In addition to turning the calendar to a new year this week, the House of Representatives elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to his second consecutive term as Speaker. For conservatives in the United States, his being elected was a critical victory in their quest to return to conservative policies introduced to the American public by President-elect Donald Trump in his first term as President.
Of course, the week contained quite a few other important stories about important happenings around the nation. We’ll try to get all of them in today’s Bullet Points. So, let’s get started!
Bullet Points
- As stated above, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was re-elected Friday to his position. His doing so was quite an accomplishment. Though the House is virtually evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans won the majority by two seats. We all know that a slim majority will make passing legislation very difficult during the 119th session of Congress. However, most Republicans were shocked that Johnson won on the first ballot, although it took two votes at the top of the election to get Johnson elected without the expected multiple ballots. How did this drama play out? For complete details, see this:
- At the beginning of the first round of voting for the House Speaker’s office, three Republican holdouts voted for someone other than Johnson. After completing the first round count, two of these three went to the “Cloak Room” with Johnson to “talk things over.” While there, both had calls with President-elect Donald Trump. Subsequently, those two returned to the chamber and changed their votes to Johnson for Speaker. Of course, everyone believes that the phone call from Trump changed their minds. However, one stated after the finish of the election, it was NOT the call with Trump that changed his vote. For complete details, click on this link:
- With the House Speaker election completed, Congress could legally open the 119th Congressional session and get some work done. Looming over the second Trump term is the confirmation in the Senate Judiciary Committee of Trump’s nominated members to serve as Trump Cabinet members and for others to hold important positions in the Trump Administration. Though Trump has announced a plethora of nominees, none of these can be formally considered for the posts Trump wants them to serve in until he is inaugurated on January 20th. One of the most important positions to fill is the FBI Director’s spot. Trump nominated Kash Patel to that position. Many Democrats are adamantly opposed to his pending service leading the FBI. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is one of Patel’s greatest opponents in the Judiciary Committee. He appeared on MSNBC’s “The Last Word” and had much to say about Patel and his nomination. For complete details, click on this link:
- With the numerous questions asked about the effectiveness of Biden’s FBI during his administration, many from inside the FBI, past and present, have begun to step forward, revealing some of the reasons for the alleged messy way the FBI has begun handling many of its responsibilities in the protection of the American People from domestic and. foreign foes. One former FBI agent came forward to attack the agency for its qualification standards that have dramatically diminished under Biden’s “Political Left’s” influence. For complete details, click on this link:
- With the death of former California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) was elected to fill her spot in the Senate. California Governor Gavin Newsome pulled some strings to get Schiff seated early to give him a headstart before the other members of the Congress were sworn into their positions immediately after the election of the House Speaker. Immediately, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) appointed Schiff to the critical Senate Judiciary Committee. Newsome’s move is very controversial but is a move Democrats applaud Schumer for making. For complete details, click on this link:
- Friday, we saw a shocking action taken by the New York judge in the hush money case against Donald Trump that resulted in 32 charge convictions of the President-elect. Judge Merchan announced the sentencing of Trump in the case next Friday. If this stands, it will mean Trump will be the first-ever American President to enter office, having been found guilty criminally. Trump’s team will likely appeal this sentencing to the U.S. Supreme immediately. For complete details, see this:
- New Year’s Day this week began with multiple horrifying events in both New Orleans and Las Vegas. New Year’s Eve saw tens of thousands in the Crescent City to celebrate both the New Year and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans Superdome. The first was a man who drove a truck at high speed down Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring at least 30 others before dying in a gunfight with New Orleans police. The FBI has formally declared this act was one of terrorism. The second was a Tesla car exploding in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas, killing the driver but no other injuries. While investigations continue, law enforcement at every level is diligently heightening preparations for the upcoming NFL Superdome to be held in the same Superdome in New Orleans. Though the Vegas explosion did not injure or kill anyone and not being termed a terrorist act, ties between both men in these attacks have been uncovered. For complete details, click on this link:
- President-elect Trump announced that Morgan Ortagus will serve as deputy special presidential envoy for peace in the Middle East. This appointment shocked many. Why? Ortagus previously was a contributor at FOX News. It was during that time she bashed Trump publicly over actions he took she termed “disgusting.” Apparently, she has changed her “tune.” For complete details, click on this link:
- Who can forget that in the aftermath of the 2020 election, dozens of allegations of “election interference” and even “voter fraud” came quickly from multiple sources. Democrats across the nation were quick to discount the validity of these allegations. Though numerous court actions were taken, most of these cases were quickly dismissed because those who filed the claims were rejected by the courts in which they were filed. Why were they rejected? Democrats claim the rejections were made because there was no evidence to prove the allegations. It didn’t take long for voters to discover the court decisions in all of these rejections, which did NOT come from any evidence presented. In fact, they were each rejected before any evidence was presented to the courts. Why? The charges were made to the court by people with no legal standing to file the cases, not that there was no evidence of wrongdoing! Since then, multiple voter irregularity cases have been filed around the nation. Some have been adjudicated with confirmation of wrongdoing in numerous cases. And in the November 5th election just held, voter irregularity in multiple venues are being filed as we speak. For complete details, click on this link:
- At the election of the House Speaker on Friday, there were several controversial things spoken that caused nearly as much controversy as did the election itself. It was a fitting end to months of speculation of what would happen in the House Chamber surrounding the Speaker election. Take a look for yourself:
