Youngkin says he wants to protect elections with latest executive order
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, is ramping up efforts to crack down on any potential voter fraud ahead of the November presidential election. Youngkin issued an executive order on Wednesday, Aug. 7, to ensure election security protocols.
Part of the executive order mandates that voters can only use paper ballots with a “traceable chain of custody” and the state must use offline counting machines. Youngkin argued that the offline machines offer a more permanent record of votes cast than electronic voting machines.
Other changes issued include the use of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data to confirm the identity of voters. The state will now be required to generate a daily file of “non-citizen” transactions. The order mandates that all local registrars alert county prosecutors if an undocumented immigrant is suspected of registering to vote.
Youngkin’s latest efforts come after the Democratic-controlled Virginia Legislature extended early voting periods and mail-in voting. The governor said that drop boxes for mail-in voting will be monitored 24/7.
Youngkin’s executive order also purged more than 6,300 noncitizens from voter rolls and removed nearly 80,000 deceased voters.
Former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Virginia is taking a strong lead in securing the election in November.”
In 2023, Youngkin’s election team admitted it mistakenly removed around 3,400 qualified voters from the state’s rolls. Election officials acknowledged the error five weeks after early voting had begun for state legislative election, in which Democrats regained control of the General Assembly. Virginia’s attorney general said safeguards are in place to ensure wrongful removal of voters doesn’t occur again.
While Republicans praised Youngkin’s executive order, some Democrats accused the governor of playing politics. Democratic State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg posted on X that “substantively” Youngkin is “just enforcing laws that already exist.”
The order directs Virginia’s Department of Education to help public schools create policies establishing what he calls “cell phone-free education.”
The state is putting $500,000 toward working with parents, students, teachers and community members to develop age-appropriate restrictions during instructional time. They will also develop protocols to help parents contact their kids if there’s an emergency.
We’re establishing cell phone-free education in schools benefiting students, parents and educators across Virginia. This essential action will promote a healthier educational environment where every child is free to learn. https://t.co/A6CA7htBt1
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) July 9, 2024
The order cites a teen mental health crisis and deteriorating academic achievement over the last decade as being partly driven by extensive social media and cellphone use. It also said the move will ensure kids spend less time on their phones without parental supervision.
In May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the effects social media has on youth mental health. He’s also pushing to require tobacco-style warning labels on social media sites and apps.
Other states have taken similar action when it comes to phones in classrooms.
In 2023, Florida became the first state to prohibit the use of cellphones or other wireless devices during “instructional time” for K-12 students. In March, Indiana passed a law banning cellphones in class starting this upcoming school year.
Los Angeles Unified School District leaders recently took up a measure to ban cellphones and social media during instruction time. After that, California’s governor said he would also support a statewide ban. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, is set to announce a bill to ban cellphones in schools later in 2024.
Ohio’s governor also signed a new law in May that doesn’t go as far as to ban phones from classrooms, but it does require all districts create policies that seek to “minimize students’ use of cellphones.” Alabama’s state Board of Education passed a resolution earlier this year to “strongly encourage” districts to limit cellphone use in schools.
Similarly, Utah’s governor sent a letter to his state’s board of education about his concerns over cellphone use in class and said he’d support a ban on the devices in schools.
Federal lawmakers have also taken up the fight, although a federal ban on cellphones in schools is highly unlikely.
In November, Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., filed a bill calling for a federal study on how cellphone use in schools is affecting students’ academic performance and mental health.
Virginia governor announces state will exit California emissions standards
In a recent policy shift, Virginia is planning to abandon the California emissions standards on vehicles that it first adopted in 2021. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, announced the decision, stating that government mandates on the types of cars people can purchase are “fundamentally wrong.”
“Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses,” Youngkin said in a statement. “The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
Under California’s emissions regulations, Virginia would have required 22% of new vehicles sold in the commonwealth to be electric or hybrid by 2025, increasing to 35% in 2026, and 100% come 2035.
The standards were initially implemented when the state’s government was controlled entirely by Democratic leadership. Now, Youngkin, a Republican, is charting a new course.
“To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles,” the governor said. “I am very supportive of Virginians buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.”
Virginia’s Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell released a statement accusing Youngkin of “reckless, illegal and unconstitutional actions” regarding the move.
Surovell added that “even Vladimir Putin does not claim to have this much power.” The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) also criticized Youngkin’s decision, calling it “illegal, shortsighted and bad public policy.”
However, public opinion in Virginia appears to generally favor Youngkin’s position.
A 2023 poll found that only 9% of Virginians strongly supported adopting California’s standards. About 56% of respondents strongly agreed that Virginia should establish its own regulations independently of California.
FBI director questions pick of Maryland site for FBI HQ, lawmakers react
There was celebration in Maryland on Friday, Nov. 10, as officials claim victory after the announcement that the new FBI headquarters is set to be constructed in Greenbelt, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. However, not everyone is celebrating the decision.
FBI Director Christopher Wray says Congress may review the matter, after he sent an internal memo to FBI employees criticizing the U.S. General Services Administration’s decision to construct the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland rather than Springfield, Virginia. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing the federal government’s real estate portfolio.
Congress directed the GSA to choose from one of three sites to host the new FBI headquarters: Greenbelt, Maryland; Landover, Maryland; and Springfield, Virginia.
“This is a huge victory,” said U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-District 5. “Bob Mueller, the director of the FBI 14 years ago in 2009, came into my office and he said, ‘Our building is falling down. Our people are at risk who work here. The people who walk around our building are at risk. And it was designed for a law enforcement agency that no longer exists. We’re in a new era and we need a building that accommodates the way we do the work that we now do.’ And that’s what this building is going to do right here in Greenbelt, Maryland!”
Wray says his concern is “not with the decision itself but with the process” of how Greenbelt was chosen over Springfield.
According to Wray’s memo, during the first phase of choosing a site, a three-person panel, comprised of two career GSA officials and one career FBI official, unanimously recommended the Springfield site based on criteria included in the selection plan. In the second phase, a senior executive within GSA was required to “independently evaluate the three sites and make a final decision.”
Wray criticized the GSA official’s decision, writing that there was a “conflict of interest” when the senior executive chose Greenbelt because “the Greenbelt parcel of land is owned by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which was the senior official’s immediate prior employer.”
Wray had raised similar concerns in an Oct. 12 letter to the GSA administrator – weeks before the final announcement was made. Now, Wray wants answers.
According to the memo, Wray asked the GSA to further clarify why it chose Greenbelt over Springfield, and claims the GSA is moving forward with its decision “without meaningfully addressing the FBI’s concerns.”
Virginia lawmakers are also pushing back on the GSA’s decision.
“It is clear that this process has been irrevocably undermined and tainted, and this decision must now be reversed,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., along with Democratic Sens. Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and eight members of the Virginia House of Delegates said in a joint statement.
Maryland lawmakers and officials clapped back at the criticism.
“It is absolutely wrong of Director Chris Wray to impugn and question the character, the integrity and the independence of the site selection administrator,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
The Maryland delegation has said Greenbelt was chosen as the site for the new state-of-the-art headquarters based on its merits, touting the fact the new site will be within walking distance to the D.C. metro transit, unlike Springfield.
The Greenbelt site is also shovel ready, meaning builders don’t have to tear down any existing buildings before starting the project. The Greenbelt location is projected to save American taxpayers more than a billion dollars.
“Any suggestion that there was inappropriate interference is unfounded.” The GSA said in a statement. “The choice of Greenbelt, Maryland, is fully consistent with the decision-making process as well as all laws, regulations, and ethical considerations.”
Maryland officials standing firm on the decision.
“As Steny suggested, it’s probably closer to $1.5 billion dollars in savings to the American taxpayers,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-District 4. “So, I don’t think the American taxpayers should have to spend an extra billion dollars so some FBI officials can have a shorter commute to the office every day.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says the project will bring a $4 billion economic boost to his state.
