Welcome! There were 599 new scripted US TV series in 2022. Despite this, viewership fell in 19 of the top 20 networks.
HEADLINE: Biden, House GOP refuse to budge as key debt ceiling deadline looms - Politico
NEW: The Republican attacks against Ron DeSantis have begun.
BREAKING: Ukraine's interior ministry leadership killed in helicopter crash - BBC
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Clip of the day:
Bonus clip:
MUST WATCH: What Kemp Said at Davos
For everyone worried about Brian Kemp going to speak to the “globalist” at Davos, we have the clip. Kemp championed the private sector and advocated for securing the southern border. He also criticized the Davos-backed COVID lockdowns and compared those who attacked him for reopening Georgia to people living in their parent's basement.
Return of the Establishment
Following poor performances from populist, Trump-affiliated Senate candidates, the 2024 GOP senate contenders are reminiscent of a pre-Trump era. The immediate speculation of Mitch Daniels challenging the Trump-aligned Jim Banks in Indiana’s open senate seat brought this theory to the forefront yesterday.
Why this matters: Simply put, populist, Trump-affiliated, celebrity-style candidates lost or underperformed their traditional Republican counterparts in the midterms. From Kari Lake in Arizona to Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania to Herschel Walker in Georgia, the trend was clear and Mitch McConnell and other Republicans are taking note.
What’s happening on the ground: Steve Daines, the newly crowned head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee has stated he will be much more involved in shaping primaries than Rick Scott, his predecessor. Traditional Republicans in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana are taking notice and will likely be making campaign announcements soon.
What if Diversity Trainings Are Doing More Harm Than Good?
Check out this piece from The New York Times. Here’s the paragraph that matters:
D.E.I. trainings are designed to help organizations become more welcoming to members of traditionally marginalized groups. Advocates make bold promises: Diversity workshops can foster better intergroup relations, improve the retention of minority employees, close recruitment gaps and so on. The only problem? There’s little evidence that many of these initiatives work. And the specific type of diversity training that is currently in vogue — mandatory trainings that blame dominant groups for D.E.I. problems — may well have a net-negative effect on the outcomes managers claim to care about.
Justice Department Considered but Rejected Role in Biden Documents Search
From The Wall Street Journal:
The Justice Department considered having FBI agents monitor a search by President Biden’s lawyers for classified documents at his homes but decided against it, both to avoid complicating later stages of the investigation and because Mr. Biden’s attorneys had quickly turned over a first batch and were cooperating, according to people familiar with the matter.
Americans For Prosperity
My friends at Americans for Prosperity hate dysfunctional government almost as much as I do. Unlike think tanks that produce esoteric term papers, Americans for Prosperity is focused on policy solutions that will directly improve people’s lives. They have the largest network of community activists in the country and need your help. Learn more at AmericansForProsperity.org/Erick
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