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Tag: mark kelly

  • The Only Oath Trump Respects Is to Himself

    Convicted insurrectionist and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, with a tattoo of Trump surviving an assassination attempt.
    Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

    In recent days Donald Trump has gone completely medieval on six Democratic members of Congress, all of them military or intelligence-agency veterans, who ran an ad reminding their former comrades in arms that they aren’t obliged to obey illegal orders. In a blizzard of Truth Social posts, Trump called the lawmakers “traitors,” accused them of “seditious behavior, punishable by death,” and suggested they be locked up immediately. Soon thereafter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Senator Mark Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain, might be called back to active duty in order to be court-martialed over “serious allegations of misconduct.”

    Subsequently the FBI contacted the six Democrats to arrange interviews and investigations about their involvement in the ad. One of them, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, said, “The President directing the FBI to target us is exactly why we made this video in the first place.” And the four House members who participated in the ad (Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire) released a joint statement defiantly responding to the FBI move: “No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.”

    Team Trump is obviously going far beyond anything it needed to do to address the ad. As Jonathan Chait noted, “The Trump administration could have deployed an obvious defense: What are you talking about? We’re not issuing or planning any illegal orders.” The ad did not accuse the administration of having already issued illegal orders. It simply observed that “this administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.” That’s a rather incontrovertible statement, given Trump’s deployments of National Guard units in various cities, and of Marines in California, to deal with entirely legal protests. Yes, the White House seems to believe a vast number of Americans are traitors and insurrectionary conspirators. But the fact remains that Trump fully expects members of the military to engage in rare domestic law-enforcement activities that at least skirt the laws and the Constitution. It’s a legitimate problem.

    Even if you believe all orders by this president are by definition lawful, or that they must be obeyed even if they aren’t, there’s a pretty serious inconsistency problem for the administration. You know who else takes the position — and takes it to an extreme — that oaths taken to defend the Constitution outrank any orders that might violate it, even from a president, and even after uniformed service has ended? Trump’s allies in the Oath Keepers organization. This right-wing group recruits active and retired military and law-enforcement personnel who are asked to put into practice their elevation of oaths over orders and over laws they deem unconstitutional. They don’t just appeal to the patriotic conscience: They have defined views on the many laws and public policies they feel no compunction to obey, beginning with absolutely any regulation of firearms and extending to private-property rights, which they consider sacrosanct. And indeed, when the Oath Keepers believe politicians are plotting to violate their rights, they are committed to do something about it preemptively, which is why the group is deeply invested in an array of far-right conspiracy theories.

    The Oath Keepers (along with the similarly militant Proud Boys) have been on the radical fringe of the MAGA movement and were very involved in planning and executing the January 6 insurrection. A significant number of the Capitol rioters arrested, investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned for involvement in that assault on the 2020 election results were Oath Keeper and Proud Boys rank and file. They were among the 1,500 “J6 patriots” pardoned by Trump on the first day of his second term. Five Oath Keepers who were convicted of playing a particularly large role in organizing the insurrection received commuted sentences and were set free the same day as the pardons. They included Oath Keeper founder Stewart Rhodes, a sort of Johnny Appleseed of sedition in the name of constitutional rights.

    So if people like Rhodes and his confederates are viewed as MAGA heroes for acting violently on their constitutional convictions while breaking laws and defying the legitimacy of a duly elected president of the United States, why should six Democratic members of Congress get treated as “traitors” for the mere suggestion that illegal orders might be issued and should be disobeyed? Aren’t they “oath keepers” too, without all the conspiracy theories and weapons caches?

    The inescapable conclusion is that Trump respects oaths taken to him and his causes, not to the presidency or to the Constitution. He has repeatedly placed himself above all laws, and his understanding of the Constitution is defined by his famous comment that “I have an Article 2 where I have the right to do anything I want as president.” His position atop an inviolable chain of command governing the military is personal, not institutional. In his mind, he is in the process of saving America from destruction every day and thus is the sole legitimate object of patriotic duty. No wonder he so often identifies opposition to his will with “insurrection” and is enraged by reminders of the limits of his power. That’s the real crime committed by the six Democrats he wants to jail or hang.


