#senator ted budd

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Adam Kredo

Lawmakers like Budd, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have taken a great interest in the Palestine Chronicle and its nonprofit parent company, the People Media Project, since the Free Beacon first reported on Monday about its links to Iranian regime-controlled propaganda sites. The outlet’s editor in chief, Ramzy Baroud, wrote for two now-defunct websites that the U.S. government seized in 2020 for being part of a propaganda network controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC). At least six of the outlet’s writers also wrote for these IRGC-controlled sites.

Following Aljamal’s death during an Israeli raid in Gaza to free the hostages, the Palestine Chronicle published a glowing obituary, claiming its writer was just an innocent civilian trying to perform journalism. As Budd and his colleagues note in their letter, however, Aljamal "previously served as a spokesman for the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Labor in Gaza."

"While Aljamal may have played a journalist by day, the evidence clearly suggests he was, at a minimum, a Hamas collaborator, if not a full-time terror operative, responsible for keeping hostages captive," according to the letter, which is also backed by Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.), and Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

With questions now swirling about the Palestine Chronicle and its editor Baroud, the senators say a multi-pronged federal investigation is necessary to determine if the outlet and its parent company were "actively employing an individual with apparent ties to and support for Hamas." The Palestine Chronicle downplayed its ties to Aljamal in a Monday piece, saying Aljamal "was a freelance writer who contributed articles to the Palestine Chronicle on a voluntary basis, mostly since the start of the Israeli genocide in Gaza."

"It is possible that this tax-exempt media outlet had no knowledge of its correspondent’s Hamas affiliation; however, given the organization’s recent attempts to cover up evidence of its ties to Aljamal, this seems unlikely, making them complicit in supporting terrorist propaganda on their platform," the senators wrote.

The lawmakers also instructed the IRS to "prepare a report on the findings of this investigation for the [Senate] Finance Committee to review in the appropriate venue."

[onetangosierra]

Trent Palmer is a backcountry pilot from northern Nevada. While making an inspection pass he was reported for reckless behavior to the FAA by an unpleasant neighbor. The FAA found him in violation of FAR's and has threatened to pull his ticket. His original video on the incident can be found here along with a follow up here.

Inspection passes like the one Palmer was reported for are critical to allowing the pilot in command a clear understanding of the ground conditions and whether it's safe to land. Not being able to perform an inspection below 500' would require a pilot to land blind and risk destroying the airplane and putting the safety of everyone on board at risk. That's unacceptable.

Senator Ted Budd of NC has taken up the fight to require the FAA to add exceptions for inspection passes, as well as common training maneuvers including go arounds, practice approaches, and instrument approaches, to the list of maneuvers exempted from the minimum altitude regulation (14 C.F.R. § 91.119).

You can help by contacting your Senator and sharing this. Go to Senate.gov or call the main switchboard at (202)-224-3121. Ask your Senator to support the Backcountry Aviation Protection Act.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Andrew Mangan at Daily Kos:

In this year’s Senate elections, Democrats won over 2 million more votes than Republicans but still lost their majority. So much for democracy.  The Senate is famously biased toward the GOP, and with less ticket-splitting these days, that leaves Democrats with quite the hole to climb out of. But there is a ladder back to the majority, even if it’s a tall one. Democrats have performed well in the past two midterm elections, riding a blue wave to a net gain of 40 House seats in 2018 and flipping one Senate seat in 2022, a midterm they were expected to lose decisively. In 2018, Democrats lost four Senate seats while gaining two, but all the losses were in red states, like North Dakota (!) and Indiana (!!). In 2024, though, they saw their 51-seat majority slashed to 47 as the GOP claimed the chamber. But the 2026 midterms alone almost certainly won’t put them back in the Senate majority. There are only two good shots at pickups that year: Maine and North Carolina. 

[...] Nevertheless, holding all their seats and flipping four across these two elections would put Democrats back into the majority. But flip the White House in 2028 and they need only three.

The Democrats lost 4 seats this election (and frankly lucky to not lose any more) to put them down to 47 seats (including 2 Dem-caucusing I’s), and the effort to win back the Senate will likely be a two-cycle effort.

