Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI)‚ the chair of the China Select Committee‚ announced he will resign from Congress on April 19th. “After conversations with my family‚ I have made the decision to resign my position as a member of the House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District effective April 19‚ 2024‚” Gallagher said in a press release. A statement from Congressman Mike Gallagher. pic.twitter.com/dOBcM8kbNV — Rep. Gallagher Press Office (@RepGallagher) March 22‚ 2024 Gallagher’s exit will leave Republicans with an ultra-thin one-vote majority in the House of Representatives. “This is calculated. Gallagher could leave now‚ and allow his safe Republican seat to be filled quickly. Instead‚ he is deliberately leaving on a timeline that will leave it empty until November‚ leaving the GOP majority even smaller and making a Democrat House takeover a real possibility. Gallagher is a traitor to his party and to the people who voted for him. What a spiteful‚ repulsive creature‚” Charlie Kirk wrote. Rep. Mike Gallagher has announced he is resigning his Congressional seat effective April 19. This is calculated. Gallagher could leave now‚ and allow his safe Republican seat to be filled quickly. Instead‚ he is deliberately leaving on a timeline that will leave it empty until… — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 22‚ 2024 “Like Buck‚ Mike Gallagher carefully timed his departure. Under Wisconsin law‚ congressional vacancies occurring ‘prior to the 2nd Tuesday in April’ in an election year get filled on a faster timeline. An April 19th resignation will keep Gallagher’s seat vacant until November‚” Aaron Fritschner noted. WOW! Like Buck‚ Mike Gallagher carefully timed his departure. Under Wisconsin law‚ congressional vacancies occurring "prior to the 2nd Tuesday in April" in an election year get filled on a faster timeline. An April 19th resignation will keep Gallagher's seat vacant until November pic.twitter.com/7VxSv4Bld5 — Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) March 22‚ 2024 “Gallagher is in an R+15 district so he isn’t protecting his seat from a Democrat winning a special election. He’s purposely leaving it vacant through November to sabotage the Republican majority. Really letting you know what he actually thinks of conservatives on the way out‚” Greg Price commented. Gallagher is in an R+15 district so he isn't protecting his seat from a Democrat winning a special election. He’s purposely leaving it vacant through November to sabotage the Republican majority. Really letting you know what he actually thinks of conservatives on the way out. https://t.co/mB33xv3Ed9 — Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 22‚ 2024 Fox News reports: Gallagher revealed in February that he would not be running for a fifth term in the House‚ a shocking announcement for someone long considered a rising star within the Republican Party. His early departure will mean that Speaker Mike Johnson‚ R-La.‚ can only afford to lose one GOP lawmaker on any vote that falls along party lines. That will likely remain the case until June‚ when there’s a special election to replace ex-Rep. Bill Johnson‚ R-Ohio. A special election to replace ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy‚ R-Calif.‚ is set to take place in May. McCarthy’s former seat in California’s 20th Congressional District is a safe red seat‚ so it’s likely going to give Johnson a GOP win. Before that‚ however‚ is an April 30 special election to replace Rep. Brian Higgins‚ D-N.Y.‚ a longtime left-wing lawmaker who departed earlier this year. That election will likely see Democrats add to their tally‚ which would keep the House majority at one seat. According to reports‚ Gallagher intends to take a job at Palantir‚ which has contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. China Hawk Rep. Mike Gallagher Is Taking A Job At Palantir https://t.co/GqPGFK4nvm — Forbes (@Forbes) March 22‚ 2024 “@RepGallagher has told people that he is planning to take a job at Palantir‚ I’m told by two sources. The Wisconsin GOP anti-China hawk announced today that he is leaving Congress next month. May not be 100% done‚ but that’s what he has told people he is doing next‚” Puck News’ Teddy Schleifer writes. Alex Bruesewitz noted: For those who aren’t tracking: First: Palantir says “Congress should ban TikTok.” Second: Congressman Mike Gallagher introduces legislation to ban TikTok. Third: Mike Gallagher quits congress‚ reportedly got hired by Palantir. Nothing to see here folks! For those who aren’t tracking: First: Palantir says “Congress should ban TikTok.” Second: Congressman Mike Gallagher introduces legislation to ban TikTok. Third: Mike Gallagher quits congress‚ reportedly got hired by Palantir. Nothing to see here folks! https://t.co/NHvmKThX7l — Alex Bruesewitz (@alexbruesewitz) March 22‚ 2024 “Palantir has been aggressively lobbying for the TikTok ban. Gallagher intro’ed the bill that could do just that‚” Axios reporter Sophia Cai commented. Palantir has been aggressively lobbying for the TikTok ban Gallagher intro’ed the bill that could do just that https://t.co/J9dd2xBSA9 — Sophia Cai (@SophiaCai99) March 22‚ 2024 “The U.S. Army awarded Palantir Technologies a contract worth as much as $250 million to research and experiment with artificial intelligence and machine learning‚” Defense News reported last year. From Defense News: The arrangement‚ announced by the Department of Defense on Sept. 26‚ runs through 2026. Exactly where work will be done and from where funding will be pulled will be determined with each order‚ it said. Interest in AI and ML in the defense world has exploded in recent years‚ with military officials lauding their potential battlefield applications and industry matching the energy. The Defense Department was juggling more than 685 AI-related projects as of 2021‚ according to the Government Accountability Office‚ a federal watchdog. At least 232 were in the Army’s bailiwick. Palantir in 2016 won a lawsuit against the service concerning procurement procedures. The company has since secured multiple multimillion-dollar contracts. “I’d like to thank all of the people yesterday who called me crazy for suggesting that the interests of Palantir and the anti-TikTok lobby had merged‚” technology reporter Sam Biddle wrote. I'd like to thank all of the people yesterday who called me crazy for suggesting that the interests of Palantir and the anti-TikTok lobby had mergedhttps://t.co/ZF0oiwWYB6 https://t.co/WQHmaBjpnb — Sam Biddle (@samfbiddle) March 22‚ 2024 Per The Intercept: Repeated often enough‚ anti-TikTok rhetoric from tech luminaries serves to reinforce the notion that China is the enemy of the U.S. and that countering this enemy is worth the industry’s price tags — even if the app’s national security threat remains entirely hypothetical. “Just like tech had to convince people that crypto and NFTs had intrinsic value‚ they also have to convince the Pentagon that the forms of warfare that their technologies make possible are intrinsically superior or fill a gap‚” Shana Marshall‚ an arms industry scholar at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs‚ told The Intercept. Marshall said bodies like the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission can contribute to such conflicts because advisory boards that encourage revolving-door moves between private firms and government help embed corporate interests in policymaking. “In other words‚” she said‚ “it’s not a flaw in the program‚ it’s an intentional design element.” “The tensions with China/Taiwan are tailor made for this argumentation‚” Marshall added. “You couldn’t get better cases — or better timing — so grifters and warmongers like Helberg and Schmidt are going to be increasingly integrated into Pentagon planning and all aspects of regulation.” Forcing divestiture or banning TikTok outright would not trigger armed conflict between the U.S. and China on its own‚ but the pending legislation to effectively ban the app is already dialing up hostility between the two countries. After the House’s overwhelming support last week of the bill to force the sale of the app from Chinese hands‚ the Financial Times reported that Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the U.S. of displaying a “robber’s logic” through legislative expropriation. An editorial in the Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times decried the bill as little more than illegal “commercial plunder” and urged TikTok parent company ByteDance to not back down. Of course‚ self-interest is hardly a deviation from the norm in the military-industrial complex. “This is the way Washington works‚” said Scott Amey‚ general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight‚ a watchdog group. “There are a lot of defense contractors that are discussing the China threat with an eye out on their bottom line.” Although it’s common for governmental advisory boards like Helberg’s U.S.–China commission to enthusiastically court the private sector‚ Amey said it would be important for Helberg to make clear when making policy recommendations whether he’s speaking as an adviser to Palantir’s CEO or to Congress‚ though the disclosure wouldn’t negate Helberg’s personal interest in a second Cold War. Such disclosures have been uneven: While Helberg’s U.S.–China commission bio leads with his Palantir job‚ the company went unmentioned in the February hearing. Given the ongoing campaign to pass the TikTok bill‚ Helberg’s lobbying “certainly raises some red flags‚” Amey said. “If you’re a conservative arguing for the TikTok ban‚ all you were doing was helping Mike Gallagher improve his Palantir compensation package and his timely exit from the GOP. Go figure. Turns out if you were for the TikTok ban you were a useful idiot for the Dems‚” Adam Townsend commented. If you’re a conservative arguing for the TikTok ban‚ all you were doing was helping Mike Gallagher improve his Palantir compensation package and his timely exit from the GOP. Go figure Turns out if you were for the TikTok ban you were a useful idiot for the Dems. — Adam Townsend (@adamscrabble) March 22‚ 2024 The legislation to ban TikTok overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives. Numerous public servants and online commentators warned the legislation is a trojan horse that would allow the government to ban other platforms. House Passes Legislation That Could Ban TikTok

Expelled GOP Congressman George Santos announced he will leave the Republican Party to seek a House seat as an independent candidate. “After today’s embarrassing showing in the house I have reflected and decided that I can no longer be part of the Republican Party‚” Santos said. “The Republican Party continues to lie and swindle its voter base. I in good conscience cannot affiliate myself with a party that stands for nothing and falls for everything. I am officially suspending my petitioning in #NY01 to access the ballot as a Republican and will be filling to run as an independent‚” he continued. “I will take my Ultra MAGA/Trump supporting values to the ballot in November as an Independent‚” he added. Announcement After today’s embarrassing showing in the house I have reflected and decided that I can no longer be part of the Republican Party… The Republican Party continues to lie and swindle its voter base. I in good conscience cannot affiliate myself with a party that… — George Santos (@MrSantosNY) March 22‚ 2024 The announcement from Santos follows the GOP-led House passing a $1.2 trillion spending package. The House Just Passed a Ridiculous $1.2 Trillion Spending Bill — Here’s The Full List of Republicans Who Betrayed You NBC News reports: Santos was previously elected and sworn in to serve in New York's 3rd District‚ but he was expelled in December amid federal criminal charges. Santos was first charged in May with 13 counts including wire fraud and money laundering. In October‚ Santos was hit with a 23-count superseding indictment. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Before his expulsion‚ a 56-page House Ethics Committee report concluded that there was “substantial evidence” that Santos “violated federal criminal laws‚” including using campaign funds for personal purposes and filing false campaign reports. In a letter to his House colleagues before the vote‚ Rep. Max Miller‚ R-Ohio‚ claimed Santos personally defrauded him and his mother. In a February special election‚ Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip to succeed Santos in the Long Island district. Earlier this month‚ Santos announced he would run as a Republican in New York's 1st District‚ where he would face GOP Rep. Nick LaLota‚ one of the Republicans who voted to expel Santos‚ in a primary. "ALL the Republican Party wants to do is lose and beg for money to keep losing! I’m Done‚" Santos commented. ALL the Republican Party wants to do is lose and beg for money to keep losing! I’m Done. — George Santos (@MrSantosNY) March 22‚ 2024 Former Rep. George Santos said he's leaving the Republican Party and running as an independent this fall in the New York House race.https://t.co/iLIgKoiBap pic.twitter.com/0jjsL0XoRm — NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 23‚ 2024 From CNN: LaLota‚ an outspoken critic of Santos‚ responded to the challenge by touting his effort to kick out his former colleague and “hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable.” “If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary‚ count me in‚” LaLota said on March 7. Santos has pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges‚ including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits‚ misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. For Santos to run as an independent in November‚ he’ll need to file an independent nominating petition with the signatures of 3‚500 voters in New York’s 1st District to the Suffolk County Board of Elections by May 28.

A school bus in Texas carrying over 40 pre-k students collided with a cement truck‚ killing at least two individuals. The cement truck reportedly veered into a school bus returning from a field trip to a zoo. According to the Associated Press‚ one boy on the bus and a man in another vehicle died in the incident. “Numerous law enforcement and emergency crews are currently on the scene in Bastrop County‚ Texas‚ due to a major crash on Highway 21 after a school bus collided and crashed into a cement truck‚ causing the bus to roll over‚” Rawsalerts writes. “Over 40 people are involved in the crash including children‚ with 32 individuals already transported to a hospital‚ including both adults and children. Tragically‚ at least two fatalities have been confirmed‚ including one child. First responders are urging people to avoid the area.” WATCH: #BREAKING: A Pre-K School Bus Collides with Cement Truck with over three dozen people were Involved‚ Injuries and Fatalities have been Reported⁰#BastropCounty | #Texas Currently Numerous law enforcement and emergency crews are currently on the scene in Bastrop County‚… pic.twitter.com/0tMZE9fGcm — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 22‚ 2024 From the Associated Press: Officials said the bus rolled over on the highway in the rural outskirts of Austin‚ where a heavy presence of emergency vehicles shut down traffic for hours. The roof of the bus was crumpled‚ and much of another vehicle nearby was pulverized. Personal items were strewn across the road. Four people in critical condition were airlifted from the crash site. Six others with potentially serious injuries were transported by ambulance‚ said Kevin Parker‚ division chief Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. An ambulance bus transported about 10 other patients to a children’s hospital with minor injuries‚ Parker said. Passengers on the bus included 44 students and 11 adults‚ according to the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. The child who died “was a precious young boy” who was a pre-K student at Tom Green Elementary School in Buda‚ according to Eric Wright‚ school district superintendent. The child’s name was not released. Texas pre-k school bus carrying 44 students and 11 adults collided with a cement truck in Bastrop County today. At least 32 people have been rushed to the hospital. Sadly‚ one child and one adult have passed. The bus was returning from a field trip to the zoo. : @rawsalerts pic.twitter.com/CCGgdyNnq4 — Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 22‚ 2024 Texas school bus with more 40 pre-K students crashes‚ killing 2: authorities https://t.co/KqgLNBA14p pic.twitter.com/gqaeW5Us8M — New York Post (@nypost) March 22‚ 2024 Very difficult news. Praying for all those involved‚ first responders‚ and medical providers. School bus with more than 40 people crashes in Bastrop County‚ Texas https://t.co/biO7rmw6jy — Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 22‚ 2024 The Hill reports: Wright said in addition to the two people who died‚ 51 others were injured‚ including the bus driver. “This is a horrible and tragic day for our school district‚” Wright said. The bus was struck at about 2 p.m. when the concrete truck‚ which was traveling in the opposite direction‚ veered into the bus’ lane‚ Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Deon Cockrell said. He added that authorities told him initial information indicated the truck hit the bus head-on‚ causing it to roll over. The man who was killed was in a vehicle that either ran into the back of the bus or maybe part of the concrete truck‚ Cockrell said. There was one person in the truck and one man in the other vehicle. Cockrell didn’t know how fast the vehicles were going. He said the truck driver was cooperating with authorities. Parents of the students on the bus were notified of the crash and all the children were reunited with their families by the evening‚ Wright said.