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    Ed Kilgore

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  • FBI opens inquiry into 6 Democrats appearing in video that urged defying illegal orders, lawmakers say

    Washington — The FBI has opened an inquiry into six Democratic members of Congress whom President Trump accused of “seditious behavior,” according to several lawmakers. 

    The group appeared in a video last week that called on service members and members of the intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.” 

    In a statement Tuesday, four House members said the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeant at arms to arrange interviews with the lawmakers. 

    Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said Tuesday that the FBI’s counterterrorism division notified the lawmakers on Monday night that “they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.” 

    The group of lawmakers included Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. 

    The Justice Department and FBI declined to comment. 

    At an event in her home state on Tuesday, Slotkin called the move a “scare tactic” by Mr. Trump. 

    “To be honest, the president’s reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video,” she said. “He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with. He does not believe the law applies to him … which is exactly why we made the video, to give people some assurance that they weren’t alone as they watch this stuff unfold.” 

    The four House members said Mr. Trump is “using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress” and said they “will not be bullied.” 

    “No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they said. 

    On Monday, the Pentagon said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations against Kelly, a former U.S. Navy captain, to determine whether he should be recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings over his involvement in the video. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked the secretary of the Navy to complete a review of Kelly’s conduct by Dec. 10. 

    At least two Republican senators have defended Kelly in wake of the military’s review. 

    “To accuse him and other lawmakers of treason and sedition for rightfully pointing out that servicemembers can refuse illegal orders is reckless and flat-out wrong. The Department of Defense and FBI surely have more important priorities than this frivolous investigation,” Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said. 

    GOP Sen. John Curtis of Utah commended Kelly’s public service, also saying, “I respect Mark Kelly and value his friendship.” 

    Jacob Rosen

    contributed to this report.

    Caitlin Yilek

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  • FBI opens inquiry into 6 Democrats appearing in video that urged defying illegal orders, lawmakers say

    Washington — The FBI has opened an inquiry into six Democratic members of Congress whom President Trump accused of “seditious behavior,” according to several lawmakers. 

    The group appeared in a video last week that called on service members and members of the intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.” 

    In a statement Tuesday, four House members said the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeant at arms to arrange interviews with the lawmakers. 

    Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said Tuesday that the FBI’s counterterrorism division notified the lawmakers on Monday night that “they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.” 

    The group of lawmakers included Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania. 

    The Justice Department and FBI declined to comment. 

    At an event in her home state on Tuesday, Slotkin called the move a “scare tactic” by Mr. Trump. 

    “To be honest, the president’s reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video,” she said. “He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he’s not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with. He does not believe the law applies to him … which is exactly why we made the video, to give people some assurance that they weren’t alone as they watch this stuff unfold.” 

    The four House members said Mr. Trump is “using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass members of Congress” and said they “will not be bullied.” 

    “No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they said.” 

    On Monday, the Pentagon said it is conducting a review of misconduct allegations against Kelly, a former U.S. Navy captain, to determine whether he should be recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings over his involvement in the video. 

    Jacob Rosen

    contributed to this report.

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  • Sen. Kelly responds to Pentagon investigation over video urging military to defy illegal orders

    The Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona to see if he should be punished for alleged misconduct. Kelly is part of a group of Democratic lawmakers who released a video calling on members of the military to “refuse illegal orders.” The senator said, “if this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work.”

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  • Marjorie Taylor Greene eyes political future after announcing she’ll resign from Congress


    Marjorie Taylor Greene eyes political future after announcing she’ll resign from Congress – CBS News









































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    The political world is still reacting to Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s announcement that she is resigning from Congress in January. CBS News chief Washington analyst Robert Costa has more.

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  • Sen. Mark Kelly says he learned about Pentagon investigation from social media

    The Pentagon is now investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona after he participated in a video with other Democratic lawmakers urging military and intelligence personnel to defy “illegal orders.” CBS News congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns has the latest.

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  • Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for breach of military law after video that urged defying illegal orders

    Washington — The Pentagon indicated that it’s investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former U.S. Navy Captain, after he was among a group of lawmakers who released a video calling on service members and members of the intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.”

    In a social media post, the Pentagon said it had received “serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly, saying “a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”

    Kelly told CBS News that he learned about the investigation via social media.