[letterstomyrepresentatives]

The SAVE Act Mirrors North Carolina's Voter Suppression Tactics

Dear Senator Tillis,

Across the world, authoritarian regimes have passed laws that sound like common-sense election reforms — requiring proof of citizenship, tightening registration systems, or purging voter rolls. In every case, those laws were marketed as tools to “protect democracy.” In practice, they became weapons to dismantle it — selectively disqualifying voters under the guise of integrity.

Please acknowledge what we all see before our eyes: our democracy is not healthy. Passing a bill like this now could be a death sentence. Please do not provide more tools now that you know will aid politicians who do not mind flouting civic virtues in speeding the backsliding of our democracy into authoritarianism. A bill like this would be far less dangerous in a political environment grounded in civic virtue, bipartisan respect, and adherence to democratic norms. If and when we return to such an environment, I would welcome you bringing this proposal back for honest debate. But in the current moment, it will be used not to protect democracy — but to destroy it.

We are already seeing how this works in practice: a friend of mine had his valid driver’s license number removed from his voter registration file due to a database matching error — even though he submitted it correctly and saw it recorded. He received no notification, and no meaningful opportunity to fix the issue. This is how thousands of lawful voters are being quietly erased from democracy — not through fraud, but through technical traps that are impossible to navigate without insider knowledge or perfect luck.

In Russia, “citizenship verification” and cross-database voter checks were used to purge thousands of legal voters due to minor inconsistencies — overwhelmingly in opposition-leaning areas.

In Turkey, the government retroactively changed ballot rules to count votes that helped the ruling party win a pivotal referendum — setting a precedent for erasing outcomes after the fact.

In India, millions were removed from the voting rolls for lacking hard-to-produce documentation under the National Register of Citizens. Most were poor, rural, or Muslim — citizens in every meaningful sense except for missing paperwork.

In Poland, last-minute ID requirements for overseas postal ballots caused mass disenfranchisement in diaspora communities that largely opposed the ruling party.

And right now, in North Carolina, a losing judicial candidate is attempting to overturn a certified election by exploiting database matching errors. Tens of thousands of voters — many of whom followed every rule — are being told their ballots may be discarded over minor clerical issues: typos, missing digits, mismatched names, or dropped license data. This isn’t hypothetical. My friend’s case is one among many. These voters are being punished not for fraud, but for trusting that the system would work — and being failed by it. They are now expected to navigate confusing bureaucracy and meet a 15-business-day deadline just to preserve their right to have their ballot counted.

Senator Tillis, this is exactly how the SAVE Act will be used.

It would:

Require every voter to provide documentary proof of citizenship, even if already registered.

Force states to purge voters over paperwork inconsistencies or data mismatches.

Criminalize registering someone who can’t produce documents on the spot — even if they’re a lawful citizen.

In theory, that might sound reasonable. But in practice — in today’s unprincipled and winner-takes-all political environment — it is a loaded weapon. And we already see who is willing to use it, and how.

If we lived in a political moment defined by civic virtue and restraint — where election officials, courts, and candidates respected democratic norms — then maybe a law like the SAVE Act could be debated in good faith.

But that is not the political moment we are in.

Right now, politicians are showing they will use every tool, no matter how noble-sounding, to disqualify voters they don’t like and overturn results they don’t accept. And laws like the SAVE Act — designed without safeguards against abuse — are their dream come true.

Please don’t give them that tool. Please recognize what is happening here in North Carolina for what it is: a warning. When our democracy is stronger, when civic norms are healthier, we can revisit legislation like this. But today, the SAVE Act will not protect democracy — it will help dismantle it.

[thebadchoicemachine]

The top comment:

As of this moment this legislation is in front of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transport. I have taken the liberty of compiling a list of all the names and phone numbers of every Senator on that committee, and I've put the names of Senators up for re-election in 2026 in bold.

I will note that this is the third time this legislation has been introduced. In 2022 it ended up dying in Committee when introduced in the Senate and the same happened when it was introduced to the House of Representatives in 2023. Obviously we should all be concerned and take action, but don't go into full blown panic unless it exits committee. At that point I intend to have a list ready of all 100 Senators stating which ones are up for re-election and are considered at risk of losing seats.

