Tag: democrats

Obama Claims Government Less Corrupt Than Ever as Democrats Run on Issue

Former President Barack Obama claimed Thursday that Washington runs cleaner now than through most of its past, pointing to a collapse in bribes, patronage, and favor-trading.

The former president made the argument in the third episode of A Great Book with Barack Obama, a six-episode series that premiered Thursday on Amazon’s Audible, Axios reported. The episode pairs Obama with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jill Lepore for a discussion of Robert Penn Warren’s 1946 novel All the King’s Men.

Obama suggested the assessment catches listeners off guard.

“People are always surprised when I tell them the federal government is so much less corrupt than probably it’s ever been, in terms of just pure bribes or patronage or favors,” he said.

The 44th president argued that the reforms behind that decline also stripped lawmakers of tools they once used to assemble coalitions. He pointed to the Lyndon B. Johnson era, claiming reforms passed on either side of Watergate wiped out most of what party bosses once used to swap favors for votes.

He described the loss in mechanical terms.

“It’s part of the reason why things got a little harder to get done because that was sort of some lubrication … to help to bridge some of the ideological differences that were out there,” Obama said.

A record 89 percent of U.S. adults told Gallup that government corruption is widespread, according to results released Sept. 2. That figure climbed ten points from last year and sits well past the 72 to 79 percent range recorded between 2010 and 2025. Among Democrats, it reached 91 percent, up from 57 percent in former President Joe Biden’s final year in office. Republicans registered 83 percent.

Democrat officials have spent the month pressing the issue. Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) claimed on ABC’s This Week that President Donald Trump’s presidency is “the most corrupt presidency that we’ve seen in our lifetimes, maybe ever in the United States.”

“So that is one of the things that I think Democrats can run on in ’26,” the Illinois Democrat added.

Corruption ads are running in more than a dozen House races and in nearly every competitive Senate state, the Washington Sun reported. Republican pollster Robert Blizzard said frustration with politics-as-usual is “at a fever pitch.”

Obama has been shaping his party’s midterm message directly. At a private fundraiser this month, he urged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to put artificial intelligence oversight at the center of the Democrat agenda.

The podcast is the sixth release under Higher Ground’s exclusive first-look deal with Audible, and the first the former president hosts himself.

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Dem Senator Wants To Regulate The Internet To Prevent Another Trump From Happening

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called for government regulation of the internet as part of a broader effort to reduce loneliness and powerlessness among Americans, two conditions he argues push voters toward leaders like President Donald Trump. Murphy made the remarks on September 21 during an appearance on the I’ve Had It podcast, where he discussed his book, Crisis of the Common Good.

Murphy told the podcast hosts that isolation and helplessness define the country right now. “Those are the two things I think Americans are going through right now… They don’t feel powerful at all, and they feel lonely,” he said.

His remedy for loneliness coincidentally becomes an excuse to grow the government even further.

“And so, government should build a set of rules in which people feel more powerful – that’s why the minimum wage is so important – and people feel so more connected,” Murphy said.

He added, “That’s why, you know, rebuilding healthy institutions in your town should be a project that government is involved in.”

Then he got to the internet and revealed his true objective. “Regulating the internet so that you’re spending less time alone on Instagram should be an important government project,” Murphy said. And if Americans feel more powerful and less alone, Murphy argued, “they are going to be less likely to fall for a bullshit demagogue like Donald Trump.”

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Michigan Dem Christina Hines Started Program Allowing Those Accused of Serious Crimes to Potentially Avoid Jail

Michigan Democrat Christina Hines helped establish a restorative justice program in Washtenaw County that allows defendants accused of serious felonies, including home invasion and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, to be considered for alternatives to incarceration.

Hines pioneered the Washtenaw County Restorative Justice Program in 2021 while serving as the county’s first assistant prosecutor under Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit. 

According to Washtenaw County’s restorative justice policy, the program consists of three primary elements:

The person who committed harm acknowledges the harm done and takes responsibility. The person who committed harm, and the person harmed, voluntarily work together and agree to a plan in which amends can be made. The person who committed the harm, and all affected parties who desire to do so, work together to determine the root causes of the harm and develop a plan to ensure that the harm will not reoccur.

The program allows eligible criminal cases to be considered for diversion after formal charges have been filed by the prosecutor’s office. Home invasion, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and other serious felony offenses are not categorically excluded and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Hines described Washtenaw County’s Restorative Justice Program as the first of its kind in Michigan in a December 2023 article for the Michigan Bar Journal.

“Many adult criminal cases are referrable, with exceptions for sexual assault, victimization of children, intimate partner violence, and other cases where the prosecutor determines the defendant poses a public safety risk such as homicides or cases involving gun violence,” Hines wrote.

“Restorative justice is an approach to address conflict and misconduct that focuses on healing rather than punishment and values accountability over exclusion,” she added.

