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Last week, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent an alarming email to his supporters. Jordan, who is one of Donald Trumps most vocal defenders on Capitol Hill, warned that Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder is on the cusp of using the courts to steal his congressional seat and replace him with a radical liberal. He asked readers for $25 or more to fight this liberal scheme.

Theres just one problem: It wasnt true.

Since Obama left officeHolder has been focusing his energy on the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), a liberal group whose goal is to steal Conservative seats in Congress, not at the ballot box, but in the courts, Jordans January 1 email read. And now his sights are set on me!! Recently, three judges struck down Ohios Congressional map, stating that all Ohio Congressional districts must be redrawn before next year, including mine!

The legal battle Jordan was describinga challenge to Ohios heavily gerrymandered congressional mapreally did happen. But it ended months ago after the Supreme Courts controversial ruling that the judiciary could not intervene in such cases. The Ohio map will remain in place. Jordan omitted that fact entirely from his fundraising pitch.

Rep. Jordans claim that Ohios congressional districts must be redrawn before next year is incorrect, says Corey Goldstone, spokesperson for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog organization.

Heres the backstory: In May 2018, the ACLU of Ohio filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Ohios congressional maps amounted to unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. A year later, in May 2019, a three-judge panel for the Southern District of Ohio ruled that the states districts had indeed been gerrymandered to favor Republicans, whose majority status in state government means that they control the redistricting process. The judges set a June 14 deadline for the state to redraw the lines.

But the voting-rights victory was short-lived. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, appealed the case to the Supreme Court, which had recently heard similar arguments in gerrymandering cases from Maryland and North Carolina. In June, the Supreme Court delivered a 5-4 ruling in the Maryland and North Carolina cases, declaring that partisan gerrymandering cannot be challenged in federal court. That decision would reverberate in similar legal fights across the country, including Ohio. In October, the Supreme Court formally tossed out the challenge to Ohios Republican-drawn map. Thanks to that ruling, Ohios congressional map will not be redrawn until the census results are released prior to the 2022 election cycleand the states Republicans will once again have the ability to shape districts that give them a substantial advantage.

For many Democrats and voting rights advocates, the Supreme Court ruling was a huge blow in the fight to redraw districts around the nation that had been created to stack the deck in favor of one party, usually Republicans. Heres what Mother Jones Ari Berman and Pema Levy wrote when that decision came out:

Though both parties have done their fair share of gerrymandering, Republicans did it in far more places over the past decade. In 2010, Republicans took control of nearly every major swing state and oversaw the redistricting process for four times as many state legislative seats as Democrats, giving them a virtual lock on powerfor the remainder of the decade. Republicans were able to hold onto an additional 16 congressionalseats and seven state legislative chambers in 2018 because of these skewed maps, according to anAssociated Press analysis.

In Ohio, Republicans received 52 percent of the vote in the 2018 congressional elections but won 75 percent of the states 16 congressional seats, thanks to the gerrymandered map. Jordan, who touts himself as being one of the most conservative members of Congress, won the sprawling 4th districtwhich is often pointed to as one of the states mostgerrymanderedby more than 30 points.

But one would never know that from Jordans fundraising email. The Democrats are leaping with joy, because with a stroke of the pen they could flip critical seats in Congress and maintain Nancy Pelosis majority!! it says, before asking supporters to make a generous donation of at least $25 today to help fight back.

Beyond the questionable claims made in Rep. Jordans fundraising email, he seems dismissive of the obvious conflict of interest presented by politicians redrawing district maps more generally, Goldstone notes. To curb partisan gerrymandering, there have been increasing calls for states to adopt independent redistricting commissions, a reform that Holders NDRC has supported.

Jordans campaign didnt respond to a request for comment, but hes clearly not a fan of independent commissions. Holder and the Democrats know they cant win in a fair fight, he wrote in the fundraising email, thats why having unelected and unaccountable commissions potentially drawing the congressional lines excites them so much.

