Singer Sheryl Crow, who has expressed leftist views in the past, said she contacts her local Republican representatives in Tennessee &#8220;every day&#8221; in an effort to “fight” for the future.
The 63-year-old recording artist was discussing her move to the Volunteer State and how her politics do not align with those of many Tennesseans.
“We all have those moments in our life where we have to pivot,” Crow told <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/sheryl-crow-power-of-women-nashville-cover-story-1236379807/">Variety</a> in a newly published interview. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and I moved [to Tennessee] in 2007. I think having come out of a relationship [with former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong] where I thought I was gonna be married and was close to the kids that were gonna be my stepkids, then got diagnosed — all three of those things made me reassess. I just looked at it and thought, &#8216;I want to put down roots; I want to have a family.’ My sisters live here, and my family all lived within three hours, and I just decided to start phase two.”
She said she’s happy with the move to Tennessee, but has experienced some difficulties adjusting.
“Tennessee is a hard place for me. I mean, I struggle,” she told the outlet. “I call my representatives [in Congress] every single morning — Andy Ogles and Marsha Blackburn hear from me every day — because we have to stand up and be vocal and fight for the future for our kids.”
“I do think, ’Are they laughing?’ But it’s like what Jimmy Carter said: As long as there’s legal bribery, we won’t ever have fair elections. So we have to keep raising our voices and showing up to these organized rallies,” Crow added.
The “Soak Up the Sun” singer said she received backlash after posting a video of her Tesla being towed away. “This feels different, because when I came out against Walmart carrying guns [in a 1996 song], not everybody was armed — and certainly I didn’t live in Tennessee, where everybody is armed,” she said.
“So yeah, there was a moment where I actually really felt very afraid: A man got on my property, in my barn, who was armed. It doesn’t feel safe when you’re dealing with people who are so committed.”
As for posting the video, she said, “I can’t help it. I feel like I’m fighting for my kids. Also, that’s the way I was raised. There have been times when it hasn’t really been fun, but I follow my Atticus Finch dad; I’m very similar to him if I see something that seems unfair, you know?”
Crow was criticized for an Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGEf88eBMVX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=a00569fc-1a7b-490d-8550-55229d48acf5">post</a> with the caption, “My parents always said … you are who you hang out with. There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.”
“Money donated to [NPR], which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth,” the post concluded.

Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow Says She Calls Tennessee Republicans Marsha Blackburn And Andy Ogles ‘Every Day’

Sheryl Crow Said She Calls Tennessee Rep Marsha Blackburn 'Every Day'

Celebrities

Marsha Blackburn

Politics

Tennessee

Vanderbilt University Medical Center gave in to a public pressure campaign to end all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on Wednesday afternoon, just a day after receiving a letter from Tennessee&#8217;s Republican senator, Marsha Blackburn, accusing the hospital of &#8220;concealing&#8221; the DEI work.
In a statement from the university hospital, it said it intends to fully comply with President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order.
“Vanderbilt University Medical Center is eliminating all DEI programs and is fully complying with Executive Actions on DEI,&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2025/04/16/vanderbilt-university-medical-center-eliminating-all-dei-programs/">said</a>. &#8220;Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs. VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives.”
The announcement comes just one day after Blackburn wrote a <a href="https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/files/4387EAC3-4C5F-44F1-9FF2-45E995761DBB">letter to VUMC President Jeffrey Balser</a>, accusing the university of concealing its DEI efforts and urging him to comply with Trump’s executive orders against the ideology.
“VUMC has recently scrubbed its website of references to DEI initiatives at the institution, going so far as to password protect web pages tied to DEI and climate activism. Concerningly, though, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs are seemingly still active,” Blackburn wrote in her letter to Blaser. “President Trump has been clear on this issue. His recent executive orders correctly prohibited DEI programs at federally funded research institutions and ended the recognition of gender identity apart from biological sex.”
“As a beneficiary of federal funding, VUMC has a responsibility to align with the President’s executive orders,” Blackburn went on to add. “Instead of covering up VUMC’s DEI initiatives, I urge you to comply with President Trump’s effort to responsibility allocate taxpayer dollars and immediately cease all DEI initiatives.”
Vanderbilt&#8217;s hospital is perhaps best known for its transgender procedures on children, which were revealed by Daily Wire host Matt Walsh. The hospital described the practice of so-called &#8220;gender-affirming&#8221; care for children as a &#8220;big money-maker.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: My team and I have been investigating the transgender clinic at Vanderbilt here in Nashville. Vanderbilt drugs, chemically castrates, and performs double mastectomies on minors. But it gets worse. Here is what we found. Let&#39;s start at the beginning.
&mdash; Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1572313369528635392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The investigation by Matt Walsh led to Governor Bill Lee calling for an investigation, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tn-senate-leader-credits-daily-wire-investigation-for-inspiring-ban-on-gender-procedures-for-minors">ultimately resulted</a> in a Tennessee state law protecting children from medical interventions that seek to change their sex. That law was recently debated in the Supreme Court, where Walsh rallied activists against mutilating children.

