Embattled GOP senator caught in pathetic cookie scandal

Trump sics federal agents on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home

Top Stories for October 12:

Republican makes wild confession as he prepares to lose his seat
Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who has come under intense scrutiny for suing HUNDREDS of past OB-GYN patients AND having dozens of them literally arrested and jailed for failing to pay medical bills they could not afford, just found himself in the middle of another scandal — one so incredibly petty and ironic it must be seen to be believed.

A local baker in Hutchinson, Kansas, just outed Marshall for stiffing her business on a $678 bill for cookies his campaign ordered for a 2020 election watch party. That’s right, the guy who had single mothers thrown in jail for minor medical debts they could not pay stiffed a small business owner over $700 worth of cookies six years ago. Even worse, the baker said Marshall’s campaign ignored dozens of attempts to pay the tab.

Marshall, who is locked in an unexpectedly tight reelection battle against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, clearly recognized just how radioactive this October surprise is. The Republican senator, whose net worth is somewhere in the $3 million to $10 million range, issued a mea culpa of sorts over the weekend, claiming he had “no idea” how this happened and posted a receipt showing he’d settled debt.

We see you, Roger. Hopefully Kansans do, too.

Take Action: Tell Donald Trump to keep his hands off Yosemite National Park!

Trump’s new press secretary exposed as Pizzagate and QAnon conspiracy peddler
Hoo boy. Katie Zacharia, Donald Trump’s newly appointed White House press secretary, has quite the paper trail of certifiably bat-shit-crazy online activity, having been an avid pusher of some of the internet’s wildest conspiracy theories over the past ten-plus years. A big QAnon fan, Zacharia’s very big bag of zany beliefs includes the thoroughly debunked nonsense that Democrats and Hollywood elites secretly operate child sex-trafficking rings and engage in cannibalism.

The sad irony in all this, of course, is that Donald’s former best buddy, Jeffrey Epstein, literally ran a sprawling child sex-trafficking operation himself, and his many, many clients are STILL being protected by the current administration’s unconscionable stonewalling and obstruction.

Zacharia repeatedly amplified the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory and engaged with QAnon-related claims on Truth Social, according to an investigation published Sunday by Judd Legum’s Popular Information.

The revelations come just days after The Bulwark uncovered a separate collection of deleted social media posts in which Zacharia promoted COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, called for suspending constitutional protections, and suggested Trump should serve a third presidential term.

Take Action: Tell the Senate: Don’t roll back environmental protections!

Dr. Annie Andrews demolishes Darline Graham in stunning debate performance
Dr. Annie Andrews for Senate: This weekend, Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews soundly defeated Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline on the debate stage, showing South Carolina why she’s the person who should replace Lindsey Graham. “If your surgeon said appendectomies weren’t really his thing, would you hand him a scalpel? No. So why would we hand Darline Graham a full term in the U.S. Senate? She is unserious and she is unqualified!” said Andrews in her mic-drop moment. Polls have shown Andrews beating Graham 43-39 in the race to become South Carolina’s next US senator. Will you chip in now to help Dr. Annie Andrews build momentum from this debate victory and flip this must-win Senate seat blue?

MAGA sleuths’ Talarico “bombshell” blows up in their faces
Elon Musk and a collection of prominent MAGA influencers rushed to spread an explosive accusation about Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. But the supposed bombshell quickly blew up in their faces, falling apart under the kind of basic scrutiny that apparently escaped the people promoting it.

What began as an attempt to portray Talarico as a liar has instead raised uncomfortable questions about the credibility, methods, and potential legal exposure of the right-wing personalities behind the allegation. Color us all shocked.

Trump pitches renaming either Atlantic or Pacific Ocean
Good to know that our fearless leader is laser-focused as ever on the bread-and-butter issues that matter most to Americans struggling to make it through another week while the price of literally everything rises like a high tide that just won’t quit.

Take Action: Tell Google and Apple: Stop caving to Trump and his ridiculous name-change stunts!

Even Trump wants Ken Paxton to debate James Talarico. He still won’t commit
GOP Senate nominee and sentient cigar stub Ken Paxton still has not scheduled a Texas Senate debate with James Talarico, even after Donald Trump publicly called for one and polling showed the Republican nominee trailing his Democratic opponent.

The standoff has gone on for nearly three months. Talarico first challenged Paxton to three televised debates in July, then offered to meet him on Fox News last month. Paxton’s campaign said in July that he would debate, objected to proposed moderators, and later suggested an agreement was close. No debate followed.

Three weeks and a day to go, Ken! The clock’s a-tickin’.

Mike Johnson says he intends to stay on as GOP leader if Republicans lose majority
Best of luck to Mike clinging to the power he’s so feebly wielded over his caucus since assuming the speakership three years ago. Maybe when he hands the gavel to the Democrats he’ll have more time to monitor his son’s, um, internet browsing interests.

Judge orders stop to Trump’s $20M taxpayer-funded ad blitz
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to stop airing a $20 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign promoting Donald Trump on Sunday, even cutting off commercials scheduled to run through the night. US District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a two-week temporary restraining order, barring the Department of Homeland Security from spending or transferring any more money on the ads, which had been airing nationally over the last several weeks.

According to court filings seen by Politico, Customs and Border Protection issued a $20 million purchase order to LMD Media on Sept. 20 using money made available through the Working Families Tax Cut Act for activities “commemorating efforts and events related to border security.” Around $19 million had already been committed to the national TV ad buy.