Quick Summary: Senate Republicans Accused No New Evidence Emerged

• Senate Republicans accused Biden’s White House of being ‘run by committee’ during a heated hearing.
• The autopen scandal centers on whether aides authorized actions without Biden’s approval.
• No new evidence emerged from the hearing, despite Republican claims of misuse.
• Democratic senators boycotted the hearing, calling it a partisan exercise.
• Federal prosecutors dropped the criminal probe due to lack of legal grounds.

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The autopen controversy surrounding President Biden has taken center stage in a political drama fueled by Senate Republicans. During a recent hearing, GOP senators alleged that Biden’s administration was effectively ‘run by committee,’ rather than by the President himself. The accusations have sparked a fierce debate over the use of autopens for signing official documents.

At the heart of the controversy is whether aides were authorizing pardons or other significant actions without Biden’s explicit approval. Despite the heated rhetoric, the Senate hearing failed to produce any new evidence to substantiate claims of misuse. Republican senators, however, have intensified their demands for records and testimony, suggesting that the issue is far from resolved.

Democrats, on the other hand, dismissed the hearing as a partisan stunt. Many boycotted the proceedings, with Senator Dick Durbin criticizing the lack of oversight on more pressing national issues. The hearing ended without a breakthrough, leaving the political temperature high but the evidentiary support lacking.

In a surprising twist, federal prosecutors have closed the criminal investigation into the matter, citing an inability to find a legal basis for charges. This development underscores the political nature of the controversy, as Republicans continue to push for more disclosures. The autopen debate is likely to persist, with potential subpoenas looming as the next battleground.

” The immediate next pressure point is whether Senate Republicans can obtain any documentary “paper flow” for pardons, clemencies, or other signed acts that would turn suspicion into evidence. ” and said tensions erupted as GOP senators accused Democrats of a years-long concealment of Biden’s cognitive condition.

That walkout became one of the most striking details of the day because it turned the hearing itself into evidence of the broader political war over who is abusing oversight power. What happens next is therefore more political than prosecutorial unless Congress forces new disclosures.

The biggest new turn in the “autopen” fight is that the underlying criminal probe was later closed without charges because prosecutors could not identify a viable law to pursue, even though the Senate hearing that drove the Economic Times story featured Republicans publicly escalating the claim that Biden’s White House may have been “run by committee” rather than by Biden himself. The witness list itself showed what kind of proceeding this was: University of Virginia law professor John Harrison, Heritage Foundation fellow Theodore Wold, and former Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

” That quote captures the core controversy: not whether presidents can use autopens at all, but whether aides may have authorized pardons or other acts without the president’s knowing approval. ABC reported Democratic senators boycotted the hearing, and Sen.

” Roll Call said Durbin left after his opening statement, while Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse called it a “circus hearing” meant to distract from concerns about President Trump.

Despite the heated rhetoric, the Senate hearing failed to produce any new evidence to substantiate claims of misuse. During a recent hearing, GOP senators alleged that Biden’s administration was effectively ‘run by committee,’ rather than by the President himself.

In a surprising twist, federal prosecutors have closed the criminal investigation into the matter, citing an inability to find a legal basis for charges. Many boycotted the proceedings, with Senator Dick Durbin criticizing the lack of oversight on more pressing national issues.

ABC reported Democratic senators boycotted the hearing, and Sen. ” Roll Call said Durbin left after his opening statement, while Sen.

The scale and speed of this development has caught many observers off guard. Each new update adds another dimension to a story that is still unfolding, and the full picture will only become clear as more verified details emerge from the people and institutions directly involved.

Analysts who have tracked this issue closely say the current moment represents a genuine turning point. The decisions made in the coming weeks are expected to set the direction for months ahead, with ripple effects likely to extend well beyond the immediate actors in the story.

For those directly affected, the practical impact is already visible. People navigating this fast-changing situation are dealing with real consequences while new information continues to reshape what is known and what remains open to interpretation.

Historical parallels offer some context, though experts caution against drawing too close a comparison. Similar situations have played out before, but the specific combination of pressures, personalities, and timing here makes this moment distinct in ways that matter for how it ultimately resolves.

The political and economic dimensions of this story are deeply intertwined. What appears as a single event on the surface is in practice the convergence of multiple pressures that have been building quietly over a longer period than most public reporting has captured.

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Quick Summary: Steve Hilton Advanced Secured a Top – Two Finish

• Steve Hilton advanced to a November runoff in California’s governor race, securing a top-two finish.
• Hilton received about 25% of the vote with 88% counted, highlighting a tight race with Xavier Becerra.
• Hilton’s advancement marks a significant shift, as Republicans haven’t won the governorship since 2011.
• Hilton’s campaign is bolstered by a Trump endorsement, aiming to capitalize on public frustration.
• California’s prolonged ballot-counting culture kept the race uncertain for days post-primary.

Source: Read original article

Steve Hilton’s unexpected advancement in California’s gubernatorial primary has set the stage for a dramatic showdown in November. With a top-two finish, Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, will face off against Democrat Xavier Becerra. This development is significant as it challenges the deep-blue state’s political norms.

Hilton secured about 25% of the vote with 88% counted, according to CalMatters, while earlier reports had him slightly ahead at 28%. This tight race underscores the volatility of California’s political landscape, where Republicans haven’t held the governor’s office since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s tenure ended in 2011.

Hilton’s campaign, supported by a Trump endorsement, is focused on issues like affordability and regulation, aiming to resonate with Californians frustrated by the status quo. The prolonged ballot-counting process added to the uncertainty, but Hilton’s advancement is now confirmed, setting up a high-stakes general election.

As California moves toward the November election, the key question is whether Hilton’s insurgent candidacy can transform a divided primary field into a credible challenge in one of the nation’s most populous states.

CalMatters reported Hilton at about 25% of the vote with roughly 88% counted as of Tuesday evening, while earlier Los Angeles Magazine reporting had him at 28% to Becerra’s 26% with only 56% counted, showing how the race tightened and shifted as late ballots came in. CalMatters later said Hilton secured about 25% with 88% counted.

The debate going forward is not who survived the primary, but whether Hilton’s insurgent candidacy is a brief top-two artifact of a divided field or the start of a real Republican challenge in a state of nearly 39 million people and the world’s fourth-largest economy. The Daily Beast added a more eccentric wrinkle on June 10, reporting that Hilton publicly said he would leave a place in his administration for Spencer Pratt if he wins, a tabloid-ready detail that nonetheless reinforces how personality politics and celebrity are bleeding into the race.

Before the final projection, Steyer was still in third at 20% in LAmag’s snapshot, with Chad Bianco at 11%, underscoring how fractured the electorate remained even after Election Day. In early post-election counting, LAmag had Hilton ahead 28% to 26% over Becerra, with Steyer on 20%.

50%, illustrating the regional strength Hilton tapped even if those local numbers were not statewide totals. What happens next is now straightforward but high stakes: California moves from an open, splintered field into a one-on-one general election campaign ahead of the November 2026 vote to replace term-limited Gov.

The surprising twist is that Hilton, a British-born conservative and former adviser to David Cameron, has moved from media personality to viable statewide Republican standard-bearer in a state where Republicans have not won the governorship since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. By June 9, the AP projection reported by the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, ABC, and CalMatters made Hilton’s advancement effectively settled.

Hilton received about 25% of the vote with 88% counted, highlighting a tight race with Xavier Becerra. Hilton’s advancement marks a significant shift, as Republicans haven’t won the governorship since 2011.

The scale and speed of this development has caught many observers off guard. Each new update adds another dimension to a story that is still unfolding, and the full picture will only become clear as more verified details emerge from the people and institutions directly involved.

Analysts who have tracked this issue closely say the current moment represents a genuine turning point. The decisions made in the coming weeks are expected to set the direction for months ahead, with ripple effects likely to extend well beyond the immediate actors in the story.

For those directly affected, the practical impact is already visible. People navigating this fast-changing situation are dealing with real consequences while new information continues to reshape what is known and what remains open to interpretation.

Historical parallels offer some context, though experts caution against drawing too close a comparison. Similar situations have played out before, but the specific combination of pressures, personalities, and timing here makes this moment distinct in ways that matter for how it ultimately resolves.

The political and economic dimensions of this story are deeply intertwined. What appears as a single event on the surface is in practice the convergence of multiple pressures that have been building quietly over a longer period than most public reporting has captured.

Read more on Digital Chew

Quick Summary: Elijah Manley Gains Challenging the Democratic Establishment

• Elijah Manley gains endorsements from Black and progressive leaders, challenging the Democratic establishment in Florida’s CD 20.
• Manley positions himself as an anti-establishment candidate following Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation.
• The race has become a proxy battle over Black representation and Democratic power dynamics in Broward.
• Manley criticizes Debbie Wasserman Schultz, accusing her of dividing the community.
• Florida’s redistricting increases the stakes for the remaining Democratic and majority-Black seats.

