Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children's liberty

Principles First Newsletter - June 29, 2023 - View in browser ([link removed])
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“Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children's liberty.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865)
16th President of the United States
Supreme Court strikes down college affirmative action programs
The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard, ending the systematic consideration of race in the admissions process.
NBC News
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Liz Cheney on what’s wrong with politics: ‘We’re electing idiots’
Ex-congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) offered a blunt assessment of her former profession Monday night: “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots.”
The Washington Post
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Why the World Still Needs Trade
The Case for Reimagining—Not Abandoning—Globalization
Foreign Affairs
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Most Americans support US arming Ukraine, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows
Solid majorities of Americans support providing weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia and believe that such aid demonstrates to China and other U.S. rivals a will to protect U.S. interests and allies, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey.
Reuters
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China’s ‘Peace Plan’ for Ukraine Isn’t About Peace
Beijing’s diplomatic overture has three ulterior motives.
Foreign Policy
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Kari Lake accused of defamation in suit filed by Arizona election official
Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer sues his fellow Republican, alleging she falsely accused him of causing her defeat in 2022.
The Washington Post
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Newsmax Staffers Hit With Subpoenas in 2020 Election Defamation Suit
Court filings rife with internal communications exposed Fox News’ post-election misinformation push. Newsmax could be next
Rolling Stone
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Trump’s GOP lead grows after latest indictment, poll finds
But a new national NBC News poll shows the party is split over whether Trump should remain the leader of the GOP.
NBC News
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As Legal Fees Mount, Trump Steers Donations Into PAC That Has Covered Them
A previously unnoticed change in Donald Trump’s online fund-raising appeals allows him to divert a sizable chunk of his 2024 contributions to a group that has spent millions to cover his legal fees.
The New York Times
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Faith in Trump dominates annual gathering of religious conservatives
Nothing elicited cheers from the crowd like mentions of the former president.
NBC News
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Trump courts evangelical voters at key 2024 GOP audition
Former President Donald Trump addressed evangelical Christian voters at a major gathering in Washington on Saturday, seeking to shore up their support as his legal troubles mount and rivals take aim at his character.
CNN
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Elise Stefanik Is a Nuisance On Her Way to Becoming a General Blight
She and Marjorie Taylor Greene want to "expunge" the former president's impeachments in advance of his 2024 presidential campaign.
Esquire
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House Freedom Caucus faces an internal purge push
At least two hardliners have discussed trying to boot members who no longer meet the group’s standards, according to three Republicans with knowledge of the talks.
Politico
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‘It’s just stupid’: DeSantis stumbles in New Hampshire
It once looked like Ron DeSantis might be poised for a breakthrough in New Hampshire. Not anymore.
Politico
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The next president's $4 trillion problem
Whoever is in the White House in 2025 will quickly face a series of legislative deadlines with impossible price tags: $3.6 trillion in tax cuts and $350 billion in Affordable Care Act subsidies are expiring — and that's after the debt limit will need to be addressed again.
Axios
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The Candidate Of The ‘Tucker-Rogan-Elon-Bannon-Combo-Platter Right’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAGA world’s favorite Democrat, is feeding Americans’ appetite for conspiracies.
The Atlantic
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Incrementalism Is Throttling U.S. Support for Ukraine
Ad hoc, one-off decisions and lagging implementation are undermining the strategic effects of U.S. military assistance.
Foreign Policy
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The New Republican Litmus Test Is Very Dangerous
Candidates who do not speculate about war with Mexico may be perceived as weak.
The Atlantic
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‘It was bravado’: Trump says he wasn’t holding up classified documents in 2021 meeting
Former President Donald Trump insisted on Tuesday that he was not showing off classified documents in an audio clip first published by CNN in which he referred to “highly confidential” material and “secret information” that he could no longer declassify.
Semafor
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DeSantis Influencer Blames Trumpers for Leaking Racist Messages
Pedro Gonzalez says the vile comments are from “a different, dumb season of my life.”
Daily Beast
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Tracking the 2024 Republican Primary
Trump maintains big lead over the GOP field.
Morning Consult
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Supreme Court Rejects Theory That Would Have Transformed American Elections
The 6-to-3 majority dismissed the “independent state legislature” theory, which would have given state lawmakers nearly unchecked power over federal elections.
The New York Times
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‘Ego, pure delusion and fantasy’: How the 2024 GOP field got so big
The hottest club in GOP politics right now is the party’s presidential primary.
Politico
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U.S. government debunks COVID lab-leak conspiracy theory, enraging conspiracy theorists
That sound you may have detected rising from the ether of social media this weekend was the gnashing of teeth by COVID conspiracy-mongers, outraged by a U.S. government report debunking their most cherished claims.
Los Angeles Times
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Trump explores messing with the first GOP debate
People familiar with Trump's deliberations say he's still inclined to skip the August debate —and is exploring options for a competing event.
NBC News
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Giuliani Sat for Voluntary Interview in Jan. 6 Investigation
The one-time personal lawyer for Donald Trump answered questions from federal prosecutors about the former president’s efforts to remain in power after his 2020 election loss.
The New York Times
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Arizona county elections director resigns, citing politicization and 'intimidation'
Geraldine Roll, the Pinal County elections director, wrote that “you idly stood by when I was attacked" in an email to the county’s manager.
NBC News
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Think Pieces of the Week
It’s Not Too Late for the Republican Party
Donald Trump this month became the first former or incumbent American president to be charged with crimes against the nation that he once led and wishes to lead again. He cynically calculated that his indictment would ensure that a riled-up Republican Party base would nominate him as its standard-bearer in 2024, and the last few weeks have proved that his political calculation was probably right.
J. Michael Luttig at the New York Times
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Hey tech folks: The West is not failing
A Russian rebellion should highlight the weakness of certain anti-American narratives.
Noahpinion
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Russia’s Mutiny Shows Ukraine Can Win the War
Wagner’s brief rebellion provides some validation for Ukrainian military gambles, and shows Russia’s internal divisions could force the Kremlin to make peace.
Daily Beast
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American Compass Points To Myths Not Facts
After reading the Financialization chapter of its new policy handbook, Rebuilding American Capitalism, it’s easier than ever to ignore American Compass. Still, rather than ignore it, I hope conservatives – the handbook’s target audience – pay very close attention to the report’s low quality of scholarship.
Forbes
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Podcasts of the Week
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The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg - Down In History
June 22, 2023

