News Editor’s Roundup: Trump Hits ‘RINO’ Critics in CPAC Speech; Pelosi Calls Cuomo Harassment Allegations ‘Credible’

Former president Trump disavowed speculation that he would start a third party on Sunday, in his first public speech since leaving office at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla. Trump also spent much of the speech slamming the Biden administration's immigration policies and calling out the so-called "Republicans in name only" — those who supported his impeachment and criticized his fomenting of the Capitol Hill riot.

BY JACK CROWE March 01, 2021 Good morning and welcome to the News Editor's Roundup, a weekly newsletter that will ensure you're up to date on the developments in politics, business, and culture that will shape the week's news cycle — as well as those that might escape mainstream attention.    Trump Hits 'RINO' Critics, Hints at Possible 2024 Bid in CPAC Speech Former president Trump disavowed speculation that he would start a third party on Sunday, in his first public speech since leaving office at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla.   Trump also spent much of the speech slamming the Biden administration's immigration policies and calling out the so-called "Republicans in name only" — those who supported his impeachment and criticized his fomenting of the Capitol Hill riot.   "We need Republican leaders with spines of steel, we need strong leadership," Trump said. "We cannot have leaders who show more passion condemning their fellow Americans than they have ever shown for standing up to democrats, the media, and the radicals who want to turn America into a socialist country."   Trump then listed all seven senators who voted to convict him, saying "the Democrats don't have grandstanders like Mitt Romney, little Ben Sasse, Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, [and] Pat Toomey."   Cuomo Apologizes for 'Insensitive' Remarks as Pelosi Calls Harassment Allegations 'Credible' New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Sunday responded to recent allegations of sexual harassment by former aides by saying that he was "being playful" at work, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and other prominent Democrats called for an investigation into the claims.   Two former aides, Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett, came forward over the past week to allege sexual harassment by Cuomo. Boylan wrote on Medium that in one incident the governor kissed her on the lips without consent, which Cuomo has denied, while Bennett described interactions in which Cuomo asked intrusive questions regarding her sex life, including whether she was open to sleeping with older men.   "The women who have come forward with serious and credible charges against Governor Cuomo deserve to be heard and to be treated with dignity," Pelosi said. New York senators Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, and Kirsten Gillibrand both called for an independent investigation into Cuomo's behavior.   House Narrowly Passes Massive COVID-Response Bill, Including $15 Minimum Wage The House narrowly approved Democrats' $1.9 trillion coronavirus-relief bill early Saturday morning, in a tight 219-212 vote that mostly fell along party lines.   The bill contains $1,400 direct payments for most Americans, $170 billion to colleges and K-12 schools to cover reopening costs, and $70 billion for coronavirus testing and vaccination programs. Additionally, the relief package allocates $350 billion in funding for state, local, and tribal governments.   Biden: Illegal Immigrants Should Be Able to Get Vaccine without Fear of ICE President Biden said Friday that illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without fear of being targeted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).   "I want to make sure they are able to get vaccinated and so they're protected from COVID without the ICE or anyone interfering," Biden said in an interview with Univision during a visit to a vaccination site in Texas. "They should . . . not be arrested for showing for being able to get a vaccination."   The Department of Homeland Security announced earlier this month that ICE would not conduct enforcement activities at or near vaccination sites.   "It is a moral and public health imperative to ensure that all individuals residing in the United States have access to the vaccine," the agency said in a statement then. "DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who needs a vaccine can get one, regardless of their immigration status."   Cuomo Changes Course on Plan to Investigate Sexual-Harassment Claims New York governor Andrew Cuomo has revised his plan to investigate claims of sexual harassment against him by two former aides.   Cuomo initially called for former New York judge Barbara S. Jones to head an independent investigation into the allegations. However, Jones has worked with Cuomo adviser Steven Cohen since leaving the judiciary, leading to accusations that the probe would not be free of political influence.   New York attorney general Letitia James wrote on Twitter on Sunday that she was "ready to oversee [the] investigation and make any appointments necessary." However, "this can only be accomplished through an official referral from the governor's office and must include subpoena power."   The Cuomo administration then called for the attorney general and New York Court of Appeals chief judge Janet DiFiore to jointly appoint an "independent" investigator for the allegations. While James is elected as attorney general, Judge DiFiore was appointed by Cuomo.   Ted Cruz Responds to Reports John Boehner Told Him to 'Go F— Yourself' Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) shot back at former House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) on Friday after Boehner reportedly told the Texas Republican to "go f— yourself" while recording an audiobook of his forthcoming memoir.    "You know yesterday, John Boehner made some news. He suggested that I do something that was anatomically impossible," Cruz said during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. "To which my response was, 'Who's John Boehner?'"   Cruz's comments follow an Axios report on Thursday that Boehner went off-script while recording the audiobook of his memoir On The House: A Washington Memoir.   Senator Bill Cassidy Predicts Trump Will Not Be 2024 Nominee Senator Bill Cassidy (R., La.) predicted that former President Trump will not be the Republican party's presidential nominee in the 2024 elections, in a Sunday interview on CNN.   "I don't mean to duck, but the truth is you could ask me [about] a lot of people, if they are fit. Point is, I don't think he'll be our nominee," Cassidy told CNN. Republicans will need to reach out to Trump-skeptic voters in order to win elections, the senator added.   Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted in favor of impeaching Trump for incitement of insurrection, weeks after a mob of the president's supporters breached the Capitol and forced lawmakers to evacuate the building. The senator's comments came hours before Trump was scheduled to deliver his first public speech since leaving office, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. ADVERTISEMENT     CNBC: CDC director signs off on J&J's single-shot Covid vaccine, clearing way for distribution to begin WSJ: Iran Rejects Offer of Direct U.S. Nuclear Talks, Ratcheting Up Tension With West WaPo: Biden hails Amazon workers pressing to unionize in Alabama in unusual sign of support WSJ: San Francisco Parents Work to Recall School Board Members Amid Reopening Controversy Have a tip? Send it to the National Review News Team.   19 West 44th Street, Ste. 1701, New York, NY, 10036 Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.