The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into vice presidential candidate Tim Walz over his long-standing history with China over concerns it could pose national security threats if he were elevated to the White House next year. 

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the investigation on Friday, citing reports that Walz has visited the country 30 times over the decades by his own estimation, including for his honeymoon with his wife. In a letter sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Comer pressed the agency to provide access to all documents and communications related to the Chinese Communist Party’s connected entities as well as officials whom Walz has engaged with over the years. 

“The CCP has sought to destroy the United States through coordinated influence and infiltration campaigns that target every aspect of American life, including our own elected officials,” Comer said in a statement. “FBI briefers recently informed the Committee that the Bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force investigates CCP activity that is similar to China’s engagement with Governor Walz. The American people deserve to fully understand how deep Governor Walz’s relationship with China goes.”

Comer cited reports of “concerning ties” between Walz and the People’s Republic of China, including a trip he organized while he was a teacher at Alliance High School in 1993. That trip was reportedly paid for by the Chinese government, according to the Star-Herald.

Comer also pointed to Walz’s private company named Educational Travel Adventures that he created the next year, which was designed to coordinate annual student trips to the PRC. That group was later dissolved shortly after he was sworn into the House in 2007, according to the chairman. 

Walz’s ties to China have become a flashpoint for Republicans in recent weeks, with GOP lawmakers scrutinizing how his extensive time in the communist nation may have influenced his foreign policy stances or whether he would be reluctant to confront Chinese aggression as vice president.

“I’m not sure what taking over 30 trips to China, including for his honeymoon, says about Tim Walz’s posture towards China,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), House Homeland Security Committee chairman, told the Washington Examiner. “But perhaps if the Harris-Walz campaign were willing to take questions from reporters, we could find out.” 

The Harris-Walz campaign has rejected such criticisms, instead pointing to Walz having condemned China’s human rights record. The Washington Examiner contacted the campaign for comment.

When Walz first began visiting China, U.S.-China relations were not as adversarial, as the two nations actively tried bolstering ties for economic interests.

Still, since his first trip to the country roughly 3 1/2 decades ago, Walz has, at times, made eyebrow-raising remarks for conservatives that are receiving fresh scrutiny — not unlike his liberal record as governor that Republicans have homed in on.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Although Walz has long advocated improving U.S.-China relations, he has also been critical of human rights abuses and the Chinese government while showing affection for its people. He told a Nebraska newspaper in 1990 that if China “had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish.”

Comer pressed the FBI to provide the desired materials no later than Aug. 30, although it’s not clear whether the agency plans to comply with the request. The Washington Examiner contacted a spokesperson for the FBI for comment.

2024-08-16 15:17:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fhouse%2F3123997%2Fhouse-oversight-opens-investigation-tim-walz-china%2F?w=600&h=450, The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into vice presidential candidate Tim Walz over his long-standing history with China over concerns it could pose national security threats if he were elevated to the White House next year.  Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the investigation on Friday, citing reports that Walz has visited the,

The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into vice presidential candidate Tim Walz over his long-standing history with China over concerns it could pose national security threats if he were elevated to the White House next year. 

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the investigation on Friday, citing reports that Walz has visited the country 30 times over the decades by his own estimation, including for his honeymoon with his wife. In a letter sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Comer pressed the agency to provide access to all documents and communications related to the Chinese Communist Party’s connected entities as well as officials whom Walz has engaged with over the years. 

“The CCP has sought to destroy the United States through coordinated influence and infiltration campaigns that target every aspect of American life, including our own elected officials,” Comer said in a statement. “FBI briefers recently informed the Committee that the Bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force investigates CCP activity that is similar to China’s engagement with Governor Walz. The American people deserve to fully understand how deep Governor Walz’s relationship with China goes.”

Comer cited reports of “concerning ties” between Walz and the People’s Republic of China, including a trip he organized while he was a teacher at Alliance High School in 1993. That trip was reportedly paid for by the Chinese government, according to the Star-Herald.

Comer also pointed to Walz’s private company named Educational Travel Adventures that he created the next year, which was designed to coordinate annual student trips to the PRC. That group was later dissolved shortly after he was sworn into the House in 2007, according to the chairman. 

Walz’s ties to China have become a flashpoint for Republicans in recent weeks, with GOP lawmakers scrutinizing how his extensive time in the communist nation may have influenced his foreign policy stances or whether he would be reluctant to confront Chinese aggression as vice president.

“I’m not sure what taking over 30 trips to China, including for his honeymoon, says about Tim Walz’s posture towards China,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), House Homeland Security Committee chairman, told the Washington Examiner. “But perhaps if the Harris-Walz campaign were willing to take questions from reporters, we could find out.” 

The Harris-Walz campaign has rejected such criticisms, instead pointing to Walz having condemned China’s human rights record. The Washington Examiner contacted the campaign for comment.

When Walz first began visiting China, U.S.-China relations were not as adversarial, as the two nations actively tried bolstering ties for economic interests.

Still, since his first trip to the country roughly 3 1/2 decades ago, Walz has, at times, made eyebrow-raising remarks for conservatives that are receiving fresh scrutiny — not unlike his liberal record as governor that Republicans have homed in on.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Although Walz has long advocated improving U.S.-China relations, he has also been critical of human rights abuses and the Chinese government while showing affection for its people. He told a Nebraska newspaper in 1990 that if China “had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish.”

Comer pressed the FBI to provide the desired materials no later than Aug. 30, although it’s not clear whether the agency plans to comply with the request. The Washington Examiner contacted a spokesperson for the FBI for comment.

, The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into vice presidential candidate Tim Walz over his long-standing history with China over concerns it could pose national security threats if he were elevated to the White House next year.  Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the investigation on Friday, citing reports that Walz has visited the country 30 times over the decades by his own estimation, including for his honeymoon with his wife. In a letter sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Comer pressed the agency to provide access to all documents and communications related to the Chinese Communist Party’s connected entities as well as officials whom Walz has engaged with over the years.  “The CCP has sought to destroy the United States through coordinated influence and infiltration campaigns that target every aspect of American life, including our own elected officials,” Comer said in a statement. “FBI briefers recently informed the Committee that the Bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force investigates CCP activity that is similar to China’s engagement with Governor Walz. The American people deserve to fully understand how deep Governor Walz’s relationship with China goes.” Comer cited reports of “concerning ties” between Walz and the People’s Republic of China, including a trip he organized while he was a teacher at Alliance High School in 1993. That trip was reportedly paid for by the Chinese government, according to the Star-Herald. Comer also pointed to Walz’s private company named Educational Travel Adventures that he created the next year, which was designed to coordinate annual student trips to the PRC. That group was later dissolved shortly after he was sworn into the House in 2007, according to the chairman.  Walz’s ties to China have become a flashpoint for Republicans in recent weeks, with GOP lawmakers scrutinizing how his extensive time in the communist nation may have influenced his foreign policy stances or whether he would be reluctant to confront Chinese aggression as vice president. “I’m not sure what taking over 30 trips to China, including for his honeymoon, says about Tim Walz’s posture towards China,” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), House Homeland Security Committee chairman, told the Washington Examiner. “But perhaps if the Harris-Walz campaign were willing to take questions from reporters, we could find out.”  The Harris-Walz campaign has rejected such criticisms, instead pointing to Walz having condemned China’s human rights record. The Washington Examiner contacted the campaign for comment. When Walz first began visiting China, U.S.-China relations were not as adversarial, as the two nations actively tried bolstering ties for economic interests. Still, since his first trip to the country roughly 3 1/2 decades ago, Walz has, at times, made eyebrow-raising remarks for conservatives that are receiving fresh scrutiny — not unlike his liberal record as governor that Republicans have homed in on. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Although Walz has long advocated improving U.S.-China relations, he has also been critical of human rights abuses and the Chinese government while showing affection for its people. He told a Nebraska newspaper in 1990 that if China “had the proper leadership, there are no limits on what they could accomplish.” Comer pressed the FBI to provide the desired materials no later than Aug. 30, although it’s not clear whether the agency plans to comply with the request. The Washington Examiner contacted a spokesperson for the FBI for comment., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tim-Walz-Islamic-Association-of-North-America-funding-.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Former President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled his presidential transition team, comprising major party donors and his two oldest sons to lead policy and personnel efforts in preparation for a possible return to the White House next year.