    “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” Kelly said in a response on X. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”

    Kelly was one of six Democratic lawmakers who released a video last week urging service members and members of the intelligence community to defy “illegal orders,” citing threats to the Constitution. The lawmakers, who are veterans and former national security officials, also included Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire. 

    The Pentagon cited federal laws that prohibit “actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces,” saying in the post that violations “will be addressed through appropriate legal channels.”

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday in a social media post that the video was “despicable, reckless, and false.”

    “Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of ‘good order and discipline,’” Hegseth wrote. “Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger.”

    Hegseth said that five of the six lawmakers do not fall under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction, but added that Kelly does, “and he knows that.”

    “As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation-lending the appearance of authority to his words,” Hegseth said. “Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.”

    The development comes as President Trump has railed against the lawmakers for the video in recent days, saying they should be arrested and face trial for “seditious behavior.” The president also posted, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” and he reposted, “HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!” Mr. Trump later clarified that he’s “not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble.”

    Kelly, who appeared Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” said Mr. Trump should understand that his words “could have serious, serious consequences.”

    “His words carry tremendous weight, more so than anybody else in the country, and he should be aware of that, and because of what he says, there is now increased threats against us,” Kelly said. 

    Margaret Brennan

    contributed to this report.

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  • Trump’s Violent Rhetoric Is FLAMING As He Endorses ‘Hang Them’ Message After Calling For Democrats’ Arrests: ‘Punishable By Death’!! – Perez Hilton

    Donald Trump has said a lot of awful things in the past, but his latest comments toward a group of democrats is a whole new horrifying level…

    On Tuesday, Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Elissa Slotkin, Representative Chris Deluzio, Representative Maggie Goodlander, Representative Jason Crow, and Representative Chrissy Houlahan — all of whom have military or intelligence backgrounds — released a video urging soldiers to ignore any illegal orders and remember they swore an oath to the Constitution, not to Trump or anyone else in the chain of command.

    Related: Trump’s JAW-DROPPING Defense Against Question About Journalist’s Murder

    They did not call for the opposition of any specific orders or policies, but sent an important reminder about their duties, saying:

    “This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.”

    Watch it for yourself (below):

    Trump, of course, responded days later. And he dropped a few extremely problematic posts. He took to Truth Social on Thursday morning to first call for the arrest of all six politicians:

    “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET. President DJT”

    It’s bad enough the president wants lawmakers, who didn’t say anything illegal or engage in “seditious behavior,” arrested just because he disagrees with him. However, Trump took things to a whole new scary level when he re-posted a message calling for their EXECUTION! He shared a social media user’s comment that said:

    “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”

    WTF! He added in another post:

    “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”

    Trump continued to threaten them, writing:

    “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

    We cannot stress enough how irresponsible and dangerous his threats are in this day and age, especially when politically motivated violence is more prevalent than ever. You know there are some twisted folks out there who will take his words to heart. Trump not only put those six democrats lives at risk but also possibly their own families, all because he didn’t like what they said. This is not OK.

    Those politicians have since released a joint statement condemning Trump. They wrote:

    “We are veterans and national security professionals who love this country and swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us from that sacred obligation. What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law. Our servicemembers should know that we have their backs as they fulfill their oath to the Constitution and obligation to follow only lawful orders. It is not only the right thing to do, but also our duty.”

    They then stressed that everyone should slam Trump’s incitement of political violence:

    “But this isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity. In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.”

    What are your reactions, Perezcious readers? Sound off in the comments.

    [Image via MEGA/WENN]

    Perez Hilton

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  • Trump calls six Democratic lawmakers ‘seditious’ and urges arrests

    President Donald Trump on Thursday accused six Democratic members of Congress of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.Trump’s post was referring to lawmakers who previously served in the military or intelligence community who were featured in a social media video posted this week telling service members they do not have to carry out “illegal orders.”“Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET,” Trump wrote, going on to add in a subsequent Truth Social post: “LOCK THEM UP???”The lawmakers seen in the video are Sens. Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan; Mark Kelly, of Arizona; U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, of Pennsylvania; Maggie Goodlander, of New Hampshire; Chrissy Houlahan, of Pennsylvania; and Jason Crow, of Colorado.In that video, they say, “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. Know that we have your back, don’t give up the ship.”The lawmakers did not specify what orders they were talking about, but they all framed their message as a warning about the rule of law. “We have been in contact with the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of these Members and their families. Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed,” House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar said in a statement.

