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1. 'A Serpent in the Ear of the President': Mike Pence's Counsel, Now at O'Melveny, Confronted John Eastman Over Jan. 6 Legal Theory | National Law Journal  Law.com
2. The January 6 Email Exchange That Could Doom Trump  The New Republic
3. The Jan. 6 committee asked Trump lawyer John Eastman about his communications with Sen. Mike Lee. Eastman took the Fifth.  Salt Lake Tribune
4. John Eastman's and Greg Jacob's tense email exchange, annotated  The Washington Post
5. Court documents reveal Pence teams exasperation with Trump  KTXL FOX 40 Sacramento
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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'A Serpent in the Ear of the President': Mike Pence's Counsel, Now at O'Melveny, Confronted John Eastman Over Jan. 6 Legal Theory | National Law...

Trump is on the guest list, along with Former Vice President Mike Pence, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, and most of Louisiana's Republican lawmakers.

NEW ORLEANS Former President Donald Trump is expected to be in New Orleans Friday for the Republican National Committee's spring retreat.

Trump is on the list of special guests, along with Former Vice President Mike Pence, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, and most of Louisiana's Republican members of Congress.

The event was announced in January and all guests must be pre-registered.

Part of last year's spring retreat was held at Trump's resort in Florida.

The list of guests also includes Sens. Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Reps. Steve Scalise, Garret Graves, Mike Johnson, Clay Higgins, Julia Letlow.

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, and Kellyanne Conway are also on the list of people expected to attend.

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Former President Donald Trump among those invited to New Orleans retreat this weekend - WWLTV.com

Wheres the bathroom? I really need to take a sh*t.

Would you rather have a gay son or a thot daughter?

YOUR MOMS A HO!!!

Remarks like these conjure thoughts of a middle school Discord server or a couple of 12-year-olds making fun of each other after school no critical thinking, no seriousness, just immaturity. So, it was confusing to hear Stanford students direct these remarks towards the 48th Vice President of the United States during his campus visit.

Two weeks ago, the Stanford College Republicans (SCR) held a speaker event featuring former Vice President Mike Pence titled, How to Save America from The Woke Left. Stanfords student government (the ASSU) initially withheld funding for the event, but after a battle in the Constitutional Council, the ASSU was forced to provide funding and the event was approved. The event was a victory for free speech on Stanfords campus and a triumph over students who try to prevent conservative speakers from coming to Stanford in the name of safety.

But free speech is not just the act of allowing someone to be present on campus; it is to allow them to speak and present their views in a way such that they can be challenged intellectually during questioning. While the Vice President was technically able to deliver his speech, student heckling (quoted from at the beginning of this piece) routinely interrupted him. Students watched the drama between the Vice President and the hecklers unfold, laughed, and took part in counter-chants rather than seriously considering the points being made.

Those protesting outside the event venue did not prevent anyone from hearing Pences remarks. However, some inside began yelling F*** YOU! as soon as Pence started speaking, shouted inane responses to his claims, and used the Q&A session to debut their dead-end comedy careers. The hecklers not only prevented people from hearing, understanding, and engaging with the Vice Presidenta once in a lifetime opportunity for mostthey also conveyed a clear lack of respect for one of the highest offices in the nation.

The disrespect conveyed by some students cheapened the experience for everyone else. Because interested students were unable to carefully consider the speakers message, they may become less likely to consider alternative points of view as a result. When a speaker's ideas are ridiculed in such a pointed and belittling manner, it creates a sense of intellectual forbiddenness. This prevents the vast majority of students, who are still young adults trying to refine their worldviews, from obtaining a well-rounded learning experience.

In a hyperpolarized political climate, disrespect for authority figures like Vice President Pence is deeply concerning. How can we expect to foster dialogue if societys future leaders at universities like Stanford cannot bring themselves to give the bare minimum of respect to our nations leaders? The ability to express differing viewpoints is only half the battle. Nurturing a culture of decency and basic respect for individuals, regardless of their political or ideological affiliation, is the next challenge, and perhaps a far more difficult one.

This isnt just a question of left versus right, its a question of the integrity of Stanford as an academic institution. For Stanford to fulfill its mission, it must expose students to information from a variety of sources. A fundamental prerequisite for learning from a source is to have respect for itotherwise no one would give any consideration to the information coming from it. As such, it is my hope that Stanfords administration views the Pence event as a wake-up call. The University must address the culture of disrespect to fulfill its responsibility as an educational institution and to preserve its commitment to its self-proclaimed mission: to advance knowledge and contribute to society through research and the education of future leaders.

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Stanford Students React to Pence Speech With Disgust and Disrespect - Stanford Review

National Republicans are vowing to go all in to defeat what they see as a weakened opponent either way, forcing Democrats to spend heavily defending turf theyve never worried about heading into a general election. And the headwinds could be in the GOPs favor, with national polling pointing to a GOP takeover of the House and the party making stunning inroads with Latino voters in recent years under former President Donald Trump.

For sure its going to be competitive if shes the nominee, Rep. Filemn Vela (D-Texas) said of Cisneros. And then, frankly, I mean, because of the investigation it will be competitive for him too.

