Daily Archives: June 7, 2022

Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world’s most beautiful secret lagoon – Stuff

Posted: June 7, 2022 at 1:30 am

Im floating in the world's most beautiful lagoon. You might think I'm talking about Bora Bora or perhaps the Maldives.

But, no, this one is much closer to home. And much more secret. Its so secluded, no satellite can pick it up. Thats because its hidden inside an island.

Welcome to Fijis Yasawa Islands, and a place known as the Sawa-i-Lau Caves.

Quite a few people make a mistake when holidaying in Fiji by spending their entire break in Port Denarau, on the main island. While it has some glitzy resorts, you need to venture further to explore Fijis real beauty places like the Yasawa Islands.

READ MORE:* Paradise found: The best places to loll in the Pacific* Matangi Private Island, Fiji: The tropical tree house island you need to visit* Golden Bay: Escape the crowds to a hidden slice of the tropics

This stunning archipelago is only reached by ferry or flight from Fiji's mainland, and here life is simple: there are no roads, shopping malls, or supermarkets.

Youll find a series of towering islands wrapped in turquoise waters, and lined with golden sands. And best of all, there is a hotel to suit every budget, from $35 dorms to beachfront villas with private pools.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Sawa-i-Lau Island is home to one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world.

One of the northern islands is called Sawa-i-Lau, which is home to the secret lagoon.

The easiest way to reach it is by staying at a nearby resort, such as Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. It runs several trips a week to the caves, which start with a short boat trip, before arriving at a deserted beach.

Were then led up a stone path to find a small entrance to the cave. As you step inside, youre greeted with almost mythical beauty; a pool of turquoise water sits inside an almighty cavern, with shafts of light streaming in from a crack in the earth high above. It almost looks too beautiful to disturb but your guides then invite you all for a swim.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Sawa-i-Lau Island is in northern Yasawas.

As youd expect with such a dramatic setting, legends swirl around the caves. One of the more popular is that a young chief and his lover fled to the cave, after threats that she was about to be married off to a rival chief.

He would swim into the cave with food until the pair managed to escape the island and find refuge, where they lived happily ever after.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is hard to spot from above.

But that's not all the secrets this lagoon holds. There is a second hidden chamber you can explore but you need to be ready for a serious adventure to get there. It's only accessed by swimming through an underwater tunnel for a few seconds, where you pop up in a pitch-black cave.

It all sounds a little overwhelming, but you'll have guides to help you through, and light up the cave with their torch. (You can also skip this part of the tour, as many do.)

I preferred the first chamber, full of movie-like beauty. If you want to restart international travel with a serious adventure a trip to the worlds most beautiful lagoon should be on your bucket list.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is easily reached from Blue Lagoon Beach Resort.

Getting to Fiji: Fiji Airways has services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Nadi. See: fijiairways.com

Getting to Blue Lagoon Resort: Most guests arrive on the Yasawa Flyer, an interisland ferry service running between Port Denarau and the major resorts. You can also take a seaplane or helicopter to the hotel.

Staying there: Blue Lagoon Beach Resort starts from $204 for lodge rooms, and $366 for villas, with a meal plan additional. See: bluelagoonresortfiji.com

Accessing the caves: Blue Lagoon Resort has regular trips to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, which costs around $65 per adult ($89 FJD) or $35 ($45 FJD) for children.

The author travelled to Fiji before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic courtesy of Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. This story was produced as a part of an editorial partnership with Tourism Fiji. Read more about our partnership content here.

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Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world's most beautiful secret lagoon - Stuff

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The New Dream List: 12 Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Goals – Forbes

Posted: at 1:30 am

Northern lights illuminate the sky over the Lofoten Islands, Norway, in early September

Machu Picchu, the Great Wall and the Taj Mahal used to occupy top spots on many peoples bucket lists. But the bucket lista term Ive always despisedis giving way to a general desire to go big, splurge on an adventure and seek out dream experiences now, because weve all been pent up for too long and because weve all seen how quickly plans can change, how quickly opportunities might disappear.

Also, for various reasons, visiting places that get millions of visitors each year is less appealing than it used to be. We want to have mind-blowing experiences in mind-blowing places, but without the crowds. The pandemic isnt finished, overtourism is back, and we dont want to be part of either. Heres some better dream fodder.

Rorbuer cabins in the Lofoten island, Nordland

Earlier this year, the high-end travel company Blue Parallelwhich began life nearly 20 years ago as the premier experts on South American luxury travelbroadened its horizons. In a very big way: Their new Polar initiatives include the wide-open spaces above or below the 66th parallel. In Norway, that includes immersions into Viking history, private rib boat safaris to Runde Bird Island, hiking and cycling along Geirangerfjord and staying in a fishermans cabin in the gorgeous Lofoten archipelago, above the Arctic Circle.

Horses on the beach in front of the villas at NIHI Sumba

Routinelyand very deservedlynamed the best hotel in the world, NIHI Sumba occupies 500 hectares on a sparsely populated island where local animist traditions have remained largely intact. Its an hour east of Bali and from Java, the most populated island on earth, and its a completely different island, says the hotels partner and CEO, James McBride. While it started out as a surf destination with a legendary break, it has since grown into a totality of experience, with a herd of 24 horses for rides in the sea, a spa safari in which a single couple relaxes all day in a wellness sanctuary, waterfalls, palm trees, organic food thats grown on site and cooked over fires and plenty of spacethe ultimate dream, says McBride.

Blue Parallel Polar lands a helicopter on a glacier in Iceland

Blue Parallel Polar is also taking guests to increasingly remote parts of Icelandfar from the crowded Golden Circle and up onto glaciers (and into the Westman Islands, one of the countrys best kept secrets, and scuba diving (brrrr!) in the Silfra fissure, a rift between the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia, and home to fascinating cold water marine life.

A ScicSailing gulet along Turkey's Turquoise Coast

The word turquoise comes from the old French for Turkish stone, but it just as aptly applies to the waters around the countrys southwest coast. A week aboard a traditional Turkish gulet (sailing ship), eating delicious food, sunbathing, swimming and taking in the beautiful, vivid colors of the water is the stuff of pure fantasy. A good way to make it a reality is to book in with ScicsSailing, a company that has been offering no-fuss, all-inclusive voyages in the bays around Bodrum for decades, both for guests who reserve a single cabin about a comfort yacht and for those who privately charter a luxury one, which has hotel-style amenities.

The Gobi Desert

Riding horses past sacsaoul bushes, black-tailed gazelle and ibex. Mountain biking along ancient desert routes past dramatic canyons and cliffs. Camping in the shadow of the Gobi Altai Mountains and later sleeping in a glamorously done-up yurt. These are a few of the things that spring to mind when thinking of Mongolias vast, empty playground. Earthtones, a startup focused on nature-immersive journeys has put together a program that includes all of this and more, such as rides on the deserts famous Bactrian (two-hump) camels.

An elephant keeper at Reteti

When Katie Rowe founded Reteti in 2016, she brought nine female rangers and keepers from the local community to help care for a growing brood of orphaned elephants. Reteti is unique in that the Samburu women who keep it going are as respected and valued as male elephant keepers are. Theyre blazing a trail for women in conservation everywhere, which is one reason the adventure travel company Uncharted sends guests their way. Reteti is open to visitors, who can see the elephants and talk to the keepers while staying in the lovely new Reteti House, an exclusive-use private retreat.

Fernando de Noronha

Midway between South America and Africameaning far from everythingthe hyper-protected Brazilian island went from being an undeveloped military outpost to a natural paradise with strict limits on tourism and a massive commitment to preservation. This is an ecological sanctuary, a place that marine researches use as a control group, in contrast with the developed beaches on the mainland. Its a once-in-a-lifetime trip for divers (something Blue Parallel can organize too), not only for its warm, gin-clear waters and abundant marine life but also for its laid-back Brazilian island vibe.

Hikers pass by a small lake in New Zealand

The experimental travel company Hiking New Zealand recently put together a 15-day experience that theyre calling New Zealand Uncut. It covers the vast and varied landscapes of both islands as it makes its was from north to south without the rigor and discomforts of, say, the Milford Track. Rather, this is New Zealand for people who dont camp, a series of day hikes and short walksfrom strenuous alpine hikes to beach strollsin remote areas where the islands majesty shines.

A tiger on the prowl in India

A flying tiger safari in Central India

Royal Expeditions is a boutique luxury travel company founded by the Princess of Jodhpur, who was a member of parliament and the minister of culture. The outfit created a flying tiger safari (by Pilatus jet) over the wilderness of central IndiaRudyard Kiplings inspiration for The Jungle Book. On land, naturalist guides show visitors around national parks in open-top vehicles, theres an option of taking special full-day photography permits, which allow access from sunrise to sunset.