Jonah is joined by Robert Kagan—leading scholar of foreign policy and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution to discuss his new book. Their conversation covers everything from the origins of the League of Nations to the wackiness of Charles Beard, with some fiendishly nerdy musings on isolationism, nativism, and conservatism mixed in for good measure.

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Playbook Deep Dive - How evangelicals are setting the stage for Trump's return
June 22, 2023

Longtime evangelical kingmaker Ralph Reed explains why Trump has such a tight grip on religious conservatives, and what it will take for another 2024 hopeful to convert them to his or her cause.

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst alerts:

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:

Some of Trump’s rivals in the race are saying he shouldn't be tried at all because he is a former president & candidate. What do you think?
@AmbJohnBolton ([link removed]) : “I think that disqualifies those people from being president.” 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/VKpoQlGIbH ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 28, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:

Pretty simple. Thanks, Mike! 🇺🇸🇺🇦 [link removed]

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 27, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:

According to a @ReaganInstitute ([link removed]) survey, 75% of Americans think it’s important to the US that Ukraine wins the war against Russian aggression. That includes 86% of Dems & 71% of Reps. Nearly 60% support sending US military aid. pic.twitter.com/8N8t9uinrK ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 27, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:@Mike_Pence ([link removed]) : “Why are some Rs turning their backs on free market principles we've advocated for generations? The answer is not to demand gov’t intervention—it is to use free market principles to fix the free market itself.” [link removed]

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 26, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:@DonJBacon ([link removed]) (R-NE) defends Ukraine aid: Russia has "lost 200,000 troops in this year and a half. We have spent roughly 5% of what we budget for our military [on] Ukraine. And it's depleted roughly half of Russia's army."

Amen. [link removed]
— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 25, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert: @GovChristie ([link removed]) at Faith & Freedom: “I’m running because Donald Trump let us down. You can boo all you want. But our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do.”

Important room to say it in. Watch. pic.twitter.com/GBxLFGSH6g ([link removed])
— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 23, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:@AmbJohnBolton ([link removed]) : “By the time I left the White House, I was convinced he was not fit to be president. I think it is a danger for the United States if he gets a second term.”

It’s that simple. Thanks, Ambassador. pic.twitter.com/UEnu5CM53g ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 23, 2023 ([link removed])

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst ([link removed]) alert:@WillHurd ([link removed]) refused to take the RNC pledge: “I will not support Donald Trump if he is the nominee. He 100% betrayed the nation if he did what is alleged.”

Amen.pic.twitter.com/3u5rQHb9nt ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) June 23, 2023 ([link removed])

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