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Tag: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

  • Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January

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    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of President Donald Trump who has become a critic, said Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.Greene, in a more than 10-minute video posted online, explained her decision and said she’s “always been despised in Washington, D.C., and just never fit in.”Greene’s resignation followed a public fallout with Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care.Trump branded her a “traitor” and “wacky” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year.Greene had been closely tied to the Republican president since she launched her political career in 2020.In her video, she underscored her longtime loyalty to Trump except on a few issues, and said it was “unfair and wrong” that he attacked her for disagreeing.”Loyalty should be a two-way street and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interest, because our job title is literally ‘representative,’” she said.Greene swept to office at the forefront of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement and swiftly became a lightning rod on Capitol Hill for her often beyond-mainstream views.As she embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory and appeared with white supremacists, Greene was opposed by party leaders but welcomed by Trump. He called her “a real WINNER!”Yet over time she proved a deft legislator, having aligned herself with then-GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who would go on to become House speaker. She was a trusted voice on the right flank, until McCarthy was ousted in 2023.

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of President Donald Trump who has become a critic, said Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.

    Greene, in a more than 10-minute video posted online, explained her decision and said she’s “always been despised in Washington, D.C., and just never fit in.”

    Greene’s resignation followed a public fallout with Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care.

    Trump branded her a “traitor” and “wacky” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year.

    Greene had been closely tied to the Republican president since she launched her political career in 2020.

    In her video, she underscored her longtime loyalty to Trump except on a few issues, and said it was “unfair and wrong” that he attacked her for disagreeing.

    “Loyalty should be a two-way street and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interest, because our job title is literally ‘representative,’” she said.

    Greene swept to office at the forefront of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement and swiftly became a lightning rod on Capitol Hill for her often beyond-mainstream views.

    As she embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory and appeared with white supremacists, Greene was opposed by party leaders but welcomed by Trump. He called her “a real WINNER!”

    Yet over time she proved a deft legislator, having aligned herself with then-GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who would go on to become House speaker. She was a trusted voice on the right flank, until McCarthy was ousted in 2023.

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  • GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will leave Congress after five turbulent years

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    (CNN) — Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced on Friday that she will be resigning from office in January, stunning some in her own party after a shocking, monthslong political pivot that catapulted her from one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies to one of his top antagonists.

    Greene dropped the news in a post on social media just days after her public falling out with Trump, who called her a “traitor” and said he’d support a GOP challenge to her House seat next year.

    In her statement, Greene said she wanted to avoid a nasty primary — while predicting that the GOP would lose its House majority in the midterms.

    “I have too much self-respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms,” Greene said in a statement.

    The decision to step down will cap a turbulent five-year career in Washington, during which Greene was publicly condemned for violent rhetoric on the House floor and booted from the hard-right Freedom Caucus over a feud with a fellow Republican — while wielding extraordinary influence in her party as one of Trump’s most trusted political allies on Capitol Hill.

    In the days since Trump’s “traitor” comments, Greene faced direct threats against her life, the congresswoman said in an interview with CNN. In the same interview, the conservative firebrand apologized for her own years of “toxic” rhetoric — comments that reverberated around the country amid an increasingly violent political culture.

    Greene had been contemplating her resignation for over a week, according to a person close to her, as the threats against her continued to escalate amid her falling out with the president.

    Her next steps remain unclear. But the Georgia congresswoman, who just months earlier had been discussed as a potential candidate for her state’s high-stakes Senate race, currently has no plans to run for any office, the person added.

    CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.

    In recent weeks, Greene criticized the president for being too focused on foreign policy and not doing enough with his domestic agenda at home — going as far as to side with Democrats over the contentious issue of costly enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire next month.

    Greene also became one of the White House’s most vocal critics of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. She and fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie accused the White House of attempting to conceal details of the files. Following fierce resistance, Trump ultimately signed an Epstein transparency measure into law earlier this week.