Vela who has endorsed Cuellar and is retiring after five terms representing another Rio Grande Valley district offered a stern warning for Democrats: The national party systems have ignored South Texas since the last election. And I think were in grave danger of losing at least two out of three South Texas seats.

Democrats insist they still hold the advantage in the Cuellar seat, which actually got slightly bluer in redistricting: President Joe Biden would have won it by 7 points. But some in the party are also painfully aware of their partys struggles with Latino voters in the last two elections particularly when the GOP makes central campaign topics out of immigration and border security. Hillary Clinton carried the old version of the district by nearly 30 points in 2016, but four years later, Biden won there by a mere 4.4 points.

We are going to flip this district. Its winnable, said Cassy Garcia, the GOP candidate who finished first in Tuesdays primary. A former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Garcia will face her own runoff against Sandra Whitten, the GOPs nominee against Cuellar in 2020.

If Garcia wins, shes said she will make border security one of her top issues. In an interview, Garcia touted her endorsement from the border patrol union, the National Border Patrol Council which endorsed her over Cuellar this year.

She said she would be happy to face either Democrat in November, criticizing Cuellars loyalty to Speaker Nancy Pelosiand bashing Cisneros as an open borders advocate tied to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(D-N.Y.).

Shes endorsed by AOC, who wants to abolish DHS and support open borders, Garcia said, referring the Department of Homeland Security. Shes anti-oil and gas. Energy equals jobs in our district.

Buoyed by their gains in 2020, Republicans see more Latino districts as possible flips in 2022, especially in Texas. Their party, with Trumps help, continues to hammer Biden and Democrats on the border, which they see as the path to victory here.

By late Wednesday, Cuellar led Cisneros by 807 votes in a close Democratic primary vote count, 48.5 percent to 46.8 percent, with Cisneros excelling in the northern counties near San Antonio and Cuellar running up margins further south around Laredo. Neither cleared the 50 percent threshold to avoid the runoff, which is set for May 24.

Both Cuellar and Cisneros would bring their own unique liabilities into a general election in Texas 28th District, which includes Cuellars home base in Laredo and stretches up north toward San Antonio.

For Cuellar, there has been no clarity on the mysterious FBI raid of his home in January, though he has said he has committed no wrongdoing. Its a significant burden for a 17-year congressman, one of the most conservative in the caucus, who hasnt stared down a serious general election challenge against a Republican since 2002.

Cisneros, who has been embraced by national progressives, has previously taken potentially damaging positions on border and immigration issues, such as her 2019 proposal to split ICE in half as she pushed for more focus on drug and human trafficking.

She has also staked out a pro-abortion rights stance in a heavily Catholic district, which Democrats in the district have warned could be weaponized by Republicans going into November.

If in fact, she were to take it just looking again to possibility she does have a challenge. We are a conservative community. I suspect that the right to choose will become a huge, huge issue, said Sylvia Bruni, chair of the Webb County Democratic Party, which does not endorse in primary races.

She pointed to the heavily distorted ads that pro-Trump coalitions ran in the 2020 election.

If you vote for Biden, theyre killing babies at 9 months, Bruni said, summing up the attacks. And on the Democrats climate change push, she said Republicans generalized the partys positions as: Youre going to be homeless, you wont have food on the table.

Cisneros strongly pushed back on the notion that she couldnt beat a Republican in the general election, arguing that her partys flagging performance in South Texas was less about voters abandoning Democratic ideas and more about the party becoming too complacent with its base: For a very long time, we were taken for granted, she said.

Cuellar, and whatever investigation sparked the raid on his home and office, are the real danger to the party, Cisneros added.

Hes not able to fundraise. Hes under this cloud of mystery, Cisneros said in an interview outside her campaign headquarters just before primary day. What is going on? Hes a sitting member of Congress, like why is this happening?

Speaking to POLITICO by phone last month, Cuellar said Cisneros would struggle to defeat a Republican in a general election, blasting what he called more socialist type of views.

Ive heard some people say they probably wont support her as a Democrat, Cuellar said.

Republicans also plan to contest a neighboring Rio Grande Valley seat that Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez vacated to run in the new version of Velas district. That seat is now the most competitive in the state, and Republicans have nominated Latina businesswoman Monica De La Cruz. On the Democratic side, attorney and Army veteran Ruben Ramirez and business owner Michelle Vallejo will compete in a runoff.

Velas district, meanwhile, morphed into one that Biden would have carried by 16 points.

National Republicans were most excited about Garcias candidacy out of the crowded field vying to take on Cuellar. She also had more than $100,000 in the bank as of mid-February.

Cassy is a really strong candidate, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who has endorsed her. I hired her to work for Sen. Cruz, when I was chief of staff we all worked together. Shes very well liked, very well respected in the valley. She knows Border Patrol really well.

The South Texas Democrats also know Garcia from her time working for Cruz. Vela said he has a good personal relationship with her even if he disagrees with some of her politics.

Shes going to be a damn good candidate for Republicans in that district, Vela said.