MixCollage-04-Dec-2024-05-09-PM-1904

Vanderbilt Hospital Ends All DEI Programs After Being Accused Of Cover-Up

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Donald Trump

Vanderbilt University

The following is a distilled and edited transcript of an interview between Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/tesla-attacks-doge-government-waste-with-senator-marsha-blackburn-3-29-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekend edition of Morning Wire</a>.
As Tesla owners face escalating attacks and the Biden-era federal budget balloons, Senator Marsha Blackburn says Americans are witnessing the backlash to Republican efficiency reforms and shrinking government. In a recent Morning Wire interview with Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley, Senator Blackburn outlines why the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is under fire, and why she believes Democrats are “rudderless” and losing their grip on power.
* * *
John Bickley: Senator, you’re bringing a resolution to the Senate floor that condemns attacks on Tesla. What prompted that move?
Senator Marsha Blackburn: It’s stunning that we’re seeing these violent attacks—vandalism, destruction of private property, even firebombings—and yet Democratic leadership is not standing up and calling out these acts of domestic terrorism. This resolution says the U.S. Senate stands against those acts of violence. Whether it’s Tesla dealerships, electric car owners, or charging stations being targeted, it’s unacceptable. So we think this resolution is appropriate. We want to give members of the U.S. Senate from each party, along with a couple of independents, the opportunity to stand up and say, “We condemn these attacks.”
Bickley: Elon Musk has suggested there’s big money and coordination behind these protests. Are you seeing evidence that this isn’t just grassroots chaos?
Sen. Blackburn: Yes. What we’ve heard — and what Musk has highlighted — is that this is something that is quite organized. We know they’re planning a so-called &#8220;Global Day of Action&#8221; against Tesla. The reasoning behind it is telling: it’s about their hatred for Donald Trump, their disdain for Elon Musk, and opposition to DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — which Musk helped establish in partnership with Congress. That’s the real target. Leftists need big government in order to survive. That’s their mother&#8217;s milk, if you will. These activist organizations can’t survive on their own — so when we start rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal system, they become distraught. DOGE is cutting off the pipeline of taxpayer money that’s been flowing into these nonprofits.
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tesla-attacks-doge-government-waste-with-senator/id1576594336?i=1000701341293" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
Bickley: What kind of waste are we talking about here?
Sen. Blackburn: The Biden administration handed out billions to organizations that have no ability to stand on their own. I’ll give you one example: Stacey Abrams’ so-called “climate justice” nonprofit had about $100 in the bank, but somehow received $2 billion in federal money — that’s billion with a “B.” That’s not just wasteful, it’s offensive to taxpayers. All that money needs to be clawed back. It should go back to the U.S. Treasury and used to pay down our $36 trillion in debt. Then, we need to codify those cuts, making them permanent through rescission bills and reconciliation processes. That’s how we get to a balanced budget again. Right now we’re at $7.3 trillion. Trump’s target is $5.5 trillion.
Bickley: What specifically will the Senate do to make DOGE reforms permanent?
Sen. Blackburn: You&#8217;ll see us move quickly on a reconciliation bill to make the Trump 2017 tax cuts permanent. That’s step one. But just as important, we’re planning a rescission bill that includes DOGE’s spending reductions. That’s the mechanism for cutting these funds out of the federal budget baseline. The beauty of the rescission process is that it only requires 51 votes in the Senate, not 60. That gives us a real path to codify these cuts. We’re aiming to get back to pre-COVID levels of spending.
<div id="attachment_899967" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-899967" class="size-large wp-image-899967" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205592369-864x576.jpg" alt="US President Donald Trump, left, and Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., exit the Oval Office of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, March 21, 2025. Speculative traders in the $7.5-trillion-a-day currency market turned bearish on the US dollar for the first time since Trump won the US presidential election last year. Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205592369-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205592369-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205592369-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205592369.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
Bickley: Final question. We&#8217;ve seen a lot of pressure mounting on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Do you foresee a real shakeup with the Democrats in the near future?
Sen. Blackburn: I don’t think Chuck Schumer’s going anywhere. They’ve gone so far Left, however, that even their base is frustrated. If you look at the issues Americans care about — securing the border, deporting criminal illegal aliens, restoring law and order, getting men out of women’s sports, balancing the budget — these are 80/20 issues. Eighty percent of the people are in favor while 20% are opposed. But the Democrats are on the wrong side of every one of them. They oppose everything that&#8217;s being done to secure the border and deport criminal illegal aliens and get inflation down and get men out of women&#8217;s sports. The list goes on and on. So, they’re rudderless. They have no message, no messenger, no designated leaders. They’re pretty much out of the game.
Bickley: Senator Blackburn, thank you for your time.
Sen. Blackburn: Thanks. Always good to join you.
* * *
Catch the full interview on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/tesla-attacks-doge-government-waste-with-senator-marsha-blackburn-3-29-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morning Wire</a>.

