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Trump news – live: Vance slated for ‘kissing Trump’s ass’ as new details of McCarthy’s Jan 6 call emerge

Former president’s chosen Ohio Senate candidate was once among his most aggressive critics

Tim Ryan calls JD Vance an ‘ass-kisser’ after Trump remarks

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Trump-backed Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance was ridiculed by his opponent last night for “kissing ass” to get the former president’s endorsement.

In a televised debate, Mr Vance’s Democratic opponent Tim Ryan quoted Mr Trump himself describing how Mr Vance had gone about securing his support.

Accusing Mr Vance of a “lack of courage,” Mr Ryan declared: “I’m from Ohio I don’t kiss anyone’s ass like him. Ohio needs an ass-kicker, not an ass-kisser.”

Meanwhile, an extract from an upcoming book on the GOP’s support for Mr Trump has revealed new details of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s infamous call with Mr Trump during the January 6 Capitol attack.

According to Politico, when Mr Trump told Mr McCarthy that the people storming the building were “more upset” than his party about the supposed theft of the election, Mr McCarthy responded: “More upset? They’re trying to f***ing kill me!”

Who is Casey DeSantis, the wife of Donald Trump’s top rival in the GOP?

Casey DeSantis, the wife of Florida firebrand governorRon DeSantis, holds a special place in the DeSantis re-election campaign.

A 42-year-old cancer survivor, she shares on her website how “thankful” the state of Florida is to “finally” have a “pro-family leader” in the governor’s mansion, playing up the governor’s controversial parental rights agenda.

Read more about her role in the rise of the GOP’s newest star, from The Independent:

Who is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ wife Casey?

Casey DeSantis, 42, has been married to Florida Gov Ron DeSantis for more than a decade and was declared breast cancer free in March 2022

John Bowden25 October 2022 05:20

On witness stand, Trump ally denies foreign influence charge

A close ally of former President Donald Trump took the witness stand at his federal trial Monday to refute charges he secretly fed confidential information about Trump’s administration to the United Arab Emirates to advance the UAE’s foreign policy and business interests.

The onetime chair of Trump’s inaugural committee, told a New York City jury that it would have been “impossible” for him to act as a foreign agent for one Middle East investor in his private equity fund because other investors would object to it.

Read more about Tom Barrack and his legal troubles in The Independent:

On witness stand, Trump ally denies foreign influence charge

A close ally of former President Donald Trump has taken the witness stand at his federal trial to deny charges he secretly fed confidential information about the Trump administration to the United Arab Emirates

John Bowden25 October 2022 04:20

Biden's midterm 'closing argument': Look at the alternative

President Joe Biden has given a pep talk to Democratic organizers at party headquarters and around the country, with the midterm elections two weeks away.

With Republicans increasingly confident about victory in this year’s midterm elections, President Joe Biden dismissed the polls in a speech at Democratic Party headquarters Monday, saying there’s still time for “one more shift” that will help his party.

Read more in The Independent:

Biden's midterm 'closing argument': Look at the alternative

President Joe Biden has given a pep talk to Democratic organizers at party headquarters and around the country, with the midterm elections two weeks away

John Bowden25 October 2022 03:20

Arizona voters are facing harassment at the polls by armed intimidators, DOJ investigates

The Department of Justice is investigating after voters in Arizona reported to local officials that there were groups of people monitoring voting stations and harassing them when they dropped off their ballots. Some have reportedly accused voters of trying to steal the election.

It comes as Donald Trump and his allies continue to spread false claims about Democrats engaging in voter and election fraud, with ballot dropboxes being at the centre of many conspiracies.

Read more in The Independent:

Arizona voters face harassment at the polls by armed intimidators, DOJ investigates

The individuals who allegedly harassed a voter accused them of being ‘mules’

John Bowden25 October 2022 02:20

Polls show election denier Kari Lake in tight race for Arizona governor

One of Donald Trump’s top acolytes in the 2022 cycle, Kari Lake, is within reach of the Arizona governor’s mansion.

