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The Republican Party is continuing to find ways to enrich Donald Trump even after he has left office.
"The Republican National Committee is moving part of its spring donor retreat next month to Mar-a-Lago from a nearby hotel for a dinner speech that will be headlined by former president Donald Trump, according to Republicans involved in the planning of the event. The move, which highlights the former president's continued grip over the GOP, comes amid a spat over the use by RNC and other Republican organizations of Trump's likeness and image in fundraising, as well as anxiety about how Trump plans to use his influence in the 2022 midterms," The Washington Post reported Monday.
<p>"The weekend retreat in early April for the party's most influential donors will be at a luxury hotel in Palm Beach, as in past years. But the RNC has decided to move the Saturday evening portion of the schedule to the former president's private club to accommodate Trump and guests who would like to visit the site, according to officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the plans. The national party will sign a contract with Mar-a-Lago to host the event and will be paying Trump's club for the use of the facilities and the meal, according to Republican involved in the planning, who declined to share the size of the fee," the newspaper reported.</p><p>The former president has been living at Mar-a-Lago since leaving Washington, DC on the day of Joe Biden's inauguration.</p><p>On Monday, the former president traveled to Trump Tower in New York City -- where he was <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-tower-2650970228/" target="_blank">greeted by a lone supporter</a>.</p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p>
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In a Sunday interview with Axios, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described former President Trump's hold over the Republican Party as something of a hostage situation.
The former President, Graham said, "could make the Republican Party something that nobody else I know could make it. He could make it bigger. He could make it stronger. He could make it more diverse. And he also could destroy it."
<p>The Senator continued to describe the former President along the lines of the duality of man. Trump, he said, has both a "dark side" and some "magic" in him. "What I'm trying to do is just harness the magic."</p><p>Prior to Trump's nomination in 2016, Sen. Graham had been a staunch critic of the former President, arguing that he was <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tomnamako/kook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>not mentally fit</u></a> for the role. After Trump was nominated, however, Graham quickly fell into Trump's good graces, becoming one of his most ardent allies. </p><p>Although Graham did not support Trump's impeachment, the Senator admitted that Trump "needs to understand that his actions were the problem" leading up the Capitol insurrection. </p><p>"Donald Trump was my friend before the riot," Graham said. "And I'm trying to keep a relationship with him after the riot. I still consider him a friend. What happened was a dark day in American history, and we're going to move forward."</p><p>He continued, "So here's what you need to know about me: I'm going to continue — I want us to continue the policies that I think will make America strong. I believe that the best way for the Republican Party to do that is with Trump, not without Trump."</p><p>The Senator's comments come amid a great reckoning amongst conservatives about Trump's influence in the future of the Republican Party.</p><p><a href="https://www.salon.com/2021/02/01/house-republicans-are-cracking-up-along-trump-lines/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Several Republicans</u></a>, such as Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and Sen. Mitt Romney. R-Utah, have expressed an interest in charting a new course without Trump. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538772-mcconnell-unloads-on-trump-morally-responsible-for-provoking-mob" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>criticized</u></a> Trump in the past several weeks, but said that he would ultimately support the former President's potential bid in 2024.</p><p>Trump has been selective about his endorsements in the upcoming Senate elections. Weeks ago, Trump <a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/02/26/trump-endorses-rep-anthony-gonzalez-opponent-max-miller-after-impeachment-vote-16th-congress/6841586002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>backed</u></a> the primary opponent of Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio, who was one of the ten Senators who voted to impeach him. The former President also endorsed <a href="https://www.kadn.com/content/news/President-Trump-Endorses-Senator-John-Kennedy-573920271.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Sen. John Kennedy</u></a>, R-La., <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article249529255.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Sen. Jerry Moran</u></a>, R-Kan., and <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/541248-trump-endorses-tim-scott-for-reelection" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>Senator Tim Scott</u></a>, R-S.C. the only black Republican in the Senate.</p><p>Trump has also shown signs of breaking with certain Republican organizations cashing in on his political capital. On Saturday, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/trump-sent-cease-desist-letters-gop-campaign-committees-n1259824" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>reported</u></a> that the former President's lawyers sent cease-and-desist letters to three Republican organizations –– the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the National Senate Committee –– demanding that they discontinue the usage of Trump's name and likeness.</p><p>During Trump's CPAC speech two weeks ago, the former President listed off the names of Congressional Republicans who voted to impeach him, urging his followers to "get rid of them all." He said that the only way to support "our efforts" is to elect Trump-supporting Republicans. </p>
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Oregon Dem caves to activists -- he will now support unions organizing and COVID relief checks
March 08, 2021
An Oregon Democratic is pledging to vote to support union organizing and offer COVID relief follow fierce pushback by local activists.
"U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) was the only Democrat in Oregon's congressional delegation to vote against President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief package, which sends $1,400 checks to most Americans. In fact, Schrader was one of just two Democratic representatives in the U.S. House to vote no," the Willamette Week reported Saturday. "The most recent vote was the last straw for local labor unions."
<p>"The Oregon AFL-CIO is organizing unions, workers and partner organizations for an afternoon rally on Monday, March 8 (coinciding with International Women's Day), in both Oregon City and Salem, where Schrader's district offices are located," the weekly reported. "The rally was prompted by Schrader's vote against the COVID-19 relief package and his vote against increasing the federal minimum wage, says Christy O'Neill, Oregon AFL-CIO's secretary treasurer. But this rally also serves as a way to urge him to vote yes on the Protecting the Right to Organize Act next week, a bill he voted against in 2020."</p><p>Oregon AFL-CIO president Graham Trainor blasted Schrader in a press release.</p><p>"Congressman Kurt Schrader has consistently stood with wealthy special interests and corporate America over the past decade, including his vote against the PRO Act in 2020 and most recently his shameful vote against the American Rescue Plan, the critical COVID-19 relief package passed by the U.S. House on Feb. 27," Trainor says. "Working families in Oregon's 5th Congressional District expect and deserve their leaders to fight for them, especially during a deadly global pandemic."<br/></p><p>In social media posts, Schrader announced he would support both bills.</p>
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<div style="margin:1em 0">Please see my statement on the PRO Act: https://t.co/lJj7GHQEP9</div> — Rep. Kurt Schrader (@Rep. Kurt Schrader)
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<div style="margin:1em 0">Tomorrow I will be voting in favor of the American Rescue Plan to provide targeted assistance across this country.… https://t.co/qOJmzoCUFg</div> — Rep. Kurt Schrader (@Rep. Kurt Schrader)
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<div style="margin:1em 0">And investing in vaccine distribution, testing and development is critical at this juncture when coupled with Presi… https://t.co/ZJGjoClLrD</div> — Rep. Kurt Schrader (@Rep. Kurt Schrader)
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