Twitter Whistleblower Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee

‘They’re Rudderless’: Sen. Blackburn On Democrats, DOGE, And Domestic Terrorism

'They're Rudderless': Sen. Blackburn On Democrats, DOGE, And Domestic Terrorism

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

DOGE

Morning Wire

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told Morning Wire in an interview released on Thursday that she is stunned to see Democratic leaders fail to call out &#8220;acts of domestic terrorism&#8221; as Tesla dealerships and owners across the United States have been subjected to brazen acts of vandalism and violence.
Blackburn, who introduced a resolution in the Senate to condemn the attacks against Tesla, said that &#8220;Democratic leadership is not standing up and calling out these acts of domestic terrorism.&#8221; The American electric car company has faced an onslaught of violence as leftists take out their frustrations with Trump&#8217;s senior adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tesla owners and dealers.
The GOP senator said that it appears the attacks on Tesla are out of &#8220;hatred&#8221; for President Donald Trump and Musk&#8217;s efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency to &#8220;root out all waste, fraud, and abuse&#8221; within the federal government.
&#8220;The leftists have to have a big government structure to survive. That is their mother&#8217;s milk, if you will,&#8221; Blackburn told Morning Wire.
“It is stunning that we are seeing this take place, and that Democratic leadership is not standing up and calling out these acts of domestic terrorism,” she added. “We have lived through four years, where every time you turned around, they were talking about domestic terrorism, they were calling parents that went to school board meetings &#8216;domestic terrorists.&#8217; They were calling individuals that would stand across the street from a Planned Parenthood and pray for the women and the unborn children, and they would call that ‘domestic terrorism.’”
Listen to Sen. Blackburn&#8217;s entire interview on Morning Wire below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lawmakers-probe-signal-gate-conservatives-swatted-3-27-25/id1576594336?i=1000701035481" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
Last week, the FBI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-issues-warning-over-left-wing-terrorist-attacks-against-tesla" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a bulletin, warning against attacks on Teslas, which &#8220;have involved arson, gunfire, and vandalism, including graffiti expressing grievances against those the perpetrators perceive to be racists, fascists, or political opponents.&#8221;
Earlier this week, an incendiary device was <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/incendiary-devices-found-at-austin-tesla-showroom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, and had to be promptly removed by a police bomb squad. Last week, a suspect allegedly lit two Tesla vehicles on fire and shot at them at a Las Vegas Tesla facility in what law enforcement officials described as a &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/us/tesla-fire-las-vegas-explosion/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted attack</a>.&#8221; Numerous videos posted online have also shown perpetrators keying and damaging parked Tesla vehicles.
Blackburn is not alone in using the term &#8220;terrorism&#8221; to describe the attacks on Tesla. Last Friday, President Trump said that he &#8220;view[s] these people as terrorists.&#8221;
&#8220;These are, when I looked at those showrooms burning and those cars — not one or two, like seven, eight, ten, burning, exploding all over the place — these are terrorists,&#8221; Trump added.
Blackburn added that Senate Republicans believe the resolution condemning the attacks is &#8220;appropriate&#8221; and necessary as it will give members of each party &#8220;the opportunity to stand up and say, &#8216;We condemn these attacks.'&#8221;

‘Stunning’: Marsha Blackburn Blasts Dem Leaders For Failing To Stand Against Tesla Attacks

