2 months ago
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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Robby Starbuck is set to join the Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow, where he will spearhead an initiative aimed at persuading corporations to abandon leftist ideology and focus on merit-based policies.
👥 Who’s Involved: Conservative activist Robby Starbuck; Heritage Foundation; Andrew Olivastro, Heritage Foundation’s chief advancement officer; John Backiel, Heritage vice president of finance and accounting.
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📍 Where & When: Heritage Foundation, effective immediately.
💬 Key Quote: “These harmful initiatives have no place in our businesses or institutions, and I’m committed to advancing policies that prioritize merit, free enterprise, and individual freedom over divisive ideologies,” Starbuck stated.
⚠️ Impact: The effort seeks to reshape corporate America, encouraging companies to abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, emphasizing merit and free enterprise.
IN FULL:
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has joined the Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow, tasked with leading a new initiative focused on shifting corporations away from progressive ideologies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and towards prioritizing merit. Starbuck has previously influenced companies such as Deere, Harley-Davidson, and Stanley Black and Decker to reevaluate and reduce DEI practices, and aims to continue this campaign on a larger scale through his work at Heritage.
“This is about reversing the spread of divisive policies that have taken hold in American businesses and institutions,” Starbuck explained. He emphasized the importance of promoting policies that highlight merit, uphold free enterprise, and respect individual freedoms.
According to Andrew Olivastro, the chief advancement officer at the Heritage Foundation, Starbuck’s role is pivotal in redefining corporate America’s agenda. He applauded Starbuck for helping citizens reclaim their authority as stakeholders, customers, and workers. “Robby is a pioneer, and his leadership will be instrumental in setting a new course for business communities,” Olivastro remarked.
John Backiel, Heritage’s vice president of finance and accounting, also endorsed this initiative. He highlighted the potential for capital investment to drive positive change and combat what he described as the “corporate progressive indoctrination” of the workforce.
President Donald J. Trump’s election in November has empowered conservatives seeking to push back against corporate leadership imposing woke ideology, with a ban on federal funding for and contracts with organizations pushing DEI being one of the first initiatives of his second term.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Special elections are being held in two Florida congressional districts that were previously considered safe for Republicans, with increased attention after President Donald J. Trump removed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) from consideration for U.N. ambassador over concerns the House Republican majority could be in jeopardy.
👥 Who’s Involved: Democratic candidate Josh Weil, Republican state Sen. Randy Fine, Republican Jimmy Patronis, Democrat Gay Valimont, former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), President Trump, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
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📍 Where & When: Special elections in Florida’s 6th and 1st Congressional Districts, with voting on Tuesday, April 1.
💬 Key Quote: President Trump stated, “We don’t want to take any chances… It’s basic politics.”
⚠️ Impact: These contests are drawing significant attention due to unexpected competitiveness and are seen as a litmus test for GOP strength, potentially affecting legislative support for Trump’s agenda.
IN FULL:
Two critical special elections in Florida are underway as voters head to the polls on Tuesday. The two high-profile races for the House of Representatives could significantly impact the Republican majority in Congress and whether the party continues to control the lower legislative chamber in the coming months.
Last week, President Donald J. Trump moved to withdraw Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) nomination for U.N Ambassador as a Republican loss in either of the Florida races today could reduce the GOP majority to just a three-seat margin. Republicans currently hold a five-seat edge over the Democrats. However, there are four vacant House seats, with two of the vacancies being in deep blue Democrat districts.
The move to withdraw Stefanik’s appointment signals Trump’s intent to prevent further weakening of the House majority. Trump commented, “We don’t want to take any chances… It’s basic politics.”
In the 6th District, which spans Florida’s Eastern Coast, Democrat Josh Weil is facing off against Republican state Sen. Randy Fine. The district was previously held by Mike Waltz, who vacated his seat for a role as Trump’s national security advisor. Notably, Weil, a teacher, has gathered over $9 million in campaign funds by mid-March, significantly overshadowing Fine’s less than $1 million, as per Federal Election Commission data. Retaining this seat is considered absolutely crucial to the GOP majority’s continued control of the House.
Meanwhile, the 1st District in the Panhandle pits Republican Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer, against Democrat Gay Valimont, an ardent gun control advocate. This race replaces former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who resigned following House Ethics Committee allegations hindering his nomination for attorney general. Valimont’s campaign raised nearly $6.5 million compared to Patronis’ $2.1 million by mid-March.
These elections, alongside a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, are the first since Trump resumed office, offering insights into the GOP’s standing. Additionally, Wisconsin Democrats hope that control of the state’s Supreme Court can clear the way for mid-decade redistricting, with Republicans likely to lose a Congressional seat in the state under a new district map.
Despite enthusiasm among Democratic Party activists, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has stopped short of guaranteeing any pickups for his party this evening. “What I can say, almost guarantee, is that the Democratic candidate in both of these Florida special elections will significantly over-perform, which will represent another sign that the Republicans are on the run and that Democrats are going to take back control of the House of Representatives next year,” Jeffries said on Tuesday.
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