Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ripped Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) for refusing to subpoena convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs. Cruz made the remarks during an episode of his “Verdict” podcast this week with co-host Ben Ferguson‚ which comes after Durbin falsely claimed that no one wanted to subpoena Epstein’s flight logs. The senator said that “the subpoenas going after Harlan Crowe and going after Leonard Leo are part of their ongoing effort to harass the Supreme Court‚ to de-legitimize the Supreme Court‚ and in particular to target Clarence Thomas.” “They despise Clarence Thomas‚” Cruz said. “So‚ in response to that‚ a number of Republicans had different amendments that we were pushing that if they were going to force a vote on the subpoenas‚ we were going to force a vote on our amendments.” Cruz noted that Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) proposed subpoenaing “Epstein’s estate for the flight logs to his plane and in particular‚ the Lolita express … the private jet that flew down to Jeffrey Epstein’s island with lots and lots of politicians allegedly‚ mostly Democrats. We don’t know who was on it.” “This is easy to resolve. We should subpoena Epstein’s flight records‚” he continued. “If there are politicians‚ Democrat or Republican or anybody else who was on that plane‚ who was going to that island‚ who was molesting and sexually assaulting children‚ we should know who they are.” “The fact that the Democrats are apparently in a full-on panic‚ I don’t know if Durbin knows somebody on that list or I don’t know if they’re just afraid‚” he continued. “I don’t know what their fear is. But they’re plainly terrified of voting on it. And if I’m wrong‚ Durbin can solve it very easily by bringing it up for a vote and issuing the subpoena.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP 🚨Wow: “The only way @SenatorDurbin could get his votes for the Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo subpoenas was to stop a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein subpoena.” – Senator @TedCruz pic.twitter.com/JwmdDoHoxb — Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) December 12‚ 2023 Related: Democrat Chairman Dick Durbin Claims No One Wants To Subpoena Jeffrey Epstein’s Flight Logs

According to the legacy media‚ disaster is about to befall America. Donald Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination. The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News poll shows Trump at 51% in Iowa‚ up 8% since October‚ with Ron DeSantis in a distant second at 19% and Nikki Haley at 16%. According to analyst Steve Kornacki‚ there is an enthusiasm gap in favor of Trump: 70% of Trump supporters say their minds are made up. He is currently at 72% favorability with Iowa caucusgoers.  And there continues to be a significant enthusiasm gap between Trump and the others: Supporters who say minds are made up:Trump 70%Haley 34%DeSantis 30% Supporters who say they are "extremely enthusiastic" about choice:Trump 45%Haley 21%DeSantis 16% — Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) December 11‚ 2023 In the general election‚ Trump is also up. And he’s not up by a small margin. He is up significantly. If the election were held today‚ Trump would become president of the United States. According to a Wall Street Journal poll over the weekend‚ Trump leads Biden 47% to 43% in the national polls; if third-party and independent candidates enter the mix‚ that lead jumps to six points‚ 37% to 31%. What’s more‚ according to the latest CNN poll‚ Trump leads Biden by 10 points in Michigan; he leads by five in Georgia; according to the latest Minneapolis Post poll‚ Trump is only down three points to Biden in Minnesota.  In other words‚ Trump would likely win by a landslide were the election held today. WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show There are two reasons for this. First‚ Joe Biden is terribly‚ terribly unpopular. That same Wall Street Journal poll shows just 23% of voters say Biden’s policies have helped them personally‚ compared to 53% who say his policies have hurt them. That data show half of voters say Trump’s policies helped them versus 37% who say they hurt. Biden’s job performance is at 37% approval and 61% disapproval; just 30% of voters like Bidenomics. The only issues where Biden leads Trump are on abortion (44% to 33%) and “tone in politics” (37% to 31%). That condition is unlikely to alleviate for Biden before the election. It is‚ according to the Wall Street Journal‚ “less affordable than any time in recent history to buy a home‚ and the math isn’t changing any time soon.” How bad is it? The Journal reports‚ “Before the Fed started raising rates‚ a person with a monthly housing budget of $2‚000 could have bought a home valued at more than $400‚000. Today‚ that same buyer would need to find a home valued at $295‚000 or less.” Average new home payments are up to $3‚322‚ up from $1‚746 at the end of 2020. What’s more‚ Biden’s supposed soft landing doesn’t look particularly likely to happen‚ despite the happy talk from the media. November job growth was weak‚ which is what the Fed was looking for when they raised interest rates in order to tamp down inflation. But that job growth was only even in “weak” territory because of three sectors: health care‚ government employment‚ and leisure and hospitality. In fact‚ those three plus private education employment are the reason for 81% of all jobs created in 2023.  