Democrats

domestic terrorism

Elon Musk

Senate

Tesla

Three more FEMA employees have been fired as part of the agency’s investigation into guidance from a supervisor last year for relief workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” 
FEMA Acting Director Cameron Hamilton sent a letter on Tuesday to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), informing her of the firings and announcing the conclusion of the agency’s internal investigation. Hamilton said that the three fired employees were in the supervisory chain of FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired</a> on November 9 after The Daily Wire reported that she instructed relief workers in Lake Placid, Florida, to skip homes with Trump flags or signs after Hurricane Milton. 
“As you know, FEMA terminated that crew lead’s employment with the agency on November 9. Since then, in cooperation with the Office of Inspector General and the Office of the Special Counsel, FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) — which reports directly to me — conducted an exhaustive investigation of this incident to determine the full extent of any further inappropriate behavior or misconduct,” Hamilton wrote, according to a copy of the letter shared with The Daily Wire. “That investigation has now concluded, and upon my review of all related materials, three additional individuals have been terminated.” 
The firings were first <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/06/us-news/fema-fired-three-supervisors-following-probe-into-crew-told-to-avoid-trump-supporting-homes-hit-by-hurricane-milton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on by the New York Post. 
In the letter, Hamilton said that the three employees had not met the agency’s standards of conduct and that he wanted to send a message that political bias in disaster relief was not acceptable. 
“This action has been taken both because of their failure to meet our standards of conduct and because it is essential that the entire workforce understand that this incident was reprehensible, and this type of behavior will not be tolerated at FEMA,” he wrote. 
“The OPR investigation found no evidence that this was a systemic problem, nor that it was directed by agency or field leadership,” he added. “However, it did determine that those in the immediate supervisor chain of the single staff member who engaged in this conduct should have had more direct control of their subordinates’ behavior. Thus, they failed to meet my expectations of leaders in this organization and have been terminated.” 
Washington had claimed that there was a mass pattern of &#8220;avoidance&#8221; by FEMA workers throughout the South for political reasons. The Office of Special Counsel filed a complaint last month against her recommending that she face further disciplinary action.
Washington&#8217;s direct supervisor was an employee named Chad Hershey, according to an organizational flow chart previously obtained by The Daily Wire. He did not respond to request for comment.
The House Committee on Homeland Security previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-homeland-security-to-interview-second-fema-employee-about-trump-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested</a> an interview with Hershey as part of its investigation into the incident. When first contacted by The Daily Wire back in November, Hershey said that he was “aware” of the situation with the Trump guidance, and that it was being looked into. 
“We are aware of it and we are taking proper action in this situation currently,” Hershey said, adding that “we are taking action at this moment regarding the situation that you’re talking about.” 
At least 20 homes in Lake Placid were skipped due to the guidance. Those homes were visited the day after news of the guidance broke, according to previous FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Hamilton told Blackburn that he ordered employees to undergo additional training to “reinforce that political affiliation should never be a consideration in the rendering of assistance.”

Michigan Holds Its Primary Election

3 More FEMA Employees Fired After Probe Into Order To Skip Trump Homes

FEMA

Florida

Hurricane Milton

Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN) introduced a bill on Thursday that would make President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization permanent, barring massing reform. 
The <a href="https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/files/E5F2FE62-438C-4157-98FE-439FA3126326" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> would block taxpayer dollars from either funding WHO programs or American membership in the organization unless the organization took significant steps to demonstrate independence from China and root out leftist ideology. Blackburn&#8217;s fellow Republican Senators John Barrasso (WY), Rick Scott (FL), and Ted Cruz joined Blackburn in putting the legislation forward.
“The World Health Organization has long been a puppet for the Chinese Communist Party, grossly mismanaging the COVID pandemic and taking over a billion dollars of U.S. funding without advancing our interests,” Blackburn told The Daily Wire. “We must support President Trump’s actions to hold the WHO accountable by ensuring any future president who wants to rejoin meets concrete conditions of improvement.”
The bill would codify Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-u-s-to-withdraw-from-world-health-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">day one executive order</a> withdrawing the United States from the organization, citing WHO handling of COVID and demands for &#8220;onerous&#8221; and unfair payments. 
Under certain conditions, the legislation said that it would be possible for the United States to rejoin WHO. These conditions include the WHO adopting reforms to ensure that humanitarian aid is not politicized, demonstrate independence from the Chinese Communist Party, grant observer status to Taiwan, and end funding or promotion of things like abortion, climate change, and sex-change procedures. 
Another condition would stipulate that humanitarian aid and medical supplies could not be diverted to Iran, Syria, and North Korea. 
“American tax dollars cannot be used to fund the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) and World Health Organization’s (WHO) cover-up of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mismanagement, failed transparency, and lack of independence at the WHO is inexcusable,” Barrasso told The Daily Wire. “Our bill ensures that not one penny of taxpayer money is spent rejoining the WHO if serious reforms aren’t made to prevent another failed pandemic response.”
A companion version has been introduced in the House by Republican Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX), Ron Estes (KS), Greg Steube (FL), and Anna Paulina Luna (FL).
When Trump issued the executive order last month to pull America out of WHO, he said that the country was paying too much to be a member of the United Nations-backed organization in comparison to other countries like China. 
“So we paid $500 million to World Health when I was here and I terminated it,” Trump said, adding that it “seemed a little unfair” because China was paying around $39 million to the organization. 
Trump ended American participation in WHO back in 2020, but that decision was later reversed by Joe Biden.

