Michael D'Antonio is the author of the book "Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success" and co-author, with Peter Eisner, of the book "High Crimes: The Corruption, Impunity, and Impeachment of Donald Trump." The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) As a brand extension, the recently announced launch of the America First Policy Institute couldn't be better. The name leans on Donald Trump's campaign catchphrase and, true to form, promises something grand. And though it's built on a shaky foundation -- how many real policies did the former president actually have? -- its $20 million starting budget offers insiders a chance to get paid for continuing to spread Trump's populist message. Michael D'Antonio Trump alumni without independent means are going to need paychecks -- especially after some members of the former administration were reported to be having trouble finding jobs following the deadly Capitol riot by Trump supporters on January 6. Randall Lane, the editor of Forbes magazine, bluntly warned employers that if they hired any of Trump's "fellow fabulists" the publication "will assume that everything your company or firm talks about is a lie." Politico also reported that former Trumpers faced "bleak" job prospects due to the taint of their association with him. A handful of Trump loyalists still draw federal salaries because the government provides small staffs for former presidents. And some , like former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and former White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, have been given work by Fox News. Joe Biden's audacious gambles (Kudlow is also listed as vice chair of the America First Institute's board.) However, few other major hirings have been announced and GOP/Trump insider Armstrong Williams told the Washington Post that "many, many people " saw job offers rescinded after ...
Trump impeachment
GOP struggles to rein in nativism
House GOP leaders are struggling to rein in the increasingly open nativism within their conference and attempting to deflect from the controversy by training their ire against Rep. Maxine Waters Maxine Moore Waters Marjorie Taylor Greene to introduce resolution to expel Maxine Waters Waters: Fauci 'was being bullied' by Jordan during hearing Maxine Waters cuts off Jim Jordan, Fauci sparring at hearing: 'Shut your mouth' MORE (D-Calif.). House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin McCarthy Kinzinger: Republicans who join 'America First' caucus should be stripped of committees McCarthy: GOP not the party of 'nativist dog whistles' Pro-Trump lawmakers form caucus promoting 'Anglo-Saxon political traditions' MORE (R-Calif.) tweeted over the weekend the GOP is not the party of “nativist dog whistles,” without directly referencing the draft policy platform for a proposed caucus that called for promoting “Anglo-Saxon political traditions” and infrastructure that reflects “European architecture.” Days later, McCarthy is backing an effort to take action against Waters, the House Financial Services Committee chairwoman, for saying “we’ve got to get more confrontational” and “we’ve got to stay on the street and we’ve got to get more active” about addressing police brutality against Black people. ADVERTISEMENT McCarthy said Monday that he will introduce a resolution to censure Waters over what he called "dangerous comments." "This weekend in Minnesota, Maxine Waters broke the law by violating curfew and then incited violence," McCarthy wrote on Twitter. The Waters remarks were also criticized Monday by the judge in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who faces murder charges for the killing of George Floyd, whose death set off nationwide demonstrations last summer. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill ruled that the remarks were not prejudicial, however, ruling against a defense ...
‘Real Housewives of the GOP’ — Wannabe reality show narcissists commandeer the party
Donald Trump Donald Trump Graham: 'I could not disagree more' with Trump support of Afghanistan troop withdrawal GOP believes Democrats handing them winning 2022 campaign Former GOP operative installed as NSA top lawyer resigns MORE has proven to be a loser — and a sore one at that — but he has won something. He managed to transform the GOP into a party in his own image: an outsized, narcissistic cast of mini-me sycophants. Just like the maestro, none of them appears to care about actual governing. They’re building their brand first, then following fame and the money. This has transformed the GOP from a party that once had ideas and credibility into a lame variation on the “Real Housewives” reality TV franchise. Forget the red hats. The real mantra of this new GOP isn’t “America First” — it’s “Me First.” Like the TV “Housewives,” these new Republicans seek attention, fame and fortune, ignoring credibility. Their success is sometimes short-lived, and often ends in relationship troubles, legal troubles, and worse. ADVERTISEMENT The most obvious recent example is Rep. Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) Gaetz Boehner: 'America First Caucus is one of the nuttiest things I've ever seen' Alleged sex trafficking victim may be cooperating with feds in Matt Gaetz investigation, ex-girlfriend says Kinzinger: Republicans who join 'America First' caucus should be stripped of committees MORE (R-Fla.). TV Insider ran a piece recently detailing the troubles of seven of the TV “Housewives” from various cities. Fame and money are intoxicants . Add a bit of power and the realization that there are people “out there” who buy your special brand of assininity, and the tragedy begins to unfold. The one thing all “Housewives” have in common is performative outrage. In one corner, there’s Sen. Ron Johnson Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson GOP acknowledges struggle to bring down Biden Pelosi: Dropping 9/11-style Jan. 6 ...