The team will be co-led by two of Trump’s top campaign donors: Linda McMahon, who previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, and Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. The team also includes Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, and his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as honorary chairmen. 

“The 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again is a forward-looking agenda that will deliver safety, prosperity and freedom for the American people,” the former president said in a statement. “My administration will deliver on these bold promises. We will restore strength, competence and common sense to the Oval Office. I have absolute confidence the Trump-Vance Administration will be ready to govern effectively on Day One.”

Establishing a transition team ahead of Election Day is standard practice for presidential campaigns as it allows candidates to organize and prepare should they win the election.

The decision to tap McMahon and Lutnick to lead the transition team likely stems from the fundraising work the two have done over the last several months to boost Trump’s reelection bid. Just this month, Lutnick hosted a fundraiser for the former president in the Hamptons.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump Jr.’s placement on the team comes as the former president’s eldest son has openly expressed his desire to choose appointees in a future Trump administration. He told supporters at the Republican National Convention last month that he wants “veto power” to overrule candidates he did not trust.

“I want to block the liars,” Trump Jr. told the crowd. “I want to block the guys that are, you know, pretending they’re with you. I just want to block the bad actors. I just want to be a block. That’s it.”

2024-08-16 14:43:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fpresidential%2F3123939%2Ftrump-sons-presidential-transition-team%2F?w=600&h=450, Former President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled his presidential transition team, comprising major party donors and his two oldest sons to lead policy and personnel efforts in preparation for a possible return to the White House next year. The team will be co-led by two of Trump’s top campaign donors: Linda McMahon, who previously served,

Former President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled his presidential transition team, comprising major party donors and his two oldest sons to lead policy and personnel efforts in preparation for a possible return to the White House next year.

The team will be co-led by two of Trump’s top campaign donors: Linda McMahon, who previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, and Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. The team also includes Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, and his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as honorary chairmen. 

“The 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again is a forward-looking agenda that will deliver safety, prosperity and freedom for the American people,” the former president said in a statement. “My administration will deliver on these bold promises. We will restore strength, competence and common sense to the Oval Office. I have absolute confidence the Trump-Vance Administration will be ready to govern effectively on Day One.”

Establishing a transition team ahead of Election Day is standard practice for presidential campaigns as it allows candidates to organize and prepare should they win the election.

The decision to tap McMahon and Lutnick to lead the transition team likely stems from the fundraising work the two have done over the last several months to boost Trump’s reelection bid. Just this month, Lutnick hosted a fundraiser for the former president in the Hamptons.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump Jr.’s placement on the team comes as the former president’s eldest son has openly expressed his desire to choose appointees in a future Trump administration. He told supporters at the Republican National Convention last month that he wants “veto power” to overrule candidates he did not trust.

“I want to block the liars,” Trump Jr. told the crowd. “I want to block the guys that are, you know, pretending they’re with you. I just want to block the bad actors. I just want to be a block. That’s it.”

, Former President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled his presidential transition team, comprising major party donors and his two oldest sons to lead policy and personnel efforts in preparation for a possible return to the White House next year. The team will be co-led by two of Trump’s top campaign donors: Linda McMahon, who previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, and Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. The team also includes Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, and his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as honorary chairmen.  “The 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again is a forward-looking agenda that will deliver safety, prosperity and freedom for the American people,” the former president said in a statement. “My administration will deliver on these bold promises. We will restore strength, competence and common sense to the Oval Office. I have absolute confidence the Trump-Vance Administration will be ready to govern effectively on Day One.” Establishing a transition team ahead of Election Day is standard practice for presidential campaigns as it allows candidates to organize and prepare should they win the election. The decision to tap McMahon and Lutnick to lead the transition team likely stems from the fundraising work the two have done over the last several months to boost Trump’s reelection bid. Just this month, Lutnick hosted a fundraiser for the former president in the Hamptons. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Trump Jr.’s placement on the team comes as the former president’s eldest son has openly expressed his desire to choose appointees in a future Trump administration. He told supporters at the Republican National Convention last month that he wants “veto power” to overrule candidates he did not trust. “I want to block the liars,” Trump Jr. told the crowd. “I want to block the guys that are, you know, pretending they’re with you. I just want to block the bad actors. I just want to be a block. That’s it.”, , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AP24198114420765-scaled-1024×682.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Rebecca Cooke won the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the 2024 cycle and could help determine which party wins control of the lower chamber next year. 

Cooke narrowly defeated two Democratic opponents in the race after garnering 49.1% of the vote with 90% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 11:45 p.m. EST. 

Van Orden also won his primary on Tuesday after running unopposed. 

Van Orden was first elected to the House in 2022, defeating Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff and flipping the seat into Republican control for the first time since 1997. Since then, the seat has been considered a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats, and it is rated as “Lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. 

Since being elected, Van Orden has served as a vocal ally of former President Donald Trump, who backed the Wisconsin Republican’s 2022 campaign as well as his unsuccessful bid in 2020. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, Van Orden has received criticism from many of his Democratic colleagues as he was present on Capitol Hill during the Jan. 6 attack before being elected. The GOP incumbent has also come under fire after he reportedly yelled at a group of high-school aged Senate pages last summer for “defiling” the Capitol building. 

Van Orden won by more than 4 points in 2022. Still, Democrats are preparing to go on the offense against the incumbent in order to flip the district back into their control.

2024-08-14 03:50:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3120631%2Fwisconsin-house-seat-van-orden-election%2F?w=600&h=450, Rebecca Cooke won the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the 2024 cycle and could help determine which party wins control of the lower chamber next year.  Cooke narrowly defeated two Democratic opponents,

Rebecca Cooke won the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the 2024 cycle and could help determine which party wins control of the lower chamber next year. 

Cooke narrowly defeated two Democratic opponents in the race after garnering 49.1% of the vote with 90% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 11:45 p.m. EST. 

Van Orden also won his primary on Tuesday after running unopposed. 

Van Orden was first elected to the House in 2022, defeating Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff and flipping the seat into Republican control for the first time since 1997. Since then, the seat has been considered a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats, and it is rated as “Lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. 