Goldstone disagrees. Gerrymandering is a serious problem facing our democracy,he says. Independent redistricting commissions are a reform supported by 60 percent of Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

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Jim Jordan Is Lying About Voting Rights - Mother Jones

Duluth and Superior are honoring and celebrating the legacy of Civil Rights Movement leader, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a series of tribute events on January 19 - 20 coordinated by the Duluth Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). These events are free and open to the public.

This years theme is Give Us The Ballot which is centered around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s "Give Us the Ballot and We Will Transform the South." In his speech, Dr. King speaks to the importance of political power and the right to vote. He states that the right to vote is a sacred right. A right that should be defended and aggressively upheld. The Reverend goes on to say that if we are to achieve racial justice we need strong leadership from our government and our communities. He speaks to the coming freedom and independence of communities of color and the importance of leading with love. Dr. King suggests that even in victory we must avoid the temptation of being victimized with the psychology of victors. We must work to pursue victories while seeking harmony with those who would see us harmed. Dr. King would have us focus on the future and not despair. He states Let us realize that as we struggle for justice and freedom, we have cosmic companionship.

We will honor Dr. King in this years events including:

The 2020 MLK Community Breakfast will feature a free, hot, delicious meal provided by the Duluth Grill and served by the African American Mens Group; a presentation by Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General via a live-streamed broadcast of the Twin Cities MLK Day Celebration. The freewill offering recipient will be Family Freedom Center.

The 2020 MLK March will be led by the Men as Peacemakers "Girls Group" Restorative Justice Programand will host a variety of youth and community activities, poster making, and refreshments starting at 10 am, and the March will begin promptly at 11:00am.

For our 2020 MLK Rally, the Keynote Speaker is Autumn Brown, and our emcee will be Doreen Nyamwaya. Performers include the Miziiweykaamikiinaang drum group, the ARE Poets, and the Major Atraktion Dance Group. The Drum Major for Peace Awards will be announced and presented. There will be childrens activities, a selfie photo booth, vendors, and free MLK buttons while supplies last outside the DECC hall before and shortly after the Rally. The Rally will begin promptly at 12 pm. The rally will be interpreted into American Sign Language and recorded for broadcast.

All events in the MLK Tribute series serve to inspire and educate our community, honoring the work and life of Martin Luther King, Jr. through meaningful local community engagement.

For more on all of our MLK Tribute events, please visitduluthnaacp.org/mlk.

Our Mountain Top Sponsors are The College of Saint Scholastica and the Duluth Entertainment. Our Drum Major for Peace Sponsors include Blackbird Revolt, ISD 709 Office of Educational Equity, and the School District of Superior. Our I Have a Dream Sponsors include Duluth Grill, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Interfaith Action, Northland Foundation, Lake Superior College, UMD African & African American Studies Program, 1Roof Community Housing, UMD Campus Climate, and the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans. Our Beloved Community Sponsors include Girl Power! YWCA Duluth, National Audio Visual, UMD Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Clayton Jackson McGhie, and Duluth Superior Pride. Thank you for your contribution to the success of the MLK Events!

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Twin Ports 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr Events Themed "Give Us the Ballot" - BusinessNorth.com

Florida woman doubles down on twins

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Doctors told a Florida woman she had a better chance of winning the lottery than of giving birth to two sets of twins in the same year.

But Alexzandria Wolliston said she won the jackpot with the births of Mark and Malakhi in March and Kaylen and Kaleb in December.

Oh, yes, I feel like I hit the twin lottery, Wolliston told WPTV.

The tired mom said her 3-year-old daughter helped her prepare for the double dose of twins.

She was actually worse than them, so she was like having two babies in one, Wolliston said.

Two months after the first set of twins arrived, Wolliston learned about the second set, she said. They were born in West Palm Beach on Dec. 27. Wolliston said Kaleb was dismissed from the hospital on Monday and shes hoping to bring Kaylen home soon.

She said she recently learned that both of her grandmothers lost twin boys at birth, which makes her believe her four babies are a blessing from above.

I always say that I feel like my grandmothers gave me their kids because two sets of twins and their twins passed away, she said. I feel like they just sent them down for me.