Parade of 2024 GOP hopefuls court House conservatives
The road to the 2024 GOP presidential nomination appears to have a new stop along the way: an influential group of House conservatives. Sen. Tom Cotton Tom Bryant Cotton Hillicon Valley: Biden administration sanctions Russia for SolarWinds hack, election interference The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Tax March - CDC in limbo on J&J vax verdict; Rep. Brady retiring Republican lawmakers reintroduce bill to ban TikTok on federal devices MORE (R-Ark.) has addressed the Republican Study Committee (RSC) about the surge of migrants at the border. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Chris Christie Energy secretary: 'We don't want to use past definitions of infrastructure' Christie: Biden lying about Georgia voting bill Experts take pro-vaccine message to right-wing skeptics MORE (R) told the conservative group last week they need to get tougher on President Biden Joe Biden Graham: 'I could not disagree more' with Trump support of Afghanistan troop withdrawal Obama, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley team up to urge communities of color to get coronavirus vaccine Biden to hold second meeting with bipartisan lawmakers on infrastructure MORE and that former President Trump Donald Trump Graham: 'I could not disagree more' with Trump support of Afghanistan troop withdrawal GOP believes Democrats handing them winning 2022 campaign Former GOP operative installed as NSA top lawyer resigns MORE was to blame for losing the White House and Senate. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Mike Pompeo Pompeo violated ethics rules, State Dept. watchdog finds Why the US needs to clear the way for international justice Tim Scott to participate in GOP event in Iowa MORE will join the RSC this week at a news conference on Iran. And Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard Pence GOP believes Democrats handing them winning 2022 campaign Secret Facebook ...
Hawley introduces legislation targeting Amazon, Google antitrust concerns
Sen. Josh Hawley Joshua (Josh) David Hawley Republicans who backed Trump impeachment see fundraising boost Hillicon Valley: Biden administration sanctions Russia for SolarWinds hack, election interference The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Tax March - CDC in limbo on J&J vax verdict; Rep. Brady retiring MORE (R-Mo.) on Monday introduced legislation that targets Big Tech groups including Amazon and Google by making it more difficult to market and use certain online services. The Bust Up Big Tech Act would ban tech companies that market search engines, marketplaces and exchanges from advertising or selling their own goods and services on their websites in a way that competes with third-party groups. It would also ban these same companies from providing internet infrastructure and online hosting for other companies, including banning Amazon from providing cloud computing services through Amazon Web Services. ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Trade Commission would be empowered by the legislation to monitor compliance, with the bill giving state attorneys general and private citizens the right to bring civil suits against the companies if they do not comply. “Woke Big Tech companies like Google and Amazon have been coddled by Washington politicians for years,” Hawley said in a statement Monday. “This treatment has allowed them to amass colossal amounts of power that they use to censor political opinions they don’t agree with and shut out competitors who offer consumers an alternative to the status quo.” “It’s past time to bust up Big Tech companies, restore competition, and give the power back to the American consumers,” he added. Hawley is the only Senate sponsor, and there is no companion legislation in the House. The legislation was introduced on the heels of Hawley rolling out a separate piece of legislation last week targeting Big Tech antitrust issues. The Trust-Busting for the Twenty-First Century ...