Source: Read original article

Elijah Manley is not just another candidate in Florida’s 20th Congressional District race; he’s a force challenging the very core of the Democratic establishment. As endorsements from Black and progressive leaders pour in, Manley is positioning himself as the anti-establishment candidate ready to fill the vacuum left by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s controversial resignation.

This race is no longer just about filling a seat; it’s a proxy war over who gets to represent Florida’s heavily Black district. Manley’s endorsements are not just symbolic gestures; they are a direct challenge to figures like Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whom Manley accuses of selfishly tearing the community apart. His rhetoric is sharp, and his message is clear: the fight is not just local but part of a broader national progressive movement.

The stakes are high, with Florida’s redistricting making the remaining Democratic and majority-Black seats even more valuable. The August Democratic primary is effectively the real election, with the nominee likely to coast to victory in November. Manley’s campaign is not just about winning a seat; it’s about reshaping the political landscape in Broward and beyond.

As the race heats up, the question remains whether Manley’s endorsements can overcome the crowded field. With candidates like Maisha Williams, Dale Holness, and Luther Campbell also vying for the seat, the battle for consolidation of the Black vote is crucial. Manley’s challenge is not just to gain support but to turn that support into a decisive victory.

” In that same reporting, WLRN said Cherfilus-McCormick had sued both Dale Holness and Elijah Manley for $1 million for defamation after they publicly linked her to wrongdoing that later became the subject of federal charges. According to WLRN, he has been in the race since February 2025, making him one of the earliest entrants, and he is now positioning himself as the anti-establishment, movement candidate with the staying power to capitalize on the vacuum left by Cherfilus-McCormick’s collapse.

NPR previously spotlighted him as one of a crop of younger Democrats trying to topple entrenched figures, identifying him as a 26-year-old substitute history teacher and organizer who launched his challenge after frustration with both Donald Trump and his own party. That means Manley is not just running in an open seat; he is one of the figures who publicly attacked the incumbent before her resignation, and he did so at enough intensity to get hit with a seven-figure lawsuit.

The vacancy was triggered after Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation on April 21, 2026, and local reporting has indicated uncertainty about how the special-election timing aligns with Florida’s regular 2026 primary and general-election schedule. In his remarks, he tied the district fight to a national progressive message, pushing “Medicare for All” and warning of “this new Jim Crow era” under Florida’s redistricting battles.

” That is a major strategic warning sign for Manley even as he gains support: if the field remains splintered, endorsements alone may not be enough, particularly if a better-known figure consolidates institutional backing later. What makes the latest reporting matter is not just that Manley picked up support, but that the race has rapidly become a proxy war over Black representation, party power, and who is to blame for Democrats tearing each other apart in Broward.

WLRN’s May 19 event report named at least five visible contenders around the race at that stage: Maisha Williams, Dale Holness, Elijah Manley, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and Luther Campbell. Ron DeSantis’ map changes increased the Republican advantage in Florida’s House delegation from 20 to 8 to 24 to 4, which candidates are now using to argue that the remaining Democratic and majority-Black seats have become even more politically and symbolically valuable.

Manley positions himself as an anti-establishment candidate following Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation. Manley criticizes Debbie Wasserman Schultz, accusing her of dividing the community.

The scale and speed of this development has caught many observers off guard. Each new update adds another dimension to a story that is still unfolding, and the full picture will only become clear as more verified details emerge from the people and institutions directly involved.

Analysts who have tracked this issue closely say the current moment represents a genuine turning point. The decisions made in the coming weeks are expected to set the direction for months ahead, with ripple effects likely to extend well beyond the immediate actors in the story.

For those directly affected, the practical impact is already visible. People navigating this fast-changing situation are dealing with real consequences while new information continues to reshape what is known and what remains open to interpretation.

Historical parallels offer some context, though experts caution against drawing too close a comparison. Similar situations have played out before, but the specific combination of pressures, personalities, and timing here makes this moment distinct in ways that matter for how it ultimately resolves.

The political and economic dimensions of this story are deeply intertwined. What appears as a single event on the surface is in practice the convergence of multiple pressures that have been building quietly over a longer period than most public reporting has captured.

Read more on Digital Chew