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.

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 26: Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., listens to Gina Raimondo, nominee for Secretary of Commerce, testify remotely during her Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing in Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/POOL) Where Things Stand: The Great GOP COVID Relief Credit Theft Continues Prime Badge
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The small club of Republicans shamelessly touting COVID-19 relief they voted against in March has grown steadily every week since. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), preemptively annoyed that this would happen since before the American Rescue Plan even passed, has been diligently blasting out press releases calling out the GOP lawmakers for their hypocrisy. She’s been kept busy. 

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UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 19: Jenna Ellis, right, and Sydney Powell, attorneys for President Donald Trump, conduct a news conference at the Republican National Committee on lawsuits regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani also attended. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Where Things Stand: The Gang’s All Here Prime Badge
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Some of Trump’s closest “Big Lie” allies along with one of his former lawyers are launching a new advocacy group to try to further cement former President Trump’s false claims about a stolen election into reality.

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Where Things Stand: McCarthy’s Back On The Couch Prime Badge
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Just in case the House minority leader’s sleeping arrangements were keeping you up at night — he told “Fox and Friends” this morning that he will soon be back to sleeping on the couch in his office on the Hill where he, apparently, belongs.

Nature is healing, etc.

But why are Kevin McCarthy’s sleeping arrangements a topic of discussion? Read More 

Where Things Stand: Flynn Has Been Busy Post-Pardon Prime Badge
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In the waning days of his presidency, former President Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, ending a years-long, messy legal battle in which Flynn pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI only to reverse course, hire Sidney Powell as his lawyer, and seek to reverse his plea.

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Where Things Stand: We’ve Been Covering The Duggars For A While Prime Badge
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The oldest son of the Duggar family clan, Josh Duggar was indicted by a federal grand jury in Arkansas for allegedly receiving and possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment after being arrested last night by U.S. Marshals in Arkansas.

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As Pence Wades Back Into Evangelical Politics, The Big Lie Hangs Over Everything Prime Badge
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announces the Trump Administration's plan to create the U.S. Space Force by 2020 during a speech at the Pentagon August 9, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. Describing space as advasarial and crowded and citing threats from China and Russia, Pence said the new Space Force would be a separate, sixth branch of the military. Where Things Stand: A Very Public Testing Of The Waters Prime Badge
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The former Veep is speaking at a carefully chosen podium this evening.

He’s giving his first speech post-Trump administration tonight, in a less-than-coincidental state (South Carolina) to a less-than-coincidental audience (the conservative Christian Palmetto Family Council).

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BURLINGTON, IA - AUGUST 07: Former Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks about White Nationalism during a campaign press conference on August 7, 2019 in Burlington, Iowa. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images) Where Things Stand: What To Expect Tonight Prime Badge
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The President is scheduled to deliver his first joint congressional speech tonight, which will largely serve as a platform to unveil the details of his latest legislative proposal.

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speaks onstage at IGNITION: Future of Media at Time Warner Center on November 29, 2017 in New York City. Where Things Stand: Might Be Time To Return Carlson’s Befuddled Stare Prime Badge
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If you’ve watched even short clips of the Fox News host’s nightly show, you know the look.

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Where Things Stand: ‘Speaker In Waiting’ Prime Badge
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That’s how House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) colleagues are describing him these days, as he fields the whims of a mercurial former president who he’s determined he needs in order to keep his political ambitions alive.

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