Since being elected, Van Orden has served as a vocal ally of former President Donald Trump, who backed the Wisconsin Republican’s 2022 campaign as well as his unsuccessful bid in 2020. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, Van Orden has received criticism from many of his Democratic colleagues as he was present on Capitol Hill during the Jan. 6 attack before being elected. The GOP incumbent has also come under fire after he reportedly yelled at a group of high-school aged Senate pages last summer for “defiling” the Capitol building. 

Van Orden won by more than 4 points in 2022. Still, Democrats are preparing to go on the offense against the incumbent in order to flip the district back into their control.

, Rebecca Cooke won the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the 2024 cycle and could help determine which party wins control of the lower chamber next year.  Cooke narrowly defeated two Democratic opponents in the race after garnering 49.1% of the vote with 90% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 11:45 p.m. EST.  Van Orden also won his primary on Tuesday after running unopposed.  Van Orden was first elected to the House in 2022, defeating Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff and flipping the seat into Republican control for the first time since 1997. Since then, the seat has been considered a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats, and it is rated as “Lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.  Since being elected, Van Orden has served as a vocal ally of former President Donald Trump, who backed the Wisconsin Republican’s 2022 campaign as well as his unsuccessful bid in 2020.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER However, Van Orden has received criticism from many of his Democratic colleagues as he was present on Capitol Hill during the Jan. 6 attack before being elected. The GOP incumbent has also come under fire after he reportedly yelled at a group of high-school aged Senate pages last summer for “defiling” the Capitol building.  Van Orden won by more than 4 points in 2022. Still, Democrats are preparing to go on the offense against the incumbent in order to flip the district back into their control., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AP23292590534120-scaled-1024×683.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) survived her high-profile primary challenge on Tuesday, paving the way for her to be elected to a fourth term next year despite other progressive “Squad” colleagues losing their reelection bids. 

Omar defeated former former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, after garnering 56.2% of the vote with more than 95% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 10:39 p.m. Eastern. 

The primary served as a rematch for the two as Omar narrowly defeated Samuels by just 2 percentage points in 2022. 

That prompted the incumbent to take things more seriously this time around, resulting in a fairly ugly primary between the two as they sparred over campaign donations, policy platforms, and most recently, calling into question where support for their campaigns is stemming.

Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack against Israel, sought to make the House Democrat’s Pro-Palestinian stance a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” The strategy was similar to the pro-Israel efforts that were largely responsible for the losses of fellow far-left Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) earlier this year. 

Those losses also caused a surge in fundraising against Omar, particularly from pro-Israel groups and those who have proposed courting Republican voters to back Samuels, according to the Intercept.

Omar denounced those donations, calling it a “shameful” campaign tactic and accusing Samuels of actively seeking out GOP voters despite running as a Democrat.

“MN05 deserves someone who will champion their values, not seek support from vile MAGA Republicans like Laura Loomer and Royce White,” Omar said in a post on X, referring to the conservative political activist and Republican Senate candidate, respectively.

Samuels shot back, accusing Omar of also accepting donations from “Republican and Trump megadonors” and pointing to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission that showed Farouk Shami, an ally of former President Donald Trump, donating $6,600 to Omar in 2023.

Omar did not have to deal with such intense pro-Israel fundraising against her as Bush and Bowman did, with groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its political arm United Democracy only spending roughly $19,000 to boost her opponent. For comparison, AIPAC spent almost $9 million through its political arm to oust Bush and at least $14.5 million on ads attacking Bowman.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The incumbent has also benefitted from support from top left-wing lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned alongside the incumbent in recent weeks.

Omar will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al Aqidi, who ran unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating.

2024-08-14 02:43:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3120321%2Filhan-omar-primary-squad-minnesota-elections%2F?w=600&h=450, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) survived her high-profile primary challenge on Tuesday, paving the way for her to be elected to a fourth term next year despite other progressive “Squad” colleagues losing their reelection bids.  Omar defeated former former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, after garnering 56.2% of the vote with more than 95% of ballots,

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) survived her high-profile primary challenge on Tuesday, paving the way for her to be elected to a fourth term next year despite other progressive “Squad” colleagues losing their reelection bids. 

Omar defeated former former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, after garnering 56.2% of the vote with more than 95% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 10:39 p.m. Eastern. 

The primary served as a rematch for the two as Omar narrowly defeated Samuels by just 2 percentage points in 2022. 

That prompted the incumbent to take things more seriously this time around, resulting in a fairly ugly primary between the two as they sparred over campaign donations, policy platforms, and most recently, calling into question where support for their campaigns is stemming.

Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack against Israel, sought to make the House Democrat’s Pro-Palestinian stance a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” The strategy was similar to the pro-Israel efforts that were largely responsible for the losses of fellow far-left Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) earlier this year. 

Those losses also caused a surge in fundraising against Omar, particularly from pro-Israel groups and those who have proposed courting Republican voters to back Samuels, according to the Intercept.

Omar denounced those donations, calling it a “shameful” campaign tactic and accusing Samuels of actively seeking out GOP voters despite running as a Democrat.

“MN05 deserves someone who will champion their values, not seek support from vile MAGA Republicans like Laura Loomer and Royce White,” Omar said in a post on X, referring to the conservative political activist and Republican Senate candidate, respectively.

Samuels shot back, accusing Omar of also accepting donations from “Republican and Trump megadonors” and pointing to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission that showed Farouk Shami, an ally of former President Donald Trump, donating $6,600 to Omar in 2023.

Omar did not have to deal with such intense pro-Israel fundraising against her as Bush and Bowman did, with groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its political arm United Democracy only spending roughly $19,000 to boost her opponent. For comparison, AIPAC spent almost $9 million through its political arm to oust Bush and at least $14.5 million on ads attacking Bowman.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The incumbent has also benefitted from support from top left-wing lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned alongside the incumbent in recent weeks.

Omar will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al Aqidi, who ran unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating.

, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) survived her high-profile primary challenge on Tuesday, paving the way for her to be elected to a fourth term next year despite other progressive “Squad” colleagues losing their reelection bids.  Omar defeated former former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels, after garnering 56.2% of the vote with more than 95% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in her favor at 10:39 p.m. Eastern.  The primary served as a rematch for the two as Omar narrowly defeated Samuels by just 2 percentage points in 2022.  That prompted the incumbent to take things more seriously this time around, resulting in a fairly ugly primary between the two as they sparred over campaign donations, policy platforms, and most recently, calling into question where support for their campaigns is stemming. Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack against Israel, sought to make the House Democrat’s Pro-Palestinian stance a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” The strategy was similar to the pro-Israel efforts that were largely responsible for the losses of fellow far-left Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) earlier this year.  Those losses also caused a surge in fundraising against Omar, particularly from pro-Israel groups and those who have proposed courting Republican voters to back Samuels, according to the Intercept. Omar denounced those donations, calling it a “shameful” campaign tactic and accusing Samuels of actively seeking out GOP voters despite running as a Democrat. “MN05 deserves someone who will champion their values, not seek support from vile MAGA Republicans like Laura Loomer and Royce White,” Omar said in a post on X, referring to the conservative political activist and Republican Senate candidate, respectively. Samuels shot back, accusing Omar of also accepting donations from “Republican and Trump megadonors” and pointing to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission that showed Farouk Shami, an ally of former President Donald Trump, donating $6,600 to Omar in 2023. Omar did not have to deal with such intense pro-Israel fundraising against her as Bush and Bowman did, with groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its political arm United Democracy only spending roughly $19,000 to boost her opponent. For comparison, AIPAC spent almost $9 million through its political arm to oust Bush and at least $14.5 million on ads attacking Bowman. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The incumbent has also benefitted from support from top left-wing lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned alongside the incumbent in recent weeks. Omar will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al Aqidi, who ran unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AP23033044835356-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Republican candidate Eric Hovde won the GOP primary for Wisconsin’s Senate seat, setting the stage for one of the most competitive elections of the 2024 cycle that will help determine the balance of power in the upper chamber next year. 