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'Corruption' or 'socialism': GOP takes aim at South Texas either way - POLITICO

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia is holding an online meeting via Zoom at 4 p.m. (AEDT) Saturday, March 12 to discuss the urgent need to build an international anti-war movement of youth, students and workers as the danger of nuclear war heightens amid the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

The IYSSE urges students and young people in Australia, New Zealand, throughout the region and internationally, to participate in the meeting, which will examine questions of life and death for billions of people around the world. Register for the meeting by clicking this link.

At no point since the Second World War, has the threat of a nuclear exchange been so present. Despite the provocations by the US and NATO powers, Russias invasion of Ukraine must be opposed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin took the unprecedented post-Cold War action of placing the countrys nuclear deterrent forces on alert. Putin, and the section of the Russian capitalist class he represents, cling to the delusion that they can shift US-NATO foreign policy and recognise Russian security interests in Ukraine through threats.

The catastrophe that was set in motion by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 cannot be averted through the reactionary ideology of Russian nationalism which serves the interests of the countrys oligarchs represented by Putin.

Despite the reckless actions of Putin and the Russian ruling elite, principal responsibility for the present crisis and the threat of nuclear war lies with US imperialism and its NATO allies. For decades, the US and NATO have been engaged in provocative militarist and economic intrigues in Eastern Europe and throughout the globe.

In 2014, a US-backed coup placed an anti-Russian government in power in Ukraine. NATO has been engaged since 1991 in a relentless expansion into Eastern Europe. The United States took the lead in planning for the use of nuclear weapons by withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, stationing offensive missiles in Romania and Poland, and undertaking a multitrillion-dollar expansion of US nuclear forces.

In the last week, bellicose war rhetoric of politicians and officials in the US, Britain, Germany, Australia and other imperialist nations have accompanied economic warfare and the sending of NATO weaponry to Ukraine. All of this points to a de facto NATO war against Russia.

The present crisis has emerged out of a very definite context: the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. COVID has exacerbated the social and political crisis globally and has led to nearly one million deaths in the US alone according to official figures. The Omicron variant of Sars-Cov-2 has seen over 2,000 Americans die every day over the past month.

Around the world, governments are dispensing with scientifically-guided measures to stem the viruss spread because they cut across the profit-making ability of the tiny, wealthy capitalist oligarchy. For the ultra-rich, who have gorged themselves during the pandemic, the lives and livelihoods of workers and their families are sacrifices that must be made in order for their continued domination over the worlds resources.

In the face of this mounting social polarisation, the administration of US President Joe Biden aims to manufacture unity at home and project conflict outward through war. Emerging out of the Second World War as the dominant superpower in the world, the United States is now experiencing massive economic, political and social turmoil. It sees Russia and the economic rise of China as the main threats to its plans to retain its position as the global hegemon. As Leon Trotsky, co-leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution with Vladmir Lenin and founder of the Fourth International, said in 1934:

US capitalism is up against the same problems that pushed Germany in 1914 on the path of war. The world is divided? It must be redivided. For Germany it was a question of organising Europe. The United States must organise the world. History is bringing mankind face to face with the volcanic eruption of American imperialism.

But the crisis in the United States is only the most extreme manifestation of the crisis of world capitalism.

In order to understand how to fight against war, youth and students must understand the objective conditions which lead to war. Militarism and armed conflict do not arise out of the minds of individual capitalist politicians. These are merely the reflections of a far deeper process which emerges necessarily out of the contradictions of the capitalist profit system itself. Above all, war emerges because of the division of the world economy into competing nation states, whose ruling capitalist elites vie for control over resources, markets, and spheres of influence.

World war, therefore, can only be averted by the action of the international working class overthrowing the predatory capitalist system and replacing it with world socialism. Youth and students must reject all attempts to divide young people and workers on the basis of nationality. The international working class must adopt an independent position in response to the escalating crisis. It is necessary to oppose imperialism without adapting to Russian nationalism, and to oppose Russian nationalism without adapting to imperialism.

Young people must turn to the worlds working class as the only social force capable of ending capitalism and, hence, ending the war and social misery that it brings. As the youth and student arm of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the IYSSE insists that a Marxist revolutionary party must be built to politically lead the working class to resolve the crisis of capitalism through the establishment of a socialist system based on social need, not private profit.

This perspective and the historical questions that arise out of itincluding around the key strategic experience of the 1917 Russian Revolution which ended the First World Warwill be discussed at the IYSSEs upcoming online meeting. To learn more about the IYSSEs program to build an international anti-war movement of workers and youth and find out how you can join in this struggle, attend our meeting on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m.!

Join the fight against imperialist war and for socialist revolution!

Register for the online meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BcVL0fDVTDyHObXC5yJgZA

Foreword to the German edition of David Norths Quarter Century of War

Johannes Stern, 5 October 2020

After three decades of US-led wars, the outbreak of a third world war, which would be fought with nuclear weapons, is an imminent and concrete danger.

Excerpt from:
The threat of world war looms: Take up the fight against imperialism and for international socialism! - WSWS