EXCLUSIVE: Blackburn Bill Would Make Trump’s World Health Organization Exit Permanent

China

COVID-19

John Barrasso

Rick Scott

Ted Cruz

United Nations

World Health Organization

Tennessee&#8217;s Republican Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marsha-blackburn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marsha Blackburn</a>, who was just reelected by nearly 30 points in November, is considering a run for Tennessee governor.
Citing sources in Washington, D.C., and Tennessee, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/14/marsha-blackburn-tennessee-governor-2026-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that Blackburn was making calls saying she was likely to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race to replace term-limited Governor Bill Lee. Blackburn, a conservative senator and strong ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has been in the Senate since 2019. 
Neither Blackburn nor her campaign has publicly confirmed that she will enter the race, but some Republicans have already come out to announce their support for her. 
“Senator Blackburn has done an outstanding job as a state senator, U.S. congresswoman, and U.S. Senator,” said Glenn Jacobs, the former WWE wrestler-turned-politician, posted on X. “She would do an equally outstanding job as Governor and would have my full support if that’s what she decides.”
His name had been floated in Republican circles in the state as another potential gubernatorial candidate, but his endorsement of Blackburn signals that he wouldn&#8217;t enter the race should Blackburn declare.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Great to see <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteMarsha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VoteMarsha</a> at tonight’s TN Chamber event. Senator Blackburn has done an outstanding job as a state senator, U.S. congresswoman, and U.S. Senator. She would do an equally outstanding job as Governor and would have my full support if that’s what she decides. <a href="https://t.co/II52SK5D6i">pic.twitter.com/II52SK5D6i</a>
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GlennJacobsTN/status/1879323364281753767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Blackburn, previously a state legislator and congresswoman, was first elected to the Senate in 2018, defeating former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen 54.7%-43.9%. In 2024, she built on her margin of victory, handily defeating Democratic challenger Gloria Johnson 63.8%-34.2%. 
“This victory tonight really does belong to the people of Tennessee because they’re the ones we’ve listened to, they’re the ones that have shown up at meetings all across this state in each of our 95 counties, and the people of Tennessee have spoken,” Blackburn said on Election Day after her sweeping win. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
Blackburn said she had been given a &#8220;to-do&#8221; list by the people of Tennessee.
“Here’s your to-do list that we’ve heard from you: Bring back a strong economy and get rid of this inflation. And make the Trump tax cuts permanent,” Blackburn said. “Secure that southern border and absolutely build the wall.” 
During her time in the Senate, Blackburn has backed measures to crack down on illegal immigration, oppose transgender ideology, keep men out of women&#8217;s sports, and push for tech companies to ensure more safety online for kids. 
Blackburn has also won public support from prominent Tennessee conservatives, including Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing and commentator Clay Travis.
&#8220;I am an enormous fan of my governor Bill Lee. I am also an enormous fan of my senator Marsha Blackburn,&#8221; Boreing wrote on X. &#8220;That likely means I am an enormous fan of my next governor as well.&#8221;
&#8220;She’s been a fabulous senator and Marsha Blackburn will make a great Tennessee governor too,&#8221; said Travis. &#8220;She’s got my vote next year.&#8221;
Other potential Republican candidates for governor might include Reps. John Rose and Mark Green, State House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

Senate Republicans Hold Capitol Hill Press Conference On Border Security

Marsha Blackburn Considering Run For Tennessee Governor

Bill Lee

Elections

U.S. Politics

FEMA Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-we-learned-from-fema-chiefs-day-of-congressional-grilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deanne Criswell</a> confirmed that there were multiple ongoing federal investigations into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instructions</a> from a relief worker to skip homes with Trump signs, according to a letter to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) first shared with The Daily Wire. 
Criswell <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Senator-Blackburn-Response.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> to Blackburn on Tuesday confirming that Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari and the U.S. Office of Special Council were actively investigating FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington’s written and verbal commands for workers in Lake Placid, Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The guidance led to workers skipping at least 20 homes in the small community.
Criswell referred to the instructions as “unacceptable” and a “clear violation” of FEMA’s values. 
“This employee’s conduct was reprehensible, and this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA,” she wrote. “The work we do at FEMA is not, has never been, and should never be partisan — emergencies and disasters don’t respect geographic or political boundaries.”
The letter came after Blackburn <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-blackburn-says-fema-trump-guidance-confirms-worst-fears-about-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urged FEMA</a> last month to comply with any investigation into potential discrimination over hurricane relief. 
Criswell said that the FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the U.S. Office of Special Council, and Cuffari were currently investigating aspects of the incident. 
According to Criswell, OPR began an internal investigation the same day it learned of a complaint about the instructions and referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. This investigation was stopped on November 15 at the request of the Inspector General, who later said it could continue on December 3. 
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A whistleblower complaint was first filed on October 26, yet Washington faced no disciplinary action until November 8, the day The Daily Wire first reported on the anti-Trump guidance. 
“On November 19 I personally requested Inspector General Cuffari ‘to conduct an independent inquiry to include all Helene and Milton disasters,’” Criswell told Blackburn. That was the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whos-lying-top-republican-not-satisfied-with-fema-answers-on-trump-home-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">same day</a> that she testified before congressional lawmakers and was pressed about the status of an Inspector General investigation. 
Criswell told Blackburn that the Inspector General would be “reviewing some aspect of this matter’ through its Office of Audit and noted that the Office of Special Council investigation was ongoing. 
The FEMA chief also promised to cooperate with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-to-investigate-fema-after-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee’s investigation</a> into &#8220;potential discrimination against Tennesseans,&#8221; as Blackburn requested. 
Other whistleblowers have since come forward to Republican lawmakers alleging similar discrimination by FEMA workers against Trump supporters in Georgia and North Carolina.

