PAUL’S HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
Trump’s legal battles are burning through campaign cash, and the RNC has had the worst fundraising year since 1993, adjusting for inflation. In 2023, Trump spent $55.6 million from donations on legal defense, a quarter of everything he raised. The Washington Post
A big campaign mistake—going after Taylor Swift. Swift hasn’t endorsed anyone, yet The Right is rumoring she’s a Defense Department psy-op, a Pentagon asset, designed to rig the Super Bowl, (say, what?) and then endorse Biden. (She endorsed him in 2020.) Contrary to Trump’s claim that he has more fans, Swift’s U.S. adult fan base is larger than the entire 2020 presidential vote count. The right-wing media is devoting a lot of energy into putting out her flame. How do you think that will go? CNN
THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN GAINING STEAM
Biden opens up a lead on Trump, with a growing gender gap. Quinnipiac Poll. We keep trying to ignore polls; they are all over the place and November is months away. Still, good news is good news. Against Trump, Biden’s lead has grown to 6%; independents prefer him 52-40%; women prefer him 58%-36%. Newsweek
A first-of-its-kind fundraiser for Biden with Obama and Clinton. Three presidents, an all-hands-on-deck effort, plan a gala event as the Biden campaign organizes a “very aggressive” spring schedule. Business Insider
TO THE SOCIAL GOOD
“A major victory for Planned Parenthood in Pennsylvania.” A challenge to an old law limiting state Medicaid funds for abortions sets up a potential finding of abortion as a right in the state’s constitution. Three of five judges signal a potentially favorable ruling. NPR
Furthermore, this court ruled that abortion restrictions amount to sex-based discrimination and are “presumptively unconstitutional.” Slate
Biden is taking steps to close the pay gap for women in the federal workforce. AP News, Whitehouse.gov
Biden’s energy record shuts down critics on both sides. Yes, for those of us concerned about climate change, our fossil fuel production has never been higher, but gas prices are falling and the U.S. is maintaining its energy independence. Trump’s campaign shout, “Drill, baby, drill,” becomes impotent. At the same time, renewables are winning the race. “By the end of this year, combined wind and solar capacity are projected to be 76% higher than when Biden entered office. Grid battery capacity will have exploded 19-fold.” Bloomberg
The economy, again—stellar reports keep coming. The U.S economy grew faster than any other large advanced economy last year—by a wide margin—and is on track to do so again in 2024. All countries are dealing with inflation and high interest rates; we are fairing the best. Axios
A bipartisan tax deal passes in The House. It includes a child tax credit expansion, and credits to develop more low-income housing, a $78 billion bill with a 357-70 vote. A moment of normalcy. NPR
Medicare drug price negotiations start with an opening salvo on ten drugs that treat conditions including heart failure, stroke, diabetes and autoimmune disease. USA Today
POLITICAL NEWS—where, sadly, someone’s negative is our positive
Lauren Boebert finishes 5th in a poll of her new district. The Independent
RFK Jr. is still drawing more backing from Trump donors, even as an independent, suggesting that he might garnish more interest from Trump supporters if the two of them and Biden face off in the general election. Kennedy’s campaign is also facing a cash crunch. Politico
Sinema’s fundraising plummets to less than one-fifth of her main Democratic primary challenger. Politico
The latest GOP Biden impeachment witness craters their claims. Their own whistle-blower, Hunter’s business partner and the Biden family bookkeeper, tells the Oversight Committee this week that there is no evidence of the president enriching himself through his son’s international business deals. None. House Republicans are discredited again. The Daily Beast
TRUMP OPPOSITION, DEMOCRACY HEROES
Three Republican former governors file an amicus brief to the Supreme Court saying Trump is clearly guilty of insurrection and should be disqualified from the ballot. Governors Weld (MA), Racicott (MT), and Whitman (NJ). Scripps News
Multitudes of such briefs continue to be filed. Take this one; twenty-five prize-winning historians argue that the 14th Amendment bars insurrectionists from holding office, and that this applies to Trump. The Huffington Post
In Illinois, a bipartisan state board ruled Trump should remain on the ballot, but only because it lacked jurisdiction. ”I want it to be clear that this Republican believes…that [Trump] manipulated, instigated, aided and abetted an insurrection on Jan. 6,” board member Catherine S. McCrory, a Republican, said on Tuesday. ABC News
AND FINALLY
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Albert Einstein
Corrections: Last week, the title, “Swing District Republicans are Endorsing Biden,” was a misstatement. We removed the entry from the website and will be vigilant. Also, on a smaller matter, “reek” is “wreak,” as in “wreaking havoc.” Of course. Both slipped by proofreaders. Apologies.