Business starts are weak. Gross output — a measure of the entire economy‚ not merely the spending side in Gross Domestic Product — has been flatlined. In the first two quarters of the year‚ business spending dropped 9%.  There is a reason Warren Buffett is pulling his winnings off the table. Buffett’s firm‚ Berkshire Hathaway‚ sold $28.7 billion in stock in the first three quarters of the year. Buffett has a simple strategy: Sell when the prices are too high. He thinks stock prices are too high. And they are. Biden’s team keeps trying to whistle their way past the graveyard on his candidacy. The literal graveyard. Semafor’s Ben Smith reported that at the White House holiday party‚ Biden “strayed into a couple of hazy monologues‚ which ended only when his wife interrupted him to remind him it was a party. His speech wasn’t terrible‚ or even noteworthy. But everyone in the room realized Biden had a simple rhetorical job and hadn’t quite pulled it off.”  Biden could not get through a holiday speech at the White House. The easiest job in the world. So‚ unenthusiastic Democrats are now being forced to defend the ailing octogenarian. In an interview over the weekend‚ Minnesota governor Tim Walz exhorted‚ “I’ll take Joe Biden at 100 over any of these guys at whatever age they’re at because he’s delivering.” All of which might be ok‚ except everyone knows Biden is unlikely to serve a full second term. Which leaves — drumroll — Kamala Harris.  Last night‚ she and Doug Emhoff‚ the Second Gentleman‚ issued yet another hilarious Hanukkah missive. Last year‚ they put out a video about how Hanukkah was all about love and light‚ clearly demonstrating they knew nothing about the holiday or its origins. Hanukkah is actually about religious Jews throwing Hellenists and their allies out of the Temple and reconsecrating the nation to the Biblical God. But they confirmed last night they knew nothing with this insane post. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff deleted his “story of Hanukkah” post criticized for not actually telling the story of Hanukkah. pic.twitter.com/5UrAwp6po3 — Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) December 12‚ 2023 That is not the story of Hanukkah. It doesn’t even meet the story of Hanukkah halfway. It’s not in the same Venn Diagram as the story of Hanukkah. So‚ that’s Biden’s backup. Now‚ the election isn’t held today‚ which brings us to the second reason Trump is leading Biden in the polls right now: He’s not in the news. That’s also the reason Trump is supposedly up in Iowa‚ head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates. Because he’s not in the news‚ he’s beating Biden. That takes the electability argument away from DeSantis and Haley. And because he’s not in the news‚ everyone has been able to look away from Trump’s crazy‚ which has always been his Achilles heel.  Ironically‚ one of the best things ever to happen to Trump politically was his social media ban. It has made him nearly invisible. The fact that Trump sank money into TruthSocial and doesn’t want to lose it means he hasn’t come back on X‚ and that means we’re not treated to a small media wildfire every time he tweets. Mostly‚ TruthSocial now acts as a venting mechanism‚ and everybody pretty much ignores it‚ which is best for Trump overall. So‚ here’s the question: Will things stay that way? Perhaps they will — not because Trump doesn’t love being at the center of attention‚ but because there’s actually nothing he can do to change anyone’s opinion of him. But elections are also about enthusiasm‚ and Trump could theoretically reinvigorate enthusiasm against him if he busts through walls like a big orange Kool-Aid Man: “Oh‚ yeaaaahhh.”  Trump is already giving hints that he wants to do so. During his recent interview with Sean Hannity‚ for example‚ Sean asked him if he would be a dictator. Instead of just saying‚ “That’s ridiculous. I was president already and I wasn’t a dictator. The real dictator is Joe Biden‚” he‚ instead‚ played to the crowd and trolled the media by saying he wouldn’t be a dictator‚ except on Day One. He meant that like Obama and Biden‚ he would use a pen and a phone. It was a joke. But it also gave his enemies oxygen. Which is why yesterday‚ Trump had to explain it was a joke. Now‚ Trump’s enemies have one playbook: He’ll be a dictator. This is what all the brilliant minds in the Democratic Party and the media have come up with: TrumpHitler! Small mustache! Funny hair! Orange Man Mussolini! Matthew Dowd claimed yesterday on MSNBC‚ “It’s democracy versus dictatorship.” And NYU Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat‚ a scholar on fascism‚ compared Trump to Mussolini and Pinochet. Then‚ of course‚ came Mitt Romney‚ who has taken zero breaks from posturing on behalf of his own legacy — a legacy that now amounts to “Failed in 2012‚ paved the way for Trump‚ tried to serve in Trump’s administration‚ was rejected‚ then joined with Democrats on key measures in order to shore up his failing legacy.” He said Trump’s behavior suggested fascism: The Trump-fascist argument isn’t likely to work. But Nikki Haley has one argument that could work — that Trump is unelectable because people perceive him as an agent of chaos: That argument only works under two conditions. One is likely to be fulfilled: the feeling of Trump being chaotic. Certainly‚ that’s what the Democrats and the Biden DOJ are doing by indicting Trump on every crime from jaywalking to murder. There’s a reason Jack Smith‚ the January 6 prosecutor‚ wants his case accelerated. Yesterday‚ the Supreme Court agreed to hear Smith’s request on Trump’s claims of immunity against federal trial over January 6. According to the Wall Street Journal: Smith wants the court to take up the case before a lower appeals court considers it‚ allowing the justices to squarely weigh in on when‚ if at all‚ Trump’s trial should move forward. The special counsel’s move came 10 days after the trial judge presiding over Trump’s case declined his bid to toss the criminal election-interference charges‚ rejecting arguments that he is immune from prosecution. … Smith asked the justices to cut out the lower appeals court and rule directly on the matter. … “To further the imperative public interest in a timely trial‚ the Government seeks a full and final resolution of the defendant’s claims—that he is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution where he was impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin—before the March 4‚ 2024 trial date‚” Smith’s team wrote. They want Trump on trial and they want him on trial now. They hope Trump will eat the headlines. It is very likely that Trump will be on trial after losing this immunity appeal‚ but even that will not make the Biden case that Trump is a chaos agent. In order for that to work‚ Biden has to appear solid and non-chaotic — and that isn’t happening. Which brings us back to the polls. If every election‚ as I’ve said over and over‚ is a referendum on one of the two candidates‚ the referendum right now is on the current president. And barring some cataclysmic collapse by Trump or magical recovery by Biden‚ the underlying fundamentals of this race are likely to remain stable all the way up to election day. This means that today’s Trump advantage is no mere chimera. It may just be the 2024 reality. Which is why the media and Democrats are panicking — and they should be.

The top court in New York ordered on Tuesday the creation of a new congressional map‚ a move that bodes ill for Republicans who made gains in the blue state after the last redistricting cycle. By a 4-3 vote‚ the New York Court of Appeals ruled the Independent Redistricting Commission is allowed to redraw the lines ahead of the 2024 election. Whatever map comes out of the process‚ which has a deadline at the end of February‚ it will then need to be approved by the state legislature that is controlled by Democrats. “In 2014‚ the voters of New York amended our Constitution to provide that legislative districts be drawn by an Independent Redistricting Commission‚” Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote in an opinion. “The Constitution demands that process‚ not districts drawn by courts.” The ruling stems from a legal challenge backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans that followed a dramatic series of events over redistricting in 2022. After the commission failed to reach a consensus on a map‚ state Democrats drew their own boundaries that the high court then rejected as too partisan and tasked a special master to come up with a fix. “Today’s decision is a win for democracy and particularly the people of New York. We are eager for the Independent Redistricting Commission to get back to work to create a new‚ fair congressional map — through the process New York voters intended‚” Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)‚ chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee‚ said in a statement on Tuesday. House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox released a joint statement declaring‚ “New York Republicans will not give up the fight against gerrymandering and for free and fair elections. The people of New York deserve better than this.” Republicans won control of the House in the 2022 election cycle as they picked up a few seats in New York on the special master’s map. But their fortunes could be reversed in 2024 with the Empire State as a deciding factor. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Huge deal for House control‚” said Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman in a series of posts to X in response to the high court ruling on Tuesday. Right now‚ Dems have a meager 15D-11R majority in NY's House seats. This ruling could put up to six GOP seats in deeper danger‚ including:#NY01 Nick LaLota (R)#NY03 VACANT (R)#NY04 Anthony D'Esposito (R)#NY17 Mike Lawler (R)#NY19 Marc Molinaro (R)#NY22 Brandon Williams (R) — Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 12‚ 2023 “This was a 4-3 decision made possible by a leftward personnel shift on the NY court since ’22‚ much as the GOP’s takeover of the [North Carolina] Supreme Court in ’22 paved the way for Republicans to brutalize Dems w/ a new gerrymander this year in NC‚” he added. “Right now‚ Dems have a meager 15D-11R majority in NY’s House seats. This ruling could put up to six GOP seats in deeper danger.” Wasserman said the six GOP House members from New York who stand to be most negatively affected included Nick Lakota‚ Anthony D’Esposito‚ Mike Lawler‚ Marc Molinaro‚ and Brandon Williams. He also listed New York’s 3rd Congressional District‚ which had been represented by Rep. George Santos (R-NY) until he was expelled. Santos will be replaced by the winner of a special election set for early next year.

