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Jim Jordan shrugs off Tyre Nichols' death because there's no law 'that can stop that evil'
January 29, 2023
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) suggested that he would not take any action after the death of Tyre Nichols because he said that there is no "law that can stop that evil."
During a Sunday interview on Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd asked Jordan what federal legislation Republicans would consider after five former Memphis police officers were charged with the murder of Nichols.
"Well, I don't know that there's any law that can stop that evil," the lawmaker insisted, calling the video of the killing "difficult to watch."
"What strikes me is just the lack of respect for human life," he continued. "So, I don't know that any law or any training or any reform is going to change. You know, this man is handcuffed; they continued to beat him."
ALSO IN THE NEWS: Legal experts stunned by 'jaw-dropping' report on Barr, Durham protecting Trump
"The fact that we saw that these five individuals did not have any respect for life," Jordan said, "And again, I don't think these five guys represent the vast, vast majority of law enforcement. But I don't know that there's anything you can stop the kind of evil we saw in that video."
The Republican added: "The federal government screws it up so many times."
Watch the video below from NBC or at the link.
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'Going too far': Evidence of 'Trump's lasting legacy' found in 5th Circuit of U.S. Court of Appeals
January 29, 2023
While the focus on Donald Trump's influence on the judiciary is normally centered on the three associate justices he appointed to the Supreme Court -- Amy Coney Barrett, Brent Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch -- his real impact is being felt in New Orleans where the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals resides and has been cranking out rulings so extreme it has created tension amongst the justices.
According to a deep dive by the Washington Post, Trump's imprint on the courts is on full display since he appointed a half dozen judges to that court who are described as "young, ambitious and outspoken" and have shaken things up with their disdain for previous rulings.
As the Post's Ann Marimow wrote, "Their rulings have at times broken with precedent and exposed rifts among the judges, illustrating Trump’s lasting legacy on the powerful set of federal courts that operate one step below the Supreme Court. Even some veteran conservatives on the court have criticized the newcomers for going too far."
Noting that four of the six served as advisors to Texas lawmakers, Marimow added, "With their provocative, colloquial writing styles, the judges are elevating their profiles in far-reaching opinions and public appearances, calling out 'cancel culture,' wokeness and sometimes even one another."
ALSO IN THE NEWS: 'All washed up': Republican insider says Trump needs to 'move on' because 'he's bleeding support'
Chief among them is Judge James C. Ho who has called for a boycott of Yale Law School students as law clerks because of free speech policies at their school that he finds deplorable.
According to the report, the 5th Circuit has now become the go-to court for conservative activists looking for a sympathetic ear.
In an interview, Steve Vladeck, a University of Texas School of Law professor, explained, "These are the most conservative federal judges in the country having cases specifically brought so that they can decide them at a time when the Supreme Court is reversing some of their decisions, but not all of them. There’s nothing to lose."
A former 5th Circuit law clerk who now works at the Georgetown Center for the Constitution at Georgetown Law agreed.
“The reason it seems like there’s so much fire coming from the 5th Circuit is that they are getting really divisive cases,” explained Alexa Gervasi. “If you send controversial cases to the 5th Circuit, you’re going to get controversial opinions.”
"Of the 17 full-time spots on the 5th Circuit bench, 12 are held by judges nominated by Republican presidents and four by judges picked by Democratic presidents. One seat remains unfilled by Biden. The appeals courts almost always hear cases in three-judge panels drawn mainly from the court’s full-time judges, making the odds of having more than one Democratic pick on any panel unlikely," the Post report notes. "But the combination on the 5th Circuit of big personalities and aspirations — and the large volume of highly charged cases — makes the New Orleans bench a standout."
Gervasi added that there is stiff competition when it comes to writing opinions, explaining, "Everyone wants to have their say. I don’t think that’s just posturing for the Supreme Court.”
The report added, "Just as the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, with a trio of justices picked by Trump, has gravitated away from the restrained, go-slow approach of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., so too has the 5th Circuit issued rulings that depart from precedent or the decisions of other appeals courts. Two of the new judges used to work for members of the Supreme Court’s conservative bloc: Oldham is a former clerk to Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who wrote the opinion eliminating the nationwide right to abortion, and Ho, a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas."
You can read more here.
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'Low energy Donald': Trump buried for 'monotonous' kick-off speeches in New Hampshire and South Carolina
January 29, 2023
Donald Trump's first two speeches touting his 2024 Republican Party presidential bid before smaller crowds in New Hampshire and South Carolina ended up being a rehash of old complaints and with a few lines that garnered applause but his demeanor was lacking the usual fire once seen at his raucous rallies.
On the morning after the speeches, MSNBC host Katie Phang shared clips of the president speaking and noted the lack of enthusiam from the former president when one considers how important the first foray into public in 2023 was to his third presidential bid with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and a bevy of GOP lawmakers nipping at his heels.
As the MSNBC host pointed out, the president's uncharacteristically short speeches were nothing less than monotonous.
"Do you guys remember low-energy Jeb?" Phang began, referencing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, "That was the moniker Donald Trump branded on the former Florida Governor, Jeb Bush while they compete with others for the Republican nomination in 2016."
"Well, now it seems like we have a low-energy Donald," she continued. "Here was Donald Trump yesterday when he tried to kick his third white house run into high gear."
RELATED: 'All washed up': Republican insider says Trump needs to 'move on' because 'he's bleeding support'
After showing a clip of the subdued former president telling the crowd, "So, we're here. We start, we begin. I want to thank New Hampshire for the warm welcome outside. We are so far ahead in the polls, both in New Hampshire -- one came out this morning, very nice poll -- we are way ahead. We had a tremendous period of time. We had a tremendous thing happening just two and a half years ago," Phang noted Trump's demeanor.
"King of the monotone," she pointed out, "Despite trump saying he is leading in the polls the reality is so far he is the only Republican who has even announced a run for president."
"Trump's first lethargic campaign stops of the 24 race come as sources are telling NBC News that [Rep.] Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is angling to be his vice president," she added. "The MAGA conspiracy theorist slash insurrectionist, slash election denier, reportedly sees herself as someone who can bridge the divide between the party's far-right hard-liners and its, quote, establishment wing."
Watch below or at the link:
MSNBC 01 29 2023 07 29 49 youtu.be
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