Also my advice for calls:

- When talking with Republicans play up the fact that this would force Elon to implement age verification systems on X (yes do call it X during the call). Elon's been threatening to primary Republicans who stand in his way so there's fear of him. Also play up concerns about "Liberals" doxxing people or Chinese hackers.

- When talking with Democrats, play up the connections to Project 2025 and suggest voters will not be happy to see Democrats siding with it.

Republicans:

Ted Cruz, Texas (Chairman) - Phone: (202) 224-5922

John Thune, South Dakota - Phone: (202) 224-2321

Roger Wicker, Mississippi - Phone: (202) 224-6253

Deb Fischer, Nebraska - Phone: (202) 224-6551

Jerry Moran, Kansas - Phone: (202) 224-6521

Dan Sullivan, Alaska - Phone: (202) 224-3004

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee - Phone: (202) 224-3344

Todd Young, Indiana - Phone: (202) 224-5623

Ted Budd, North Carolina - (202) 224-3154

Eric Schmitt, Missouri - (202) 224-5721

John Curtis, Utah - Phone: (202) 224-5251

Bernie Moreno, Ohio - Phone: (202) 224-3353

Tim Sheehy, Montana - Phone: (202) 224-2644

Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia - Phone: (202) 224-6472

Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming - Phone: (202) 224-3424

Democrats:

Maria Cantwell, Washington (Ranking Member) - Phone: (202) 224-3441

Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota - Phone: (202) 224-3244

Brian Schatz, Hawaii - Phone: (202) 224-3934

Ed Markey, Massachusetts - Phone: (202) 224-2742

Gary Peters, Michigan - Phone: (202) 224-6221

Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin - Phone: (202) 224-5653

Tammy Duckworth, Illinois - Phone: (202) 224-2854

Jacky Rosen, Nevada - Phone: (202) 224-6244

Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico - Phone: (202) 224-6621

John Hickenlooper, Colorado - Phone: (202) 224-5941

John Fetterman, Pennsylvania - Phone: (202) 224-4254

Andy Kim, New Jersey - Phone: (202) 224-4744

Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware - Phone: (202) 224-2441

••••

script courtesy of the comment section comment:

Here is a script I just wrote - feel free to use!

Hi, my name is [], and I am one of Senator []’s constituents. I live in [city, zip code - leave your full address if leaving a voicemail].

I am calling in regards to a bill that was recently introduced in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transport: the SCREEN act.

I am asking Senator [] to either take no action or vote against this bill because of its implications for freedom of speech. [insert one of the other concerns listed above]. Thank you for your time and for listening to my concerns.

[yourreddancer]

FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN

On Friday night, 50 United States senators — all of them Republicans — voted to put our nation’s security in the hands of a man who is laughably unqualified.

Except it could not be less funny.

With a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, Pete Hegseth will now be Secretary of Defense.

Pete Hegseth isn’t qualified to be shift leader at a Dairy Queen (nothing against Dairy Queen). Putting him in charge of the entire United States military is a perversion — and every one of the 50 senators who voted for him knows it.

So why did they do it?

Because they were afraid that if they did the right thing and rejected Hegseth, Donald Trump would back someone else in their next election, and assistant president Elon Musk would spend millions to defeat them.

That’s why Trump defended his nominee so aggressively once news reports indicated how horrible Hegseth’s record is. It was a test. “Look how much they fear me.” “Look how willing they are to prostrate themselves at my feet.” “Look what I’ve turned them into.”

It’s really quite pathetic how craven and insecure they are.

Especially considering that even if they did lose their seats, ex-senators do pretty well. There are cushy positions on corporate boards or as high-paid lobbyists. There are deals to be had for books, podcasts, and speaking gigs. There are roles as pundits and hosts on Fox “News.” There are shady right-wing nonprofits and “think tanks” to run. There are car dealerships and cryptocurrencies to profit from. And on and on and on.

But no, these 50 senators were so afraid of Trump and so addicted to the illusion of political power (we say “illusion” because in reality they have forsaken any actual power in abject fealty to Trump) that they were willing to put Hegseth in charge of the $900 billion Pentagon, its 3 million employees, and all its warfighting capacity.

