NationalWatch

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 4:25 PM PT – Wednesday, November 16, 2022

A federal judge has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing Title 42 which is a policy allowing the government to deport illegal immigrants for health concerns.

On Tuesday, Obama-appointed U.S District Judge Emmett Sullivan handed down the ruling, calling the policy arbitrary and that it violates federal law.

In 2020, Title 42 was enforced by 45th President Donald J. Trump to stop COVID-19 from spreading from migrants coming through the southern border.

And after initially trying to kill it, the Biden administration kept it in place to the dissatisfaction of far-left lawmakers.

Sullivan granted a request from the administration to suspend his ruling for five weeks on Wednesday. As a result, they now have until December 21st to end the policy.

Original Article Oann

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:10 PM PT – Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Former First Lady Melania Trump praised her husband’s bid for the White House and supports his decision to run again.
In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Melania said that she believes Trump will return America to peace, love, and prosperity during his second term.

In addition, the Trump administration’s achievements has had a great effect on all Americans.
On Tuesday night, the 45th President announced his 2024 presidential campaign from his Mar-a-Lago estate, pledging to return the country to law-and-order and economic success.

Original Article Oann

GOP Rep. Valadao Leads in California Race Still Too Close to Call (Newsmax/"Prime News")

By Nick Koutsobinas | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 11:01 PM EST

Rep. David Valadao, R-California, leads the still too close to call race in Carolina's 22nd District over his Democrat opponent Rudy Salas.

Coming on the heels of Republicans clinching a majority in the House, Valadao could soon add to the tally as he leads his opponent 52.8% to 47.2%. But despite his lead, only 67% of the votes have been tallied.

Valadao was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in early 2021 after Trump left office. He was targeted in the GOP primary but remains one of only two of those 10 impeachment GOP seats still in Congress, if he wins.

The other, Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., has officially be declared the winner in his race for reelection.

Newsmax has called the Republican Party the new House majority, having clinched 219 seats to 209 for the Democrats. There remain 7 races too close to call, two of which are led by Republicans.

Original Article

Democrats Hold on to US House Seat in Maine Via Ranked Vote (Dreamstime)

PATRICK WHITTLE Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:39 PM EST

Democrats held on to a swing district in Maine, as two-term U.S. Rep. Jared Golden beat back a challenge from a former congressman via ranked choice voting for the second time in four years.

Golden won reelection via the ranked round, Maine’s secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, said Wednesday. He defeated Republican Bruce Poliquin, who held the seat from 2014 to 2018.

Golden had entered the ranked round trailing in 2018, but this election he began the instant runoff with a lead over Poliquin and independent candidate Tiffany Bond.

During the ranked round, votes for third-place finisher Bond were redistributed to the second choices of those who voted for her. Bond was also the third-place finisher in 2018.

State police were deployed around the district to retrieve ballots and memory devices before this year’s ranked tabulation. The retrieval schedule was not made public, but workers for the state were able to start the painstaking vote verification process on Monday. The ranked tabulation then took place Wednesday.

Golden had declared victory in the race last week, and treated the ranked round as a formality this time. He said before the count began that his appeal in rural Maine helped carry him to victory.

“There's a number of towns we've consistently outperformed the party, outperformed the top of the ticket,” Golden said. “We've held onto those towns when some Democrats who used to represent them have lost.”

Golden is a Marine Corps veteran who has occasionally deviated from Democratic leadership on major issues, including President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, which he has opposed. Poliquin is a former investment manager and served two years as Maine’s state treasurer.

During the race, Poliquin tried to portray Golden as too liberal for the district. He has voiced opposition to ranked choice voting in the past and filed a lawsuit, later withdrawn, against the method in 2018.

Democrats should make changes such as cutting back on wasteful spending and working to reduce fuel prices, Poliquin said in a Facebook post before the results were announced.

“Biden, Pelosi, Golden and the Democrats should put politics aside and use some common sense to do what’s right while they wield all the authority,” Poliquin wrote. “Maine seniors and families are hurting and winter is just around the corner.”

The politically mixed and geographically vast district is one of two in Maine and includes the state’s second- and third-largest cities, Lewiston and Bangor. It is mostly made up of rural areas in northern and western Maine and the state’s Down East coastline.