An October 2022 court order establishing the program states, “The Court encourages residents of this County to employ restorative justice practices, not only in justiciable matters, but in all aspects of life and law.”

The order also provides that criminal cases may be diverted to the Restorative Justice Program after they have been formally charged by the prosecutor’s office.

A September 2021 Washtenaw County Legal News article discussing Washtenaw County’s initiative pointed to New York City’s Common Justice program, which specifically handles serious and violent felonies, including assault and robbery. “The experience in other communities has demonstrated that crime survivors often prefer restorative justice as an alternative to the traditional criminal legal system. New York City maintains a robust restorative-justice program administered by Common Justice,” the article stated.

Research has identified concerns about victims’ experiences with restorative justice.

A 2012 study examining victim-offender mediation found instances in which victims experienced marginalization, intimidation, and pressure during mediation proceedings.

“The findings of the current study indicate that these [RJ] principles were compromised in each case to some extent,” the researchers wrote.

The researchers identified victim-sensitive or victim-centered practices as the most commonly overlooked principle. In certain cases, mediators encouraged victims to “keep things positive” rather than share the depth of the personal and family impacts of the crime. Some victims felt threatened by offenders or their families, while others felt pressured to accept apologies.

The study also found that victims were sometimes inadequately prepared for mediation, pressured by mediators to behave in certain ways, or occasionally intimidated by offenders and/or their families.

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“HYPOCRITE” — Ric Grenell Calls Out Democrat Senate Candidate Mary Peltola After Repeatedly Using Homophobic Slurs Like “F*ggot” on Her Own Gay Staffers

On Thursday, the former acting Director of National Intelligence and Kennedy Center president went after Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola after former aides accused the Senate candidate of repeatedly using homophobic slurs, including about members of her own staff.

Grenell, who is openly gay, did not mince words.

“Sorry, @marthamaccallum and @JacquiHeinrich — multiple Democrat staffers confirmed that their Democrat boss used homophobic slurs, not once, but multiple times,” Grenell posted.

“Calling your own gay staffers derogatory and condescending names while asking Democrats to vote for you shows she’s at least a comfortable hypocrite. I’m old enough to remember that this accusation would be nonstop media coverage for a Republican.”

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Democratic megadonor who gave to Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris linked to murky honeypot spy saga

A California family who has injected millions of dollars into Democratic campaigns are facing renewed scrutiny over their connections to people and organizations tied to suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang.

The Yin family, who made a fortune operating McDonald’s franchises in the state, has donated more than $4.4 million to state and federal political causes — including hundreds of thousands of dollars to Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and other prominent Democrats, according to campaign records, CBS News reported.

The family’s political connections have drawn attention following the release of FBI files concerning Fang, also known as Christine Fang, whose relationship with disgraced former California Rep. Eric Swalwell became the subject of a major national-security controversy.

The documents released by the White House in August describe a working relationship between Fang and CC Yin, the 89-year-old patriarch of the Yin family, through the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) organization, which he helped establish.

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Ex-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s Former Bodyguard — the Married Man She Admitted Sleeping With While in Office — Now Faces Felony Charges After Alleged $200,000 Ransacking of Her Home

Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s ex-bodyguard and admitted lover is now facing a felony after deputies say he broke into her Cave Creek home, ransacked it, and destroyed more than $200,000 in property.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, Sinema admitted in sworn court papers that her relationship with Matthew Ammel, 39, became “romantic and intimate” in May 2024, while she was still serving in the U.S. Senate and while he was still married. She detailed encounters in Sonoma/Napa, New York City, Washington, D.C., Aspen, and Phoenix.

In April, newly released texts showed Ammel’s then-wife, Heather Ammel, confronting Sinema directly: “Are you having an affair with my husband? You took a married man away from his family.”

Heather’s lawsuit accuses Sinema of destroying a 14-year marriage under North Carolina’s alienation-of-affection statute.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in North Carolina denied Sinema’s motion to dismiss, found her testimony “has not been credible” on several points, and allowed the homewrecker case to proceed.

Ammel is a retired Army veteran who joined Sinema’s security detail in 2022. Court records in the North Carolina case describe him as a troubled veteran with brain injuries who struggled after leaving the military.

Sinema’s campaign and related committees paid him more than $100,000 after she left office. His ex-wife has alleged Sinema showered him with gifts, concert tickets, and even encouraged psychedelic drug use.

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Awful Democrat Karen Bass Declares California Governor Race is Already Over: ‘A Republican Cannot Win in This State’

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently claimed that there is really no need for an election for governor in California because a Republican ‘cannot win’ in the state.

So much for that sacred ‘democracy’ that Democrat are always talking about.

Bass also mocked Republican Steve Hilton’s accent. Isn’t that hateful? Don’t Democrats constantly lecture the rest of the country for not being inclusive enough? This woman is an utter fraud.

PJ Media Reports:

Democrats have spent years warning us that democracy hangs by a thread every time Americans head to the polls, and Democrats are the party that is protecting it.

