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Insiders predict this ‘powerhouse’ Republican would bring major boost as Trump VP pick

Insiders predict this ‘powerhouse’ Republican would bring major boost as Trump VP pick

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of profiles of potential running mates for presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 2024 Republican Party ticket. A potential name on former President Trump’s running mate shortlist is being described by political insiders as a “powerhouse” that could bring a major boost to his chances at retaking the White House. The horse race among those hoping to be named Trump’s running mate continued this week with the names widely believed to be on the shortlist making the rounds on various media outlets and at public events to praise the former president, including House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York, who some say has a certain “attractiveness” for the role. “Stefanik’s position as the fourth-ranking member of the House leadership provides valuable insight into navigating Capitol Hill, which Trump is not known for loving. Historically, Capitol Hill has served as a fertile ground for VP candidates,” Republican strategist Erine Perrine told Fox News Digital. EXPERTS REVEAL MAJOR ‘DOWNSIDE’ TO POTENTIAL TRUMP VP PICK: ‘NO WOW FACTOR’ Perrine praised Stefanik as “a prolific fundraiser,” which she said could strengthen the campaign’s financial standing heading into the final stretch of the race, and argued her loyalty to the former president would help ensure cohesion among Republicans. “Stefanik’s presence also mitigates Democratic attacks on women’s issues,” she said, alluding to Democrats’ attempts to make abortion a major factor in the race. “Her selection would bring a youthful and dynamic image for the Republican Party to help bolster the ticket.” “Stefanik built a reputation as a powerhouse in committee hearings, most recently highlighted by her questioning of university presidents. These strengths enhance her credibility and effectiveness as a campaigner,” she added. Republican strategist David Polyansky agreed, noting Stefanik, during her time in House leadership, has driven a number of critical fights, and did so despite the turmoil surrounding the role of House speaker. “She’s done a very effective job at elevating her profile, which is hard to do, not just from the House, but even from a House leadership standpoint,” he said. “I think she’d be attractive to some of the large donor blocks who may be tentative in terms of how much money they invest.” TRUMP VEEPSTAKES: THE PROS AND CONS OF SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM “Having a female vice presidential pick is something I think would be attractive to the party, attractive to donors, attractive from a narrative standpoint. Outside of her gender, she’s a very strong conservative leader, so I think there’s some real value there for Trump,” he added. A source close to the Trump campaign also said Stefanik being a woman would be a “real positive,” and that it was “a really big deal” to the former president that she has been a “staunch supporter.” “I think she would be a very interesting pick. I think out on the campaign trail she would be very effective. I think she would be a net positive to the campaign,” the source said. Eric Koch, a Democrat strategist, gave a more critical view of Stefanik’s strengths for the Republican ticket. “The positive Elise Stefanik brings to a Trump ticket is obvious: she is willing to say and do anything to defend Donald Trump, no matter how absurd, ridiculous or embarrassing it may be,” he said.  “There is quite literally no low that is too low for her — and this is a quality that Donald Trump not only needs, but demands, from his Vice President. Stefanik will gleefully debase herself in any way in support of Trump.” TRUMP’S POTENTIAL RUNNING MATES TO COMPETE FOR APPROVAL AT MAJOR CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE AS SPECULATION SWIRLS Koch said two downsides to Stefanik’s selection, aside from the usual criticism from his party that she is “ultra MAGA,” was that she “had almost no accomplishments,” and that she “crumbles in debates and interviews” when pressed on topics. One such instance occurred last week on Fox News when Stefanik was pressed by host Shannon Bream about a New York Times report questioning her loyalty to Trump over the years. “If Trump was trying to win voters in the middle, there is hardly someone worse he could pick than Stefanik who carries water for the most extreme elements of the House Republicans,” Koch said. Perrine, like Koch, said the liberal media and others on the left would likely label her a “MAGA extremist,” but also noted the “limited” impact her selection could have on the electoral map, considering she is from deep-blue New York. “Losing her leadership role in the House could disrupt GOP cohesion,” Perrine added. WATCH: POSSIBLE TRUMP VP PICK MAKES MAJOR PREDICTION ABOUT BLACK VOTERS AS BIDEN BLEEDS SUPPORT Polyansky argued that elevating someone straight from the House into being the first person in the presidential line of succession was “a little bit of a stretch.” He also argued her name recognition could be a problem. “She isn’t really well known, even in the base of the Republican Party, so I don’t know that there would be a massive wow factor, which could be major for Trump. I’m not sure that she necessarily gives him that.” The source close to the Trump campaign agreed it would be “difficult” for Stefanik’s name recognition alone to provide a big bump, but said that could be built up over time. Stefanik’s office declined to comment for this story, but a source close to her told Fox that her flipping, and holding, a formerly Democrat-controlled district in New York was part of her appeal compared to the other potential names on Trump’s shortlist. The source noted that Stefanik had more experience on Capitol Hill than Vice President Kamala Harris, and that she could have an immediate impact on implementing Trump’s legislative agenda if selected.  They also argued that, as a young mom, she has been a strong supporter of IVF and a 15-week abortion ban, rather than the 6-week ban being pushed by other Republicans, a direct counter to Democrats’ focus on