Former President Trump clashes with judge during testimony at $250M civil fraud trial: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 7, 2023
Former President Donald Trump delivers his testimony in the civil fraud trial. And WeWork, once valued at $47 million, files for bankruptcy. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Donald Trump testifies in civil fraud trial
Former President Donald Trump took the stand on Monday, Nov. 6, in his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York, where he spoke out against the attorney general who is suing him, his eldest sons, and his company. He sparred with the judge at times, who warned the former president about the length and content of his answers, telling Trump, “This is not a political rally.”
Reuters
During his testimony, Trump disputed the attorney general’s claims that he lied on financial statements to banks and insurers and inflated the values of his properties to get better loans and business deals.
The former president distanced himself from the financial statements at the heart of the attorney’s general case and said he would “authorize and tell people to give whatever is necessary for the accountants to do the statements,” adding that on occasion, he would have “some suggestions” about the results.
As for the financial statements themselves, Trump argued that banks “didn’t find them very relevant.”
During his roughly four hours on the stand, Trump suggested his net worth is more than what was on the statements and that the attorney’s general office undervalued his Mar-a-Lago Florida resort.
In response to his testimony, Attorney General Letitia James said Trump can engage in distractions, but the evidence supports her fraud claims.
The former president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, is set to take the stand again in four criminal cases next year; he, however, is not expected to be present at the third Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Miami.
Five candidates have qualified for that debate: former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
In Ohio, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to protect access to abortion services. They will also vote on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use.
In Virginia, all 40 state senate seats and 100 state house seats are on the ballot, which could lead to Republicans having complete control of the state government for the first time in a decade; this would give a path for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to enact his proposals on abortion, education, and other policies, as reports say the governor may be to considering late entry into the 2024 presidential race.
The major race in two states is for governor, as Republican Gov. Tate Reeves looks for a second term in Mississippi and Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear seeks another term in Kentucky.
In Texas, 17 candidates are vying to become the next mayor of Houston, and residents of Uvalde will elect a new mayor for the first time since the May 2022 school shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead.
Pennsylvania residents will vote to fill a vacant seat on the state supreme court, and Philadelphians will decide on a new mayor. New York’s general election has voters deciding on various races, including the New York City Council. And Colorado voters will decide on two proposals involving tax revenue.
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President Biden has previously said he had no confidence in figures provided by the agency run by Hamas. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Monday, Nov. 6, that the number of the dead is in the “thousands.”
On Monday, Nov. 6, the United Nations called once again for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. With the U.N. Secretary-General saying Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children.”
Speaking to ABC News on Monday, Nov. 6, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that there would only be a cease-fire if Hamas released the 200-plus hostages.
Jury finds Colorado officer not guilty in Elijah McClain’s killing
On Monday, Nov. 7, a jury found Colorado police officer Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter in the killing of Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old Black man who died after an altercation with police in 2019.
Though McClain’s killing has brought sweeping police reforms in Colorado, his death initially did not receive much attention, with local prosecutors originally not filing charges against the officers. That changed after May 2020, when George Floyd was killed at the hands of police.
The state attorney general’s office, guided by the governor, then filed charges against the three officers and two paramedics who are set to stand trial later this month.
WeWork, which Japan’s Softbank backs, was once valued at $47 billion in 2019, the same year it attempted but failed to go public, which led to the ouster of its founder Adam Neumann.
After eventually going public two years later, at a reduced valuation of $9 billion, the company faced roadblocks with the pandemic leading to hybrid and work-from-home options.
Shares of WeWork have dropped approximately 98% this year alone. While WeWork leases millions of square feet of office space in 777 locations across 39 countries, the bankruptcy filing affects only WeWork’s sites in the U.S. and Canada.
Gannett hires Taylor Swift reporter
There is an update on the largest newspaper chain in the country’s search for a Taylor Swift reporter. After a couple of months, Gannett has found its man.
When the newspaper chain, which owns USA Today, announced the job opening in September, it was met with criticism from some journalists who called the role a fan position and one that took away jobs from other reporters after the company made significant cuts last year.
Michael A. Anastasi, Gannett’s vice president of local news and the Editor of The Tennessean, told Variety this move is part of the company’s “transformation strategy” to better serve all its communities in the future.