    President Donald Trump on Thursday accused six Democratic members of Congress of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

    “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

    Trump’s post was referring to lawmakers who previously served in the military or intelligence community who were featured in a social media video posted this week telling service members they do not have to carry out “illegal orders.”

    “Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET,” Trump wrote, going on to add in a subsequent Truth Social post: “LOCK THEM UP???”

    The lawmakers seen in the video are Sens. Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan; Mark Kelly, of Arizona; U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, of Pennsylvania; Maggie Goodlander, of New Hampshire; Chrissy Houlahan, of Pennsylvania; and Jason Crow, of Colorado.

    In that video, they say, “No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. Know that we have your back, don’t give up the ship.”

    The lawmakers did not specify what orders they were talking about, but they all framed their message as a warning about the rule of law.

    “We have been in contact with the House Sergeant at Arms and the United States Capitol Police to ensure the safety of these Members and their families. Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed,” House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar said in a statement.

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  • 10/19: Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan

    This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican Sen. Katie Britt discuss the government shutdown as an impasse in Congress nears the three-week mark, and weigh in on the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats. Plus, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde joins.

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  • Open: This is

    This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican Sen. Katie Britt discuss the government shutdown as an impasse in Congress nears the three-week mark, and weigh in on the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats. Plus, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde joins.

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  • Sen. Mark Kelly says

    Sen. Mark Kelly says

    Sen. Mark Kelly says “there is more we can do” than 2022 gun safety bill – CBS News


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    Sen. Mark Kelly tells “Face the Nation” that while the 2022 bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a “step in the right direction,” it’s “only one step. There is more we can do.”

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  • 4/16: Face The Nation

    4/16: Face The Nation

    4/16: Face The Nation – CBS News


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    This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” the head of the Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, will talk about the economy. Plus, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly joins us as the National Rifle Association wraps up.

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  • Democratic Arizona senator says there are ‘risks involved’ in potential Trump indictment | CNN Politics

    Democratic Arizona senator says there are ‘risks involved’ in potential Trump indictment | CNN Politics


    Washington
    CNN
     — 

    Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly acknowledged there are “risks involved” in the potential indictment of former President Donald Trump by the Manhattan district attorney while reiterating that “nobody in our nation is or should be above the law.”

    “I would hope that if they brought charges that they have a strong case, because this is, as you said, it’s unprecedented. And, you know, there’s certainly, you know, risks involved here,” Kelly said in an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

    Kelly also defended Trump’s calls on social media for his supporters to stage protests and “take our nation back” ahead of a possible indictment and called on law enforcement agencies to do their part to keep any protests peaceful.

    “The president’s supporters, they have First Amendment rights, and they should be able to exercise those peacefully. I think it’s going to be important for law enforcement to pay attention to, you know, protests and make sure it doesn’t rise to the level of violence,” Kelly told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

    Trump said Saturday he expects to be arrested in connection with the yearslong investigation into a hush money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels and called on his supporters to protest any such move.

    In a social media post, Trump, referring to himself, said the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week” – though he did not say why he expects to be arrested. His team said after Trump’s post that it had not received any notifications from prosecutors.

    The former president has been agitating for his team to get his base riled up and believes that an indictment would help him politically, multiple people briefed on the matter told CNN – a posture that potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu acknowledged on Sunday in a separate interview with Tapper.

    “I think it’s building a lot of sympathy for the former president,” Sununu said on “State of the Union.”

    “So, I just think that the – not just the media, but really a lot of the Democrats have misplayed this, in terms of building sympathy for the former president. And it does drastically change the paradigm as we go into the ’24 election,” he said.

    Kelly on Sunday declined to say whether he would support fellow Arizona senator Independent Kyrsten Sinema if she decides to run for re-election, but praised her record in the Senate, calling her “very effective.”

    “I’ve worked with her very closely over the last two years. I mean, really, in a very positive way. She’s very effective in the United States Senate. We’ve gotten a lot done and I look forward to doing that, you know, over the next months in the – in the rest of this year,” Kelly said.