Balance of power: Filibuster fate could come down to 2024 Senate elections

Balance of power: Filibuster fate could come down to 2024 Senate elections

The Senate’s filibuster could be at risk if Democrats retain the majority after the 2024 elections, with the exit of two staunch defenders of the tool in Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz. “It would be on the table,” Jim Kessler, former senior aide to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. But, he said, “I’m skeptical that it gets done.” “If Senate Democrats maintain control of the majority, we should expect another push to railroad over the long-respected filibuster, because Senators Manchin or Sinema won’t be there to stop it,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, former top spokesman to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and former chief of staff of the Senate Republican Conference.  RUBIO DEMANDS COLUMBIA PRESIDENT REFUND STUDENTS AFTER TAKEOVER BY ‘LAWLESS, PRO-HAMAS RIOTERS’ Both Manchin and Sinema announced they would not be seeking re-election.  According to Kessler, there wasn’t ever truly enough support among Democrats to do away with the filibuster altogether. “There was a lot more of smoke than fire on this,” he claimed.  Many blamed Manchin and Sinema for blocking reform to the filibuster in its current incarnation. But the veteran Democratic aide suggested there were more skeptical members of the caucus — and they used the two renegade lawmakers as a shield of sorts. “It allowed them not to say anything if they were skeptical,” he explained.  While Kessler wouldn’t reveal any current senators who might be opposed to completely ending the practice, he noted that late former Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, who was often described as an institutionalist, would likely have been against any such move.  “It would be the saddest day in the history of the United States of America,” if Democrats successfully ended the filibuster, Manchin told Fox News Digital.  BIDEN ADMIN SLAMMED FOR ‘DOUBLING DOWN’ ON ALLEGED GAZA REFUGEE PLANS “I believe it would be the saddest day in America, and it would be on their shoulders. If they get rid of the filibuster, they’ve got rid of democracy and what this country is all about,” he added.  Sinema’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital. Elimination of the filibuster altogether is likely improbable, Kessler said. However, “That’s not to say there won’t be some rule changes that might affect the filibuster,” he noted.  In 2022, Democrats sought to re-institute what is known as the “talking filibuster,” which had been standard practice for most of the 20th century up until the 1970s. Reforms put in place at that time allowed for senators to stall bills without the staple marathon speeches on the chamber floor that are often associated with filibusters.  The reform would have effectively allowed Democrats to proceed to a final vote on legislation without 60 senators agreeing in a procedural vote to end debate. If enacted, they would have been able to pass a bill with just a simple majority after a set period of debate.  By a vote of 48-52, the change was rejected. Manchin and Sinema joined the 50 Senate Republicans.  Democrats were becoming desperate to find a way around their Republican colleagues in order to pass a voting rights bill. “Even if you think the filibuster is a good thing, isn’t protecting voting rights and preventing their diminution more important?” Schumer asked at the time, according to Politico.  SCHUMER-BACKED BORDER BILL FAILS A SECOND TIME WITH EVEN LESS DEM SUPPORT Re-instituting the talking filibuster would put significant pressure on those trying to delay consideration of a bill, once again requiring that a lawmaker be on the floor and speaking at all times. President Biden gave the reform his seal of approval at the time, which would notably help advance his legislative priorities.  “I don’t think that you have to eliminate the filibuster, you have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days,” he said in a 2021 ABC News interview. “You had to stand up and command the floor, you had to keep talking.” Speaking with Fox News Digital, even the most vulnerable Democrats in the November elections are on board to take up such a reform again if they hold on to the majority.  “I would certainly support that sort of reform,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said. The senator is up for re-election in swing state Wisconsin.  Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., who is also in a competitive race in the battleground of Pennsylvania, said he hopes to “vote again on the 60-vote rule,” in reference to the reform. “It would be preferable that we get another vote.” VISA BANS FOR ICC OFFICIALS URGED BY BIPARTISAN SENATORS AFTER ISRAEL ARREST WARRANT REQUESTS According to a spokesperson for Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., “Senator Tester does not support ending the filibuster.” The red-state Democrat is embroiled in perhaps the most competitive election in the country.  However, “He supports a talking filibuster that would protect the rights of the minority party and force folks to explain to the American people why they’re holding something up,” the spokesperson said, putting Tester in agreement with the two other incumbent Democrats.  Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, did not provide comment to Fox News Digital. They both also face difficult swing-state elections in November.  Schumer’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital about whether reforming the filibuster would be a priority if Democrats retain the majority.  BIDEN OUTPACES TRUMP WITH 200 CONFIRMED JUDGES, CEMENTING IMPACT ON COURTS Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, explained that if Democrats were to possess enough votes to make such a reform, they “would still have some good reasons to pause over this.” According to Reeher, Republicans are likely to see the Senate majority in the near future, granting them the same benefits this change affords to the Democratic majority. “It’s quite conceivable that Democrats could change the rule, only to lose the majority in the next midterm or the subsequent presidential election, especially if Republicans can get