The district handed an electoral vote to former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Trump performed even better there in 2020 than in his first election, but Golden held on to the seat that year.

Bond, an attorney, said she felt it was significant that the voters who picked her first ultimately decided the election.

“I’m encouraged that the fate of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is going to be decided by voters that put candidate quality over the millions wasted on this election," Bond said. “I hope in future years it’s the majority of us that take away the power to buy our elections.”

Original Article

Democrats Hold on to US House Seat in Maine Via Ranked Vote (Dreamstime)

PATRICK WHITTLE Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:39 PM EST

Democrats held on to a swing district in Maine, as two-term U.S. Rep. Jared Golden beat back a challenge from a former congressman via ranked choice voting for the second time in four years.

Golden won reelection via the ranked round, Maine's secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, said Wednesday. He defeated Republican Bruce Poliquin, who held the seat from 2014 to 2018.

Golden had entered the ranked round trailing in 2018, but this election he began the instant runoff with a lead over Poliquin and independent candidate Tiffany Bond.

During the ranked round, votes for third-place finisher Bond were redistributed to the second choices of those who voted for her. Bond was also the third-place finisher in 2018.

State police were deployed around the district to retrieve ballots and memory devices before this year's ranked tabulation. The retrieval schedule was not made public, but workers for the state were able to start the painstaking vote verification process on Monday. The ranked tabulation then took place Wednesday.

Golden had declared victory in the race last week, and treated the ranked round as a formality this time. He said before the count began that his appeal in rural Maine helped carry him to victory.

"There's a number of towns we've consistently outperformed the party, outperformed the top of the ticket," Golden said. "We've held onto those towns when some Democrats who used to represent them have lost."

Golden is a Marine Corps veteran who has occasionally deviated from Democratic leadership on major issues, including President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, which he has opposed. Poliquin is a former investment manager and served two years as Maine's state treasurer.

During the race, Poliquin tried to portray Golden as too liberal for the district. He has voiced opposition to ranked choice voting in the past and filed a lawsuit, later withdrawn, against the method in 2018.

Democrats should make changes such as cutting back on wasteful spending and working to reduce fuel prices, Poliquin said in a Facebook post before the results were announced.

"Biden, Pelosi, Golden and the Democrats should put politics aside and use some common sense to do what's right while they wield all the authority," Poliquin wrote. "Maine seniors and families are hurting and winter is just around the corner."

The politically mixed and geographically vast district is one of two in Maine and includes the state's second- and third-largest cities, Lewiston and Bangor. It is mostly made up of rural areas in northern and western Maine and the state's Down East coastline.

The district handed an electoral vote to former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Trump performed even better there in 2020 than in his first election, but Golden held on to the seat that year.

Bond, an attorney, said she felt it was significant that the voters who picked her first ultimately decided the election.

"I'm encouraged that the fate of Maine's 2nd Congressional District is going to be decided by voters that put candidate quality over the millions wasted on this election," Bond said. "I hope in future years it's the majority of us that take away the power to buy our elections."

Original Article

Alina Habba to Newsmax: '24 Is Looking Bright' for Trump Amid Legal Wins (Newsmax/"Prime News")

By Luca Cacciatore | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:37 PM EST

Donald Trump's personal attorney Alina Habba told Newsmax on Wednesday that the former president's chances at winning appear optimistic in the wake of several legal victories.

"I think 2024 is looking bright right now," Habba told "Prime News." "We've had tremendous wins in the legal world, as you know, this week. The team is doing amazing. We beat Michael Cohen, we beat Mary Trump, and we're going to keep them coming."

She was referencing U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman's decision to throw out former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's lawsuit, which alleged the former president and then-Attorney General William Barr threw Cohen back in prison over his tell-all memoir.

The lawyer also mentioned a New York judge's dismissal of a suit filed by Trump's sister Mary Trump, who claimed the billionaire siphoned money from her multimillion-dollar inheritance after their father, Fred Trump, Jr., died in 1981.

"The spirits are up as they should be, and he had a great response," Habba said of Trump touting the victories during his announcement of seeking the presidency Tuesday night. "He was tremendous last night, and I'm very proud."

Habba sounded off on media claims Trump announced his run early as to avoid legal trouble stemming from the House Jan. 6 committee, emphasizing the former president is "the most persecuted and prosecuted man I've ever met in my life."

