Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
March 8, 2026

Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat 'The AKGuy'

Brandon Herrera’s controversial online presence and hardline politics could open another opportunity for House Democrats in a deep-red district.

Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat ‘The AKGuy’

Politico (@politico.com) 2026-03-07T15:04:43Z

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739

Democrats see a new opportunity brewing deep in the heart of Texas, where Republicans solving one problem may have inadvertently created a new one.

Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......

The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......

Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.

“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.

“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.
March 8, 2026

Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat 'The AKGuy'

Brandon Herrera’s controversial online presence and hardline politics could open another opportunity for House Democrats in a deep-red district.

Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat ‘The AKGuy’

Politico (@politico.com) 2026-03-07T15:04:43Z

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739

Democrats see a new opportunity brewing deep in the heart of Texas, where Republicans solving one problem may have inadvertently created a new one.

Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......

The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......

Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.

“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.

“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.


March 8, 2026

Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump (NYT Gift Link)

One inmate paid lobbyists and lawyers with ties to the president’s team and walked free. Others are following his blueprint, but it is not always clear who can deliver.
https://x.com/mloughlin/status/2029985658370920895
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/schwartz-trump-pardon-industry.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.qWQq.NYiRCtODpjfK&smid=url-share

One evening last November, word spread around the federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., that an inmate who had spent heavily to pursue clemency had hit pay dirt, winning a pardon from President Trump and walking free.

His release intensified an ongoing debate for those who were left behind. Whom could they pay to achieve the same result?....

Nearly a million dollars went to right-wing operatives who claimed to have worked with Laura Loomer, a social media provocateur who has the ear of Mr. Trump, to advocate for Mr. Schwartz’s release. Another $100,000 or more was paid to a lobbyist who had a different set of connections to Mr. Trump — pro-Israel evangelicals.

Thousands more went to lawyers who had personal relationships with Alice Marie Johnson, Mr. Trump’s “pardon czar,” and David Warrington, the White House counsel, according to four people familiar with the effort.....

But the costly campaign offers rare visibility into the lucrative pardon industry that has emerged around Mr. Trump.

It is based in part on the proposition that paying the right person to deliver a message tailored to Mr. Trump’s politics or grievances is more important than demonstrating remorse or a low likelihood of recidivism.

A growing number of practitioners promise access in this murky enterprise, but some also may exaggerate their effectiveness to elicit payments from clients desperate to avoid incarceration. Pardon seekers routinely offer to pay as much as $1 million or more, often with bonus payments triggered by a successful outcome, according to lobbying filings and people familiar with the fees.

This transactional approach to clemency has been welcomed by white-collar offenders like those serving time at the Otisville camp, a minimum-security facility about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan......

In all, lobbying firms disclosed receiving payments of nearly $5.2 million last year from clients seeking clemency from Mr. Trump for individual clients — about eight times more than was disclosed in 2024 from people seeking clemency from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — according to congressional filings. But that likely reflects only a fraction of the spending by clemency seekers, since most pardon advocates claim that their efforts represent legal work that is exempt from lobbying disclosure laws.

As word circulated about successful paid clemency campaigns, more inmates sought out their own pardon fixers claiming access to the president, said Walt Pavlo, who served two years himself starting in 2001 for his role in a fraud scheme and now serves as a consultant for people facing prison time.

Everything including pardons are up for sale under trump

March 8, 2026

Leaked classified report undercut Trump's Iran plans a week before he started war: WaPo

trump will NOT be successful in his efforts at regime change

Three members of the Donald Trump administration have confirmed to the Washington Post that a classified document created by the National Intelligence Council poured cold water on the president's hopes about regime change in Iran following his war launch.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-07T22:00:12.962Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-mistake/

Three members of the Donald Trump administration have confirmed to the Washington Post that a classified document created by the National Intelligence Council poured cold water on the president’s hopes about regime change in Iran following his war launch.

According to the Post, the warning was completed a week before the president gave the go-ahead for the Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth to proceed with the bombings on February 28th.

The classified report examined succession scenarios under two potential military scenarios: a targeted campaign against Iran's leadership or a broader assault on its government institutions. In both cases, intelligence analysts concluded that "Iran's clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power," according to those familiar with the findings......

Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, characterized the NIC assessment as credible, stating: "It sounds like a deeply informed assessment of the Iranian system and the institutions and processes that have been established for many years."
March 8, 2026

Putin has 'renewed swagger' after Trump hands him a big win: WSJ

Putin had nearly bankrupted Russia. Now trump is allowing Putin to sell oil to India. Putin is being given a lifeline by trump's attack on Iran and the disruption of the energy markets

Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin's declining fortunes have taken a major turn for the better because Donald Trump's war on Iran has given the staggering Russian economy a shot in the arm as oil prices lurch upward.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-08T01:00:11Z

https://www.rawstory.com/putin-oil-iran/

Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin’s declining fortunes have taken a major turn for the better because Donald Trump’s war on Iran has given the staggering Russian economy a shot in the arm as oil prices lurch upward.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian crude that was languishing unsold just days ago has become a hot commodity. The U.S. has eased sanctions on Russian oil, opening the door for key buyers to increase purchases. With oil and natural gas prices surging, Russian producers are reaping substantial profits.

The shift is already visible in global markets. In India, traders who previously demanded steep discounts to purchase Russian oil are now attempting to sell at prices above global benchmarks—a dramatic reversal.

"The longer that this conflict goes on, the world will increasingly rely on both Russian crude oil and Russian refined products," said Naveen Das, senior crude analyst at Kpler.....

Global benchmark Brent crude has surged nearly 30 percent since the attacks began. While higher prices normally benefit all oil producers, disruption in the Gulf has crippled Russia's primary competitors in that region, leaving Moscow uniquely positioned to capitalize on the crisis.
March 8, 2026

'Head unbowed': Trump buried for showing 'total disrespect' at service for fallen soldiers

trump did not trust his "hair" to cover up his balding head and so wore a baseball cap to this ceremony. trump put his personal appearance over the honoring of these troops

'Head unbowed': Trump buried for showing 'total disrespect' at service for fallen soldiers

www.rawstory.com/trump-267578...

Blue Freedom Quest 💙🌊💙🌊 (@bluefreedomquest.bsky.social) 2026-03-07T22:43:46.145Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675780226

Donald Trump came under fire on Saturday for his behavior during a solemn moment in which six fallen soldiers killed in the president's onslaught against Iran were honored.

The president was seen during the event standing upright while others bowed their heads. He was also wearing a white baseball cap during the typically solemn event, which was broadcast in complete silence on CNN.

That Trump behavior didn't sit well with numerous analysts, including Assistant Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, who wrote, "Head unbowed and baseball cap in white. Total disrespect."
https://x.com/JillWineBanks/status/2030394296117920241
March 7, 2026

Intel report warns large-scale war 'unlikely' to oust Iran's regime

A classified U.S. report doubts that Iran’s opposition would take power following either a short or extended U.S. military campaign.

EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS: Intel report warns large-scale war ‘unlikely’ to oust Iran’s regime @johnphudson.bsky.social and Warren Strobel -- wapo.st/4lcrq3M

Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty.bsky.social) 2026-03-07T12:35:32.786Z

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/07/iran-intelligence-report-unlikely-oust-regime/

A classified report by the National Intelligence Council found that even a large-scale assault on Iran launched by the United States would be unlikely to oust the Islamic republic’s entrenched military and clerical establishment, a sobering assessment as the Trump administration raises the specter of an extended military campaign that officials say has “only just begun.”

The findings, confirmed to The Washington Post by three people familiar with the report’s contents, raise doubts about President Donald Trump’s declared plan to “clean out” Iran’s leadership structure and install a ruler of his choosing.

The report, completed about a week before the United States and Israel initiated the war on Feb. 28, outlined succession scenarios stemming from either a narrowly tailored campaign against Iran’s leaders or a broader assault against its leadership and government institutions, the people familiar with its findings said. In both cases, the intelligence concluded that Iran’s clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power, these people said.

The prospect of Iran’s fragmented opposition taking control of the country was described as “unlikely,” said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a classified report.....

Current and former U.S. officials say they see little sign, at least so far, of a mass popular uprising in Iran or of significant fissures within the government or security forces that will result in a new regime. Iran’s security forces killed thousands of protesters during demonstrations in January fueled by the country’s abysmal economy. The guidance from Trump to the Iranian people has been to shelter in place until the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign concludes.
March 7, 2026

Republican under fire over 'Mein Kampf' podcast admission

I was shocked that Gonzales got more votes in the primary. Gonzales is an asshole who drove a member of his staff to suicide but he may be better than this asshole/nazi

The Republican Jewish Coalition is blasting MAGA-aligned Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera after resurfaced podcast comments in which he discussed owning a copy of Adolf Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-07T04:00:15Z

https://www.rawstory.com/brandon-herrera

The Republican Jewish Coalition is blasting MAGA-aligned Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera after resurfaced podcast comments in which he discussed owning a copy of Adolf Hitler’s manifesto "Mein Kampf."

