Ronna McDaniel hits the eject button

Ronna Romney McDaniel confirmed months of reporting on Monday by officially announcing her resignation as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. She will step aside on March 8, a few days after the Super Tuesday primary contests. 

“I have decided to step aside at our Spring Training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing,” McDaniel said in a statement. “The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition.”

Given that former president Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee — and that he has received McDaniel’s endorsement — he will choose her successor. He revealed two weeks ago that he would like North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley to serve as chair with Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as co-chair. He also floated the idea that Kellyanne Conway could have a role at the RNC this weekend.

The writing was on the wall for McDaniel after the last round of midterms in 2022 when Republicans failed to secure a red wave. GOP strategists and consultants complained publicly and privately about the RNC’s involvement — or lack thereof — in those races, arguing that the organization’s investments were delayed, misdirected, and paltry. McDaniel faced a challenge to her leadership at that year’s annual meeting from conservative lawyer Harmeet Dhillon. Although the RNC committee members weren’t yet ready to make a change, it seemed time for the RNC’s longest serving chair was running out.

Indeed, things reached a head in 2023 when the RNC failed to contribute to statewide efforts in Virginia to get a GOP majority in the House of Delegates and state Senate. McDaniel told the media that the RNC didn’t fork over any money because Republicans in Virginia told her they didn’t want it. Based on my reporting, that’s not true. Spirit of Virginia (Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin’s PAC) was only offered in-kind legal services, not money, and the chairman of the Virginia GOP, Rich Anderson, told me he was rebuffed when he directly asked the RNC for a cash injection. The GOP ended up losing the House of Delegates and the state Senate by less than 5,000 combined votes. 

Early this month, Trump suggested in an interview with Fox’s Maria Bartiromo that it was “time for some changes” at the RNC. Bartiromo reported that Trump called McDaniel immediately following the interview and asked her to step aside. Reports quickly trickled out that McDaniel would be leaving the RNC after South Carolina. The RNC declined to confirm the reports directly, but noted that any changes would be discussed after Saturday’s primary. As promised, McDaniel has now given her little less than two weeks notice. 

-Amber Duke

SERVICE MEMBER SELF-IMMOLATES A pro-Palestinian activist and member of the US Air Force set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy on Sunday to protest the ongoing war in Gaza. He died from his injuries. 

TRUMP ON APPEAL The former president has decided to appeal the judgment in his New York civil fraud case. It is unclear if he will post the approximately $455 million bond or allow the state to begin collections on the massive fine incurred for his alleged fraud.  

ROSENDALE LAWYERS UP Montana congressman Matt Rosendale has threatened former North Dakota senator Heidi Heitkamp with legal action. Heitkamp said on a podcast today that there was a “reason” why Rosendale backed out of the US Senate race in his state, claiming, “The rumor is that he impregnated a twenty-year-old staff person.” Rosendale’s spokesperson described Heitkamp’s words as “100 percent false and defamatory.”

‘I WAS A HERETIC AT THE NEW YORK TIMES’ Adam Rubenstein, the New York Times editor who was forced out for his role in publishing the infamous Tom Cotton op-ed, “Send In The Troops,” reflected on his time at the Gray Lady in an article for the Atlantic. 

What has to happen at the border? 

Last week, Axios reported that President Joe Biden is considering taking executive action to secure the border after House Republicans handily rejected a bipartisan Senate immigration package. Biden is supposedly thinking about tightening the asylum process by preventing migrants from claiming asylum if they cross the border illegally. If Biden does this, he will be making two major admissions: 1) He did not need Congressional action to secure the border and 2) his predecessor’s immigration policy was not as inhumane as he claimed. Former president Donald Trump enacted a similar rule on asylum while he was in office, and was accused by immigration activists and progressives of human rights offenses by implementing a so-called “asylum ban.” 

The situation at the border only feels more urgent after an illegal immigrant from Venezuela murdered a twenty-two-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia over the weekend. The nursing student, Laken Riley, was out for a run when Jose Antonio Ibarra, who had been in the country illegally since 2022 and committed multiple prior criminal offenses, killed her. 

–Cockburn

What has to happen at the border? 

Last week, Axios reported that President Joe Biden is considering taking executive action to secure the border after House Republicans handily rejected a bipartisan Senate immigration package. Biden is supposedly thinking about tightening the asylum process by preventing migrants from claiming asylum if they cross the border illegally. If Biden does this, he will be making two major admissions: 1) He did not need Congressional action to secure the border and 2) his predecessor’s immigration policy was not as inhumane as he claimed. Former president Donald Trump enacted a similar rule on asylum while he was in office, and was accused by immigration activists and progressives of human rights offenses by implementing a so-called “asylum ban.” 

The situation at the border only feels more urgent after an illegal immigrant from Venezuela murdered a twenty-two-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia over the weekend. The nursing student, Laken Riley, was out for a run when Jose Antonio Ibarra, who had been in the country illegally since 2022 and committed multiple prior criminal offenses, killed her. 

–Cockburn

Hunter uncensored

Hunter Biden gave an exclusive interview to Axios reporter Alex Thompson reflecting on his battle with addiction — namely how it might impact the political futures of his family. The president’s son said that for him, sobriety goes beyond self-interest, claiming that staying away from substances is also about keeping former president Donald Trump from winning the upcoming election.

“Most importantly, you have to believe that you’re worth the work, or you’ll never be able to get sober. But I often do think of the profound consequences of failure here,” Hunter said. “I have something much bigger than even myself at stake. We are in the middle of a fight for the future of democracy.” 

The report also reveals that President Joe Biden has privately expressed concern regarding how the prosecution of his son, Hunter Biden, and the attacks that have come with it is impacting his family. Fear of Hunter relapsing are reportedly in the president’s mind, considering that the family has a history of addiction.

“Maybe it’s the ultimate test for a recovering addict — I don’t know,” Hunter mused. “I have always been in awe of people who have stayed clean and sober through tragedies and obstacles few people ever face. They are my heroes, my inspiration.” 

The younger Biden son will appear for a deposition with the House Oversight Committee as part of its impeachment inquiry against the president on Friday. 

–Juan P. Villasmil

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