Illinois has agreed to not enforce a law targeting crisis pregnancy centers in the state after the measure was blocked by a federal judge. The law (SB 1909)‚ which was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) earlier this year‚ would have allowed the state’s attorney general to investigate alleged consumer fraud against crisis pregnancy centers who speak out about health risks and abortion. On Monday‚ Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul agreed to not enforce the law‚ which was struck down by a federal judge earlier this year. The proposed agreement will need to be signed off by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston‚ who previously blocked the law from going into effect. After the law was signed‚ the state was sued by a coalition of pro-life organizations‚ including the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA)‚ the Women’s Help Services‚ the Pro-Life Action League‚ Rockford Family Initiative‚ and several crisis pregnancy centers. The groups were represented by attorneys with the Thomas More Society‚ a conservative law firm that fights in defense of religious liberty and free speech. “We are elated that a permanent injunction has been issued against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and SB 1909‚ which ensures this unconstitutional law will never go into effect. This is a huge win not only for NIFLA and our wonderful attorneys at the Thomas More Society but especially for pregnancy centers in the state‚ who serve the thousands of women in Illinois who are facing unplanned pregnancies — all at no cost. SB 1909 was an absolute weaponization of government that unfairly and unconstitutionally targeted pregnancy centers simply because they refused to refer for or perform abortions‚” said Thomas Glessner‚ the founder and president of NIFLA. “Let this be a stern example of what awaits those who attempt to pass and enforce similar laws — look to Illinois and save taxpayer dollars for actually helping their communities instead of going after organizations that help women and their families‚” he added. Raoul said that the proposed order would not stop his work “protecting women’s rights to access the full range of reproductive health services.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Patients in Illinois can be assured that as states continue to enact draconian restrictions on access to reproductive health care‚ I will not waver in my efforts to ensure that Illinois remains an oasis of reproductive freedom in the middle of our nation‚” he said. Johnston previous blocked the law‚ saying that it was “painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment.” “There’s no doubt who the Attorney General wants to win or lose in the market place of ideas‚ but the government doesn’t get to decide that‚” Johnston‚ a Trump-appointee‚ added. “The people do.”

“Big Bang Theory” actress Kate Micucci announced she has lung cancer despite never having been a smoker. The 43-year-old comedic actress made the announcement via social media over the weekend‚ using humor to share her health update with fans.  “Hey everybody‚ this is not a TikTok‚ it’s a ‘Sick Tok‚’” Micucci said in a TikTok video update. “I’m in the hospital but it’s because I had lung cancer surgery yesterday. They caught it really early.” “It’s really weird‚ because I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life so uh‚ you know‚ it was a surprise‚” she continued. “But also I guess‚ also‚ it happens and so the greatest news is they caught it early‚ they got it out‚ I’m all good.” The “Raising Hope” actress was wearing a hospital gown as she delivered the news. “It’s been a little bit of a trip and [I’ll] probably be moving slow for a few weeks but then I’ll be back at it‚” Micucci said‚ mentioning painting as one activity she’s really been missing. “Why am I still talking … ‘cause I’m on drugs!” she joked‚ giving the camera a thumbs up. Per the American Cancer Society‚ lung cancer found in people who don’t smoke can be caused by exposure to radon‚ secondhand smoke‚ air pollution‚ or other factors. Early detection of the disease is crucial‚ as the publication notes early stage lung cancer that’s treated results in 70% of people living at least five more years. Micucci is best known for her role as Lucy‚ a love interest of Raj (Kunal Nayyar) in seasons 6‚ 7‚ and 10 of the hit CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” The star’s most recent project was being cast in a voice role for the upcoming animated “Angry Birds Mystery Island” TV series.  Micucci is also known for appearances on NBC’s “Four Kings‚” “Scrubs‚” “Till Death‚” “Raising Hope‚” “Steven Universe‚” “How I Met Your Mother‚” “Malcolm in the Middle‚” and others. The celeb appeared in films including “The Last Hurrah‚” “Bart Got a Room‚” and “When in Rome.”  Micucci is also a member of the comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates.

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