"I can tell you the one thing he did is he didn't do this for legal reasons; he did this for the country. Period. The end," she proclaimed. "Anybody who says otherwise – it's just fake news."

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Original Article

Alina Habba to Newsmax: '24 Is Looking Bright' for Trump Amid Legal Wins (Newsmax/"Prime News")

By Luca Cacciatore | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:37 PM EST

Donald Trump's personal attorney Alina Habba told Newsmax on Wednesday that the former president's chances at winning appear optimistic in the wake of several legal victories.

"I think 2024 is looking bright right now," Habba told "Prime News." "We've had tremendous wins in the legal world, as you know, this week. The team is doing amazing. We beat Michael Cohen, we beat Mary Trump, and we're going to keep them coming."

She was referencing U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman's decision to throw out former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's lawsuit, which alleged the former president and then-Attorney General William Barr threw Cohen back in prison over his tell-all memoir.

The lawyer also mentioned a New York judge's dismissal of a suit filed by Trump's sister Mary Trump, who claimed the billionaire siphoned money from her multimillion-dollar inheritance after their father, Fred Trump, Jr., died in 1981.

"The spirits are up as they should be, and he had a great response," Habba said of Trump touting the victories during his announcement of seeking the presidency Tuesday night. "He was tremendous last night, and I'm very proud."

Habba sounded off on media claims Trump announced his run early as to avoid legal trouble stemming from the House Jan. 6 committee, emphasizing the former president is "the most persecuted and prosecuted man I've ever met in my life."

"I can tell you the one thing he did is he didn't do this for legal reasons; he did this for the country. Period. The end," she proclaimed. "Anybody who says otherwise — it's just fake news."

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US House Win by Ex-Combat Pilot Cements Republican Control (Getty Images)

MICHAEL R. BLOOD Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:25 PM EST

Republican Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, scored an upset U.S. House win in a strongly Democratic district Wednesday, handing the GOP control of the chamber and giving the party a rare reason to celebrate in a state dominated by Democrats.

The conservative Republican was reelected to a third term in a district that has a 12.5-point Democratic registration edge and was carried by then-presidential candidate Joe Biden by double digits in 2020. It was Garcia's third consecutive victory over Democrat Christy Smith, a former legislator.

Garcia was first elected in a special election in May 2020, then was reelected two years ago by just 333 votes. He faced an even tougher challenge this year, after his left-leaning district was redrawn and became more solidly Democratic.

With nearly 75% of the ballots counted, Garcia had 54.2%, to 45.8% for Smith.

Garcia, who flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is the sole GOP House member with a district anchored in heavily Democratic Los Angeles County.

It takes 218 seats to control the House. With the addition of the latest California results, Republicans have locked down 218 seats so far with Democrats claiming 211.

In another key race in the state, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin beat back a tough challenge from Republican businessman Brian Maryott in a Southern California district that straddles Orange and San Diego counties.

With nearly all the votes counted, Levin had 52.65%, to 47.4% for Maryott.

Levin said he was eager to return to Washington to continue working on affordable health care, climate change and assistance for veterans. Biden traveled to the district in the election's closing days in hopes of giving Levin a boost.

Garcia's win, which gave Republicans House control, came with a splash of political sass, arriving in a state so solidly Democratic that a Republican hasn’t won a statewide race since 2006. It is also home to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. California is known nationally as a liberal monolith, but pockets of conservative strength remain, mainly in the Southern California suburbs and rural and farming stretches.

But even with the wins, Republicans will remain a small minority within the state’s congressional delegation.

Of the state's 52 seats — the largest delegation in Congress — GOP candidates had captured just nine as of Wednesday. Counting continued in five districts, although one was a matchup between two Democrats.

Smith, a former legislator, had argued Garcia was out of step with district voters: He was endorsed by then-President Trump in 2020, then joined House Republicans who rejected electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania and opposed Trump’s impeachment after the Capitol insurrection. She also highlighted Garcia’s opposition to abortion rights.

Garcia emphasized his military service and pointed to his vote supporting $2,000 stimulus checks as one example of his political independence. He’s also stressed local issues, including concern over illegal marijuana cultivation.