Well, somebody forgot to tell Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, because she just declared California’s governor’s race over, and that an election isn’t necessary.

Bass sat down with former ESPN personalities Jemele Hill and Cari Champion on the Flagrant and Funny podcast to talk about her reelection campaign, her runoff, and the Palisades and Altadena fires. During that conversation, Bass revealed what Democrats really think about “our democracy.”

“That’s why the governor’s race is over. Our governor’s name is Xavier Becerra,” Bass said. “You don’t need an election on November 3. A Republican cannot win in this state.”

Then she took a shot at Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, the British-born former Fox News host. “And yet, a Republican with a British accent?!” she added.

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Bombshell Report Links Amy Klobuchar To Minnesota Fraud Scandal

Another major Minnesota Democrat is being pulled into the political fallout surrounding an autism provider now under state investigation, with records showing the center’s CEO previously worked on Amy Klobuchar’s first U.S. Senate campaign.

Nimco Ahmed, CEO of Milestone Development Center, has been a fixture in Democratic-Farmer-Labor politics for years and recently drew attention after appearing alongside Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in a viral video.

Now Alpha News reports that Ahmed was also part of Klobuchar’s political operation during her first Senate run in 2006.

A 2006 profile published by Mshale reported that Ahmed joined the “Klobuchar team” and listed her contact email as nahmed@amyklobuchar.com.

Other archived articles from the outlet also identified Ahmed as a staffer on Klobuchar’s 2006 campaign.

Federal campaign finance records cited in the report indicate Klobuchar’s campaign paid Ahmed nearly $8,000 during that election cycle.

The connection is drawing new scrutiny because Milestone Development Center is currently under investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

DHS has confirmed that Milestone and Spectrum Therapy Center are both subjects of open investigations.

The agency has also said both providers were terminated from participating in Medicaid through Minnesota’s 2026 revalidation process and have appealed those decisions.

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New Report Confirms Jack Smith and Biden DOJ Coordinated to Spy on Their Political Opposition

A new report released by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan confirms Special Counsel Jack Smith coordinated with the Biden DOJ to spy on their political opposition.

Republicans released documents that revealed investigators improperly subpoenaed phone records that belonged to 44 GOP lawmakers during Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation.

Jack Smith’s team also secured gag orders to prevent the GOP lawmakers from learning that Biden’s DOJ obtained their phone records.

House Republicans also released transcripts from five members of Jack Smith’s team.

Transcript from J.P. Cooney, a member of Jack Smith’s team, once again confirm coordination between the special counsel and the Biden White House.

“During your time at the Special Counsel’s Office, did you ever interact with the White House?” the GOP investigator asked JP Cooney.

“I did have some interactions with a staff member in the White House Counsel’s Office,” JP Cooney replied.

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WI Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Claims Beer Gardens Are Systemically Racist

Milwaukee County Executive and Wisconsin Democrat gubernatorial candidate David Crowley has attacked beer gardens in the past, claiming they are systemically racist.

In a post on X from December 2021, Crowley responded to a post from Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) about how Crowley had said, “it’s important to understand that the way we fund parks is just not sustainable.”

Crowley, who defeated socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democrat gubernatorial primary, has repeatedly increased taxes while serving as Milwaukee County Executive.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, while Crowley “takes credit for ‘the largest property tax cut’ in the county’s history,” that property tax cut “occurred after Act 12, a bipartisan state law, allowed local leaders to raise Milwaukee city and county sales taxes”:

The Democrat nominee in the Nov. 3 election for governor takes credit for “the largest property tax cut” in the county’s history.

That occurred after Act 12, a bipartisan state law, allowed local leaders to raise Milwaukee city and county sales taxes and provided local governments in Wisconsin more state aid.

The law was largely aimed at helping the Milwaukee governments avert financial crises.

Crowley signed the near-doubling of the county sales tax, to 0.9% from 0.5% after the Milwaukee County Board approved it.

“Past heavy reliance on revenues to keep the system going is not sustainable & doesn’t cover the need,” Crowley wrote in a post from 2021. “When a system’s operational budget is so heavily reliant on user revenues to survive — like Parks is — there is often a very real conflict between generating $$$ & racial equity.”

“Revenues often come from activities that those with discretionary funding can afford like golf, the marina, and beer gardens,” Crowley added. “These activities are traditionally and predominantly supported by white users. This racial inequity is born from a history of systemic racism & injustice.”

Crowley’s previous comments about beer gardens come as beer is considered to be a massive tradition in Wisconsin, with the state being reported to have 247 craft breweries as of 2025, according to the Brewers Association. The state was ranked 14th nationally.

According to Visit Milwaukee, the city is “known as the original Beer Capital of the World” and Milwaukee’s “legacy is rooted in hops, barrels and the ambition of 19th-century immigrants who built an industry and the city on beer.”

Crowley has also previously spoken at beer gardens and attended the opening of beer gardens.

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