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: An Obvious Rejection Prime Badge
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision this morning to boot the two Jims from her January 6 select committee was quite the power play.

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at FOX Studios on August 31, 2015 in New York City. Where Things Stand: Back To The Regularly Scheduled Programming Prime Badge
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It started with “Fox and Friends” host Steve Doocy on Monday morning, urging viewers to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it will “save your life” — all while his co-host Brian Kilmeade hedged that “we’re not doctors” and said the network anchors aren’t going to “go there and give you other medical advice.” (FWIW, Doocy has been a encouraging viewers to get the shot for some time now, unlike some of his co-hosts.)

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Where Things Stand: TX Dems’ Flight To DC Is Also Stalling GOP’s Anti-Critical Race Theory Bill Prime Badge
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Texas House Democrats venture to D.C. is not only keeping the state from passing restrictive voting laws during the state’s special session. It’s also at least temporarily blocking the state legislature from passing a new law that would further discourage teachers from discussing race and systemic racism in Texas classrooms.

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on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. Where Things Stand: McCarthy Kisses The Ring Ahead Of Jan 6 Committee’s First Hearing Prime Badge

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) met with the former president in New Jersey yesterday to discuss the midterms — the second such meeting the two have held since McCarthy announced from the House floor that Trump deserved at least some blame for the insurrection.

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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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