In California, the primary House battlegrounds are Orange County — a suburban expanse southeast of Los Angeles that was once a GOP stronghold but has become increasingly diverse and Democratic — and the Central Valley, an inland stretch sometimes called the nation’s salad bowl for its agricultural production.

The tightest remaining contest in the state emerged in the Central Valley, where Democrat Adam Gray seized a tissue-thin lead over Republican John Duarte for an open seat in District 13.

Underscoring the closeness of the race, Gray’s campaign formed a committee to begin raising money to finance a possible recount. The latest returns showed Gray leading by 600 votes, with nearly 85% of the ballots tabulated.

In Orange County, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter was holding a nearly 3-point edge over Republican Scott Baugh in one of the nation’s marquee races. Baugh had slashed her lead in half earlier this week, but Porter, a star of the party’s progressive wing, rebounded. About 90% of the votes had been counted.

In the Central Valley’s 22nd District, where about two-thirds of the votes have been counted, Republican Rep. David Valadao, who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump, had a 5.6-point margin over Democrat Rudy Salas.

Original Article

US House Win by Ex-Combat Pilot Cements Republican Control (Getty Images)

MICHAEL R. BLOOD Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:25 PM EST

Republican Rep. Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, scored an upset U.S. House win in a strongly Democratic district Wednesday, handing the GOP control of the chamber and giving the party a rare reason to celebrate in a state dominated by Democrats.

The conservative Republican was reelected to a third term in a district that has a 12.5-point Democratic registration edge and was carried by then-presidential candidate Joe Biden by double digits in 2020. It was Garcia's third consecutive victory over Democrat Christy Smith, a former legislator.

Garcia was first elected in a special election in May 2020, then was reelected two years ago by just 333 votes. He faced an even tougher challenge this year, after his left-leaning district was redrawn and became more solidly Democratic.

With nearly 75% of the ballots counted, Garcia had 54.2%, to 45.8% for Smith.

Garcia, who flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is the sole GOP House member with a district anchored in heavily Democratic Los Angeles County.

It takes 218 seats to control the House. With the addition of the latest California results, Republicans have locked down 218 seats so far with Democrats claiming 211.

In another key race in the state, Democrat Rep. Mike Levin beat back a tough challenge from Republican businessman Brian Maryott in a Southern California district that straddles Orange and San Diego counties.

With nearly all the votes counted, Levin had 52.65%, to 47.4% for Maryott.

Levin said he was eager to return to Washington to continue working on affordable health care, climate change and assistance for veterans. Biden traveled to the district in the election's closing days in hopes of giving Levin a boost.

Garcia's win, which gave Republicans House control, came with a splash of political sass, arriving in a state so solidly Democratic that a Republican hasn't won a statewide race since 2006. It is also home to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. California is known nationally as a liberal monolith, but pockets of conservative strength remain, mainly in the Southern California suburbs and rural and farming stretches.

But even with the wins, Republicans will remain a small minority within the state's congressional delegation.

Of the state's 52 seats — the largest delegation in Congress — GOP candidates had captured just nine as of Wednesday. Counting continued in five districts, although one was a matchup between two Democrats.

Smith, a former legislator, had argued Garcia was out of step with district voters: He was endorsed by then-President Trump in 2020, then joined House Republicans who rejected electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania and opposed Trump's impeachment after the Capitol insurrection. She also highlighted Garcia's opposition to abortion rights.

Garcia emphasized his military service and pointed to his vote supporting $2,000 stimulus checks as one example of his political independence. He's also stressed local issues, including concern over illegal marijuana cultivation.

In California, the primary House battlegrounds are Orange County — a suburban expanse southeast of Los Angeles that was once a GOP stronghold but has become increasingly diverse and Democratic — and the Central Valley, an inland stretch sometimes called the nation's salad bowl for its agricultural production.

The tightest remaining contest in the state emerged in the Central Valley, where Democrat Adam Gray seized a tissue-thin lead over Republican John Duarte for an open seat in District 13.

Underscoring the closeness of the race, Gray's campaign formed a committee to begin raising money to finance a possible recount. The latest returns showed Gray leading by 600 votes, with nearly 85% of the ballots tabulated.

In Orange County, Democrat Rep. Katie Porter was holding a nearly 3-point edge over Republican Scott Baugh in one of the nation's marquee races. Baugh had slashed her lead in half earlier this week, but Porter, a star of the party's progressive wing, rebounded. About 90% of the votes had been counted.