This is a man who has shown himself unable to run a small nonprofit. A man about whom there are credible reports of excessive drinking and out-of-control behavior. And a man against whom there are multiple allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence.

This is also a man who refused in his confirmation hearing to renounce the use of torture. A man who at his hearing was unaware of a major international alliance. And a man who has argued that women should not serve in combat roles.

Let’s not forget that for generations, it is Republicans who have held themselves out as the party that supports the military and is “strong on defense.”

In case you think your senator would never jeopardize America’s national security, here are the 50 Republican senators who just sold out our troops, our veterans, and our country:

Jim Banks, Indiana John Barrasso, Wyoming Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee John Boozman, Arkansas Katie Britt, Alabama Ted Budd, North Carolina Shelley Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana John Cornyn, Texas Tom Cotton, Arkansas Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Michael Crapo, Idaho Ted Cruz, Texas John Curtis, Utah Steve Daines, Montana Joni Ernst, Iowa Deb Fischer, Nebraska Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Charles Grassley, Iowa Bill Hagerty, Tennessee Joshua Hawley, Missouri John Hoeven, North Dakota Jon Husted, Ohio Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Jim Justice, West Virginia John Kennedy, Louisiana James Lankford, Oklahoma Mike Lee, Utah Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Roger Marshall, Kansas Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania Ashley Moody, Florida Jerry Moran, Kansas Bernie Moreno, Ohio Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Rand Paul, Kentucky Pete Ricketts, Nebraska James Risch, Idaho Mike Rounds, South Dakota Eric Schmitt, Missouri Rick Scott, Florida Tim Scott, South Carolina Tim Sheehy, Montana Dan Sullivan, Alaska John Thune, South Dakota Thom Tillis, North Carolina Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Roger Wicker, Mississippi Todd Young, Indiana

(Here are the three Republican senators who did not vote for the charlatan: Susan Collins, Maine; Mitch McConnell, Kentucky; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska.)

If you are feeling angry and/or fearful about what it will mean to have someone as devastatingly unqualified and dangerous as Pete Hegseth running the Department of Defense, join Public Citizen in a message to the 50 senators who just voted for exactly that.

Those who serve in uniform, our nation’s veterans, the hundreds of thousands of civilians who work in the military, and — most crucially of all — every single American deserve better (far better) than Pete Hegseth. You have put us all in harm’s way for no reason other than your own cowardice in the face of Donald Trump. Shame on you.

Click to add your name now.

Thanks for taking action.

For progress,

- Robert Weissman & Lisa Gilbert, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen

[eretzyisrael]

by Adam Kredo

When Hamas gunmen paraded emaciated Israeli hostages across a stage in Gaza earlier this month, they were flanked by two representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), an aid group that boasts of its neutrality. The agency’s participation in the choreographed propaganda display—as well as its failure to visit the hostages as they struggled in captivity—is now drawing scrutiny on Capitol Hill, with GOP lawmakers questioning the Red Cross’s objectivity and care for those still held in captivity.

The most shocking scene to date unfolded two weekends ago, when Hamas militants forced three severely malnourished Israeli captives—Ohad Ben Ami, 56; Eli Sharabi, 52; and Or Levy, 34—to make a speech to a crowd of Gazans before their release. Standing beside the masked gunmen were two Red Cross officials identified by the Washington Free Beacon as Nour Khadam and Stephanie Eller, both of whom have been featured in the ICRC's online materials.

Footage from the hostage release shows Khadam shaking hands with a Hamas militant as Eller stands behind him, and a masked Hamas soldier snaps photographs. Like other Red Cross officials present at these stage-managed events—reportedly produced by an Al Jazeera journalist—Eller and Khadam signed documents and stood on hand while the terror group forced the hostages to thank their captors. Photos taken on the day show the Israelis holding certificates provided by Hamas as they are interviewed next to gun-touting militants.

The Red Cross's involvement in the Hamas propaganda ritual came more than a year after the terror group kidnapped 251 people, including Americans, in its Oct. 7 attack. During the hostages' time in captivity, the Red Cross did not fulfill its mandate to visit them and assess their health, as the group routinely does in traditional conflicts.