TUCSON, Ariz. A man convicted of shooting a U.S. Border Patrol agent nine years ago in a case that exposed a botched federal gun operation known as Fast and Furious was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.

U.S. District Judge David C. Bury sentenced Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes to the mandatory life sentence after hearing tearful statements from the sisters of Brian Terry, the agent who was fatally shot while on a mission in Arizona on Dec. 14, 2010.

Osorio-Arellanes is one of seven defendants who were charged in the slaying of Terry. Osorio-Arellanes was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges last year after being extradited from Mexico in 2018.

Terrys death exposed the Fast and Furious operation, in which U.S. federal agents allowed criminals to buy firearms with the intention of tracking them to criminal organizations. But the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lost track of most of the guns, including two found at scene of Terrys death.

The Obama administration was heavily criticized for the operation. Then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt by Congress for refusing to turn over documents related to the sting.

PHILADELPHIA A man walking to the hospital after he was stabbed was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Philadelphia, authorities said.

Karon Underwood, 36, was struck around 10:20 p.m. Monday just blocks from the hospital.

One driver saw him and was able to avoid him, authorities said, but a second vehicle swerved to avoid the first and hit Underwood. Both vehicles drove away.

Underwood was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the father of five children who range in age from 2 to 13.

No other injuries were reported in the hit-and-run, which remains under investigation.

The hit-and-run was captured on surveillance video, and authorities hope witnesses will come forward with information about the vehicles and their drivers.

PASADENA, Calif. Modern Family will air its finale after 11 seasons on April 8, and there are no spinoffs in the works involving its large cast.

Eric Stonestreet jokingly pitched one featuring Cam and Mitch, the gay couple played by him and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, after executive producer Steven Levitan told a TV critics meeting on Wednesday that nothing is planned.

The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan isnt done traveling, though. They visit Paris in an episode airing Feb. 12, continuing their tradition of trips to such places as Australia, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York and Wyoming.

I was able to do a lot of shopping, so it was perfect, said Sofia Vergara, who became a breakout star when the series began in 2009.

The show starring Ed ONeill was an immediate hit and holds the record with Frasier of five straight Emmy Awards as televisions best comedy.

Levitan and co-creator Christopher Lloyd knew from the start the show would include a gay couple who adopts a baby.

When we locked it in, I remember saying to Chris, Well, there goes Middle America, said Levitan, whose concern proved to be unfounded. We got zero blowback. They were embraced because here was this couple, their first priority was their baby and raising it and doing it right, and people said it was hard to argue with that.

Stonestreet added: We were able to make all the same mistakes raising a child that everyone else did.

The Associated Press

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Your nation and world news in brief - Winston-Salem Journal

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly A. Strassel has just conferred her Adult of the Year Award on a man who deserves it, Attorney General William Barr. And Ms. Strassel writes with sufficient distance from the swamp to be taken seriously. Her column, titled Potomac Watch, is, I am told, composed from her lair in Alaska. That ought to insulate her from the swamps fumes and from Wall Streets, too.

Moreover, though the attorney general has been a presence in Washington for years, he is not simply a Washington creature. He is his own man. A few months back, when it fell to me to introduce him at a professional dinner, I made bold to say, I hope I am not mispronouncing your last name, General Barr. The accent is on the first syllable is it not?

He, in a very good-natured way, assured me that it was. You must remember that I am a stickler for pronunciation, and the attorney general has a well-developed sense of the absurd.

Ms. Strassel in her award-conferring column noted that upon being nominated for attorney general by President Donald Trump in December 2018 he received the respect that he deserves. Official Washington was quick to note Mr. Barrs years of nonpartisan facility with the law observable in years spent at the Justice Department, at the CIA and in private practice. He was known as a serious student of the law and of the U.S. Constitution. All agreed he would not be anyones toady.

Yet Ms. Strassel notes that his honeymoon is over. He has begun to be vilified precisely because he has maintained an impartial view of the Justice Department and has kept his promises. This demonstrated integrity by the attorney general has commenced one of the more obvious, not to mention nasty, delegitimization campaigns in modern Beltway history.