In the Central Valley's 22nd District, where about two-thirds of the votes have been counted, Republican Rep. David Valadao, who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump, had a 5.6-point margin over Democrat Rudy Salas.

Original Article

Rep. Biggs to Newsmax: Trump's Term Limit Push 'Not a Bad Idea'

Rep. Andy Biggs (Getty)

By Nick Koutsobinas | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:27 PM EST

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., praised on Newsmax former President Donald Trump's call for "term limits" made during his announcement to run for president.

"That's not a bad idea," Biggs said on "Eric Bolling: The Balance" regarding term limits in Congress. "You know what else I'd like to see? How about a term limit on lobbyists? How about if you've served in Congress, you can't lobby? How about a term limit on bureaucrats? … This place is so deep and swampy; it's not just members of Congress; it's kind of everybody. It oozes out from the halls of Congress as well."

In his speech on Tuesday, Trump said, "We must conduct a top-to-bottom overhaul to clean out the festering rot and corruption of Washington, D.C.

"To further drain the swamp, I will push for a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress … And I will ask for a permanent banning of taxpayer funding for campaigns, a lifetime ban on lobbying for former members of Congress and cabinet members.

"I see what they make," Trump adds. "They leave the White House or they leave Congress, and they are paid millions and millions and millions of dollars a year; you know you have to have a ban."

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Original Article

Rep. Biggs to Newsmax: Trump's Term Limit Push 'Not a Bad Idea' Rep. Andy Biggs (Getty Images)

By Nick Koutsobinas | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:27 PM EST

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., praised on Newsmax former President Donald Trump's call for "term limits" made during his announcement to run for president.

"That's not a bad idea," Biggs said on "Eric Bolling The Balance" regarding term limits in Congress. "You know what else I'd like to see? How about a term limit on lobbyists? How about if you've served in Congress, you can't lobby? How about a term limit on bureaucrats? … This place is so deep and swampy; it's not just members of Congress; it's kind of everybody. It oozes out from the halls of Congress as well."

In his speech on Tuesday, Trump said, "We must conduct a top-to-bottom overhaul to clean out the festering rot and corruption of Washington, D.C.

"To further drain the swamp, I will push for a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress … And I will ask for a permanent banning of taxpayer funding for campaigns, a lifetime ban on lobbying for former members of Congress and cabinet members.

"I see what they make," Trump adds. "They leave the White House or they leave Congress, and they are paid millions and millions and millions of dollars a year; you know you have to have a ban."

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Original Article

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:12 PM PT – Wednesday, November 16, 2022

FBI Director Chris Wray evades the question about the bureau’s involvement with the January 6th protest.

During a Congressional hearing Tuesday, Wray claimed it is false to assume that FBI informants instigated violence during the protest.

However, he did not confirm or deny whether the FBI was involved in any other capacity.

Republican lawmakers focus of Ray Epps and other suspected FBI informants who called for violence on January 6th.

Republicans are ramping up pressure to expose political bias at the FBI and its alleged role in U.S. politics touting investigations after forming a House majority in January 2023.

Original Article Oann

Art Laffer to Newsmax: 'Free Markets Know How to Solve Problems, Biden Doesn't'

(Newsmax/"Rob Schmitt Tonight")

By Luca Cacciatore | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:08 PM EST

Economist Art Laffer said Wednesday on Newsmax that President Joe Biden's proposal to keep oil in the U.S. for winter could create bigger problems down the line.

On "Rob Schmitt Tonight," the onetime adviser to former presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump stressed that "free markets know how to solve problems … and Biden doesn't.

"It's a generic problem when you start trying to control markets and making them do things they're not supposed to do. They're going to pop up with a problem here; you try to fix that one, and it's just like … whack-a-mole," Laffer said.

"Just let markets clear," he continued. "Let people produce oil and energy. Take those price controls off and just let them go."

Laffer also commented on a series of layoffs from massive corporations, including Disney, Meta, Amazon and Twitter, stressing that there is a growing possibility of America's economic downturn getting worse.

