The Federalist / Heartland Institute
Conservative writer and television commentator Ben Domenech is co-founder and publisher of The Federalist, a web magazine focused on politics, policy and culture, and editor of The Transom, a daily email newsletter for political and media insiders.
A former research fellow at the Heartland Institute, Weber also served as speechwriter for then-Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
A never-Trump Republican senator says, 'Never more…' First term Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake is a staunch conservative, and he's voted the Party line — as defined by President Trump. But yesterday, Flake stunned his colleagues by announcing he won't run for a second term because of the President's behavior, which he called "reckless, outrageous and undignified." He told his colleagues Trump is "undermining" our democratic norms and ideals." Will other Republicans just say, "no," like Bob Corker of Tennessee? Or has the GOP become Trump's party?
Race politics and the NFL's culture of silence The National Football League is "as American as apple pie, "with deep roots in popular culture. Now the nation's most profitable sports enterprise is caught up in race politics. Former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is out of a job. He once helped the San Francisco 49ers reach the Super Bowl, but he's best known for refusing to stand for the Star Spangled Banner-- saying the nation is not keeping its promise of equality for people of color. Michael Bennett is an all-star defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks. In the aftermath of Saturday's deadly violence by white racists in Charlottesville, he says he'll refuse to stand for the National Anthem this season. So far, only black players have been taking the knee, but some white teammates are joining demands for racial equality. Players are also speaking out about long-term injury, as research shows the longer and harder they play, the more likely is permanent brain damage.
The March to Super Tuesday Last Saturday, Democrats in Nevada caucused to choose a presidential nominee. In South Carolina, Republicans went to the polls. As always, there were multiple winners… and losers. Only a fraction of Republicans have voted or caucused so far, but traditional party leaders are facing their worst nightmare. Many don’t even believe Donald Trump is a real Republican, but he could well be this year’s presidential nominee. Can he be stopped? As for traditional Democrats who tried to stack the deck for Hillary Clinton, it’s hardly smooth sailing with so many young people and women feeling the Bern. We hear what to expect before Super Tuesday next week when 13 states will go to the polls.
Does Obamacare Have a Future? Obamacare is designed for millions of uninsured Americans. Republican opposition to implementing it is unprecedented in political history — with one faction threatening a government shut-down. Others warn that's going too far. Even Democratic supporters are worried that starting a massive and complex new program will look like a " train wreck " to voters in next year's elections. With the October 1 "roll out" just a few weeks away, we look at some unexpected problems. Will they be offset when benefits start to flow? Are there political risks for both parties: Democrats, for giving the government too much power; Republicans, for taking their opposition too far?
Will the Hard Sell for Obamacare Be Too Little, Too Late? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act all by themselves, a massive reform of the healthcare system that makes up one sixth of the US economy. Republicans still want to repeal Obamacare, and they won't lift a hand to help put it into effect. Now just over 100 days are left until "open enrollment" begins. But recent polls show just 10% of uninsured Americans even know about the essential feature of healthcare reform. So a massive advertising effort is finally under way, targeting young, healthy people required to buy health insurance even if they don't think they need it. We hear what it could mean for them if the selling campaign succeeds, and what it could mean for them and everyone else if it doesn't.
Will the Hard Sell for Obamacare Be Too Little, Too Late? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act all by themselves, a massive reform of the healthcare system that makes up one sixth of the US economy. Republicans still want to repeal Obamacare, and they won't lift a hand to help put it into effect. Now just over 100 days are left until "open enrollment" begins. But recent polls show just 10% of uninsured Americans even know about the essential feature of healthcare reform. So a massive advertising effort is finally under way, targeting young, healthy people required to buy health insurance even if they don't think they need it. We hear what it could mean for them if the selling campaign succeeds, and what it could mean for them and everyone else if it doesn't.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