Hovde handily defeated his two Republican opponents after garnering 90.4% of the vote with 6% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in his favor at 9:20 p.m. Eastern. 

Hovde will go on to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate. The race is rated as “Lean Democratic” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report but has emerged as one of the most crucial seats to hold on to in November. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hovde emerged from a crowded field of Republican candidates, largely thanks to a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The Republican candidate also poured millions of dollars of his own money into the race, spending at least $13 million over the last four months. 

However, Hovde may have an uphill battle in the crucial battleground state as Baldwin has held a healthy lead in early polls. The latest survey from the New York Times and Siena College showed Baldwin leading Hovde by 7 points, 51% to 44%.

2024-08-14 01:26:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3120549%2Ftammy-baldwin-eric-hovde-wisconsin-senate%2F?w=600&h=450, Republican candidate Eric Hovde won the GOP primary for Wisconsin’s Senate seat, setting the stage for one of the most competitive elections of the 2024 cycle that will help determine the balance of power in the upper chamber next year.  Hovde handily defeated his two Republican opponents after garnering 90.4% of the vote with 6%,

Republican candidate Eric Hovde won the GOP primary for Wisconsin’s Senate seat, setting the stage for one of the most competitive elections of the 2024 cycle that will help determine the balance of power in the upper chamber next year. 

Hovde handily defeated his two Republican opponents after garnering 90.4% of the vote with 6% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in his favor at 9:20 p.m. Eastern. 

Hovde will go on to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate. The race is rated as “Lean Democratic” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report but has emerged as one of the most crucial seats to hold on to in November. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hovde emerged from a crowded field of Republican candidates, largely thanks to a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The Republican candidate also poured millions of dollars of his own money into the race, spending at least $13 million over the last four months. 

However, Hovde may have an uphill battle in the crucial battleground state as Baldwin has held a healthy lead in early polls. The latest survey from the New York Times and Siena College showed Baldwin leading Hovde by 7 points, 51% to 44%.

, Republican candidate Eric Hovde won the GOP primary for Wisconsin’s Senate seat, setting the stage for one of the most competitive elections of the 2024 cycle that will help determine the balance of power in the upper chamber next year.  Hovde handily defeated his two Republican opponents after garnering 90.4% of the vote with 6% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race in his favor at 9:20 p.m. Eastern.  Hovde will go on to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate. The race is rated as “Lean Democratic” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report but has emerged as one of the most crucial seats to hold on to in November.  FILE – Eric Hovde speaks during the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Hovde emerged from a crowded field of Republican candidates, largely thanks to a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The Republican candidate also poured millions of dollars of his own money into the race, spending at least $13 million over the last four months.  However, Hovde may have an uphill battle in the crucial battleground state as Baldwin has held a healthy lead in early polls. The l atest survey from the New York Times and Siena College showed Baldwin leading Hovde by 7 points, 51% to 44%., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AP22340850346407-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) in November, seeking to end the GOP incumbent’s four-term legacy in a predominantly blue state. 

Charlestin handily defeated Peter Duval after garnering 70.5% of the vote with 29.5% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 7:37 p.m. Eastern. 

Charlestin is an educator and previously served as a member of the Middlebury Selectboard, the legislative body for the municipal government of Middlebury, Vermont. 

Charlestin’s win doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after she was endorsed by Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, and former Gov. Howard Dean.

Duval even acknowledged his candidacy was a long shot, with the candidate himself writing on his campaign website, “I am going to lose this election.” That message is reminiscent of his 2022 run when he lost to Scott in the GOP primary before once again losing in the general as an independent. 

Despite holding the governorship in a heavily Democratic state, Scott has long been popular among Vermont voters and won reelection in 2022 with 69% of the vote. He’s also established himself as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, telling supporters he voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, Scott has received criticism from state Democrats in recent months who say the Republican incumbent has repeatedly blamed the opposite party “for the state’s government failing under his watch.”

Even so, Charlestin will face an uphill battle to unseat Scott in November, as the governor has remained popular among voters. A survey conducted by Morning Consult in April found Scott to be the most popular governor in the country with an 81% approval rating.

2024-08-13 23:43:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fstate%2F3120484%2Fdemocratic-primary-governor-vermont-phil-scott%2F?w=600&h=450, Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) in November, seeking to end the GOP incumbent’s four-term legacy in a predominantly blue state.  Charlestin handily defeated Peter Duval after garnering 70.5% of the vote with 29.5% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 7:37 p.m. Eastern.  Charlestin,

Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) in November, seeking to end the GOP incumbent’s four-term legacy in a predominantly blue state. 

Charlestin handily defeated Peter Duval after garnering 70.5% of the vote with 29.5% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 7:37 p.m. Eastern. 

Charlestin is an educator and previously served as a member of the Middlebury Selectboard, the legislative body for the municipal government of Middlebury, Vermont. 

Charlestin’s win doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after she was endorsed by Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, and former Gov. Howard Dean.

Duval even acknowledged his candidacy was a long shot, with the candidate himself writing on his campaign website, “I am going to lose this election.” That message is reminiscent of his 2022 run when he lost to Scott in the GOP primary before once again losing in the general as an independent. 

Despite holding the governorship in a heavily Democratic state, Scott has long been popular among Vermont voters and won reelection in 2022 with 69% of the vote. He’s also established himself as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, telling supporters he voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, Scott has received criticism from state Democrats in recent months who say the Republican incumbent has repeatedly blamed the opposite party “for the state’s government failing under his watch.”

Even so, Charlestin will face an uphill battle to unseat Scott in November, as the governor has remained popular among voters. A survey conducted by Morning Consult in April found Scott to be the most popular governor in the country with an 81% approval rating.

, Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) in November, seeking to end the GOP incumbent’s four-term legacy in a predominantly blue state.  Charlestin handily defeated Peter Duval after garnering 70.5% of the vote with 29.5% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 7:37 p.m. Eastern.  Charlestin is an educator and previously served as a member of the Middlebury Selectboard, the legislative body for the municipal government of Middlebury, Vermont.  Charlestin’s win doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after she was endorsed by Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, and former Gov. Howard Dean. Duval even acknowledged his candidacy was a long shot, with the candidate himself writing on his campaign website, “I am going to lose this election.” That message is reminiscent of his 2022 run when he lost to Scott in the GOP primary before once again losing in the general as an independent.  Despite holding the governorship in a heavily Democratic state, Scott has long been popular among Vermont voters and won reelection in 2022 with 69% of the vote. He’s also established himself as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, telling supporters he voted for President Joe Biden in 2020.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER However, Scott has received criticism from state Democrats in recent months who say the Republican incumbent has repeatedly blamed the opposite party “for the state’s government failing under his watch.” Even so, Charlestin will face an uphill battle to unseat Scott in November, as the governor has remained popular among voters. A survey conducted by Morning Consult in April found Scott to be the most popular governor in the country with an 81% approval rating., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AP24194650205151-scaled-1024×679.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Voters are casting their ballots in several states’ primaries on one of the final election nights before November, solidifying the matchups of several key House and Senate races. 