The mountains of Slovenia

An increasingly better known secret, Slovenia is one of the worlds last great forest paradises, full of beautiful places to visit and teeming with delicious things to eat. Wanderlux Journeys trip takes guests into Velika Planina, a herdsmens settlement place in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps . Its accessible only by foot or by daytime cable car, making slowing down part of the program. The trip includes chef Bine Volcic (known for his daring zero-waste cuisine at Monstera Bistro in Ljubljana) and renowned forager (yes, this is a thing in Slovenia) Katja Rebolj, and theres hiking, foraging, a hands-on culinary workshop and a night in a cottage high above the city lights.

A chimpanzee in Greystoke

The Serengeti has many selling points, but solitude is not among them. Fortunately, Tanzania is a big country, with a number of game reserves that are still remote and untouched. In the south, theres Ruaha National Park, the best park youve never heard of and Tanzanias best-kept wildlife secretwith an impressive number of elephant and even more lion. The greater Ruaha landscape has one of only six lion populations larger than 1,000 in the world and is now home to some 10% of the planets lion. Another corner of Tanzania worth exploring is Mahale National Park on the western border and Greystoke, where visitors can observe wild chimpanzees. Cartology Travel can being either one to life.

Puma tracking in Torres del Paine

Southern Chiles top predator, the Patagonian puma, calls Torres del Paine home. Heading out to look for them with wildness tracking professionalssomething else offered by Earthtonesadds a new dimension to a trip to this majestic end of the earth. The hikes are accessible, short in duration and light on difficultly, and theyre capped off with star-filled nights in a mountain ecolodge.

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The New Dream List: 12 Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Goals - Forbes

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A $100M island sold in 4 months: The moves behind this agents deal – Inman

Posted: at 1:30 am

Its not unusual for extremely high-end luxury listings to take several months or even several years to sell.

That was the case with Great Island in Darien, Connecticut, a 60-acre property with a Gilded Age mansion once owned by baking powder entrepreneur William Ziegler that was first listed in 2016 only to linger on the market. But once Douglas Elliman agent Jennifer Leahy took over the listing late last year beating out other brokers with more experience she snagged the $100 million deal in less than four months while tendering multiple offers.

The historic property outside New York City was first listed by Zieglers descendants, the Steinkraus family, via a trust in 2016 for $175 million. When it failed to sell, it was listed again in 2019 for $120 million.

The main house on the property is dated to the early 1900s and spans about 13,000 square feet with 10 bedrooms, complete with impressive views of the Long Island Sound from nearly every room. Additionally, a colonial farmhouse that dates to the 1800s resides on the property, as well as an equestrian building with a granite stable and an arched tile ceiling designed by Rafael Guastavino, the engineer who created Grand Central Terminal.

The island, which is one of the largest private islands to be sold on the East Coast, has remained in the hands of the Ziegler family and his descendants since Ziegler bought the property circa 1900 as a summer residence.

So, how did the Douglas Elliman agent seal the deal, one of the priciest thus far in 2022?

Leahy told Inman her process for selling the listing was highly strategic. For such an expansive property, Leahy drew on her New York City-based developer network to generate buzz, thought outside the box with her marketing, made the property extremely accessible, intentionally listed the home at a time of year that would show off its assets, networked within her brokerage and leaned on her community ties.

Jennifer Leahy | Credit: Douglas Elliman Realty

I think it was a combination of using my strong ties to developers based out of New York City and using that network to create a buzz and get as many eyes on the property [as possible], Leahy told Inman.

Since the property includes so much land and because theres a lack of available land on which to develop in New York City, Leahy made sure to inform all her developer contacts about this unique opportunity thats just under a two-hour drive outside of the city.

For those [developers] who maybe were slowing down or not doing projects at the same [level of] enthusiasm in New York City, it was an awesome opportunity to do a development in a very unique and major way in an exclusive part of like a bedroom community of Manhattan, Leahy explained. So that was my first strategy.

The islands main house has views of the Long Island Sound from almost every room | Douglas Elliman Realty

Knowing that she was dealing with a property that didnt have much luck on the market twice before, Leahy realized she needed to market Great Island in every way possible. That meant speaking with individual investors about its possibility as a legacy property, her developer contacts for its land potential and even going so far as to tell agents about its potential to be broken up into lots by developers and ultimately have brand new luxury homes on the property.