Herrera, a gun rights YouTuber who is now the de facto Republican nominee in Texas’ 23rd congressional district, made the remarks during a 2024 appearance on the “Unsubscribe Podcast” – after his first failed run for the same House seat, according to Jewish Insider.

During the episode, another guest produced a copy of Hitler’s memoir, which prompted Herrera to reveal he also owned a copy and pulled out his phone to show a photo, the publication reported Friday......

But the comments drew a fresh rebuke Friday from the Republican Jewish Coalition.

“The RJC has a longstanding policy of speaking out against those who traffic in Nazi ideology, and this is another case,” spokesperson Sam Markstein said in a statement. “The RJC opposed Mr. Herrera in 2024, and he will not get our support now.”

Herrera’s path to the nomination in the massive border district was cleared when Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who admitted to an affair with a staffer who died in a gruesome suicide last year, announced Thursday he would drop out of the runoff.
March 7, 2026

Republican under fire over 'Mein Kampf' podcast admission

I was shocked that Gonzales got more votes in the primary. Gonzales is an asshole who drove a member of his staff to suicide but he may be better than this asshole/nazi

The Republican Jewish Coalition is blasting MAGA-aligned Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera after resurfaced podcast comments in which he discussed owning a copy of Adolf Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-07T04:00:15Z

https://www.rawstory.com/brandon-herrera

The Republican Jewish Coalition is blasting MAGA-aligned Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera after resurfaced podcast comments in which he discussed owning a copy of Adolf Hitler’s manifesto "Mein Kampf."

Herrera, a gun rights YouTuber who is now the de facto Republican nominee in Texas’ 23rd congressional district, made the remarks during a 2024 appearance on the “Unsubscribe Podcast” – after his first failed run for the same House seat, according to Jewish Insider.

During the episode, another guest produced a copy of Hitler’s memoir, which prompted Herrera to reveal he also owned a copy and pulled out his phone to show a photo, the publication reported Friday......

But the comments drew a fresh rebuke Friday from the Republican Jewish Coalition.

“The RJC has a longstanding policy of speaking out against those who traffic in Nazi ideology, and this is another case,” spokesperson Sam Markstein said in a statement. “The RJC opposed Mr. Herrera in 2024, and he will not get our support now.”

Herrera’s path to the nomination in the massive border district was cleared when Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who admitted to an affair with a staffer who died in a gruesome suicide last year, announced Thursday he would drop out of the runoff.
March 7, 2026

Long-delayed Jan. 6 plaque honoring police installed in Capitol at 4 a.m.

The memorial was required by law to be installed by March 2023. This morning, while most of Washington slept, it appeared.
https://x.com/oliviacgeorge/status/2030283563145334928
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/07/capitol-j6-police-plaque-installed/

The police officers were taunted and beaten. Some were knocked unconscious and dragged down stone steps, tear gas stinging their throats, to chants of “U.S.A! U.S.A!” on Jan. 6, 2021, as hundreds, then thousands, swarmed the citadel of American democracy.

Now, more than five years later, and three years since Congress ignored its own deadline to install it, a memorial plaque recognizing the service of law enforcement that day is finally on display in the very building they defended from a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters intent on overturning his 2020 election loss.

In the predawn hours Saturday, around 4 a.m., staff with the Architect of the Capitol bolted the bronze plaque to a granite wall near an entrance on the west front, close to where the armed crowd had amassed and scaled scaffolding set up for the inauguration. They wheeled the plaque, stored in plywood, across the stone basement floor and guided it through the double doors. They raised the tribute with a jack table and began fixing it in place, the clang of their tools ringing out through otherwise empty hallways.

There was no announcement, no ceremony, no news cameras — just two employees on their routine overnight shift working while most of Washington slept. The quiet installation, which Congress ordered completed by mid-March 2023, marks the latest turn in the contested effort to remember Jan. 6, as Trump continues to reframe the riot as patriotic and the rioters as victims of a weaponized justice system.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1440&impolicy=high_res

.....On the wall near the plaque, they affixed a QR code titled “Honored Law Enforcement.” A scan with a smartphone takes the viewer to a list of officers present that day. The list goes on for 45 pages.

By 4:25 a.m. they had finished. They packed up their tools and wheeled the plywood away, leaving the hallway empty once more. Outside, the air was damp and filled with birdsong, the darkness gradually receding with the dawn of a new day.

Profile Information

Member since: Mon Apr 5, 2004, 04:58 PM
Number of posts: 178,561
Latest Discussions»LetMyPeopleVote's Journal