"We've had a very bad first two quarters of this year. Negative, I would call it a recession. You can argue with the term," Laffer said. "The third quarter is 2.6% growth. I don't know what the fourth quarter is. But this has been a secular decline for the U.S. that is really very serious."

He added that it is unlikely "this will change course anytime soon," warning about the long-term effects of economic mismanagement in the U.S.

"We all understand we need regulation. We all understand we need government. We all understand we need taxes. But just do them right," Laffer said.

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Original Article

Art Laffer to Newsmax: 'Free Markets Know How to Solve Problems, Biden Doesn't' (Newsmax/"Rob Schmitt Tonight")

By Luca Cacciatore | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:08 PM EST

Economist Art Laffer said Wednesday on Newsmax that President Joe Biden's proposal to keep oil in the U.S. for winter could create bigger problems down the line.

On "Rob Schmitt Tonight," the onetime adviser to former presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump stressed that "free markets know how to solve problems … and Biden doesn't.

"It's a generic problem when you start trying to control markets and making them do things they're not supposed to do. They're going to pop up with a problem here; you try to fix that one, and it's just like … whack-a-mole," Laffer said.

"Just let markets clear," he continued. "Let people produce oil and energy. Take those price controls off and just let them go."

Laffer also commented on a series of layoffs from massive corporations, including Disney, Meta, Amazon and Twitter, stressing that there is a growing possibility of America's economic downturn getting worse.

"We've had a very bad first two quarters of this year. Negative, I would call it a recession. You can argue with the term," Laffer said. "The third quarter is 2.6% growth. I don't know what the fourth quarter is. But this has been a secular decline for the U.S. that is really very serious."

He added that it is unlikely "this will change course anytime soon," warning about the long-term effects of economic mismanagement in the U.S.

"We all understand we need regulation. We all understand we need government. We all understand we need taxes. But just do them right," Laffer said.

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Original Article

Sarah Palin to Newsmax: Trump Won't Make McCain's Mistakes (Newsmax/"Eric Bolling The Balance")

By Eric Mack | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:41 PM EST

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, still in ranked-choice voting purgatory in Alaska's uncalled House race, does not know the direction former President Donald Trump will go with his VP pick this go around, but she does know what he will not do.

He will not make the mistake of her former running mate, the late John McCain and his advisers did, Palin told Wednesday night's "Eric Bolling The Balance" on Newsmax.

"Trump's going to do what Trump's going to do," Palin told guest host Carl Higbie when asked her to handicap the candidates for Trump's next running mate. "He's not going check a bunch of boxes like probably Sen. McCain's campaign did — Steve Schmidt and those yahoos who thought that they knew me better than I know myself — and check some boxes, thinking that they could control a candidate.

"Trump isn't like that, and that's refreshing. It's good. It's why he doesn't like to be called a politician, because, really, he's not a politician."

Before the 2024 presidential campaign, Republicans need to be warned about the stacking the deck scheme of ranked-choice voting, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., funding Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski's campaign to ultimately turn around and back the Democrat against Republican House candidates in Alaska, said Palin, who called Murkowski a Republican in name only.

"I am so glad that you're aware of what's going on up here with this new ranked-choice voting and Sen. McConnell taking GOP donations and handing them to Lisa Murkowski, you know the consummate RINO, so that Lisa Murkowski could use those GOP funds to defeat people like me and others in races," Palin said. "In fact, Lisa Murkowski endorsed — instead of me in the congressional race — endorsed the Democrat.

"So it baffles me that Sen. McConnell was just reelected in the leadership role."

A few rogue anti-Trump Republicans are the only true threats to the GOP, according to Palin.

"There isn't so much infighting within the ranks of the GOP — no, it's just leadership — those who are obsessed with partisanship, power plays and titles and money and control," she continued. "There aren't that many of them. But they are controlling. I've been butting heads with them for 30 years now that I've been involved in politics. I see it all the time. I see that in my congressional race.

"What President Trump needs to be careful with — and I'm so thankful that he's running — he needs to be careful of the shenanigans that will go on between now and when the vote is taken for POTUS, with ranked choice voting and it's spreading across the country. It's not just here in Alaska now, but President Trump can't get the electoral votes even up here in Alaska if ranked-choice voting is adopted and is a given throughout states, and if it stays in Alaska."

The anti-Trump forces cannot win, because conservative Americans will lose under ranked-choice voting scams, Palin warned.