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  • 2022 Arizona Senate race: Mark Kelly projected to defeat Blake Masters and win reelection

    2022 Arizona Senate race: Mark Kelly projected to defeat Blake Masters and win reelection

    If Masters wins, he’d flip a key seat as the GOP tries to gain control of the U.S. Senate, and at age 36, he would be the youngest senator in Arizona’s history.

    Base Republican voters said immigration and border security motivated them to support Masters, according to CBS News polling while Democrats in the state said abortion rights were an important factor in getting them to the polls for Kelly.


    Arizona Senate debate showdown

    03:46

    During the primary, Masters leaned into a far-right racist conspiracy known as the “great replacement theory,” which claims that Democrats are supporting illegal immigration because they want to use people of color to subvert the power of white voters. 

    Kelly’s campaign relied on abortion rights to energize base Democratic voters, but the economy and inflation were top concerns for many general-election voters in Arizona.

    High gas prices and rising inflation handed Masters a line of attack against Kelly. And he also attempted to tie Kelly to President Biden’s low favorability in the state.

    Kelly appealed to moderate voters, pointing out that he had stood up to Mr. Biden on immigration, arguing that unlike most Democrats who favored ending the use of Title 42 — a Trump era policy that allowed the government to deport migrants at the border because of the COVID-19 pandemic — he had opposed ending it without first coming up with a comprehensive border response.

    Republican operatives in Arizona told CBS News that Masters might not be able to attract enough moderate voters to win in November. After the primary, Masters began making a play for these voters, editing his campaign website to soften his language on issues like abortion, gun control, immigration, and the 2020 election. He also dropped language from his site suggesting Trump had won the 2020 election.  

    In the lone Senate debate before the election, Masters expressed more moderate views about the 2020 election, saying for the first time that Mr. Biden was legitimately elected president and acknowledged there was no evidence that the 2020 elections were rigged, in a pivot to the middle. 

    Instead, he blamed “big tech and big media” for “censor[ing] the Hunter Biden crime story,” and putting their “thumb on the scale to get Joe Biden in there.” 

    Afterward, Trump called Masters and told him his answer on the 2020 election was “soft” and could cost him Senate race. He compared Masters unfavorably to GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. 

    “Kari is winning with very little money, and if they say, ‘How is your family,” she says, “The election was rigged and stolen.’ You’ll lose if you go soft, you’re going to lose that base,” Trump was seen telling Masters on Tucker Carlson Originals, which has been following Masters’ campaign. 

    A week after the debate, Masters was back on Fox News, saying he still believes if there had been a free and fair election, Trump would be in office today. “If everyone followed the law, President Trump would be in the Oval Office,” Masters said on FOX News.

    While Masters navigated his loyalty to Trump, Kelly tried to distance himself from Mr. Biden. He said when he was first elected, he realized Democrats “don’t understand” the immigration issue at the border and Republicans just want to politicize the topic.  

    Kelly maintained a significant fundraising and television ad spending advantage throughout the campaign.

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  • Mark Kelly wins Arizona Senate race, bringing Democrats one seat away from majority, NBC News projects

    Mark Kelly wins Arizona Senate race, bringing Democrats one seat away from majority, NBC News projects

    U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and his wife former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, daughters Charlotte, Samantha and son in law Mark Sudman wave during his election night rally at the Rialto Theatre on November 08, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona.

    Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images

    Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly will hold on to his U.S. Senate seat in Arizona, pushing Democrats closer to retaining control of the Senate, NBC News projected.

    Kelly was leading Republican candidate Blake Masters, who was former President Donald Trump’s pick in the key swing state, by almost six percentage points with 85% of the votes in as of Friday night. With Kelly’s win, Democrats need just one of the two seats in Nevada or Georgia that haven’t been called yet.

    In Nevada, Republican candidate Adam Laxalt was ahead by 1 percentage point with 88% of the votes counted as of Friday morning. Georgia’s Senate race is headed to a runoff election on Dec. 6 between GOP candidate Herschel Walker and incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, who was leading by more than a percentage point.

    Kelly raised and spent vastly more than venture capitalist Masters, bringing in over $81.8 million and spending over $75.9 million through mid-October. Masters, by comparison, raised $12.3 million and spent just $9.7 million over the same time frame, according to data compiled by the Federal Election Commission.

