Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is calling on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) to step down as leader of Senate Republicans. Asked at a press conference on Tuesday if he believes it is time for McConnell to go‚ Cruz confirmed‚ "I think it is." "I think a Republican leader should actually lead this conference and should advance the priorities of Republicans‚" Cruz explained. — (@) The problem‚ according to Cruz‚ is that Senate Republican leadership used Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) — the Republican who co-authored the bill with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) — as a sacrificial lamb to write a bill that is "designed to lose." The secret negotiations‚ Cruz said‚ resulted in a policy disaster for Republicans. Even worse‚ the bill awards Democrats a victory‚ not only because it doesn't end the border crisis but also because it gives them political ammunition to use against Republicans ahead of the upcoming election. "Who won in this battle? His name is Charles Schumer‚" Cruz later explained on Fox News. "The purpose of this bill was to let every Democrat running for the Senate and running for the House stand up and say‚ self-righteously‚ 'I wanted to secure the border‚ I really wanted to‚ but those mean Republicans wouldn't let me‚'" he continued. "I've got to say‚ Senate Republican leadership — I told them this months ago‚ other conservatives told them months ago‚ and they proceeded down this this path that ended up — it was a box canyon with a kamikaze pilot crashing into a wall. It was a disaster. And it was entirely avoidable." Cruz first advocated for McConnell to step down after the disappointing 2022 midterm elections in which Republicans squandered the opportunity to win control of the House and Senate. But McConnell refused. For his part‚ McConnell responded to Cruz on Tuesday‚ saying‚ "I think we can all agree that Sen. Cruz is not a fan." Later‚ McConnell dismissed his critics and said the only way to solve the border crisis is to compromise with Democrats. "I've had a small group of persistent critics the whole time I've been in this job. They had their shot‚" McConnell told Politico. "The reason we've been talking about the border is because they wanted to‚ the persistent critics. ... You can't pass a bill without dealing with a Democratic president and a Democratic Senate." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he is sending additional state officers to Oakland to curb the “alarming and unacceptable” crime wave.A press release from Newsom’s office stated that 120 California Highway Patrol officers will be sent to Oakland and the East Bay “to crack down on crime and improve public safety.” The officers‚ including specialized units‚ will work with local law enforcement agencies to combat criminal activity‚ including violent crime‚ auto theft‚ cargo theft‚ and retail theft. Additionally‚ the temporary deployment will allow for “high-visibility traffic enforcement.”“As part of this operation‚ the CHP will deploy license plate reader technology that will help identify and recover stolen vehicles‚ as well as specialized CHP units — including K9s and air support. This enhanced law enforcement presence will represent a nearly 900% increase in CHP personnel in Oakland and within Alameda County‚” the press release stated.“As crime rates across California decrease — including right across the Bay in San Francisco — Oakland is seeing the opposite trend. What’s happening in this beautiful city and surrounding area is alarming and unacceptable. I’m sending the California Highway Patrol to assist local efforts to restore a sense of safety that the hardworking people of Oakland and the East Bay demand and deserve‚” Newsom stated.The governor’s office noted that preliminary reports indicated Oakland experienced a 21% increase in violent crime in 2023. Additionally‚ robberies increased by 38% and vehicle thefts by 45%.The area’s surging crime has forced many businesses to close shop and head elsewhere. Earlier this month‚ Denny’s permanently shut down its only Oakland location after 54 years. Last month‚ In-N-Out notified residents that it plans to shutter its Oakland establishment in March. Black Bear Diner‚ Subway‚ and Starbucks have also closed down locations in the area.Oakland-based Clorox Company recently ramped up its safety measures by providing employees the option to be escorted to and from the building and their vehicle by a security officer. Blue Shield of California has implemented similar measures to protect its workers.Kaiser Permanente has advised its staff to stay in the building during breaks. Workers were instructed to bring their own lunch or have food delivered.Oakland Democratic Mayor Sheng Thao stated‚ “The City of Oakland is hard at work turning the tide — increasing law enforcement investigations‚ increasing police recruitment‚ and investing in community and violence intervention efforts. As we work to improve public safety‚ I’m grateful for Governor Newsom for providing these critical law enforcement resources that are a game-changer in helping us hold more criminals accountable and make Oakland safer.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

With Haley trailing Trump by double digits in S.C. polling‚ her campaign manager says she’ll keep fighting as long as she has momentum and resources.

Netanyahu made the comments shortly after meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken‚ who arrived in the region Tuesday night.

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