Nicole Lafond

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Nicole Lafond is TPM’s deputy editor, based in New York. She has also worked as the special projects editor and as a senior newswriter for TPM. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and previously covered education in central Illinois.

Where Things Stand: Pence Knew He’d Be Whisked Away On Jan 6 Prime Badge
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Then-Vice President Mike Pence refused to get in a car to leave the Capitol building after being evacuated from his ceremonial office on Jan. 6, primarily because he knew it would prevent him from doing his job — certifying President Biden’s electoral college victory.

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Where Things Stand: Taxpayers Are Not Funding TX Dems’ Walkout Prime Badge
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Despite what Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claimed on Monday, the Texas Democrats walkout trip to Washington, D.C. is not a “taxpayer-paid junket.”

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Where Things Stand: It Was Always Going To Be A Lie Prime Badge
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“Just say we won.”

While former President Trump was pushing lies about voter fraud for months leading up to the 2020 election, new reporting on what occurred on election night at the White House is a reminder of the extent to which Trump’s democracy dismantling was rooted in absolutely nothing. That night, Rudy Giuliani was leading the lie-flinging charge.

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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 4: Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., is seen during a group photo with freshmen members of the House Republican Conference on the House steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 4, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Where Things Stand: GOP Fretting About ‘Discrimination’ Against Unvaxxed Reaches New Level Prime Badge
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The Conservative Political Action Conference over the weekend provided lots of concerning examples of just how dystopian Republican fearmongering around the COVID-19 vaccine has become.

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talks to reporters following the Senate Democrats weekly policy luncheon on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. Democratic leadership criticized President Trumps response to the spread of the coronavirus and pushed for relief for individuals that may have to miss work from being quarantined. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chuck Schumer Where Things Stand: Schumer Warns Colleagues To Prepare For Late Nights Prime Badge
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned his colleagues on Friday that their beloved August recess may be in flux if they are unable to tackle his ambitious agenda in time.

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UNITED STATES - JUNE 21: Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., left, and Anthony Brown, D-Md., prepare for television interviews in the Capitol on Friday, June 21, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Where Things Stand: ‘Vast Majority’ Of GOP Believes Trump Incited The Insurrection Prime Badge
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They just don’t want to admit it.

It’s not as if you couldn’t speculate — we now know House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) blamed Trump for the insurrection the night it happened, only to crawl back to Trump’s side for the midterms. Several other prominent Republican leaders have taken similar about-face paths since January.

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Where Things Stand: National Teachers Unions Vow To Defend Educators Punished Over Critical Race Theory Prime Badge
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While the conservative fever swamps’ fear mongering over critical race theory intensifies to new, unhinged heights, the nation’s largest teachers unions are vowing to stand behind educators if they are punished due to new state laws that try to limit or outright ban critical discussions on race, discrimination and the role it plays in American history.

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Where Things Stand: Biden To Address Lag In US Vaccination Goals Prime Badge
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Following the July 4th holiday weekend, President Biden has one item on his public agenda today: a speech addressing COVID-19 vaccination progress in the U.S.

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: Rudy Giuliani accuses people of voting twice as he speaks to the press about various lawsuits related to the 2020 election,  inside the Republican National Committee headquarters on November 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump, who has not been seen publicly in several days, continues to push baseless claims about election fraud and dispute the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Where Things Stand: Dominion Hits Rudy On All Sides Prime Badge
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Dominion Voting Systems is already suing Rudy Giuliani personally for defamation. It’s now pulling the former mayor and currently suspended lawyer into its suit against Fox News.

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Where Things Stand: DeSantis Begs Trumpworld To Cancel FL Rally Prime Badge
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is threading a weird needle.

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