    The Arizona Democrat campaigned on a platform of bipartisanship and promoted his willingness to work across the aisle with Republicans. He was elected to the Senate in 2020 to finish the term of Republican Sen. John McCain, who died of an aggressive form of brain cancer.

    Kelly recently distanced his stance on immigration from the Biden administration when he came out against the decision to end Title 42. The policy, which began during the Trump administration, prevented migrants from entering the country due to Covid.

    The Arizona Democrat has also pushed hard for border security. He recently referred to the influx of migrants at the southern border as “a mess” during a debate.

    “When the president decided he was going to do something dumb on this and change the rules that would create a bigger crisis, I told him he was wrong. So I pushed back on this administration multiple times,” Kelly said in October.

    But Kelly was also a chief negotiator in the CHIPS and Science Act, a key component of President Joe Biden’s economic policies that was signed into law in August.

    A former NASA astronaut and Navy pilot, Kelly is married to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a gunshot wound to the head in 2011.

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  • We may not know who controls the U.S. Senate until December; House could be decided much sooner

    We may not know who controls the U.S. Senate until December; House could be decided much sooner

    The question of which political parties control one or both chambers of Congress for the next two years could take until early December to sort out.

    But whether Republicans have managed in the midterm elections to narrowly wrest majority control away from Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives could be resolved within the coming days as ballots are processed in 11 states.

    Republicans are projected to win 221 seats in the House, three more than the 218 needed to take the majority, while Democrats look like they will win 214 seats, according to NBC News. That estimate has a margin of error of seven seats. And election officials are still counting ballots in at least 31 races.

    And that result could be dragged out even further if one or more of the House races is so close it triggers a recount.

    As of Thursday, two days after polls closed around the nation, three seats in the Senate had yet to have winners projected by NBC News.

    All three of those seats, in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, are currently held by Democrats.

    The outcome of those races will determine if Democrats retain the slimmest possible majority in the Senate, with the potential to actually increase the majority slightly.

    While the results of Senate races in Arizona and Nevada could both be known by next week, Georgia is headed to a run-off special election on Dec. 6 because of the failure of either major-party candidate to garner more than 50% of the vote.

    Currently, there are 48 Democratic senators and two independents who caucus with them, compared with 50 Republican senators who make up the remainder of the chamber.

    Democrats hold the majority there since Vice President Kamala Harris, a fellow Democrat, has the power to break ties as president of the Senate.

    To maintain that control starting in January, Democrats need to win at least two of the three elections that haven’t been called yet.

    But the party gained some breathing room after Pennsylvania’s Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman defeated GOP contender Dr. Mehmet Oz for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who’s retiring.

    “Like all of you, I’m just watching and waiting for them to finish counting the votes,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told reporters Thursday. McConnell is favored to become majority leader, again, if Republicans win at least two of the remaining Senate races

    In Arizona, incumbent Democrat Mark Kelly had 51.4% of the votes cast as of Thursday, compared with 46.4% of the votes held by Blake Masters, his Republican challenger, who was trailing him by more than 95,000 votes.

    NBC News reported that 76% of the expected votes were in Arizona as of Thursday afternoon, with 670,000 ballots remaining.

    Arizona’s count tends to be slower than other states because of the need to verify the signatures of voters who dropped off so-called early ballots on Election Day. About 290,000 early ballots, which could have been turned in before Election Day, were submitted that day — an increase of 115,000 of the number of ballots seen that day in 2020.

    The results of several tens of thousands of early ballots that were delivered by hand to Maricopa County polling sites on Tuesday are expected to be released Thursday night.

    In Nevada, Republican challenger Adam Laxalt was leading Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, by 49.4% to 47.6%. NBC estimated that 84% of the expected vote had been counted, with a 165,713 ballots remaining.

    Nevada’s race could take several more days to resolve. Most of the votes were submitted by mail, and ballots that were postmarked by Election Day can be counted if they arrive by 5 p.m. PT Saturday,

    Clark County, Nevada, which is the nation’s 11th largest county by population, in a statement Thursday pushed back on claims by former President Donald Trump that cast doubt on the vote-counting process there.

    “We have heard his outrageous claims, but he is obviously still misinformed about the law and our election processes that ensure the integrity of elections in Clark County,” the county said. “First, we could not speed up the process even if we wanted to.”

