Byron Donalds defends Trump’s remarks on Black voters: ‘This is something similar’

BY NICK ROBERTSON

Greg Nash

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) defended former President Trump on Sunday against allegations of racism after Trump said Black voters are more likely to back him because of his criminal indictments.

Donalds told Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the point is only “part” of what the former president was saying.

“This is political persecution from the Department of Justice and from radical DAs throughout our country,” he said of the former president’s four criminal indictments, despite their not being evidence Trump is being targeted for purely political reasons. “This is something similar that Black people have to deal with the justice system themselves.”

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Newsom calls Trump ‘weakness masquerading as strength’

BY LAUREN SFORZA 

NBC’s Kristen Welker pressed Newsom in an interview on “Meet the Press” whether Democrats were underestimating Trump as he faces a likely rematch with President Biden next November. He said that Democrats were not underestimating Trump and slammed him for recent comments made at his political rallies last week.

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Former NATO commander says Biden sanctions must ‘target Putin personally’

BY TARA SUTER 

Former NATO commander James Stavridis said any additional sanctions on Russia from President Biden should be aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally.” 

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Biden adviser says Putin ‘major beneficiary’ if Speaker Johnson fails to have Ukraine aid vote

BY LAUREN SFORZA

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin would turn out to be the “major beneficiary” if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) does not bring a bill funding Ukraine to the floor.

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Byron Donalds says he won’t vote for government funding ‘if the border is not secured’

BY LAUREN SFORZA

Donalds pushed back on NBC’s Kristen Welker over questions on whether he was willing to shut down the government over border security. When asked if he was willing to shut down the government, he instead pivoted to claiming President Biden “is willing to shut [it] down over border security” despite Biden never indicating he was willing to have the government shut down when funding runs out.

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Newsom on Haley staying in race despite loss to Trump: ‘I’m applauding every single day’

BY NICK ROBERTSON 

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) came to the defense of Nikki Haley on Sunday, calling on her not to drop out because of her attacks on former President Trump.

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Duckworth: GOP puts rights of an egg ‘over the rights of the woman’ with IVF ruling

BY NICK ROBERTSON

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) denounced the GOP response to an Alabama Supreme Court decision last week restricting in vitro fertilization (IVF), calling Republicans’ reactions disingenuous and part of the party’s efforts to limit women’s reproductive rights.

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Abbott echoes Trump on Alabama IVF ruling: ‘We want to make it easier for people to be able to have babies… not make it harder’

BY LAUREN SFORZA 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) echoed former President Trump on the recent ruling on embryos from the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this month, arguing that they should work to make it easier for people to have children.

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Newsom defends Democrats leaving Biden at top of ticket: ‘I revere his record’

BY LAUREN SFORZA

Newsom said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Biden’s record is why Democrats are keeping him on the top of the ticket when asked if it was “responsible” to put him forward as the Democratic candidate despite some voters’ concerns about his ability to serve a second term.

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Jeffries says Democrats ‘willing to find common ground’ with Johnson

BY TARA SUTER

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) reiterated Sunday that House Democrats are “willing to find common ground” with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on legislation, including ways to keep the government funded past the March 2 deadline.

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Netanyahu: ‘Delusional claims’ from Hamas stopping cease-fire deal, ‘They’re on another planet’

BY NICK ROBERTSON

Netanyahu told CBS’ Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” that Israel and Hamas are still far apart in negotiations for a six-week cease-fire deal that could see about 40 Israeli hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

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