Four states are holding their primary elections on Tuesday, including Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. Although many of the primary races are uncompetitive, they set the stage for crucial races in November that could help determine the balance of power in Congress next year. 

Here are some of the top races to watch across the four states: 

Minnesota

One of the most closely watched races on Tuesday is the Democratic primary for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) seat representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. 

The general election for the district is not considered to be competitive and is expected to favor the Democratic candidate. However, Omar faces a tough challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who previously challenged her for the seat in 2022. 

In that race, Omar won by only 2 percentage points — a margin that Samuels believes could benefit him, especially as some of Omar’s progressive colleagues have lost their primaries this year. Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO), both prominent members of the “Squad,” lost their primaries after pro-Israel groups funneled millions of dollars toward their opponents. 

Also on the ballot in Minnesota is a group of Republican candidates looking to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Two candidates are facing off in the GOP primary: Royce White, a former NBA player, vs. Joe Fraser, a Navy veteran. 

The race is not considered to be competitive as Klobuchar is expected to win reelection in the heavily blue state. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) faces a primary challenge of her own despite being endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Whoever wins the GOP primary is expected to win the seat in November. 

Vermont

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is back on the ballot for reelection for Vermont’s Senate seat, where he is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. That sets the stage for him to face Republican candidate Gerald Malloy, who is also running unopposed. 

The race is not considered to be competitive as Sanders has held the seat since 2017. The race is rated as “Solid Democrat” by the Cook Political Report, benefitting the independent incumbent as he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate. 

Another race drawing attention in Vermont is the one for governor as Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) looks to secure a fifth term. However, Scott has faced pushback from state Democrats, who criticize the governor for blaming Democrats “for the state’s government failing under his watch.”

“I think we’ve got a pretty good case to make to the voters for why it’s time for a change,” said Jim Dandeneau, the executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party.

Scott is not facing any primary challengers, but there are two Democrats seeking to challenge him in the fall — including Peter Duval, who is running as a Democrat despite challenging Scott in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022. 

Duval later went on to challenge Scott as an independent in the November election, which Scott won. Now Duval is running as a Democrat, which he says is evidence he is a “fusion candidate, still not part of any machinery.”

Connecticut

At the top of Connecticut’s primary ballot is the GOP primary to determine who will face off against Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) in November. 

Two Republicans will compete in the GOP primary: First Selectman Gerry Smith of Beacon Falls and businessman Matthew Corey of Manchester. Corey was previously the Republican nominee for Senate in 2018, but the state party opted to endorse Smith during its convention earlier this year. 

However, Corey earned enough of the convention vote, 29%, to qualify for the primary. 

Whoever wins will face Murphy in November, and the race is expected to favor the Democratic incumbent.

Also on the ballot is the GOP House’s primary challenge to Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) in the fall. That race features a faceoff between Bob MacGuffie, a corporate insurance executive, and Dr. Michael Goldstein, a physician and attorney. 

That race is expected to favor Himes and is not considered competitive by the Cook Political Report. 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin will also have a GOP Senate primary on the ballot on Tuesday to determine which Republican candidate will advance to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in November. 

The primary features three candidates: Eric Hovde, Charles Barman, and Rejani Raveendran. Hovde is favored to win the primary, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Senate races as Baldwin seeks to hang on to her seat in the crucial swing state. 

Baldwin holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in November in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate — meaning the race could determine which party holds control of the upper chamber next year. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Elsewhere on the ballot is the Democratic House primary to take on incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a seat that Democrats view as vulnerable heading into November. Three Democrats are set to appear on the ballot, including small business owner Rebecca Cooke, Wisconsin State Assembly Katrina Shankland, and Eric Wilson, chairman of the Technology and Communications committees with the Eau Claire County Democrats.

The race for Wisconsin’s 3rd District is considered to be one of the most competitive House races of the 2024 cycle and is rated as “Lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.

2024-08-11 10:00:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3115770%2Ftuesday-primary-election-minnesota-vermont-connecticut-wisconsin%2F?w=600&h=450, Voters are casting their ballots in several states’ primaries on one of the final election nights before November, solidifying the matchups of several key House and Senate races.  Four states are holding their primary elections on Tuesday, including Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. Although many of the primary races are uncompetitive, they set the stage,

Voters are casting their ballots in several states’ primaries on one of the final election nights before November, solidifying the matchups of several key House and Senate races. 

Four states are holding their primary elections on Tuesday, including Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. Although many of the primary races are uncompetitive, they set the stage for crucial races in November that could help determine the balance of power in Congress next year. 

Here are some of the top races to watch across the four states: 

Minnesota

One of the most closely watched races on Tuesday is the Democratic primary for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) seat representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. 

The general election for the district is not considered to be competitive and is expected to favor the Democratic candidate. However, Omar faces a tough challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who previously challenged her for the seat in 2022. 

In that race, Omar won by only 2 percentage points — a margin that Samuels believes could benefit him, especially as some of Omar’s progressive colleagues have lost their primaries this year. Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO), both prominent members of the “Squad,” lost their primaries after pro-Israel groups funneled millions of dollars toward their opponents. 

Also on the ballot in Minnesota is a group of Republican candidates looking to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Two candidates are facing off in the GOP primary: Royce White, a former NBA player, vs. Joe Fraser, a Navy veteran. 

The race is not considered to be competitive as Klobuchar is expected to win reelection in the heavily blue state. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) faces a primary challenge of her own despite being endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Whoever wins the GOP primary is expected to win the seat in November. 

Vermont

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is back on the ballot for reelection for Vermont’s Senate seat, where he is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. That sets the stage for him to face Republican candidate Gerald Malloy, who is also running unopposed. 

The race is not considered to be competitive as Sanders has held the seat since 2017. The race is rated as “Solid Democrat” by the Cook Political Report, benefitting the independent incumbent as he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate. 

Another race drawing attention in Vermont is the one for governor as Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) looks to secure a fifth term. However, Scott has faced pushback from state Democrats, who criticize the governor for blaming Democrats “for the state’s government failing under his watch.”

“I think we’ve got a pretty good case to make to the voters for why it’s time for a change,” said Jim Dandeneau, the executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party.

Scott is not facing any primary challengers, but there are two Democrats seeking to challenge him in the fall — including Peter Duval, who is running as a Democrat despite challenging Scott in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022. 

Duval later went on to challenge Scott as an independent in the November election, which Scott won. Now Duval is running as a Democrat, which he says is evidence he is a “fusion candidate, still not part of any machinery.”

Connecticut

At the top of Connecticut’s primary ballot is the GOP primary to determine who will face off against Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) in November. 