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Discrimination

Having a trans-identifying male player on the San José State University women’s volleyball team was a very difficult experience, says the coach who was allegedly punished for speaking out about it.
Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended indefinitely as the Spartans’ associate head <a href="https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster#coaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster%23coaches&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734202525036000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-PJLQPaqeycATYo0prkt2">coach</a> last month, just days after filing a Title IX complaint accusing San José State of showing favoritism to trans-identifying player Blaire Fleming over his female teammates on the volleyball team.
Batie-Smoose, a 33-year veteran of coaching collegiate sports, said that when she was hired at San Jose State, she was not aware there was a trans-identifying male on the team.
&#8220;I moved my whole family across the country&#8221; from Connecticut, she <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySijV0_wRoE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DySijV0_wRoE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734202525036000&amp;usg=AOvVaw02JYa9sEZy9q34oTgSjJao">told</a> Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on the Tuesday episode of her podcast, &#8220;Unmuted with Marsha.&#8221;
&#8220;And then once we were informed we were silenced and threatened to not say anything,&#8221; she said.
Batie-Smoose is currently suing over the male player along with team co-captain Brooke Slusser and a number of other female players. The plaintiffs, which include athletes from several schools, say their Title IX rights are being violated.
&#8220;That&#8217;s the fight we&#8217;re fighting, and it has to get changed at the highest levels in the Supreme Court, and also so that the NCAA is forced to make those laws and those changes,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;What is the morale of the players on the San Jose volleyball team?&#8221; Blackburn asked.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been very difficult. It&#8217;s very stressful,&#8221; Batie-Smoose responded.
&#8220;A lot of people, and myself included, to even come to work and come to practice, you had to make yourself like, numb because of all the things that were going on,&#8221; she said. &#8220;If you were gonna, just like, make it through that day in an area that you weren&#8217;t being supported, you weren&#8217;t being protected.&#8221;
&#8220;The support was only for one, the biological male, and was not supporting the women, and we were being silenced,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
Safety is a major concern for critics of biological males in women&#8217;s sports.
&#8220;In men&#8217;s volleyball, the net is higher, and men jump higher, they&#8217;re more physical, they&#8217;re faster, they&#8217;re stronger, and that&#8217;s just facts,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
&#8220;That was the concern for the team and the teams that forfeited against us,&#8221; she said, adding that it was also a concern for the teams that did end up playing San Jose State.
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&#8220;There was a lot of teams that behind the scenes were saying they didn&#8217;t want to play us, but then they played us,&#8221; she said.
Several teams <a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-mountain-west-lawsuit-c0ce96934981cade88d91dc1dcc60f66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forfeited</a> a total of six games to San Jose State.
Batie-Smoose said that given the consequences she has faced personally, she understands why most coaches do not speak out.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s very hard seeing what I&#8217;ve gone through for coaches to give up their careers and speak out, even though they 100% agree with what I&#8217;m doing,&#8221; the women&#8217;s coach said.
&#8220;But I&#8217;ve had an outcry of like support behind the scenes and all over the world [from] coaches, non-coaches,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
&#8220;This is an issue that we have heard so much about in Tennessee,&#8221; Blackburn said, &#8220;from people that are concerned because they want young women to have the ability to learn how to be a part of the team and play and excel and get scholarships and increase their education, and they&#8217;re very concerned that there will be a loss of that opportunity for girls and women in sports.&#8221;
Female athletes in high school, college, and professional divisions have spoken out more and more against women playing with and competing against men, citing safety concerns as well as fairness in competition.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of Americans now say trans-identifying male athletes should “never” or only “in rare cases” be allowed to compete on girls’ sports teams, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/06/07/us-news/66-of-us-adults-oppose-transgender-girls-competing-on-female-sports-teams-survey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a Los Angeles Times survey from earlier this year.