Official Washington has been yapping at the attorney generals appointment of John Durham a prosecutor of squeaky-clean reputation to investigate the FBIs probe into the 2016 Trump campaign. It became hysterical when the attorney general stated his own view that the Inspector Generals December report confirmed that, as Mr. Barr put it, the FBI suspicions about the 2016 campaign were insufficient to justify the steps taken by the countrys top cops.

The campaign against him continues. Former FBI Director William Webster has joined the attack and Eric Holder, perhaps the most partisan attorney general ever, has too. All the high-minded talk of Mr. Barrs early days in office has been forgotten. Who else will come forward? Perhaps Pope Francis?

Few people in the country today have demonstrated deeper insight into Spygate, the investigation into those who have been investigating the elected president of the United States, than Kimberley Strassel. In her column I detected a genuine note of alarm.

Is it possible that the investigation of the investigators could be brought to an end? Could the media render Attorney General Barr or prosecutor John Durham suspect? Will they uncover an incriminating telephone call? How long can the Democrat-controlled House mire these men in one of their investigations? Is it possible that the whole finely-tuned investigation overseen by the attorney general will come to a grinding halt because of Democratic subterfuge?

Well, I do not think it is likely, but it is possible.

As Ms. Strassel writes, the evidence against the FBI has steadily accumulated. Recall if you will the December report of Inspector General Michael Horowitz. If Americans are ever going to be able to see what happened in 2016 with the FBI and with other intelligence agencies, the work of Mr. Durham and Mr. Barr must continue.

My guess is there are going to be indictments coming, possibly as early as this spring. Then the wheels of justice will expose the wrongdoing. Or possibly there is no wrongdoing. Let our system of justice decide.

I am putting my trust in the courts after putting my faith in prosecutor Durham, Attorney General Barr and Inspector General Horowitz. As for Ms. Strassel, I turn to her Potomac Watch column every Friday. Last week, she pointed to William Barr as the Adult of the Year. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was doubtless appalled, and Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, thought to dig up more dirt on him. Has the Hon. Schiff discovered that Mr. Barr was cited for jaywalking in 1967? Look into it, fellows.

R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. is founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author most recently of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc.

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Attorney General William Barr, 'Adult of the Year' - Washington Times

A number of prominent former lawmakers associated with the Tea Party Caucus have joined the ranks of K Street in the last year, bringing their small government agendas to the lobbying world.

K Street has always been a favored perch for ex-lawmakers, but the recent moves from conservatives are attracting controversy, and coming even as President TrumpDonald John TrumpPence: Intelligence shows Iran directing militias not to attack U.S. targets Mnuchin aims to wait until end of 2020 to disclose Secret Service costs for Trump's travel: report Pressure building on Pelosi over articles of impeachment MORE and many Republicans vow to drain the swamp.

Among the big Republican names making the jump from Congress to K Street is Sean DuffySean DuffyEx-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street Why the Wisconsin special election could decide the 2020 presidential election Juan Williams: Trump has nothing left but smears MORE. The former Republican congressman from Wisconsin joined the lobbying firm BGR Group, a traditionally GOP-leaning firm, as a senior counsel in November and was named head of the financial services practice group. He was first elected in 2010 during the Tea Party wave and left Congress in September.

Former Rep. Lamar SmithLamar Seeligson SmithEx-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street Ex-Rep. Duffy to join lobbying firm BGR Former GOP Rep. Walters joins energy company MORE (R-Texas), who retired from Congress after more than three decades of service, joined the highest-grossing lobbying firm, Akin Gump, in January 2019. He is a senior consultant in the public law and policy practice.

Another former Texas GOP congressman, John CulbersonJohn Abney CulbersonEx-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street George H.W. Bush grandson to enter Texas congressional race Texas GOP rep predicts heavy Democratic presence in state ahead of 2020 MORE, joined Clark Hills government and public affairs practice in March. Culberson served for nearly two decades in Congress and lost his reelection bid in 2018.