The scenes have drawn outrage in both Israel and the United States, with President Donald Trump likening the hostages to "Holocaust survivors" and casting doubt on the ceasefire’s durability. On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, lawmakers have taken note of the Red Cross’s participation in these ceremonies and said the aid agency is jeopardizing its image as an unbiased actor. While the United States has long been the committee's top funder, senior Senate sources say there is talk of reassessing American funding to the ICRC while GOP officials examine its ties to Hamas.

"Where was the Red Cross’s increasing concern for the safety and well-being of the hostages these last 493 days?" Sen. Ted Budd (R., N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the Free Beacon. "Participating in Hamas’s propaganda ceremonies definitely calls into question their supposed neutrality. Seems like the ICRC is more concerned about their public image than actually fulfilling their mission to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict."

The pictures of starving hostages that have emerged over the past month, a senior Senate adviser said, raise serious questions about whether the Red Cross is living up to its lofty mandate. In its mission statement, the ICRC calls itself "neutral, impartial, and independent," a description that seemingly runs counter to images of Red Cross officials standing alongside Hamas militants.

[democracyunderground]

Many of the lawmakers that voted against the provision of additional necessary funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) represent states that were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Helene.

No Democratic lawmakers voted nay.

Read the full list of lawmakers that voted against the stopgap measure below.

North Carolina: Representative Dan Bishop, NC 8th District Senator Ted Budd

South Carolina: Representative Jeff Duncan, SC 3rd District Representative Russell Fry, SC 7th District Representative Nancy Mace, SC 1st District Representative Ralph Norman, SC 5th District Representative William R. Timmons IV, SC 4th District Senator Tim Scott

Georgia: Representative Richard McCormick, GA 6th District Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, GA 14th District Representative Mike Collins, GA 10th District Representative Andrew S. Clyde, GA 9th District

Florida: Representative Daniel Webster, FL 11th District Representative Michael Waltz, FL 6th District Representative Bill Posey, FL 8th District Representative Cory Mills, FL 7th District Representative Anna Paulina Luna, FL 13th District Representative Laurel M. Lee, FL 15th District Representative Matt Gaetz, FL 11th District Representative Bryon Donalds, FL 1st District Representative Kat Cammack, FL 3rd District Representative Gus M. Bilirakis, FL 12th District Representative Aaron Bean, FL 4th District Senator Rick Scott refused to vote

Tennessee: Representative Tim Burchett, TN 2nd District Representative Andrew Ogles, TN 5th District Representative John W. Rose, TN 6th District Senator Marsha Blackburn Senator Bill Hagerty

[porterdavis]

Clip'n'save

15 GOP senators who voted against aid to Ukraine (& Israel):

John Barrasso Wyo.

Marsha Blackburn Tenn.

Mike Braun Ind.

Ted Budd N.C.

Ted Cruz Tex.

Bill Hagerty Tenn.

Josh Hawley Mo.

Ron Johnson Wis.

Mike Lee Utah

Cynthia Lummis Wyo.

Roger Marshall Kan.

Marco Rubio Fla.

Eric Schmitt Mo.

Rick Scott Fla.

J.D. Vance Ohio

The Wall of Shame

[progressivepower]

Social Media Users Shut Down GOP Senator Over His Out-Of-Control Disasters Claim https://www.huffpost.com/entry/north-carolina-senator-ted-budd-wildfires-hurricanes-disasters_n_678a2c3fe4b01361218fcfe4?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[cassidymomma]

Tillis, Budd among Republican lawmakers introducing bill to provide justice for 'victims of sanctuary policies'

Source: WCNC

Tillis, Budd among Republican lawmakers introducing bill to provide justice for 'victims of sanctuary policies'

Source: WCNC

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Igor Bobic and Dave Jamieson at HuffPost:

The Senate confirmed Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be President Donald Trump’s labor secretary on Monday, with over a dozen Democrats backing the former House lawmaker. The vote was 67 in favor of her nomination and 32 against. The confirmation puts a centrist Republican with a pro-union record in charge of the Labor Department, responsible for enforcing workplace safety rules and minimum wage and overtime regulations.