West said he’ll have fun with the role while also focusing on Taylor Swift’s impact on society and the music industry. Gannett is still searching for a Beyoncé reporter.
Which candidates will qualify for the first Republican debate?
The 2024 GOP presidential primary is getting crowded. At least eight candidates are on track to qualify for the first debate in August. But what are the exact qualifications? Where can it be watched? Here are the answers to those questions.
What are the requirements to qualify for the first Republican primary debate?
Candidates must be polling at 1% or higher in three national polls, or 1% in two national polls and one early state poll including: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina.
Candidates must also have a minimum 40,000 unique donors to their principal presidential campaign committee or exploratory committee, with 200 unique donors in 20 or more states or territories. The candidates must prove they have met the fundraising threshold 48 hours prior to the debate.
When is the first Republican primary debate?
Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
If enough candidates qualify, a second night will be held Aug. 24. Candidates will be staged in order of polling, with the highest polling candidate in the center and lowest polling candidates on the far sides.
Where can I watch the first Republican primary debate?
What is the Republican National Committee candidate pledge?
To participate in the debate, candidates must sign pledges stating they will support the eventual party nominee, not participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate for the remainder of the election cycle, and agree to RNC data-sharing.
When and where is the second Republican primary debate?
The second debate will be held at the Reagan Presidential Library, but a date has not been announced. It is also unknown where it will be available to watch.
The RNC stated that the polling and fundraising requirements may increase.
Which candidates meet the polling requirements?
A number of candidates, including one who has not announced he’s running, currently meet the polling requirements, according to the Real Clear Politics average.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has not announced.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
DeSantis, Youngkin visit Asia amid rumored White House bids
Two Republican governors, both rumored to be considering presidential runs, made trips to the Asia region to meet with foreign leaders during the week of April 23. The visits coincide with heightened U.S. efforts to counter Chinese influence, TIME reports.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of a four-country tour billed as an “international trade mission.”
During their meeting, Kishida expressed his hope that DeSantis’ visit will contribute to further strengthening of Japan’s relationship with the United States as well as Florida.
“We understand it’s a tough neighborhood out here and we really believe that a strong Japan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Japan,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also announced that he will be traveling to South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom on this trip.
When asked about trailing behind former President Donald Trump in hypothetical 2024 Republican primary polls, DeSantis replied, “I’m not a candidate so we’ll see if and when that changes.”
Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was also in the Asia region on a separate trade mission and met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.
During the meeting, Youngkin announced that his state would open a Taiwan trade office, according to a statement from the Presidential Office in Taipei, as reported by TIME.
Youngkin is also believed to be eyeing a presidential run and is expected to visit Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, as the trade mission continues.
According to an April poll from the Wall Street Journal, former President Donald Trump currently leads the Republican field with 48% among Republican primary voters, in a potential field of 12 Republican contenders. DeSantis trails behind with 24%, while Youngkin polled at 1% or less.
Former President Donald Trump is taking aim at two of his onetime Republican allies. In separate statements, Trump attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Virginia Gov. Glen Youngkin.
On Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social: “Young Kin (now that’s an interesting take. Sounds Chinese, doesn’t it?) in Virginia couldn’t have won without me. I endorsed him telephonically, got MAGA to Vote for him-or he couldn’t have come close to winning. But he knows that, and admits it. Besides, having a hard time with the Dems in Virginia-But he’ll get it done!”
Reporters asked Youngkin asked about Trump’s comments Friday.
“I didn’t see it. I have to be honest, I’ve been busy all morning,” the governor responded. “Listen, you all know me. I do not call people names. I really work hard to bring people together.”
“That’s not the way I roll and not the way I behave,” he added.
Asked about former President Trump saying Gov. Youngkin’s name “sounds Chinese” and that he couldn’t have won without him, @GovernorVA says he didn’t see the comments. He said he does not call people names and he is focused on bringing people together @8NEWSpic.twitter.com/PlZ9aFXTWv
The day before Trump posted on Truth Social about Youngkin, Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears said she “couldn’t support” Trump in 2024.
“A true leader understands when they have become a liability,” Sears said. “A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage, and the voters have given us that very clear message.”