"My mission is to get rid of it up here in Alaska, because the GOP establishment in Alaska and elsewhere — again it's not that many of them — they essentially choose who they want as the nominee and they don't like President Trump, I'll be honest with you," Palin said. "Behind closed doors they don't want Trump so they will put up other Republicans, or RINOs, or Democrat plants — as I just saw in my own race — to go head to head with Trump because ranked-choice voting eliminates primaries. So it's a free for all. It's unconstitutional, too. It's not one man, one vote."

Palin's House race remains stuck in ranked-choice vote counting, one of just seven Houses still to close to call, according to Newsmax midterm election projections.

"So President Trump was up here in a rally, Carl, and he explained to the audience, you know, even in this congressional race, he said, 'Your fourth-most popular candidate can actually win this thing; it doesn't matter how many first-place votes you get; with ranked-choice voting, you're gunning for the second- and third-place rankings that other candidates get,'" Palin lamented. "It's complicated. It's convoluted and the way that the GOP machine works, like Sen. McConnell and his ilk, even Trump cannot get, in the deep, deep red state of Alaska, cannot get those electoral votes.

"So we have to make sure there are no shenanigans going on."

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Original Article

Sarah Palin to Newsmax: Trump Won't Make McCain's Mistakes (Newsmax/"Eric Bolling The Balance")

By Eric Mack | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:41 PM EST

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, still in ranked-choice voting purgatory in Alaska's uncalled House race, does not know the direction former President Donald Trump will go with his VP pick this go around, but she does know what he will not do.

He will not make the mistake of her former running mate, the late John McCain and his advisers did, Palin told Wednesday night's "Eric Bolling The Balance" on Newsmax.

"Trump's going to do what Trump's going to do," Palin told guest host Carl Higbie when asked her to handicap the candidates for Trump's next running mate. "He's not going check a bunch of boxes like probably Sen. McCain's campaign did — Steve Schmidt and those yahoos who thought that they knew me better than I know myself — and check some boxes, thinking that they could control a candidate.

"Trump isn't like that, and that's refreshing. It's good. It's why he doesn't like to be called a politician, because, really, he's not a politician."

Before the 2024 presidential campaign, Republicans need to be warned about the stacking the deck scheme of ranked-choice voting, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., funding Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski's campaign to ultimately turn around and back the Democrat against Republican House candidates in Alaska, said Palin, who called Murkowski a Republican in name only.

"I am so glad that you're aware of what's going on up here with this new ranked-choice voting and Sen. McConnell taking GOP donations and handing them to Lisa Murkowski, you know the consummate RINO, so that Lisa Murkowski could use those GOP funds to defeat people like me and others in races," Palin said. "In fact, Lisa Murkowski endorsed — instead of me in the congressional race — endorsed the Democrat.

"So it baffles me that Sen. McConnell was just reelected in the leadership role."

A few rogue anti-Trump Republicans are the only true threats to the GOP, according to Palin.

"There isn't so much infighting within the ranks of the GOP — no, it's just leadership — those who are obsessed with partisanship, power plays and titles and money and control," she continued. "There aren't that many of them. But they are controlling. I've been butting heads with them for 30 years now that I've been involved in politics. I see it all the time. I see that in my congressional race.

"What President Trump needs to be careful with — and I'm so thankful that he's running — he needs to be careful of the shenanigans that will go on between now and when the vote is taken for POTUS, with ranked choice voting and it's spreading across the country. It's not just here in Alaska now, but President Trump can't get the electoral votes even up here in Alaska if ranked-choice voting is adopted and is a given throughout states, and if it stays in Alaska."

The anti-Trump forces cannot win, because conservative Americans will lose under ranked-choice voting scams, Palin warned.

"My mission is to get rid of it up here in Alaska, because the GOP establishment in Alaska and elsewhere — again it's not that many of them — they essentially choose who they want as the nominee and they don't like President Trump, I'll be honest with you," Palin said. "Behind closed doors they don't want Trump so they will put up other Republicans, or RINOs, or Democrat plants — as I just saw in my own race — to go head to head with Trump because ranked-choice voting eliminates primaries. So it's a free for all. It's unconstitutional, too. It's not one man, one vote."