    “I’m very sad for our country but so happy for my friend Marjorie. I’ll miss her tremendously. She embodies what a true Representative should be,” Massie wrote on X, shortly after Greene’s announcement.

    Greene’s exit is likely to be quickly felt in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson must navigate a razor-thin majority. The Republican leader already faces the tall order in the new year of corralling his fractious conference to move on major legislation and further the president’s priorities.

    First elected in 2020, the Georgia congresswoman was known for vocally touting conspiracy theories and for her incendiary rhetoric, including prior remarks endorsing violence against Democrats in Congress.

    Her first year in office, a Democratic-led House under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the extraordinary step of stripping Greene of her committee assignments because of her past rhetoric endorsing violence and claims the deadly Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings had been staged.

    In a sign of Greene’s recent political turnaround, the Georgia congresswoman praised Pelosi’s leadership in an interview with CNN, saying of the longtime Democrat, “She had an incredible career for her party. … I served under her speakership in my first term of Congress, and I’m very impressed at her ability to get things done.”

    This story has been updated with additional details.

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    Sarah Ferris, Kaitlan Collins, Kaanita Iyer and CNN

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  • Speaker Mike Johnson’s next steps on government funding fight could determine whether he gets to keep leading the House GOP

    Speaker Mike Johnson’s next steps on government funding fight could determine whether he gets to keep leading the House GOP

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    (CNN) — Speaker Mike Johnson has a decision to make.

    With the election looming and another government funding deadline just around the corner, the speaker must find a way in the next several days to both govern for the country, avoid a shutdown that could cost his members in swing districts and keep the right flank of his party pacified enough to not imperil his own political future.

    It’s a tightrope he’s walked time and time again in government funding showdowns in the last year, on Ukraine aide and when it came to reauthorizing a key national security program, but this time the course Johnson charts could determine whether he can stay atop his leadership post after the election.

    “I don’t think he thinks about his speakership first. I think he thinks about the (future) of the country first. But let’s be honest. With him, it’s a very difficult needle to thread,” Rep. Lisa McClain, a Republican from Michigan, told CNN.

    While many of his allies are bullish on House Republicans’ chances to keep the House in November, they acknowledge there are still a lot of variables that need to play out. If Republicans keep the House, Johnson will need to secure  218 votes to become the speaker in January, a major lift if Johnson once again has a slim or even shrunken majority.

    Johnson for his part has maintained widespread popularity. Even many of the Republicans who once privately questioned whether Johnson was too green for the job have argued he’s grown quickly into it, taking on his right flank and surviving leadership challenges his predecessor could not weather.

    “It’s just hard from my standpoint no matter how this fight goes if we come back into the majority, it would be tough to make the argument that he shouldn’t be speaker,” said Rep. Drew Ferguson, a Republican from Georgia.

    There is also the potential that Republicans lose the House. Then, Johnson would need to convince a majority he’s still up for the job of leading the conference as minority leader, an easier mathematical problem that requires just a simple majority vote but one that could be complicated by a challenger if Republicans lose in a landslide.

    “When you lose the Superbowl by two touchstones, you fire the coach,” one GOP aide lamented on Johnson’s future if Republicans lose big.

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a key critic to Johnson, warned she didn’t see Johnson sticking around if Republicans lose the House.

    “That’s to be determined, but, you know, based on things that I’ve heard, and I’m not naming names, naming members, I don’t see that happening,” she said.

    On Wednesday, Johnson announced he was pulling the GOP spending bill that would have funded the government for six months and included the SAVE Act, legislation that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. The bill was on the cusp of failure after at least eight House Republicans said publicly they wouldn’t support it. But Johnson said that he would continue trying to build support for the bill.

    “We’re in the consensus building business here in Congress. With small majorities that’s what you do,” Johnson told reporters.

    But while Johnson maintained he planned to keep whipping the votes on the plan, there is no indication that the dynamics will change, forcing the Louisiana Republican to at some point consider his other options.

    Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia speaks to media outside the US Capitol, in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2024. (Sipa USA/Sipa USA/Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via CNN Newsource)

    A date that could matter (a lot) for Johnson

    If Johnson needs to build bipartisan consensus to get a funding bill across the finish line as he has had to do time and time again, Democratic leaders warn he’ll need to drop the SAVE Act from being tied directly to the funding bill. But whether Johnson will relent on the six-month spending bill remains to be seen in part because it could unlock a much easier path for his future.

    Punting another spending showdown until March could insulate Johnson from having to pass a massive end-of-year spending bill in December and then turn around and convince hardliners that he should keep the speaker’s gavel.

    Keeping the House might give him a victory to campaign on, but there are several Republicans including Greene who challenged Johnson’s speakership in the spring and who have already publicly registered their displeasure with Johnson.

    “I think it’s going to be really difficult for him,” Greene told CNN about Johnson’s chances of winning the gavel again if he cuts a spending deal with Democrats. “Eleven of my colleagues voted with me for a motion to vacate. However, you’re seeing a good number of my colleagues that weren’t part of that eleven now turning on him with a CR and SAVE Act because they know the writing on the wall.”

    Getting Democrats to sign onto a March deadline would be a hard sell for Johnson. Many Democrats want to clear the deck for a potential Harris administration, and the Biden administration has warned that a six-month continuing resolution could have devastating effects on military preparedness and even the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is facing a $12 billion shortfall going into the new fiscal year. A December funding bill would also provide Biden his last opportunity to include other legacy items that often ride along on a massive end-of-year spending bill.

    The next several days will be critical for Johnson to navigate carefully.

    “I think he’s doing the best job that he can, small margins that we have. It’s such a tight schedule. I mean, to me, it’s the job that he has I would not want,” Rep. Beth Van Duyne, a Republican from Texas, told CNN.

    The next several weeks could play out in several ways. Johnson could opt to quickly pivot after Wednesday to a plan to move a short-term spending bill until March that drops the SAVE Act in an effort to win over Democratic votes.

    On the other hand, Senate Democrats could act swiftly to force Johnson’s hand by offering a short-term spending bill that goes just to December and dare Johnson to reject it and risk a shutdown just months before an election.

    “He’s in the majority so he’s gotta figure out what the right combination is,” Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, told CNN of Johnson’s calculation. “It’s kind of like a Rubik’s cube.”

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    Lauren Fox and CNN

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  • Capitol Hill Catfight Continues: Conservatives Cosign Jasmine Crockett’s Clapback At Marjorie Taylor Greene

    Capitol Hill Catfight Continues: Conservatives Cosign Jasmine Crockett’s Clapback At Marjorie Taylor Greene

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    Source: Tom Williams/Kent Nishimura / Getty

    GOP Colleagues Secretly Applaud Crockett’s Response to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Outburst

    This drama-filled week of government clap-backs has led to several GOP lawmakers showing their support for Texas Democrat, Rep. Jasmine Crockett. This Republican reversal follows her fiery confrontation with a certain “Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body,” Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

    According to an interview on MSNBC’s The ReidOut, Crockett received “thumbs up,” winks, and even some compliments from across the aisle, revealing a surprising rift within the GOP ranks.

    A Fiery Exchange

    The drama unfolded during a House Oversight Committee hearing when Greene made a contentious remark about Crockett’s “fake eyelashes.” She also used the inappropriate jab to question Crockett’s ability read.

    As BOSSIP reports, Crockett did not hold back. Crockett later describes her experience working with Greene as “completely unproductive” in an interview with MSNBC’s Joy Reid.

    “Listen, she is showing the world who she is, and the fact that the Republicans continue to give her cover tells us who they are as well,” Crockett stated.

    NPR notes that, during the hearing, Crockett was repeatedly told by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., to “calm down,” and was told she was “out of control.”

