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.

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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on July 18, 2017 in Washington, DC. Where Things Stand: ‘Somebody With A Pulse’ Prime Badge
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has not publicly disclosed whether she intends to run for reelection after a decade-plus in the Senate.

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Where Things Stand: Trump-Appointed Judge Allows Rep Boebert To Block Twitter Critic Prime Badge

The Colorado gun congresswoman is now allowed to block critics on Twitter.

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WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - 2019/10/08: Participant holding a sign outsithe the Supreme Court. 133 protesters were arrested blocking the street across the Supreme Court in an act of non violent civil disobedience, as hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates convened in Washington, DC for a national day of action as a community response to the landmark Supreme Court hearings that could legalize workplace discrimination, primarily against LGBTQ+ people, on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender presentation. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images) Where Things Stand: SCOTUS Quietly Punts On Trans Rights Case Prime Badge
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As anti-trans rights laws pop up in GOP-led state legislatures across the country, fueling one of Republicans’ top culture wars in the Biden era, the majority conservative Supreme Court decided to not take up a key transgender rights case today, a surprising victory for LGBTQ rights.

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Where Things Stand: A Lot Of Aggression For A Bunker Boy Prime Badge
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The former president hid in his bunker when country-wide protests flared up in Washington, D.C. over the police killing of George Floyd last summer.

He was mocked with a variety of entertaining “bunker boy” related nicknames (not hard to get creative with that alliteration) and ultimately decided to show his strength by violently clearing out Lafayette Square and taking a picture in front of a historic church flinging around a Bible.

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