Palin's House race remains stuck in ranked-choice vote counting, one of just seven Houses still to close to call, according to Newsmax midterm election projections.

"So President Trump was up here in a rally, Carl, and he explained to the audience, you know, even in this congressional race, he said, 'Your fourth-most popular candidate can actually win this thing; it doesn't matter how many first-place votes you get; with ranked-choice voting, you're gunning for the second- and third-place rankings that other candidates get,'" Palin lamented. "It's complicated. It's convoluted and the way that the GOP machine works, like Sen. McConnell and his ilk, even Trump cannot get, in the deep, deep red state of Alaska, cannot get those electoral votes.

"So we have to make sure there are no shenanigans going on."

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Former Defense Chief Esper: Trump 'Unfit' for Office

(Newsmax/"The Chris Salcedo Show")

By Jay Clemons | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 09:28 PM EST

The verbal sparring between former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper continues in the wake of Trump's Tuesday announcement that he is running for president in 2024.

While speaking to CNN Wednesday, Esper knocked Trump's speech from Mar-a-Lago, saying his delivery was "uninspiring."

Esper also has character concerns about the 45th president.

"I think he's unfit for office," said Esper. "I thought his remarks were very subdued and uninspiring."

Esper expressed a desire for the Republican Party to pursue a different nominee in 2024.

"I think that it's time for the Republican Party — and, frankly, both parties — to move on to a next generation of leaders, and particularly leaders that can unify our country and get us back to a more normal governance where we treat each other with dignity and respect, and we work on policy issues and not personal attacks," said Esper.

Trump garnered criticism from certain GOP members after last week's results in the midterm elections. The Republicans carried the majority in the House chamber, according to the Newsmax elections tracker; but Republican candidates for Senate and governor fell short of dominating election night.

"The election last week is an example that Donald Trump is incapable of winning elections," Esper said. "He's done more to help the Democrats than the Republicans."

Some of Trump's election night misses (Kari Lake, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Blake Masters) garnered national attention. At the same time, the former president's endorsement record for the 2022 midterms involved more than 200 winning selections nationwide.

In May, Trump publicly took aim at his former defense secretary's book claims, calling Esper a "lightweight."

"Mark Esper was weak and totally ineffective, and because of it, I had to run the military. I took out ISIS, Qasem Soleimani, al­ Baghdadi, rebuilt the military with $2.5 trillion, created Space Force, and so much more. Mark Esper was a stiff who was desperate not to lose his job," Trump wrote then, in response to a "60 Minutes" query.

Trump then added Esper "would do anything I wanted, that's why I called him 'Yesper,' He was a lightweight and figurehead, and I realized it very early on. He was recommended to me by some very weak [euphemism for 'Republicans In Name Only'] and that is what he turned out to be."

For the 2024 race, Esper already has a candidate in mind to succeed Trump as the Republican National Committee's nominee: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"[He] is at the top of the list right now," said Esper, per the Daily Mail. "He did a great job in Florida."

Original Article

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:32 PM PT – Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The GOP managed to obtain a slim majority in the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, the Republicans secured the 218th GOP seat in the lower chamber.

As Republicans are on the precipice of taking over the House, last night, 45th President Donald J. Trump acknowledged a California assemblyman who ran for Congress, Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.). His race has been called by Decision Desk HQ but has not been included in the 218 tally just yet.

Although House Republicans have nominated Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for House Speaker, several other leadership positions and committee assignments are still to be determined.

Original Article Oann

GOP Rep. Mary Miller Endorses Trump for President in 2024 (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 07:34 PM EST

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., has joined the earliest House GOP endorsers of former President Donald Trump to be elected president in 2024.

"Under President Trump, we had border security, energy independence, and a booming economy," Miller wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday night, just after Trump officially declared his 2024 presidential campaign. "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.

Trump has also already received endorsements from Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 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.

GOP Rep. Mary Miller Endorses Trump for President in 2024 (Newsmax)

By Eric Mack | Wednesday, 16 November 2022 07:56 PM EST

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., has joined the earliest House GOP endorsers of former President Donald Trump to be elected president in 2024.

"Under President Trump, we had border security, energy independence, and a booming economy," Miller wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday night, just after Trump officially declared his 2024 presidential campaign. "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.

Trump has also already received endorsements from Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 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.

Original Article