Two Republicans will compete in the GOP primary: First Selectman Gerry Smith of Beacon Falls and businessman Matthew Corey of Manchester. Corey was previously the Republican nominee for Senate in 2018, but the state party opted to endorse Smith during its convention earlier this year. 

However, Corey earned enough of the convention vote, 29%, to qualify for the primary. 

Whoever wins will face Murphy in November, and the race is expected to favor the Democratic incumbent.

Also on the ballot is the GOP House’s primary challenge to Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) in the fall. That race features a faceoff between Bob MacGuffie, a corporate insurance executive, and Dr. Michael Goldstein, a physician and attorney. 

That race is expected to favor Himes and is not considered competitive by the Cook Political Report. 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin will also have a GOP Senate primary on the ballot on Tuesday to determine which Republican candidate will advance to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in November. 

The primary features three candidates: Eric Hovde, Charles Barman, and Rejani Raveendran. Hovde is favored to win the primary, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Senate races as Baldwin seeks to hang on to her seat in the crucial swing state. 

Baldwin holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in November in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate — meaning the race could determine which party holds control of the upper chamber next year. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Elsewhere on the ballot is the Democratic House primary to take on incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a seat that Democrats view as vulnerable heading into November. Three Democrats are set to appear on the ballot, including small business owner Rebecca Cooke, Wisconsin State Assembly Katrina Shankland, and Eric Wilson, chairman of the Technology and Communications committees with the Eau Claire County Democrats.

The race for Wisconsin’s 3rd District is considered to be one of the most competitive House races of the 2024 cycle and is rated as “Lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.

, Voters are casting their ballots in several states’ primaries on one of the final election nights before November, solidifying the matchups of several key House and Senate races.  Four states are holding their primary elections on Tuesday, including Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, and Wisconsin. Although many of the primary races are uncompetitive, they set the stage for crucial races in November that could help determine the balance of power in Congress next year.  Here are some of the top races to watch across the four states:  Minnesota One of the most closely watched races on Tuesday is the Democratic primary for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) seat representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.  The general election for the district is not considered to be competitive and is expected to favor the Democratic candidate. However, Omar faces a tough challenge from former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who previously challenged her for the seat in 2022.  In that race, Omar won by only 2 percentage points — a margin that Samuels believes could benefit him, especially as some of Omar’s progressive colleagues have lost their primaries this year. Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO), both prominent members of the “Squad,” lost their primaries after pro-Israel groups funneled millions of dollars toward their opponents.  Also on the ballot in Minnesota is a group of Republican candidates looking to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Two candidates are facing off in the GOP primary: Royce White, a former NBA player, vs. Joe Fraser, a Navy veteran.  The race is not considered to be competitive as Klobuchar is expected to win reelection in the heavily blue state.  Meanwhile, Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) faces a primary challenge of her own despite being endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Whoever wins the GOP primary is expected to win the seat in November.  Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is back on the ballot for reelection for Vermont’s Senate seat, where he is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. That sets the stage for him to face Republican candidate Gerald Malloy, who is also running unopposed.  The race is not considered to be competitive as Sanders has held the seat since 2017. The race is rated as “Solid Democrat” by the Cook Political Report, benefitting the independent incumbent as he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate.  Another race drawing attention in Vermont is the one for governor as Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) looks to secure a fifth term. However, Scott has faced pushback from state Democrats, who criticize the governor for blaming Democrats “for the state’s government failing under his watch.” “I think we’ve got a pretty good case to make to the voters for why it’s time for a change,” said Jim Dandeneau, the executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. Scott is not facing any primary challengers, but there are two Democrats seeking to challenge him in the fall — including Peter Duval, who is running as a Democrat despite challenging Scott in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022.  Duval later went on to challenge Scott as an independent in the November election, which Scott won. Now Duval is running as a Democrat, which he says is evidence he is a “fusion candidate, still not part of any machinery.” Connecticut At the top of Connecticut’s primary ballot is the GOP primary to determine who will face off against Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) in November.  Two Republicans will compete in the GOP primary: First Selectman Gerry Smith of Beacon Falls and businessman Matthew Corey of Manchester. Corey was previously the Republican nominee for Senate in 2018, but the state party opted to endorse Smith during its convention earlier this year.  However, Corey earned enough of the convention vote, 29%, to qualify for the primary.  Whoever wins will face Murphy in November, and the race is expected to favor the Democratic incumbent. Also on the ballot is the GOP House’s primary challenge to Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) in the fall. That race features a faceoff between Bob MacGuffie, a corporate insurance executive, and Dr. Michael Goldstein, a physician and attorney.  That race is expected to favor Himes and is not considered competitive by the Cook Political Report.  Wisconsin Wisconsin will also have a GOP Senate primary on the ballot on Tuesday to determine which Republican candidate will advance to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in November.  The primary features three candidates: Eric Hovde, Charles Barman, and Rejani Raveendran. Hovde is favored to win the primary, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Senate races as Baldwin seeks to hang on to her seat in the crucial swing state.  Baldwin holds one of 23 seats Democrats must defend in November in order to keep their slim majority in the Senate — meaning the race could determine which party holds control of the upper chamber next year.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Elsewhere on the ballot is the Democratic House primary to take on incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a seat that Democrats view as vulnerable heading into November. Three Democrats are set to appear on the ballot, including small business owner Rebecca Cooke, Wisconsin State Assembly Katrina Shankland, and Eric Wilson, chairman of the Technology and Communications committees with the Eau Claire County Democrats. The race for Wisconsin’s 3rd District is considered to be one of the most competitive House races of the 2024 cycle and is rated as “Lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ilhan-Omar-husband-tim-mynett-scaled-1024×682.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is running for reelection almost unscathed by the pro-Israel groups that have poured millions into unseating her other “Squad” colleagues.

Omar, one of the most critical House Democrats on the war in Gaza, is facing a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. He only lost to Omar by 2 percentage points in 2022, raising the prospect that she could be the next progressive colleague to be ousted from the House.

Omar’s primary comes on the heels of Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-MO) loss this past week after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent almost $9 million through its political arm supporting her opponent due to her pro-Palestinian stance and accusation that Israel is engaged in “genocide” in Gaza. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), another “Squad” member, faced a similar fate in June when he lost his high-profile primary. 

Yet pro-Israel groups have not spent much against Omar. Its political arm has only put $19,000 into primary advertising, according to AdImpact.

Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, has attempted to make the issue a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” But he has been dramatically outspent. Omar’s campaign has spent $2.6 million on advertising, compared to Samuels’s $32,000.

Meanwhile, Omar, who faced accusations of antisemitism for various tweets dating back to 2012 when she said Israel had “hypnotized the world,” benefits from the support of prominent progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned on her behalf.

Samuels had received $350,000 indirectly in his 2022 race against Omar, according to the Forward. But this time, an operative familiar with the deliberations told Jewish Insider that AIPAC had hoped to recruit a different candidate and judged that Samuels had “reached his capacity.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The most recent survey from Lake Research Partners shows Omar 27 points ahead of her Democratic challenger.

Whoever wins the primary on Tuesday will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating.