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Suspended Women's Volleyball Coach Says She Was 'Silenced And Threatened' Over Trans Player

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Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marsha-blackburn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marsha Blackburn</a> (R-TN) urged FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Monday to fire any federal employee who had knowledge of guidance directing them to skip the homes of Trump supporters in Florida, according to a letter first shared with The Daily Wire. 
Blackburn wrote to Criswell on Monday, urging her to comply with the investigations that have been launched into the agency after The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington ordered relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” Whistleblowers said that at least 20 homes were skipped due to the guidance because they had a Trump flag or yard sign. 
“I write to express my disgust with the blatant display of bias described in recent reporting by the Daily Wire — confirmed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—indicating that a FEMA supervisor ordered relief workers to avoid approaching the homes of Trump supporters during Hurricane Milton relief efforts in Florida,” Blackburn <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/Letter-to-FEMA-re-Bias_FINAL1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “The American people are already highly mistrustful of the federal government, and these actions only confirm their worst fears.”
Criswell announced on November 9 that Washington had been fired, saying that she believed the guidance to be an “isolated” situation. Since then, Washington has come forward and said that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding homes due to “political hostility.” 
“This revelation is appalling and is a direct contradiction of FEMA’s core values and mission. FEMA’s most valuable asset is its reputation — which these recent examples of bias have critically harmed,” Blackburn wrote. “This also raises questions about potential discrimination in other parts of the country affected by recent hurricanes, including Tennessee.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced last week that they would be investigating if anyone in the Volunteer State, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, had been discriminated against by FEMA. Blackburn said she fully backed the state&#8217;s investigation and asked Criswell to comply. 
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Blackburn said that any employee &#8220;who had knowledge of or has participated in&#8221; Washington’s guidance, or any other similar instructions, should be fired. 
There are still questions about when federal officials learned about the guidance. A whistleblower complaint was first filed with the Department of Homeland Security on October 27 yet no disciplinary action appears to have been taken until November 8 when The Daily Wire published its report on the guidance.

