* According to former Trump Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham–in her book, of course–Jared Kushner was the “real” chief of staff.
* “If (Trump) wants to be the (Republican 2024) nominee, he will be the nominee.”–Hillary Clinton.
* They are the “wait and see” GOPsters. Potential presidential candidates for 2024 who must prudently bide their time in the shadow of Trump and not alienate the former president and his loud-leverage minions. From Chris Christie, Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo to Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. Others in the mix range from former candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz to hard-core right-wing Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.). And then there’s Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the GOP’s highest-ranking black lawmaker. Scott could be a game-changing ticket inclusion, including vice president on a sell-out ticket with a racial bigot trumpeting diversity.
* “A plan for tomorrow, not a grievance about yesterday.”–What the Republican Party needs to succeed in 2024, according to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
* Say this for Republican Rep. Liz Cheney: Not only does she continue to face down Trump, she’s not going to retire–as a few other GOP Trump rebels have–to escape the wrath of the former president and his odious base via primary challenge. And it helps that she’s received more than encouragement from some prominent Republicans—from a George W. Bush-sponsored fundraiser to campaign contributions from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former House Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan. Not only is she not retiring, she may very well be considering higher office.
* Here’s hoping Trump, doing whatever it takes to stay relevant, ultimately follows through with that earlier, long-shot threat to start a Republican alternative, the “Patriot Party.” It would turn the GOP into a self-defeating, faction party–but further devolve and demean the definition of “patriot.”
* “Not my first ‘Jihad Squad’ moment.”–That’s how Congresswoman Lauren Boebert labeled an encounter with Rep. Ilhan Omar, D- Minn. The Colorado Republican apologized for the anti-Muslim tweet.