2024-08-11 08:00:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fcongressional%2F3116827%2Filhan-omar-primary-aipac-squad-democrats%2F?w=600&h=450, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is running for reelection almost unscathed by the pro-Israel groups that have poured millions into unseating her other “Squad” colleagues. Omar, one of the most critical House Democrats on the war in Gaza, is facing a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Minnesota’s,

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is running for reelection almost unscathed by the pro-Israel groups that have poured millions into unseating her other “Squad” colleagues.

Omar, one of the most critical House Democrats on the war in Gaza, is facing a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. He only lost to Omar by 2 percentage points in 2022, raising the prospect that she could be the next progressive colleague to be ousted from the House.

Omar’s primary comes on the heels of Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-MO) loss this past week after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent almost $9 million through its political arm supporting her opponent due to her pro-Palestinian stance and accusation that Israel is engaged in “genocide” in Gaza. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), another “Squad” member, faced a similar fate in June when he lost his high-profile primary. 

Yet pro-Israel groups have not spent much against Omar. Its political arm has only put $19,000 into primary advertising, according to AdImpact.

Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, has attempted to make the issue a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” But he has been dramatically outspent. Omar’s campaign has spent $2.6 million on advertising, compared to Samuels’s $32,000.

Meanwhile, Omar, who faced accusations of antisemitism for various tweets dating back to 2012 when she said Israel had “hypnotized the world,” benefits from the support of prominent progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned on her behalf.

Samuels had received $350,000 indirectly in his 2022 race against Omar, according to the Forward. But this time, an operative familiar with the deliberations told Jewish Insider that AIPAC had hoped to recruit a different candidate and judged that Samuels had “reached his capacity.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The most recent survey from Lake Research Partners shows Omar 27 points ahead of her Democratic challenger.

Whoever wins the primary on Tuesday will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating.

, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is running for reelection almost unscathed by the pro-Israel groups that have poured millions into unseating her other “Squad” colleagues. Omar, one of the most critical House Democrats on the war in Gaza, is facing a rematch against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. He only lost to Omar by 2 percentage points in 2022, raising the prospect that she could be the next progressive colleague to be ousted from the House. Omar’s primary comes on the heels of Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-MO) loss this past week after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent almost $9 million through its political arm supporting her opponent due to her pro-Palestinian stance and accusation that Israel is engaged in “genocide” in Gaza. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), another “Squad” member, faced a similar fate in June when he lost his high-profile primary.  Yet pro-Israel groups have not spent much against Omar. Its political arm has only put $19,000 into primary advertising, according to AdImpact. Samuels, who entered the primary after Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel, has attempted to make the issue a liability for Omar, accusing her of being a “pawn for Hamas.” But he has been dramatically outspent. Omar’s campaign has spent $2.6 million on advertising, compared to Samuels’s $32,000. Meanwhile, Omar, who faced accusations of antisemitism for various tweets dating back to 2012 when she said Israel had “hypnotized the world,” benefits from the support of prominent progressive lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has campaigned on her behalf. Samuels had received $350,000 indirectly in his 2022 race against Omar, according to the Forward. But this time, an operative familiar with the deliberations told Jewish Insider that AIPAC had hoped to recruit a different candidate and judged that Samuels had “reached his capacity.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The most recent survey from Lake Research Partners shows Omar 27 points ahead of her Democratic challenger. Whoever wins the primary on Tuesday will go on to face Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who is running unopposed on the GOP side. The race is expected to heavily favor the Democratic nominee, and the Cook Political Report has given the race a D+30 rating., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Don-Samuels-and-Ilhan-Omar.png, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

A new ad campaign launched by an anti-Donald Trump PAC is looking to hit the former president where it hurts: the size of his campaign rallies. 

In a new ad released on Friday by the Anti-Psychopath PAC, the video looks to compare some of Trump’s poorly attended rallies with the sold-out crowds attracted by Vice President Kamala Harris as she begins her presidential bid. The ads are set to run exclusively on Fox News channels in Bedminster, New Jersey, and in Mar-a-Lago — two places where “Trump spends most of his time,” according to the group.

“Enjoy the rallies while they last, Donald,” George Conway, the president of the PAC, says in the voiceover as an image of a prison door slams shut over Trump’s face. “Because where you’re going, you’re not going to be able to have any.” 

The purpose of the ads is to “trigger the former president and throw him off his game,” according to the group, as Trump has repeatedly touted the size of his rallies and events compared to others. 

“In history, for any country, nobody’s had crowds like I have,” Trump said on Thursday in response to whether he was concerned about the size of Harris’s rallies. “If you look at Martin Luther King when he did his great speech … and you look at the picture of his crowd, my crowd — we actually had more people.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump has even gone so far as to accuse Harris of paying people to attend in order to make her crowd sizes appear larger. 

“When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesn’t talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!”

The ads are scheduled to run between Tuesday and Thursday. The Washington Examiner contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

2024-08-09 16:32:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fpresidential%2F3116624%2Fgeorge-conway-ad-trump-rally-sizes%2F?w=600&h=450, A new ad campaign launched by an anti-Donald Trump PAC is looking to hit the former president where it hurts: the size of his campaign rallies.  In a new ad released on Friday by the Anti-Psychopath PAC, the video looks to compare some of Trump’s poorly attended rallies with the sold-out crowds attracted by Vice,

A new ad campaign launched by an anti-Donald Trump PAC is looking to hit the former president where it hurts: the size of his campaign rallies. 

In a new ad released on Friday by the Anti-Psychopath PAC, the video looks to compare some of Trump’s poorly attended rallies with the sold-out crowds attracted by Vice President Kamala Harris as she begins her presidential bid. The ads are set to run exclusively on Fox News channels in Bedminster, New Jersey, and in Mar-a-Lago — two places where “Trump spends most of his time,” according to the group.

“Enjoy the rallies while they last, Donald,” George Conway, the president of the PAC, says in the voiceover as an image of a prison door slams shut over Trump’s face. “Because where you’re going, you’re not going to be able to have any.” 

The purpose of the ads is to “trigger the former president and throw him off his game,” according to the group, as Trump has repeatedly touted the size of his rallies and events compared to others. 

“In history, for any country, nobody’s had crowds like I have,” Trump said on Thursday in response to whether he was concerned about the size of Harris’s rallies. “If you look at Martin Luther King when he did his great speech … and you look at the picture of his crowd, my crowd — we actually had more people.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump has even gone so far as to accuse Harris of paying people to attend in order to make her crowd sizes appear larger. 

“When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesn’t talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!”