Duffy, Smith and Culberson declined a request for comment.

The Tea Party Patriots Citizens, the political action committee that supports Tea Party members, did not respond to The Hills request for comment.

Tea Party groups and Trump have long run on reining in the influence of special interests in Washington. And Tea Party lawmakers often clashed with the influence world and a number of prominent industries in high-profile fights.

In the Trump era, though, K Street has seen business grow as the Republican presidents agenda has sparked major battles over trade, health care and taxes. And despite Trumps vows to challenge Washington, the revolving door between K Street and his administration has been busy.

For critics, thats a sign that it is business as usual in the nations capital.

Trumps drain the swamp pledge was nothing but a catch phrase, versus the sincerity of the mantra of the Tea Party, said Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs at Public Citizen, a watchdog group. Its unsurprising the members would change their tune after being here for some time.

Out of the original 28 Tea Party Caucus members from the House in July 2010, three others are also registered lobbyists.

Ex-Rep. Phil GingreyJohn (Phil) Phillip GingreyEx-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street 2017's top health care stories, from ObamaCare to opioids Beating the drum on healthcare MORE (R-Ga.) has worked at Drinker Biddle since 2015, while former Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) has been a lobbyist for management consulting company APCO Worldwide since 2013. Another former lawmaker, ex-Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), in 2015 launched his own lobbying shop, Dan Burton International, and has one client, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights.

Former Rep. Joe BartonJoe Linus BartonEx-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street Longtime GOP aide to launch lobbying shop Katie Hill resignation reignites push for federal 'revenge porn' law MORE (R-Texas) is also looking to set up a lobbying shop, The Texas Observer recently reported.

Some defended the former lawmakers and noted that many Tea Party lawmakers had also gone on to different positions of influence in Washington: Vice President Pence and acting White House chief of staff Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyPressure building on Pelosi over articles of impeachment The Bill Clinton trial cannot serve as the model for the Donald Trump trial Democratic senators growing impatient with Pelosi on impeachment MORE were both in the caucus while serving in the House.

If you ask [Duffy, Smith and Culberson], they would say this is not inconsistent because they are supporting issues where they have expertise and where they feel they are true believers, Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham told The Hill.

The three lawmakers who went to K Street in the last year all boast years of experience in Congress.

Duffy has touted his work to help community banks as one of the successes of his congressional career, while Culberson worked on appropriations and defense issues and Smith was chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Pinkham pushed back on the idea that jumping to the lobbying world was inconsistent with the lawmakers work in Congress.

I think members of Congress or staffers who go and work on K Street and are lobbying on issues and are paid for their expertise, he said. I think the ones who are successful in the long run are the ones who I think feel that what theyre doing is consistent with what theyve always done.

Lobbying is widely considered an easy and lucrative next step for lawmakers after Congress, and top firms actively recruit prominent and influential lawmakers from the Hill when retirements are announced.

For K Street critics, though, the moves highlight their larger concerns about the power and persistence of the influence industry.

Think about what those members stood for when they came into office and how easily Washington can subvert those principals, Gilbert, from Public Citizen, said.

Derek Martin, director of progressive advocacy group Allied Progress, said the movement of conservative former lawmakers to K Street was troubling.

Tea Partiers claimed to care about deficits, too, until Trump embraced them. Its no surprise theyve also tossed aside their purported concerns with the revolving door once K Street started writing checks, he told The Hill. The unfortunate reality is that these former members may find success in advancing big industry agendas.

But one headhunter said it was difficult for former lawmakers to ignore the draw of K Street, where they are valued for their experience and connections.

The swamp is a myth just like the Loch Ness monster, lobbying headhunter Ivan Adler told The Hill.

What this proves is that it doesnt matter what political philosophy you practice, if you are a member who has a reputation for working hard and have an issue specialty, you are valuable on K Street. Talent is talent, period, whether on K Street, Wall Street or Main Street.

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Ex-Tea Party lawmakers turn heads on K Street | TheHill - The Hill