    The county pointed out that by law it has to “check each signature on every mail ballot envelope, and if one does not match what is in our records, we are required by law to give that voter until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, to cure their signature.”

    “In addition, there are provisional ballots to process, and we will not be able to complete that task until we receive reports from the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday, Nov. 16. This process ensures that individuals do not vote twice in Nevada,” the statement said.

    In Georgia, the run-off on Dec. 6 was set after incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, received 49.6% of the vote, compared to 48.3% by his Republican challenger Herschel Walker, the former pro and college football star, while a third candidate got just over 2% of the votes. Georgia law requires a runoff of the top two candidates if no one gets more than 50% of the vote.

    Warnock, who is seeking his first full term, won a special election runoff for the seat in January 2021, along with Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Their double victory gave Democrats majority control of the Senate.

    The largest number of uncalled House seats are in California, where 15 races have yet to be called as of Thursday afternoon.

    Nevada has three uncalled House races.

    Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state each have two uncalled House races.

    Alaska, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York each have one uncalled House race.

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  • Here’s Why Arizona And Nevada’s Key Senate Races Are Still Undecided

    Here’s Why Arizona And Nevada’s Key Senate Races Are Still Undecided

    The results of pivotal races in Arizona and Nevada that could determine which party controls the Senate remain up in the air, and it could take several more days until there’s clarity on who won.

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  • Biggest Winners And Losers From The Midterm Elections

    Biggest Winners And Losers From The Midterm Elections

    After running to the polls to “vote” and feel like they have power, all the little sheep went home to watch their little streaming shows, eat their fast food, and consume all manner of societal opiates, keeping the flock passive and ripe for slaughter.

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  • Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly outraises GOP opponent Blake Masters going into final weeks of midterm campaign

    Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly outraises GOP opponent Blake Masters going into final weeks of midterm campaign

    Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, running for re-election to the U.S. Senate in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, appears in an undated handout photo obtained by Reuters on October 5, 2022.

    Handout | Via Reuters

    Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly outraised his opponent, Republican Blake Masters, in the third quarter, according to Federal Election Commission Records.

    Kelly’s campaign went into October, weeks before the midterm elections, with almost six times the amount of cash on hand.

    Kelly’s campaign raised just over $21 million from July 14 until Sept. 30. Masters, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, brought in over $4.7 million over that same time period.

    Kelly’s campaign went into October with over $13 million on hand while Masters had just above $2.8 million in his war chest. One of Masters’ top individual donations was a $4,950 contribution from the National Rifle Association. Masters, a wealthy businessman, contributed over $570,000 last quarter to his own campaign.

    Election Day is Nov. 8.

    The race was once seen as a strong pickup opportunity for Republicans in the battle for control of the Senate, but Kelly has been ahead in many of the most recent polls. A RealClearPolitics polling average has Kelly ahead by 4.5 points. The Cook Political Report marks the race as “lean Democrat.”

    Former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters (R-AZ) on stage during a rally ahead of the midterm elections, in Mesa, Arizona, October 9, 2022.

    Brian Snyder | Reuters

    The Senate is split 50-50, with Democrats having to rely on Vice President Kamala Harris for tie-breaking votes.

    A spokesperson for Kelly’s team pointed CNBC to a recent statement by campaign manger Emma Brown touting the senator’s fundraising haul. A spokeswoman for the Masters campaign did not return a request for comment.

    The lag in Masters’ fundraising versus Kelly has been a theme throughout the campaign. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that going into the third quarter, Kelly had raised over $52 million while Masters had brought in just under $5 million.

    The fundraising in the most recent quarter by both campaigns doesn’t include the amount raised by outside groups supporting each candidate. Saving Arizona, a pro-Masters super PAC that once saw $15 million from Masters’ ally and former boss, billionaire Peter Thiel, raised over $4 million from mid-July through the end of September. The super PAC, which can raise and spend an unlimited amount of money, has over $1.9 million on hand.

    Although Thiel did not contribute to the super PAC last quarter, some of the more recent top donations include a $3 million contribution from shipping supply magnate Richard Uihlein and $1 million from cryptocurrency executives Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

    Thiel has signaled that, with Masters behind Kelly in both fundraising and the polls, he’ll continue to fundraise for his former employee. Masters was until earlier this year the chief operating officer at Thiel Capital.

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