The ads are scheduled to run between Tuesday and Thursday. The Washington Examiner contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

, A new ad campaign launched by an anti-Donald Trump PAC is looking to hit the former president where it hurts: the size of his campaign rallies.  In a new ad released on Friday by the Anti-Psychopath PAC, the video looks to compare some of Trump’s poorly attended rallies with the sold-out crowds attracted by Vice President Kamala Harris as she begins her presidential bid. The ads are set to run exclusively on Fox News channels in Bedminster, New Jersey, and in Mar-a-Lago — two places where “Trump spends most of his time,” according to the group. “Enjoy the rallies while they last, Donald,” George Conway, the president of the PAC, says in the voiceover as an image of a prison door slams shut over Trump’s face. “Because where you’re going, you’re not going to be able to have any.”  The purpose of the ads is to “trigger the former president and throw him off his game,” according to the group, as Trump has repeatedly touted the size of his rallies and events compared to others.  “In history, for any country, nobody’s had crowds like I have,” Trump said on Thursday in response to whether he was concerned about the size of Harris’s rallies. “If you look at Martin Luther King when he did his great speech … and you look at the picture of his crowd, my crowd — we actually had more people.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Trump has even gone so far as to accuse Harris of paying people to attend in order to make her crowd sizes appear larger.  “When I have a Rally, and 100,000 people show up, the Fake News doesn’t talk about it, THEY REFUSE TO MENTION CROWD SIZE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “The Fake News is the Enemy of the People!” The ads are scheduled to run between Tuesday and Thursday. The Washington Examiner contacted the Trump campaign for comment., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AP24217532901618-scaled-1024×683.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,

The State Department may be required to track and disclose publicly all money given to foreign adversaries under a new bill being introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) seeking to prevent U.S. tax dollars from going toward terrorist activity. 

Ernst filed an amendment to her Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act, which she introduced earlier this year, that would “require every penny” the United States gives to foreign adversaries to be tracked and disclosed. That’s a change from the bill’s original language, which only applied to China and Russia. 

The amendment comes in response to a report that the U.S. has inadvertently sent $293 million to the Taliban over the last three years due to a failure by the State Department to vet award recipients, according to the Leading Report. The money was sent after the Taliban reportedly established fake nonprofit groups to siphon millions of dollars of U.S. aid that was meant to be sent to Afghanistan, according to an investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. 

Because of that, the Taliban have received hundreds of millions of dollars due to incomplete vetting by the State Department, according to the investigation. 

“We knew Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had a spend first, ask questions later approach, but to see $293 million sent to the Taliban is completely inexcusable,” Ernst told the Washington Examiner. “This administration needs to get back our money, as I fight to ensure they cannot lose track of taxpayers’ hard-earned money ever again.

“If the IRS can track a $600 Venmo for someone in Iowa, then they can certainly make sure our country is not cutting checks to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations,” Ernst added, referring to a future rule by the IRS that would require some online app payments to be reported to the department. 

However, that rule only applies to payments that are considered income, such as money for services or products. If a payment over $600 is not considered income, such as reimbursements or gifts, users can request a correction. 

It’s not clear when Ernst’s amendment or complete bill may be brought up for consideration because the Senate is adjourned for its annual August recess and is not slated to return until Sept. 9. 

Ernst also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to “take immediate action to rectify these issues.” It’s not clear what that action may entail.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The State Department refuted claims that the U.S. has provided financial assistance to the Taliban, calling allegations that those funds came from department funding inaccurate. Additionally, a spokesperson for the department told the Washington Examiner that “the majority” of the State Department’s Afghanistan-related awards “fully comply” with vetting requirements.

The Washington Examiner also contacted the White House for comment.

2024-08-09 16:00:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fsenate%2F3116506%2Fblinken-pressed-money-taliban-joni-ernst%2F?w=600&h=450, The State Department may be required to track and disclose publicly all money given to foreign adversaries under a new bill being introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) seeking to prevent U.S. tax dollars from going toward terrorist activity.  Ernst filed an amendment to her Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act,

The State Department may be required to track and disclose publicly all money given to foreign adversaries under a new bill being introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) seeking to prevent U.S. tax dollars from going toward terrorist activity. 

Ernst filed an amendment to her Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act, which she introduced earlier this year, that would “require every penny” the United States gives to foreign adversaries to be tracked and disclosed. That’s a change from the bill’s original language, which only applied to China and Russia. 

The amendment comes in response to a report that the U.S. has inadvertently sent $293 million to the Taliban over the last three years due to a failure by the State Department to vet award recipients, according to the Leading Report. The money was sent after the Taliban reportedly established fake nonprofit groups to siphon millions of dollars of U.S. aid that was meant to be sent to Afghanistan, according to an investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. 

Because of that, the Taliban have received hundreds of millions of dollars due to incomplete vetting by the State Department, according to the investigation. 

“We knew Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had a spend first, ask questions later approach, but to see $293 million sent to the Taliban is completely inexcusable,” Ernst told the Washington Examiner. “This administration needs to get back our money, as I fight to ensure they cannot lose track of taxpayers’ hard-earned money ever again.

“If the IRS can track a $600 Venmo for someone in Iowa, then they can certainly make sure our country is not cutting checks to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations,” Ernst added, referring to a future rule by the IRS that would require some online app payments to be reported to the department. 

However, that rule only applies to payments that are considered income, such as money for services or products. If a payment over $600 is not considered income, such as reimbursements or gifts, users can request a correction. 

It’s not clear when Ernst’s amendment or complete bill may be brought up for consideration because the Senate is adjourned for its annual August recess and is not slated to return until Sept. 9. 

Ernst also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to “take immediate action to rectify these issues.” It’s not clear what that action may entail.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The State Department refuted claims that the U.S. has provided financial assistance to the Taliban, calling allegations that those funds came from department funding inaccurate. Additionally, a spokesperson for the department told the Washington Examiner that “the majority” of the State Department’s Afghanistan-related awards “fully comply” with vetting requirements.

The Washington Examiner also contacted the White House for comment.

, The State Department may be required to track and disclose publicly all money given to foreign adversaries under a new bill being introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) seeking to prevent U.S. tax dollars from going toward terrorist activity.  Ernst filed an amendment to her Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending Act, which she introduced earlier this year, that would “require every penny” the United States gives to foreign adversaries to be tracked and disclosed. That’s a change from the bill’s original language, which only applied to China and Russia.  The amendment comes in response to a report that the U.S. has inadvertently sent $293 million to the Taliban over the last three years due to a failure by the State Department to vet award recipients, according to the Leading Report. The money was sent after the Taliban reportedly established fake nonprofit groups to siphon millions of dollars of U.S. aid that was meant to be sent to Afghanistan, according to an investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.  Because of that, the Taliban have received hundreds of millions of dollars due to incomplete vetting by the State Department, according to the investigation.  “We knew Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had a spend first, ask questions later approach, but to see $293 million sent to the Taliban is completely inexcusable,” Ernst told the Washington Examiner. “This administration needs to get back our money, as I fight to ensure they cannot lose track of taxpayers’ hard-earned money ever again. “If the IRS can track a $600 Venmo for someone in Iowa, then they can certainly make sure our country is not cutting checks to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations,” Ernst added, referring to a future rule by the IRS that would require some online app payments to be reported to the department.  However, that rule only applies to payments that are considered income, such as money for services or products. If a payment over $600 is not considered income, such as reimbursements or gifts, users can request a correction.  It’s not clear when Ernst’s amendment or complete bill may be brought up for consideration because the Senate is adjourned for its annual August recess and is not slated to return until Sept. 9.  Ernst also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to “take immediate action to rectify these issues.” It’s not clear what that action may entail. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The State Department refuted claims that the U.S. has provided financial assistance to the Taliban, calling allegations that those funds came from department funding inaccurate. Additionally, a spokesperson for the department told the Washington Examiner that “the majority” of the State Department’s Afghanistan-related awards “fully comply” with vetting requirements. The Washington Examiner also contacted the White House for comment., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AP24163317708562.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Cami Mondeaux,