, but Senate Republicans must ask what they could have done differently.

He said he also made a motion to delay the leadership elections until after Georgia's runoff race so that if elected, Herschel Walker could have a voice in the leadership debate.

"This was the first leadership battle we've had in 10 years," he said. "This hasn't happened in the Senate. At the end of the day, 16 Republicans voted with me to delay the election but that wasn't enough. We needed 25. And 10 Republicans voted against Mitch McConnell. That's the first time that has ever happened."

Cruz also commented on former President Donald Trump's announcement for a 2024 presidential race, and about the potential he could challenge Trump again, as in the 2016 race.

"I am focused very much on the United States Senate and standing up and fighting the disastrous policies from Joe Biden and the Democrats that are hurting the American people," Cruz said. "The Herschel Walker race is incredibly important … I think it is incredibly important for anyone in Georgia to support him, because if the Democrats win in Georgia, they will be just one vote away from ending the filibuster in the United States Senate and from being able to adopt policies to permanently damage democracy."

And, he said that he was Trump's "strongest ally" in the Senate, and if he's the nominee in 2024, he will "enthusiastically support his candidacy," but for now, he's focused on Georgia.

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GOP Rep. Boebert's Race Might Be Decided Soon (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 01:05 PM EST

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo, has been waiting to hear the results of her tight race against Democrat Adam Frisch in the state's 3rd Congressional District.

After Wednesday night's midnight deadline to cure mail-in ballots challenged on signature verification, the race might be called as soon as Thursday, according to reports.

Boebert, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and a key target of Democrats, leads Frisch by 1,106 votes and is one of just seven races remaining too close to call, according to Newsmax elections analysis.

Republicans hold a 219-209 majority thus far, needing just 218 to hold the House gavels in the next Congress. Republicans have been projected to win two more seats by some analysis, which includes the pending reelection of Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., who was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump after he left office in 2021.

Original Article

GOP Rep. Boebert Leads by 551 Votes, Mandatory Recount Triggered (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 10:22 PM EST

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has been waiting to hear the results of her tight race against Democrat Adam Frisch in the state's 3rd Congressional District, but a mandatory recount has been triggered by state law that might extend the process into December.

Boebert, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and a key target of Democrats, leads Frisch by just 551 votes in the latest tally released Thursday and is one of just seven races remaining too close to call, according to Newsmax elections analysis.

Boebert leads by just 0.16% in the latest tally (163,733 to Boebert and 163,182 for Frisch), and there remain just 200 ballots left to count before Friday's deadline to release the final tally, The Colorado Sun reported.

Newsmax can project the automatic recount is triggered by law and there is 37 days after the Nov. 8 Election Day for the final recount to be completed and a final winner to be declared (Dec. 13).

"A recount of any election contest shall be held if the difference between the highest number of votes cast in that election contest and the next highest number of votes cast in that election contest is less than or equal to one-half of one percent of the highest vote cast in that election contest," according to Colorado law.

"A recount shall occur only after the canvass board certifies the original vote count."

Republicans hold a 219-209 majority thus far, needing just 218 to hold the House gavels in the next Congress. Republicans have been projected to win two more seats by some analysis, which includes the pending reelection of Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., who was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump after he left office in 2021.

"Waiting this long for election results is going to make firing Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House that much sweeter," Boebert tweeted Monday.

"The Pelosi era is over," she tweeted Thursday. "Good riddance!"

Original Article

Video Report: Floridians Weigh In on Trump vs. DeSantis (Newsmax/"National Report")

By Leonardo Feldman Thursday, 17 November 2022 12:11 PM EST Current | Bio | Archive

Miami correspondent Leonardo Feldman, via "National Report," takes to the streets and asks Floridians whom they prefer to win the GOP nomination: former President Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis?

Leonardo Feldman is an Emmy Award-winning journalist. As Newsmax's Miami correspondent, he covers the southeastern United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Get his latest reports here!

Original Article

Murdoch, Fox Ramp Up Attacks on Trump (Newsmax)

By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, 17 November 2022 12:05 PM EST

Rupert Murdoch-owned media outlets, including Fox News, have ramped up attacks on Donald Trump after the former president declared his run to reclaim the nation's top office.

Even before Trump made his announcement Tuesday night, The New York Post ran an opinion column headlined, "Bore! Donald Trump has gone and lost his swing."

"It's very hard to see how Trump could ever win the White House again, so the result is foretold: A Trump nomination would make him a two-time loser and mean four more years of a Democrat in the Oval Office," the Post's Michael Goodwin wrote at the end of his column.

The Post continued to portray Trump negatively after his campaign kickoff announcement.

The newspaper reported that Trump's prime-time declaration was ignored by network news outlets, only partially running on CNN and Fox News Channel, and also that "conservatives and liberals alike" were "expressing dismay" on Twitter of the former president's decision.

The Post's front page also displayed a story that highlighted the famous no-shows — including Trump's daughter Ivanka — and technical issues at the Mar-a-Lago announcement.

The Post and The Wall Street Journal, also owned by Murdoch, published stories about how Trump's support among Republicans is lagging.

"Many congressional Republicans said they were wary of former President Donald Trump's launch of another bid for the White House, expressing concern that his move could distract from the party's effort to win a Dec. 6 Georgia Senate runoff in the short term and hurt the GOP's appeal to a swath of voters in the long term," the first line of a Wednesday Wall Street Journal story read.

The Murdoch newspapers, as well as Fox News, have reported that several GOP megadonors say they will not support Trump.

The Post and Fox News played up a quote from Andy Sabin, a New York-based businessman who owns Sabin Metal Corp.

"I'm not going to give [Trump] a f***ing nickel," Sabin told CNBC.