Three Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, as well as Ted Budd of North Carolina — voted against Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination, while 18 Democrats voted in favor in a rare show of bipartisan support for one of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. In fact, her nomination was saved in committee thanks to support from liberal senators. Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregon’s 5th District for one term before losing reelection last fall. She was among the chamber’s few union-friendly Republicans and even co-sponsored a Democratic bill aimed at rejuvenating the labor movement and making it easier for workers to organize. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters had pushed Chavez-DeRemer for the labor slot, with the union’s president, Sean O’Brien, recommending her to Trump. Chavez-DeRemer’s father had been a Teamster, and she cultivated support with Oregon unions in her run for the House.

O’Brien previously said Chavez-DeRemer “knows the importance of carrying a union card and what it means to grow up in a middle-class household.” That kind of talk — especially when paired with Chavez-DeRemer’s House record �� drew some suspicion from Republican senators. She was one of just three House Republicans in the last Congress to endorse the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a sweeping pro-union bill that would, among other measures, nullify state “right to work” laws. Chavez-DeRemer ended up jettisoning her support for that provision during her confirmation hearing, which helped carry her with skeptical Republicans. But most GOP senators were reluctant to cross Trump on a nomination anyway.

Former Congresswomen Lori Chavez-DeRemer has been confirmed as the Department of Labor Secretary under Trump.

[letterstomyrepresentatives]

Dear Senator Tillis,

I am writing to express my grave concern over President Trump’s executive actions targeting law firms involved with cases against him, including Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling. These orders, which revoke security clearances, restrict government contracts, and blacklist legal professionals, are nothing short of an authoritarian assault on the First Amendment and the independence of the legal profession.

Trump’s justification for these measures is deeply alarming: he claims these firms are “national security threats,” but his definition of that term is nothing more than “not supportive of Trump’s own policies and actions.” This is a blatant attempt to redefine national security as personal loyalty to the president. Such a move is not just legally baseless—it is a direct attack on the ability of lawyers to hold the government accountable and defend clients, even in politically charged cases.

If this precedent is allowed to stand, the chilling effect will be immediate and catastrophic. Any law firm that dares to challenge Trump, represent his political opponents, or even work on cases he dislikes could face similar government retaliation. This is how authoritarian regimes silence opposition—by making legal representation itself a punishable act.

The First Amendment exists precisely to protect against this kind of government overreach. The right to legal counsel and free speech are not privileges granted at the whim of the president; they are bedrock principles of our democracy. I urge you to take immediate action to oppose these dangerous orders. Congress must investigate these abuses of executive power and ensure that no president—Republican or Democrat—can use the federal government to punish lawyers for doing their jobs.

This is not a partisan issue. This is a test of whether we still have a free and independent legal system in the United States. I ask that you speak out forcefully against these actions and use every tool at your disposal to prevent this attack on the rule of law from escalating.

I look forward to your response and to seeing real action taken on this urgent matter.

[aestariiwilderness]

Opinion: Kamala Harris is not for Israel or the Jews; Trump was

Kamala Harris (and Joe Biden, pretty much consigned to total irrelevancy by now thanks to the [un]Democratic coup) can say whatever she likes about supporting Israel (and she does spare half a breath to say she'll, OF COURSE, always support Israel's right to defend herself! ... and then spends the rest of the paragraph on verbally stabbing Israel in the back, talking about "how [Israel] defends itself matters", ceasefires, making deals with Hamas, engaging with the Palestinians, stopping Palestinian casualties, etc., which is telling in itself and just lends even more weight to the endless anti-Israel propaganda out there). But I go by actions, not words. They can say anything they want; they can go to Holocaust memorials or condemn antisemitism as much as they please. Words cost very little, and placate the overwhelmingly pro-Israel American population (while still, of course, inciting more blood libel and adding weight to the propaganda). But I don't see Harris or Biden ever, ever coming in decisively on Israel's side where it genuinely counts, when they didn't absolutely have to. Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Actions:

Did not tell a pro-Hamas, anti-Israel group that she wouldn't talk with them. This is a generous recounting of events, actually; it looks more like she said "sure, I'll talk with you about enacting an arms embargo with Israel". Once the backlash about that started happening, an anonymous aid seems to have taken it on themself to say "of course VP Harris has always been very clear about supporting Israel". (No, she hasn't.) (It's pretty telling that Harris, so far as I am aware, hasn't seen fit to even bother to clarify that herself.)

https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-open-israel-arms-embargo-palestine-conflict-1936259 https://www.reuters.com/world/democrat-harris-didnt-agree-discuss-israel-arms-embargo-aide-says-2024-08-08/

Just snubbed Jewish PA gov. Shapiro for VP candidate in favor of war-welcher Tim Walz

Kamala's chosen running mate, Walz, did repeatedly host a pro-Hamas Muslim leader who praised the Oct. 7th massacre

https://thepostmillennial.com/tim-walz-repeatedly-hosted-muslim-leader-who-lauded-oct-7-attacks-shared-pro-hitler-propaganda?utm_campaign=64483

Was already, with Biden, conducting a partial arms embargo against Israel.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-foreign-policy-advisers-met-israeli-pm-netanyahu-source-says-2024-05-20/

Threatened Israel with consequences if she went into Rafah https://www.reuters.com/world/us/tougher-tone-israel-steady-nato-how-harris-foreign-policy-could-look-2024-07-21/

https://nypost.com/2024/07/25/us-news/biden-welcomes-netanyahu-to-white-house-following-chaotic-anti-israel-protests/ Snubbed Netanyahu -- the leader of the only democracy in the Middle East and our long-time ally -- to go to a sorority speech

Admired and engaged with the violent, law-breaking, window-smashing, intifada-chanting protestors blockading universities, holding staff hostage, and violently harassing Jewish students

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/biden-harris-a-profile-in-cowardice-on-campus-disorder/

Harris' husband's daughter raised money for UNRWA https://www.jns.org/kamala-harris-thinks-campus-antisemites-are-very-fine-people/ And back on those words and double-speak again: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2023/12/18/israel-palestine-kamala-harris-joe-biden-ceasefire/ https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/12/kamala-harriss-performative-scolding-of-israel/

For more actual "actions" by any American politician and unbiased by any commentary, check out https://justfacts.votesmart.org/. You can filter by issues of concern to you and see how they voted, what they said, what positions they held, etc. (I personally find Biden and Harris' track record on abortion, coercive abortion, born-alive survivors of abortion, and even infant pain absolutely horrifying, but I understand that might not mean much to some.)

In contrast, we have Donald Trump. Trump has been continually vocal in his support of Israel. There is no double-speak like Harris that I've been able to find. His term was full of unprecedented, active support for Israel and the Jews. Media claims he "criticized" the war in Gaza -- but when I actually look, all I see is that he criticized the fact that Oct 7th could have happened in the first place (i.e., Israel was not protected enough and did not receive enough support from the Biden administration) and that the war was still going on due to Israel's unprecedented kid gloves-care with Palestinian civilian casualties. He advised Israel to mind their "PR war", saying "victory is necessary" and needs to happen quickly. Not "ceasefire", not "compromise", not "dealing with Hamas". Not -- in contrast to Harris and Biden -- wailing "oh no, it's Israel's job to think of the enemy's civilians and to prioritize their wellbeing above their own civilians!" It's my belief, based on what I see and hear, that Trump wants victory and peace for Israel over Hamas. He wants October 7th to never happen again. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-israel-gaza-finish-problem-rcna141905 Trump Actions, taken usually without any conditions or concessions required from Israel Abraham Accords, specifically meant to pressure Palestinians (no Oct. 7th massacre while Trump was in office. Pity Harris can't say the same.)