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Hurricane Helene

Today should be “American Girls in Sports Day,” a commemorative time to celebrate all of women’s contributions to athletics.
In many ways, October 10 is the perfect date for this occasion: As the 10th day of the 10th month of the year, it represents the Roman numerals XX — the same numerals as the female sex chromosome. Earlier this year, I introduced a resolution to establish this holiday, garnering support from female athletes, prominent women’s organizations, and <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/669/cosponsors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">38 of my Senate Republican</a> colleagues.
In a divided government, however, you need support from both sides of the aisle to accomplish almost anything. And for today’s Democratic Party, recognizing women’s accomplishments is unacceptable. For them, my resolution runs afoul of their far-Left agenda to blur the line between the sexes — and ultimately erase women from public life.
In fact, when I <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-170/issue-144/senate-section/article/S6075-2?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22American+Girls+in+Sports+Day%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=1&amp;r=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for the resolution’s passage last month on the Senate floor, a Democratic colleague spoke out against it, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-170/issue-144/senate-section/article/S6075-2?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22American+Girls+in+Sports+Day%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=1&amp;r=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling</a> the legislation “shameful” and “designed to build a culture of fear and mistrust.”
In reality, American Girls in Sports Day should draw the support of every single Tennessean and American and unite our country around women&#8217;s incredible athletic accomplishments since the passage of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that opened the door for so many women and young girls to participate in sports.
Don’t take my word for it: I encourage everyone to <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/669/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read the text</a> of the resolution. If you do, you might be wondering how anyone could oppose American Girls in Sports Day. But while Democrats’ opposition to the commemorative holiday is disturbing, it is far from surprising.
For years, the Biden-Harris administration has worked to eliminate women&#8217;s-only spaces, facilities, and sports by attacking Title IX protections.
Since its passage in 1972, Title IX has led to an explosion in women’s participation in athletics — with the number of high school female athletes <a href="https://answers.childrenshospital.org/female-athletes-qol/#:~:text=Before%20its%20passage%20in%201972,girls%20and%20college%2Dage%20women." target="_blank" rel="noopener">increasing</a> more than tenfold to more than 3 million — by guaranteeing equal resources for facilities, training, recruitment, and scholarships for female athletic programs. In the name of its radical agenda, however, the administration has tried to roll back this progress.
On the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2022, for example, President Biden announced his administration would <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/23/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-the-50th-anniversary-of-title-ix/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reinterpret</a> the law to allow biological males to play on female teams. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-dismantles-trump-era-title-ix-rules-sidesteps-issue-trans-athletes-girls-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued another</a> Title IX revision that allows males to access women’s locker rooms, bathrooms, and other private facilities.
As a result, more and more girls and women <a href="https://www.shewon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are losing out</a> on scholarships, records, and medals to males who have inherent biological advantages that undermine fair competition.
On the Senate floor, my Democratic colleague dismissed this erasure of women’s accomplishments, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-170/issue-144/senate-section/article/S6075-2?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22American+Girls+in+Sports+Day%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=1&amp;r=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming</a> that female athletes are more likely to be “killed by a falling object in this country” than face a biological male in competition. Apparently, that’s supposed to comfort the many women and girls across our country who have endured the humiliation, demoralization, and unfairness of losing to male competitors.
These young women deserve so much better. Thankfully, many are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-didnt-you-protect-us-riley-gaines-demands-accountability-from-georgia-tech-president" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking out</a> to defend their hard-earned places and accomplishments in sports. Although today isn’t officially American Girls in Sports Day, we should all take a moment to reflect on all they have accomplished. In the meantime, I will continue to fight to ensure that our nation’s female athletes have the recognition, honors, and opportunities that they have worked so hard for — and deserve.
* * *
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn represents the state of Tennessee and serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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The fate of a controversial judicial nominee who has faced stern GOP opposition may come down to attendance, leading to pressure on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Republicans to &#8220;show up&#8221; after several of them did not vote during a key juncture last week.
Conservative activists sounded off as U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz of Tennessee, whom President Joe Biden picked to become a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, could pass his final confirmation test <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/2024/09/12/schedule-for-monday-september-16-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as early as Monday</a>.
Warning of Democrats pushing &#8220;radical and unqualified judicial nominees,&#8221; Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino told The Daily Wire, &#8220;With a tightly divided chamber, Senate Republicans not showing up for key judicial votes is an own goal.&#8221;
May Mailman, director of the Independent Women’s Law Center, said, &#8220;Wake up Senate Republicans. Here we have an attorney accused of unethically pursuing criminal charges, using his government post to pick and choose winners.&#8221;
She also told The Daily Wire, &#8220;That’s exactly the weaponized DOJ our nation cannot survive. Nothing could be more concerning for a lifetime judicial appointment. Show up for this, because American citizens deserve a fair judiciary.&#8221;
Republican lawmakers have raised <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Tj566sjYE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concerns</a> about claims that Ritz has acted unethically as a prosecutor, including allegations that he misrepresented the terms of a plea deal and went too soft on defendants accused of gun crimes.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) charged the White House did not <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Tj566sjYE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;properly&#8221;</a> consult herself and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) about Ritz, given they are his home-state senators and would traditionally have <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/02/politics/senate-judicial-nominations-blue-slips-durbin/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;blue slip&#8221; authority</a> to block him.
During his confirmation hearing, Ritz said he had a &#8220;clean ethical record,&#8221; <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/biden-sixth-circuit-pick-pressured-by-republicans-over-ethics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Bloomberg</a>. Democrats shrugged off the criticism and said Republicans set a precedent of <a href="https://demandjustice.org/the-path-forward-for-president-bidens-judicial-nominees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ditching</a> home-state deference under the Trump administration.
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The Senate is <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">narrowly controlled</a> by the Democrats thanks to the independent members who caucus with them. Overall, there are 49 Republicans, 47 Democrats, and four independents with an election coming up that could shift the balance.
By an 11-10 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-panel-advances-tennessee-prosecutors-nomination-6th-circuit-2024-05-09/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a> along party lines, the Judiciary Committee advanced Ritz&#8217;s nomination in May, and last week the Senate voted 49-42 to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00239.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invoke cloture</a> in a move that paved the way to a final vote expected to happen late Monday afternoon.
Nine senators, <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00239.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including eight Republicans</a>, did not vote on cloture for Ritz. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) joined with the Republicans who did show up in opposing it. All voting Democrats and the other independents voted to move forward.
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/my-own-little-filibuster-joe-manchin-vows-to-block-any-judicial-nominee-without-gop-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed</a> earlier this year — when he was still registered as a Democrat — that he would reject any judicial nominee who did not get GOP support, but he ended up voting last week to advance Ritz&#8217;s nomination anyway.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/13/manchin-schumer-judicial-confirmations-biden-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a Manchin spokesperson said the senator &#8220;was not prepared to play&#8221; along with the opposition to Ritz, claiming it was &#8220;largely based on political reasons as to how the WH handled the process, and not on his qualifications.&#8221;
The outlet said Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/10/schumer-judges-confirmation-biden-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a &#8220;blitz&#8221;</a> of votes on judicial picks in the final weeks of Biden&#8217;s administration to beat the 234 mark achieved under former President Donald Trump. Biden <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3152480/schumer-durbin-good-fortune-beat-trump-record-judges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly has 209</a>.
Severino lamented how Manchin sided with Democrats in the Ritz cloture vote, telling The Daily Wire, &#8220;It’s disappointing to see Senator Joe Manchin kowtowing to Senator Schumer. So much for his purported moderation and independence.&#8221;

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