Gideon Rubin is news writer for Raw Story, based in Northern California. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University, where he majored in history. He started out covering sports in the Bay Area, and his byline has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Los Angeles Daily News and The Philadelphia Daily News, among other publications. Before joining Raw Story, he was a local editor at Patch.
A former aide to ex-President George W. Bush warned fellow Republicans that pursuing an impeachment of President Joe Biden would likely be a one-way ticket to political catastrophe. Breaker Bushing
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum,” suggested it wasn’t clear to him that House Republicans fully understand the implications of pursuing an impeachment inquiry.
CNN reports that privately many House Republicans think it's a “foregone conclusion" that the House will pursue impeaching Biden over his son's business entanglements.
“Impeachment is not a slippery slope. It's a one-way path. And there's only one way to go once you start an inquiry,” Fleischer said.
“If House Republicans start an impeachment inquiry, there's no stopping it, and that's what they need to recognize. They will unleash an internal Republican Civil War. If they start the inquiry and they don't proceed to impeachment, and they may not have the votes to impeach, which could ultimately be the worst biggest backfire for Republicans.”
Iowa is bundled up and ready to kick off the 2024 presidential campaign with its famed quirky caucus.
With bone-chilling cold gripping the state, former President Trump is aiming for a landslide win over rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.
Trump, who leads in polls with more than 50% support, hopes to eviscerate his opponents and head on to the tricky next contest in New Hampshire next Tuesday with the political wind at his back.
Iowa has a history of delivering major political upsets, but most political pundits say Trump’s grip on the GOP conservative base should help him deliver an expected victory.
Legal analyst Lisa Rubin was in the New York courtroom last week during the final day of Donald Trump's fraud trial. She explained that it became undeniable that the presiding judge, Arthur Engoron, knew that the ex-president "played" him.
As Trump begins to attack a new judge, this time in the E. Jean Carroll case, there's a new opportunity for a new Trump target.
Judge Lewis Kaplan presided over the first Carroll case last spring, where a jury ruled against Trump.
"And although Trump never set foot in his courtroom, he's well familiar with Judge Kaplan's rulings," Rubin said on MSNBC. "Judge Kaplan ruled that because a jury found last spring that Donald Trump had sexually [abused] and defamed E. Jean Carroll, those issues are not up for debate at this trial, much like Rudy Giuliani's defamation filed with respect to those two Georgia election workers that recently included the only issue here is about damages."
Read More: Some Republicans hedge while others flee when asked about Trump-Carroll verdict
She explained that Trump is testing how far he can push this judge, but she expects Kaplan to be less patient than Engoron.
"That's both because of the differences between federal and state court, but also because he picked the wrong guy to mess with," Rubin said. "Lewis Kaplan is the same judge who presided over Sam Bankman-Fried's recent federal trial. He is known for being smart, no-nonsense, and particularly protective of the people in his courtroom and the courthouse. I think you'll see if Trump tries more shenanigans, it's not going to work with Lewis Kaplan."
While Trump has complained that he wants to attend the trial and that the judge put him in a difficult position with the dates for the case. The judge made it clear that the trial would not be delayed. Rubin said she doubts Trump will show up at all.
MSNBC host Alex Witt recalled the Trump meltdown in court before Engoron on Thursday and asked what Rubin gathered from the judge as he watched the drama unfold.
"I think that the judge knew that he had been played," said Rubin. "Obviously, we saw that email exchange between Judge Engoron and the lawyers at the attorney general's office, and the lawyers representing Trump. In that penultimate email, he said to Trump lawyer Chris Kise, take it or leave it. And yet, you saw a much more subdued Judge Engoron on Thursday. He was almost exasperated."
She noted that Trump's team ran out the clock on its statements, but Chris Kise stood up and said Trump wanted time to speak.
Read More: 'He can't control himself': Trump put on notice judges may be forced to jail him
"I think at that point, Engoron was exhausted," said Rubin. "But I will also note Alex, for you and our viewers, he had faced a bomb threat at this home that morning. That's not to say that former President Trump was responsible for that, but I wonder how much a person can be attacked and threatened before they are just tired, and they give in."
She called it the most "dangerous" piece of the ordeal. Ultimately, Trump got everything he wanted by using attacks and taking advantage of terrorism.
See the discussion in the video below or at the link here.
New York judge knew he'd been played by Trump: legal analystyoutu.be
Former President Donald Trump told his supporters to attend Iowa caucuses even if it literally kills them.
During a Sunday speech in Iowa, Trump urged attendees to participate in a caucus for him on Monday.
"You can't sit home," the former president insisted. "If you're sick as a dog, you say, darling — even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it. Remember, if you're sick, if you're just so sick, you can't, darling, I don't think..."
"Get up," Trump replies to himself from an imagined wife's point of view.
ALSO READ: ‘Official’ Trump calendar omits a critical detail
"Yes, darling," he remarked, "ultimately, we know who calls the shots."
Trump went on to ensure supporters they would be safe in caucusing for him.
"You're going to be safe," he promised. "And again, it's going to be all indoors."
Trump said the goal was "taking our nation back."
Watch the video below from RSBN or at the link here.
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