Trump’s attack on Youngkin came one day after the former president released a statement about Ron DeSantis. In that statement, Trump began by saying, “NewsCorp, which is Fox, the Wall Street Journal, and the no longer great New York Post (bring back Col!), is all in for Governor Ron DeSanctimonious, an average REPUBLICAN Governor with great Public Relations.”
In the statement, which Trump also excerpted to Truth Social, the former president said his endorsement of Ron DeSantis in 2017 was like a “nuclear bomb”, and that Trump had “fixed” DeSantis’ campaign which Trump said had “completely fallen apart.”
Gov. DeSantis won reelection by a wide margin on Tuesday, and Republicans now have a supermajority in both the Florida House and Senate. DeSantis has not officially announced a presidential run for 2024, but both he and Youngkin are seen as possible candidates.
Former President Trump has taken several jabs at DeSantis over the last few weeks. The Florida Governor has not publicly responded to the criticisms.
This story has been updated to include Gov. Youngkin’s response.
Youngkin stumps for pro-Trump candidates, dismisses presidential run
Less than a year into his term as Virginia’s governor, Glenn Youngkin has stumped for several politicians nationwide. Several of the candidates have been pro-Trump nominees for governor, including Joe Lombardo, Tudor Dixon and Kari Lake.
Youngkin has avoided embracing former President Donald Trump himself, but he has continued to support those who do. That strategy helped him secure the governor’s office and maintain support from a spectrum of Republican voters.
As governor, Youngkin has prioritized a major cultural controversy. In September, he pushed for parental rights in the classroom with his policy for public schools when it comes to transgender students. It requires schools to refer to a student’s biological sex unless they have parental permission to do otherwise.
Virginia limits its governors to a single term, so Youngkin will need to consider next steps for his career. His meetings with deep-pocketed donors for the GOP have sparked rumors of a presidential run. When asked about the possibility, Youngkin denied it.
“Well, my ambitions right now are to be the best governor that I possibly can in Virginia,” he said on Fox News. “And we’ve had a great first 8 months.”
Virginia high school students protest new transgender guidelines
The Virginia Department of Education, under the direction of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, put out new guidelines for policies regarding the treatment of transgender students. It is being billed by the department as a way to protect a parent’s right to make decisions about their child’s life and education, but it’s also being met with protest.
A sample policy provided by the state requires school district personnel to refer to each student using only the pronouns “appropriate to the sex appearing in the student’s official record”, unless parents put in writing that their child has changed genders.
The policy also states students should only use the bathroom that corresponds with their birth sex and that there should be single-user, or what is often referred to as family or gender neutral bathroom, available to all students.
“I would say trust your parents. At the moment where there are very difficult issues in families and challenging issues in families, families come together and this is why parents in fact have a role in their children’s lives,” Gov. Youngkin told WUSA 9 News.
High school students from around the state oppose the new guidelines. Students from nearly 100 Virginia schools walked out of their classrooms in protest, including approximately 50 students from Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.
“The students very clearly believe that this is cruel, this is unjust, this is unneeded, this is unnecessary. This is just treating kids who are already at a higher rate of suicide like pawns, and it’s just going to make their life worse,” Washington-Liberty Student Waltz Fellone told Straight Arrow News.
Transgender students at the high school said they don’t want a policy. That includes Matteo Hope who was born female but now uses he/him pronouns.
“They’re just pronouns, I don’t see why this is a government thing. It’s just something I use. I use he/him pronouns and I prefer that,” Hope, a Washington-Liberty student said. “It shouldn’t be something that you have to put into a policy that says I can’t. It doesn’t affect anyone except me. So whose decision else should it be? Whose decision? It should be my decision, not his.”
Under Youngkin’s policy, Matteo’s teachers would be required to inform his parents that they learned he changed genders. But Matteo does not believe that should be allowed or required.
“If their parents are unaccepting they could be kicked out of the house, they could be shunned, they could be beaten. There are so many things that could happen that could put them in such an unsafe situation,” Hope said. “It should be based on the kids to come out to their families if they choose so.”
