Plus, a driver of inequality that not enough people are talking about.

Principles First Newsletter - September 21, 2023 - View in browser ([link removed])
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“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 - 1969)
34th President of the United States, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II
GOP senators ask Biden to provide Ukraine with missiles needed to win war
A group of Republican senators on Saturday sent a letter to President Biden urging him to “immediately” provide the missiles Ukraine needs to win its war against Russia.
The Hill
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The secret thoughts of moderate Republicans
As a potential shutdown looms, Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), Chairman of the Republican Governance Group, explains why he and other moderates aren’t panicking – yet.
Politico
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A Driver of Inequality That Not Enough People Are Talking About
Two-parent households should be a policy goal.
The Atlantic
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Billionaire Ken Griffin, former DeSantis donor, on sidelines for GOP presidential primary
Griffin explained that so far he’s not impressed with what he’s seeing from the alternatives to the Republican front-runner in former President Donald Trump and has yet to decide who he plans to help.
CNBC
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Christie’s Big Bet: ‘If I Don’t Do Well in New Hampshire, Then I’ll Leave’
As he stakes his candidacy on the state, Chris Christie is promising to find new ways to confront Donald Trump. “I’m not going to let him get away with being a coward,” he said in an interview.
The New York Times
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Voters split between Trump and the rest of the field on nomination, issues
It is a tale of two electorates in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. The Monmouth University-Washington Post Poll of potential GOP primary voters shows support for the party’s nomination is almost evenly divided between former President Donald Trump and the rest of the field.
Monmouth University
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Kevin McCarthy stares down another right-wing revolt
Facing renewed threats to his speakership, Kevin McCarthy is making a strategic bet: his critics don’t have the votes to oust him – and if they do, he’ll grind it out on the floor again as he did back in January.
CNN
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Ramaswamy wants to end the H-1B visa program he used 29 times
The GOP candidate pledges to get rid of a the system he calls “indentured servitude.”
Politico
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Wisconsin Republicans vote to fire elections director, who sues to keep her job
The vote creates a dispute over who is in charge of overseeing elections in a state that is expected to play a critical role in next year’s presidential campaign
The Washington Post
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted in impeachment trial
Paxton was impeached for allegedly taking bribes, but ultimately members of his party chose not to vote for his conviction and removal from office.
NBC News
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Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis turns on ‘malignant narcissist’ ex-president
Ellis, one of 18 Trump associates charged in Georgia election subversion case, says she ‘simply can’t support him’ again.
The Guardian
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Boebert, caught on video, apologizes for inappropriate behavior at ‘Beetlejuice’ show
The congressmember had denied acting inappropriately until surveillance video surfaced showing her disrupting the performance.
Politico
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The hard right is getting closer to power all over Europe
It does not need to join governments to affect policymaking
The Economist
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Speaker McCarthy steps into the breach as his conference toils
The next two weeks will put the California Republican to the test of whether he can unite Republican lawmakers and avert a government shutdown
The Washington Post
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Opinion | My fellow Republicans: One disgraceful impeachment doesn’t deserve another
The House is back in session, and Americans are getting an up-close look at Washington’s dysfunction. We are barreling toward a government shutdown without making progress on cutting our out-of-control spending. Yet Republican leadership has decided to divert attention to an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
The Washington Post
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Trump’s become a runaway train in the GOP primary. Here’s why.
A POLITICO analysis shows Trump’s supporters are more conservative and more assured in their candidate than voters backing other Republican candidates.
Politico
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Florida Republicans reject DeSantis for Trump in loyalty pledge fight
“People will be pissed if we keep Trump off the ballot,” said one state GOP member.
Politico
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What the Ken Paxton saga shows about MAGA and Trump
Nearly a quarter of Texas Republicans now disapprove of the embattled attorney general, an all-time high.
Politico
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Special counsel asks for 'narrow' gag order for Trump in election interference case
Jack Smith's office says Trump's "disparaging and inflammatory attacks" have spurred threats against witnesses and threaten the court process.
NBC News
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Keir Starmer pledges to seek major rewrite of Brexit deal
Labour leader tells FT his government would put closer trading relationship with Brussels at heart of growth policy.
The Financial Times
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Opinion | Speaker Matt Gaetz has big plans for the House
The House is currently being run not by Speaker Kevin McCarthy but by backbenchers Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
The Washington Post
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Congress is in crisis. There’s no clear escape.
“We’ve been seeing this coming ... I just didn’t think we were dumb enough to get there,” Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) said.
Politico
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‘You sell yourself so cheap?’ Romney’s stark indictment of GOP cowardice.
Romney is naming names in highly unusual ways, apparently recognizing that stopping Trump requires targeting his enablers.
The Washington Post
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Six Takeaways From Romney’s Tea-Spilling Biography
The Utah Republican’s announcement that he would retire coincided with the publication of a forthcoming book based on extensive interviews in which he slammed his party and the Senate.
The New York Times
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Washington next week
Zelensky’s visit was coordinated with the Biden administration in a joint push to get Congress to provide $24 billion in additional aid to Ukraine
The Washington Post
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A Moderate Anti-Trump Republican Who Got Fed Up With the Senate Has Retirement Advice for Mitt Romney.
On his way to the golf course, former Sen. Bob Corker explained why the Senate has become miserable for politicians seeking bipartisan work.
Politico
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Scoop: How GOP pressured Texas senators over Paxton's impeachment trial
Following a secret campaign coordinated by top Trump allies, Texas state senators yesterday acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton of all impeachment charges, allowing him to return to his post.
Axios
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'We'll be fine': Top US military officer confident there won't be a Jan. 6 repeat
Gen. Milley said he was not concerned about more riot threats after he retires.
ABC News
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Vivek Ramaswamy regrets taking the Covid vaccine. His wife, a surgeon, does not.
The presidential candidate has previously spoken about how he and his wife don’t agree on everything. That includes their feelings about getting vaccinated against Covid.
NBC News
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'He's 100% in': Matt Gaetz widely expected to run for Florida governor
The Florida congressman, however, told NBC News that his only political goal at the moment is getting Donald Trump elected president in 2024.
NBC News
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Centrist Dems and McCarthy’s allies are in secret talks to strike a deal
Any Democratic participation in a plan to stop a shutdown — let alone save the speaker’s gavel — would have huge conditions attached.
Politico
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2024 Principles First Summit
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Think Pieces of the Week
The Alliances That Matter Now
Multilateralism is at a dead end, but powerful blocs are getting things done.
Stefan Theil at Foreign Policy
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How Ben Sasse Became a Combatant in Florida’s Education Wars
As Ron DeSantis has turned public education into a political battleground, his state’s flagship university, now led by the former G.O.P. senator from Nebraska, has not remained neutral territory.
Michael Sokelove at the New York Times
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A New Multilateralism
How the United States can rejuvenate the global institutions it created.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Foreign Policy
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Why Won’t Elite Colleges Deploy the One Race-Neutral Way to Achieve Diversity?
Giving a leg up to poor students of all races would diversify elite schools. Officials would rather do anything else.
Marc Novicoff at Politico
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He Once Ran the Most Powerful Conservative Think Tank in D.C. Now He’s a Self-Help Guru Writing Books with Oprah.
Inside the wild transformation of Arthur Brooks.
Ian Ward at Politico
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Delusions of Détente
Why America and China Will Be Enduring Rivals
Michael Beckley at Foreign Affairs
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The End of the Russian Idea
What It Will Take to Break Putinism’s Grip
Andrei Kolesnikov at Foreign Affairs
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The Ken Paxton Verdict Is Not the Vindication Republicans Want
The Texas attorney general was acquitted of corruption charges, but the trial further damaged the Republican brand.
Rachel Monroe at the New Yorker
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Podcasts of the Week
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The xxxxxx Podcast - Anne Applebaum: Musk Buys Russia’s Lies
September 15, 2023

The billionaire was duped by Russian nuclear propaganda, but he's not the only one in the West who worries about provoking Russia by helping Ukraine. Plus, Putin's role in the far-right echo chamber, and why Romney stood up to Trump. Anne Applebaum joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.

🚨🚨 #PrinciplesFirst alerts:

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

@CongMikeSimpson ([link removed]) (R-ID): “When Matt Gaetz becomes the Ethics standards bearer of our conference - we are in trouble.”

More Republicans need to speak these plain and simple truths more often. Thanks, Mike.

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 20, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@ZelenskyyUa ([link removed]) at the UN: “I'm aware of attempts to make shady [peace] deals behind the scenes. Evil cannot be trusted. Ask Prigozhin how deals with Putin work out.”pic.twitter.com/JOgfcLD5DC ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 19, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@RepMikeLawler ([link removed]) (R-NY) doesn’t hold back on the House GOP: “This is not conservative republicanism. This is stupidity. It’s a clown show. You keep running lunatics. You’re going to be in this position.”

Sums it up. pic.twitter.com/X4tZJcloHO ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 19, 2023 ([link removed])

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

TX Speaker @DadePhelan ([link removed]) (R) defends impeachment of Paxton: “It was a difficult vote to take, but not a difficult decision. And unlike others, those who impeached Paxton chose principles over politics.”

Amen. Paxton’s acquittal is a stain on Texas. [link removed]

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 16, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@LisaMurkowski ([link removed]) takes @TTuberville ([link removed]) ’s military holds to task.

Thanks, Senator. It’s dangerous. [link removed]

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 15, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@MittRomney ([link removed]) : “I’m not going to be supporting Donald Trump under any circumstance. I happen to believe character is destiny.”

Enough said. Thanks, Mitt. pic.twitter.com/y2O0CmuDy3 ([link removed])

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 15, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@DanCrenshawTX ([link removed]) on Tuberville’s baseless attacks: “I’m at a point where I’m going to tear apart (if asked) coach/Senator/non-vet Tuberville for personally attacking service members who have spent almost 30 years serving our country.”

Somebody ask!

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 15, 2023 ([link removed])

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

@RepKenBuck ([link removed]) (R-CO) skipped the House GOP closed-door meeting on impeachment: “I haven’t heard an accurate fact in conference in a long time. I’m not going to waste my time.”

Thanks, Ken. If nobody listens when you note the facts, might as well skip.

— Principles First (@Principles_1st) September 15, 2023 ([link removed])

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