Happy Friday. I’m back at CPAC today and I’m still very interested in stopping by and checking it out titanic exhibit. Who will come with me? Here’s what happened today:
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A little more of what was before president trumpThe vice presidential finalists are auditioning today at CPAC.
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The tone of this year’s conservative conference is a little different. I feel like my energy has decreased. The attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 has also become a hot topic.
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Remember yesterday when I said Washington, D.C. would *love* to have pandas again? Well, apparently I made it clear. National Zoo is in talks with China about potentially sending pandas back to Washington, D.C. You’re welcome.
I kate martel A quick summary of this morning and what’s to come. Send tips, explanations, feedback, and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.
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I’ve been covering the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for nearly 10 years. It was very interesting to watch the evolution. The annual event usually features right-wing Republicans, but this year the atmosphere is different.
January 6th is a constant undercurrent. The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 has been fronted and discussed as an unbiased and patriotic protest. I saw a lot of people wearing “J6” themed outfits, like “Justice 4 J6” hats and handmade “Pardon the J6” T-shirts.A large poster in the main hall read“Let my people go. Free the prisoners of J6. End the election fraud.”
This was really shocking:The CPAC Marketplace has vendors selling eagle-themed T-shirts, Donald J. Trump’s golden hats, dazzling American flags, and more. I found a pinball machine with a January 6th theme reminiscent of “murder” Ashli Babbitt, “Stop the Steal,” “QAnon Sherman” who stormed the Capitol, and a screen showing video footage of January 6th.I Posted photos and videos A pinball machine on X, formerly known as Twitter. (The pillars seemed to be touching a nerve on both sides of the aisle.) X post / Observe the pinball machine in action
The 2024 conference…I feel like I’m getting sleepy. :This year’s CPAC seems to be less lively than previous years. It’s true that President Trump is scheduled to speak tomorrow and will be more active then, but for now the tone feels a little subdued.
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- governor of south dakota Kristi Noem (R) *Cough, Trump Vice Presidential Candidate, cough*
- jim jordan (Republican-Ohio)
- matt gates (Florida Republican Party)
- Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) *cough, another VP option*
- former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy*cough, I get that* Today’s topic
Hot topics among CPAC attendees: Who will you be? president trumpWho is the vice presidential candidate? He talked about some of the options he presented at CPAC.
^ CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp equivalent Turn it into an “apprenticeship”: “This is like our version of ‘The Apprentice,'” said Mr. Shapp. “They’re all going to have a chance to have their say and make conservative activists understand what their point is. And I’m sure Mr. Trump will be very interested in the results of the straw vote. There is.” (new york times)
💬 Live blog of today’s CPAC highlights
💻 Today’s CPAC Live Stream
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Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss had many close aides. : NBC News ben goggin“The amount of security protecting Liz Truss at CPAC is insane. Over seven people.” 📸 photograph
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This must have taken a long time to prepare: CPAC attendees wear “Lady MAGA USA” outfits with vintage dresses, sashes, and tiaras. 📸 photograph
these guys have a ball: check out These CPAC costumes.
“Abolish the nuclear family” signboard : The Independent eric michael garciaCPAC criticizes “overly broad definitions of domestic violence,” “restraining orders without evidence of abuse,” “false allegations,” “presumption of guilt,” and “ignoring that domestic violence is an equal opportunity issue.” I noticed the sign. photograph
Popular words I heard: Radical leftists, patriots, J6, Trump lawsuit, witch hunt, etc.
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Congress returns to Washington, D.C., next week with just a few legislative days left before federal funding expires.
Latest shutdown date: Some government offices will be closed on March 1st, others on March 8th.
What is happening now?: Leaders of both parties are racing to agree on a funding deal, but there are some major disagreements.
plus : Speaker mike johnson(R-Louisiana) is under tremendous pressure from Republicans in the conference not to compromise. Twenty-eight members of the House of Commons Freedom Caucus signed a letter to Mr Johnson reiterating their demands.
What to expect next week via The Hills Mike Lillis, Michael Schnell and al weaver
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hillZach Schoenfeld” is reported. Rudy GiulianiThe bankruptcy filing, stemming from a multimillion-dollar judgment against him for defaming two Georgia election officials, has provided new insight into the former New York mayor’s finances. ”
How much debt does Giuliani have?: In December, a federal jury ordered Giuliani to pay a whopping $148 million over baseless claims of voter fraud.
What is happening now?:”[Giuliani’s] A bankruptcy judge late Tuesday granted former President Trump’s longtime ally’s appeal of the defamation verdict, but in the meantime his bankruptcy proceedings have left Giuliani’s finances in turmoil, with his debts and overall position has become clear. ”
read more – “Rudy Giuliani’s bankruptcy shows the Trump alliance is drowning in debt.”
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©Raquel Natalichio/Houston Chronicle, via AP
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American spaceship Odysseus landed on the moon First Thursday since 1972 (!)
📹 Watch moon landing video
The meaning of this landing : “This landing is historic, being the first commercial spacecraft to soft-land on the moon since the Apollo program ended more than 50 years ago, and the first American-made spacecraft to land on the moon. The mission is of significant interest to Intuitive Machines’ major customer, NASA, which will use a robotic spacecraft developed by a private contractor to scout the Moon and later join the Artemis program. is aiming to send astronauts to the moon in the second half of the decade. ” (CNN)
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NBC News Alex Seitz-WaldAccording to reports, “A Democratic consultant working for a rival presidential campaign paid a magician in New Orleans to use artificial intelligence to make robocalls impersonating President Joe Biden.Text messages. Robocalls are now at the center of law enforcement investigations in multiple states, according to phone records and phone records,” a Venmo transaction the creator shared with NBC News. ” Full text — worth reading
back story: A few days before the New Hampshire presidential primary, voters received a robocall from a voice claiming:president biden, instructed Democrats not to vote in the primary. Many concerns were raised about election misinformation caused by AI. ( the hill)
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🍌 celebrate : Today is National Banana Bread Day!A place where all good bananas would like to live the rest of their lives.
🐼 Oh, I literally revealed this yesterday: NBC News I am reporting Washington’s National Zoo is reportedly in talks with China to potentially acquire two pandas. (washingtonian)
🌸 this is very unfortunate: WAMU has shut down local news site DCist. If this feels like “Groundhog Day” to you, DCist Closed in 2017 It was used by another owner and then restarted. (Axios)
📱 Gaining traction – this is scary : The New York Times published a study on child influencers. “Mothers run Instagram accounts for underage girls aiming for stardom. Many stumble into a dark underworld dominated by men, including pedophiles.” 5 takeaways from the Times
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The House and Senate are absent. president biden and vice president harrisI’m in Washington DC (always eastern)
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To have a fun weekend, the dog is awake here Hold a Doritos in your mouth. The sheer joy of realizing this is incredible.
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