Her Democratic opponent, Katie Hobbs, is underperforming other Democrats in the state. And as a result, a person willing to entertain Donald Trump’s election fraud conspiracies could soon hold high office.

Read more in The Independent from Eric Garcia:

Polls show election denier Kari Lake in tight race for Arizona governor

Arizona is one of the most consequential governor’s races in the country.

John Bowden25 October 2022 01:20

Bob Woodward makes rare barbed attacked on Trump: ‘An unparalleled danger’

Longtime Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, who made his career during coverage of the Watergate scandal, has made critical comments about former President Donald Trump, calling him “an unparallelled danger”.

Read more from Gustaf Kilander:

Bob Woodward makes rare barbed attacked on Trump: ‘An unparalleled danger’

‘He did not know what to do. Trump was overwhelmed by the job’

John Bowden25 October 2022 00:20

John Fetterman needles Dr Oz for once being a Yankees fan after Philadelphia team advances to World Series

John Fetterman is attacking Dr Mehmet Oz for rooting for the New York Yankees — just like his ally in the GOP, Donald Trump.

The Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has relentlessly chipped away at Dr Mehmet Oz’s credibility as a Pennsylvanian throughout their tightening Senate race, which now appears to be neck-and-neck amid a wave of GOP reinforcements in the form of ad spending and coverage of the race from conservative media.

Read more from John Bowden:

Fetterman needles Dr Oz for once being a Yankees fan as Phillies head to World Series

Oz’s New Jersey residence has been top target of Fetterman’s throughout the PA Senate race

John Bowden24 October 2022 23:20

How did Trump-backed Doug Mastriano publish a PhD-earning thesis that critics allege is full of problems?

Critics argue Doug Mastriano received a PhD from the University of New Brunswick under questionable circumstances.

“Anyone who ever uses Mastriano as a source, their work is tainted, because he’s literally changed history away from the documents and the facts to fit his own theory,” one source told The Independent.

The school recently opened an independent review, years after academics began flagging his doctorate-earning thesis.

Read more from Johanna Chisholm:

How did Doug Mastriano publish a thesis that critics claim is problematic?

Critics argue Doug Mastriano received a PhD from the University of New Brunswick under questionable circumstances. The school recently opened an independent review, years after academics began flagging his doctorate-earning thesis, Johanna Chisholm investigates

John Bowden24 October 2022 22:20

Utah Senate race: Referendum on direction Trump has led GOP

Sen Mike Lee in Utah is acknowledging a real problem on his hands in the form of the independent candidancy of Evan McMullin.

Just weeks before the Nov. 8 vote, Utah's senior senator is now admitting that Mr McMulling poses a real reelection threat. McMullin is an anti-Donald Trump independent and former Republican challenging him in the state's most competitive Senate race in decades.

Read more in The Independent:

Utah Senate race: Referendum on direction Trump has led GOP

Just weeks before the Nov. 8 election, Utah’s senior senator, Republican Mike Lee, is now acknowledging a real political threat from Evan McMullin

John Bowden24 October 2022 21:20

Conservatives rally around Tucker Carlson’s son Buckley amid nepotism allegations

Conservatives are rallying behind the son of Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, Buckley, a top staffer in Congress, claiming the 25-year-old didn’t benefit from the association with his famous and influential father, after backroom GOP gossip allegedly inspired the Fox host to verbally threaten a Republican representative he thought accused his son of nepotism in the press.

The mini-scandal began when The Daily Beast ran a on story on Friday about jostling among the GOP for leadership positions after the midterms.

Read more from Josh Marcus in The Independent:

Conservatives rally around Tucker Carlson’s son Buckley amid nepotism allegations

Fox host reportedly once asked Hunter Biden to help son get into college

John Bowden24 October 2022 20:20

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