Others also haven't held back when it comes to the former president. Post columnist John Podhoretz dubbed the former president "Toxic Trump."

Podhoretz wrote that Trump was "the political equivalent of a can of Raid" and "perhaps the most profound vote repellent in modern American history."

Trump was blamed for supporting losing or underperforming candidates like Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, Don Bolduc in New Hampshire, and Blake Masters in Arizona that cost Republicans a chance to make big gains in the House and Senate, as many had predicted.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, if he runs, is widely considered to be the preferred candidate of many Republicans.

The Post ran an editorial urging DeSantis run for president with a cover featuring a triumphant picture of the governor with the headline, "DeFuture."

Murdoch offered support of Trump in 2016 — after which Fox News benefited from the candidate's rising popularity — but the relationship soured in 2020 when Fox News projected Joe Biden would defeat Trump in the state of Arizona, Financial Times reported.

Murdoch apparently has made his intentions clear to Trump in recent phone conversations.

"We have been clear with Donald," a senior News Corp. source said, The Guardian reported. "There have been conversations between them during which Rupert made it clear to Donald that we cannot back another run for the White House."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Original Article

Rep. Fitzgerald to Newsmax: 'No Doubt' McCarthy Will Be Next Speaker Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. (Getty Images)

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 17 November 2022 11:24 AM EST

There's "no doubt" that Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will wield the Speaker's gavel in January, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald told Newsmax on Thursday before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned announcement about the future of her political career now that Democrats have lost the House majority.

"Everything in D.C. was about the excitement of us capturing the majority last night," Fitzgerald, a Wisconsin Republican said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "There was a lot of excitement. And now, today, it seems that almost all the House's actions are in the shadow of what Speaker Pelosi is going to announce today. Is she going to step aside, or is she going to try to hang in there again? No one really knows."

One report, from the Washington news outlet Puck News, said Pelosi, who was to speak at noon ET, will say she plans to drop back from her leadership role and endorse Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., but her spokesman said that "anybody who tells you they know what she will do is a liar."

Meanwhile, McCarthy, R-Calif., needs votes from 218 Republicans to become speaker. During an early meeting vote this past week, 31 party representatives said they did not support him, but Fitzgerald said he believes McCarthy will get the votes he needs to take the seat.

"I don't think there's any doubt about that," Fitzgerald said. "I think there's a little bit of a power play to see if we can't kind of negotiate some stuff."

But still, "I can tell you there is overwhelming momentum for him," said Fitzgerald. "A lot of the stuff that he has been working on over the last two years, and even before that, if you go back four years, are things that I think are going to help manage this conference, and it's going to be tough."

Many new Republicans are coming into the House, Fitzgerald added, as a "lot of top-tier, wonderful people have been elected," and a House Speaker must be ready as Republicans plan to be "going back to doing real business."

This means no more proxy voting, and that there will be "no more magnetometers at the door," said Fitzgerald.

"One of the votes we took yesterday is we want to re-establish that the U.S. capitol is open to the public and to any of our constituents who want to visit us on a regular basis," said Fitzgerald. "It means you're going to have to be in D.C. and you're going to have to do your job."

Fitzgerald also talked about former President Donald Trump's presidential campaign announcement this week, calling it exciting, but saying there is also a "side discussion in Republican circles" about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his success on Election Day and about Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin after the turnabout he created with his election last year.

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Original Article

Super PAC Boosts DeSantis' Possible White House Run (Newsmax)

By Jeffrey Rodack | Thursday, 17 November 2022 11:00 AM EST

An independent super PAC was formed by a man who has supported former President Donald Trump to help Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' potential run for the White House.

According to McClatchy newspapers' Washington, D.C., bureau, political strategist John Thomas shifted his allegiance from Trump to DeSantis and has set up the "Ron to the Rescue" super PAC.

Thomas said he formed the political action committee because DeSantis is "the future of the party. … As much as people in the party still like Trump, they like winning more," Thomas, founder and president of the political advertising and consulting firm Thomas Partners Strategies, told McClatchy.

Thomas said he formed the super PAC as a result of the poor showing by Trump-backed candidates in the midterms.

"If you're a Trump supporter, I think it's fair to say that Trump was not a net positive," in the midterm elections, Thomas said.

He noted he first began organizing the political action committee during the summer, "but was convinced to go ahead with it after the midterm results.

"What was really surprising about it was not just the original people who were pro-DeSantis, but our group was getting populated with people that are kind of like myself. We're not ‘Never Trumpers.' We're actually quite pro-Trump. We just want to win."

But Thomas said he expects a Trump vs. DeSantis campaign to get nasty.

"It's going to become a civil war, and that's inevitable," Thomas said. "Trump is not going to go quietly into the night. The former president is known to be vindictive against people who defy him. But the time has come to pass the gavel and it's very clear that DeSantis is the one who can win and the former president is not.

"We think DeSantis is the future of the party who can put together the coalitions necessary, particularly with college-educated white women, Latinos and these critical groups."

Thomas said his super PAC will commend Trump for having a "spine of steel," for having refocused the agenda of the Republican Party electorate.

"But we need to be appreciating him as the party elder, and less of a party leader," Thomas said. "While we're very thankful for Trump's service, it's time to move on."

Trump, turning a deaf ear to establishment calls to hold off and Democrat efforts to stop him, officially declared his 2024 presidential campaign Tuesday night.

"This will not be my campaign," he said. "This will be our campaign all together, because the only force strong enough to defeat the massive corruption we are up against is you the American people. It's true. The American people, the greatest people on Earth. We love them all. And we love both sides. We're going to bring people together. We're going to unify."

DeSantis, who has not announced whether he will run for president in 2024, did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy.

Original Article