Jerusalem officially recognized as Israel's capital

Recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-06-12/biden-trump-on-israel-palestinians-middle-east Reversed the Iran Nuclear Accord https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/trump-most-pro-israel-president-american-history "Cut the annual US aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) – $500 million" https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/trump-most-pro-israel-president-american-history "Cut the annual US contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinians ($250-400 million)"

https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/trump-most-pro-israel-president-american-history

Rejected the claim that Israeli "settlements" in the West Bank were illegal and the obstacle to peace

https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/trump-most-pro-israel-president-american-history

Sided with Israel against the wildly anti-Israel UN and the ICC

https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/trump-most-pro-israel-president-american-history

Met with Netanyahu where Harris did not https://apnews.com/video/israel-government-florida-00c58fa3898247c1895d520d3feddab1 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-foreign-policy-advisers-met-israeli-pm-netanyahu-source-says-2024-05-20/ There's a lot more. But that's enough for me, at least. I'd invite anyone interested to check it out for themselves, but not to be fooled by the rampant corruption, spin, and bias in most mainstream media (although you'll notice I can still utilize them as sources even though they're blatantly hostile to my viewpoint).

[aroyams]

so you mean to tell me that ted budd and dan bishop, two north carolina senators, both voted AGAINST a 20 billion dollar funding bill for fema?

WHILE western north carolina was being ravaged by helene?

[unicausnews]

Pat Harrigan, Michael Whatley, Lara Trump: Republicans in run to fill Thom Tillis’ North Carolina seat

Pat Harrigan, Michael Whatley, Lara Trump: Republicans in run to fill Thom Tillis' North Carolina seat Jun 29, 2025 11:47 PM IST Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina stated Sunday he won't search reelection Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina stated Sunday he won't search reelection. This comes a day after he opposed President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, resulting in the president threatening him in regards to the election subsequent yr. With Tillis' seat vacated subsequent yr, a number of potential replacements names have surfaced, together with Trump's daughter-in-law Lara.  Pat Harrigan and Lara Trump are within the run to fill Thom Tillis seat(X and Bloomberg) “In Washington over the previous few years, it’s change into more and more evident that leaders who're prepared to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and reveal impartial pondering have gotten an endangered species,” Tillis stated in a prolonged assertion on Sunday.  “Sometimes these bipartisan initiatives bought me into bother with my very own celebration, however I wouldn’t have modified a single one." Breakdown of candidates that would exchange Sen Thom TillisSpeculated GOP contenders embrace Rep Richard Hudson, former Rep Patrick McHenry, Lara Trump, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, Rep Pat Harrigan, and Rep Addison McDowell.  Rep Richard HudsonUS Representative for North Carolina’s ninth District (2013–current), born November 4, 1971, in Franklin, Virginia, and a Charlotte resident since childhood. A UNC-Charlotte graduate, Hudson served as district director for Rep Robin Hayes and chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee (2023–2026).  Hudson’s re-election announcement for his House seat in 2026 prompt he’s not at the moment eyeing Tillis’s seat, however experiences point out that he would possibly change his thoughts.  Former Rep Patrick McHenryServed as US Representative for North Carolina’s tenth District (2005–2025), born October 22, 1975. McHenry chaired the House Financial Services Committee (2023–2025) and briefly acted as Speaker professional tempore in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy’s ousting. He retired in 2025, citing household priorities.  McHenry’s decade-long tenure and interim Speaker position give him title recognition, however no formal Senate candidacy has been introduced.  Lara TrumpFormer RNC co-chair (2024–2025), born October 12, 1982, in Wilmington, NC, and daughter-in-law of Donald Trump. A Victory Insights ballot (November 2024) confirmed her main Tillis 65% to 11% in a hypothetical main.  RNC Chair Michael WhatleyRNC chairman since March 2024, born in Watauga County, NC. He led the North Carolina GOP (2019–2024) and served as RNC normal counsel, backing Trump’s 2020 election fraud claims.  Rep Pat HarriganUS Representative for North Carolina’s tenth District (2025–current), a former Green Beret and firearms producer, born in 1979. He received McHenry’s open seat in 2024.  Rep Addison McDowellUS Representative for North Carolina’s sixth District (2025–current), a political newcomer and former aide to Rep Richard Hudson and Sen Ted Budd. Trump-endorsed, he received an open seat in 2024.  Read More: https://news.unicaus.in/world/united-states-of-america/pat-harrigan-michael-whatley-lara-trump-republicans-in-run-to-fill-thom-tillis-north-carolina-seat/