Texas state senator criticizes Abbott as ‘piece of s–t’ for not publicly mentioning Uvalde shooting

Texas state senator criticizes Abbott as ‘piece of s–t’ for not publicly mentioning Uvalde shooting

A Texas state senator called out Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for failing to publicly acknowledge the two-year anniversary of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Friday was the two-year anniversary since the shooting at Robb Elementary School, where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. The shooting was not mentioned in the governor’s social media accounts or his office’s press releases. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat representing Uvalde, sounded off Saturday morning over the governor’s failure to mention that tragic day. UVALDE MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS’ FAMILIES SUING META, GUN MANUFACTURER AND VIDEO GAME MAKER “Not once did @GregAbbott_TX mention Uvalde yesterday,” Gutierrez wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “The second anniversary of the worst school shooting in Texas history and the governor doesn’t say a word about it. What a piece of s–t.” After the gunman entered the school on May 24, 2022, law enforcement waited more than an hour to confront and kill the suspect. The victims’ family members recently filed a lawsuit against state law enforcement over the failed response to the shooting, according to Fox 4. The lawsuit claims troopers did not follow their training by waiting before confronting the shooter. TEXAS OFFICIALS: UVALDE SHOOTING REPORT REVEALS ‘MULTIPLE SYSTEMIC FAILURES’ A Justice Department report also said victims’ lives could have been saved if the response had not been delayed. A criminal investigation into the law enforcement response remains underway. Some law enforcement officials have been called to testify in front of a grand jury in Uvalde County. Since the shooting, Texas under Abbott has put safety measures in place, including laws requiring every school district to have an armed guard on each campus.

Trump vows to commute prison sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

Trump vows to commute prison sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

Former President Trump on Saturday vowed to commute the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the online drug-selling site Silk Road.  The GOP frontrunner made the pledge while addressing the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., in a bid to win over skeptical party activists, many of whom held up signs that read: “FREE ROSS.”  “If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, to a sentence of time served,” Trump said, winning the largest cheers of the night. “He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home.”  During his presidency, Trump considered intervening to release Ulbricht, but ultimately decided against the pardon.  Ulbricht, now 40, was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison by a judge who cited six deaths that resulted from drugs bought on his website and five people he tried to have killed.  BRONX RALLYGOERS REVEAL TOP 2 ISSUES THEY BELIEVE WILL HELP TRUMP DOMINATE IN BLUE STATE Ulbricht operated the website between 2011 and 2013, when he was arrested.  Trump also pledged that he would protect cryptocurrencies by stopping President Biden’s “crusade to crush crypto.”  “We’re going to stop it. I will ensure that the future of crypto and the future of Bitcoin will be made in the USA, not driven overseas,” Trump said. “I will support the right of self-custody. To the nation’s 50 million crypto holders, I say this: with your vote, I will keep [Senator] Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your bitcoin. And I will never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency.”  Trump’s appearance was part of an ongoing effort to reach would-be supporters in places that are not heavily Republican.  Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the convention on Friday.