    Crockett’s Backroom Support From GOP Colleagues

    Crockett goes on to tell Reid that the tides have turned. But that didn’t stop her from calling her colleagues out to take accountability. As many learned in school, bystanders are just as much a problem as the bully.

    “Now, they want to disassociate themselves from her, but in reality, when you don’t check her, you basically are complicit in the things that she does,” Crockett said.

    Despite the public discord, Crockett revealed to Joy Reid that several Republicans privately supported her stance.

    “I’ve had thumbs up, winks, and comments from the other side. Some of them said, ‘I like your lashes,’” Crockett shared, highlighting the lack of defense for Greene from her party members. “And they’re all patting me on my back.”

    The incident led to a debate on whether to strike Greene’s remark from the record. Crockett used this opportunity to question the fairness of congressional rhetoric rules with her now-classic clapback.

    Turning Controversy Into Advocacy

    Following the hearing, Crockett kept up the controversy by trademarking “B6” and using it to fundraise with merchandise.

    In response, Greene posted a workout video online, defending her physique. “Yes, my body is built and strong NOT with nips, tucks, plastic, or silicone, but through a healthy lifestyle,” Greene wrote on the social media platform X.

    Viral Moment Sparks Public Engagement

    Crockett’s bold stand not only earned her quiet conservative cosigns but also sparked widespread conversation on social media. The viral moment continues to inspire praise for Crockett’s fearlessness and disgust at Greene’s behavior.

    By leveraging her platform to highlight internal issues within the government, Crockett draws in those who may usually avoid these critical conversations.

    This kind of outreach is crucial in an era marked by political apathy. It reminds us that acts of integrity and courage can indeed inspire change and participation. This is even more true when social media moments spark movements. In the case of Crockett’s clapback, it became another battle against racism, bullying and gender inequality.

    The Bad-Built Karen Won’t Quit

    Will Rep. Greene just take her L? She continues to amplify the disgusting behavior and racist commentary that not only affects Rep. Crockett, but any woman that partakes in beauty practices.

    Afterall all, she definitely started this catfight! Don’t dish it if you can’t take it. Didn’t we all learn about how ugly it is to be a sore loser? What’s that saying? If you can’t take the heat, STAY OUT THE KITCHEN.

    Let’s Hope for Better Gov’t Conversations To Bring Change

    Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s response to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene exposed significant dysfunction in Congress. It also shows how little leaders really stand on business in these halls of power. If Greene didn’t get dragged for harassing Crockett, misogynoir would quietly continue as an unspoken rule like it always has.

    Crockett’s advocacy warrants support as voters grow more vigilant about who represents our communities ahead of the general election. We don’t need any more racists in the house…

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    Lauryn Bass

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  • Opinion: How Trump plans to win the presidency

    Opinion: How Trump plans to win the presidency

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    (CNN) — While many Democrats still consider former President Donald Trump to be about pure chaotic improvisation and impulse, they should consider that his campaign team has put together a very clear roadmap as to how they intend to work different institutions to their advantage. A potentially successful multi-prong strategy with electoral, media, legal, legislative and third-party intervention appears to be in place.

    While 2020 was about subverting the Electoral College, Trump has been trying to work the rules to his advantage in 2024. In Nebraska, for example, Trump’s allies are attempting to pressure the legislature into changing their state rules so that they have a winner-take-all system. (Unlike the winner-take-all approach of most other states, Nebraska’s existing system distributes electoral votes proportionally to the candidate who is victorious in each of the state’s three congressional districts, with another two votes granted to the candidate who wins the statewide tally.)

    A shift in the rules would avoid a similar fate to 2020, when President Joe Biden won an electoral vote from one congressional district while Trump secured the other four. This time, Trump seems to wants them all, realizing that one vote could make the difference. These tactics build on the ways that Trump’s campaign had moved to shift primary rules to favor him.

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    Opinion by Julian Zelizer

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