She wanted to make sure that anyone who might remotely be interested realized that the possibilities for Great Island were really endless.

I was selling it every which way that I can, Leahy told Inman. And Im my clients fiduciary, which I take very seriously. I have to think outside of the box. A $100 million property, thats a big number right there. I had to literally turn over every stone possible to drum up not just one, but multiple bids.

Some luxury agents use exclusivity in order to generate interest and curiosity about a property. This can be a very effective tactic and is often preferred by high-profile sellers but with Great Island, Leahy decided to take the opposite approach, and it ended up paying off.

She made sure every agent in her market of Fairfield County had access to see the property to really understand how spectacular it was.

Given her marketing tactic of making people see the potential for the property beyond its current use as a summer home for one family, it was crucial for her to get agents to the property so they could see for themselves how other possibilities might play out.

Lots of agents keep high-end listings very precious, Leahy told Inman, but my idea about it was, if I was going to get this to be subdivided and developed, I would want as many agents locked and loaded to be in a list in front of their clients who maybe could put forward $100 million but if its developed and divided and there were beautiful new houses going up for $10 million, they sure would have someone [who could buy it].

With a property of this size, Leahy also realized that getting agents to actually walk the land and explore it would also be crucial to the sale, so she would give several hours-long tours to agents in the area so that they had time to get the lay of the land.

The island has been owned by Gilded Age baking powder entrepreneur William Ziegler and his descendants for over 100 years | Douglas Elliman Realty

When given the option, most listing agents probably wouldnt market a property located in a summer-centric market during the winter when most plants are dead and gray.

But once again considering the land value at hand on the property, Leahy had photos and videos of the property taken during the dead of winter when there was little foliage. That did make photos less colorful, but it also allowed potential buyers to see the acreage better and to see just how many views of the Long Island Sound were to be had from the main property.

I also listed the property when there werent leaves on the trees so that you could see how expansive the views were from every spot on that island, Leahy said. You have inland lot, and in that inland lot, you have spectacular views because we have fabulous elevation.

I think there were people who were very skeptical about the listing in winter, she added, but it was very strategic, and even now [in May], being on the property, you cant see through the trees already.

To get the property in front of the type of clientele who might be interested in purchasing a whole island, Leahy turned to her fellow agents at Douglas Elliman and just kept making calls within the brokerages network.

Tapping into their networks, who they have as billionaires or five-hundred millionaires, making sure that they knew the property was available, Leahy said. Sixty acres in the water is pretty rare. Obviously, a lot of these are storage facilities for great wealth, and this is an opportunity for someone of great wealth to have a spectacular piece of land.

The equestrian building was designed by Rafael Guastavino, the engineer who created Grand Central Terminal | Douglas Elliman Realty

Leahys involvement in her community through serving on Dariens planning and zoning commission for four years also helped her build credibility and ties in the community. Those relationships came in handy when the town approached her as an interested buyer and ultimately became the buyer of the property.

Everybody knew me in town and Im a kind person, and I think Im known to be kind of fair and a good listener, Leahy said. I feel so honored to have been the bridge to get so far with the town and everybody basically made sure that they had the information, the access and the communication that they needed to make this possible.

Get InmansLuxury Lens Newsletter delivered right to your inbox. A weekly roundup of all the biggest news in the world of high-end real estate delivered every Friday. Click here to subscribe.

Email Lillian Dickerson

Anatomy of a Deal is an infrequent feature in which agents share stories of the obstacles they overcame to seal a tricky deal. Send submissions toLillian@Inman.comand please include the property type, price, location and what made the deal unique or challenging to close.

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A $100M island sold in 4 months: The moves behind this agents deal - Inman

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Vacation in the Middle East? Absolutely yes. – Washington Times

Posted: at 1:30 am

OPINION:

When many Americans hear a generic reference to The Middle East their immediate impression may be one of war and/or challenging circumstances. The last two U.S. generations have heard endless tragic stories of American hostages, death to America chants from Iran, the war in Iraq and a never-ending dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians. The impression of trouble in the region runs deep.

One word that probably doesnt immediately pop into Americans minds when referencing The Middle East region? Vacation.

It should, however. When looking at great getaway spots, one should give serious consideration to Oman.

Located on the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz, Oman has a coastline that runs nearly 1900 miles. It has pristine beaches and coast in a wide variety of settings. If a beachfront resort is your speed, you have multiple choices ranging from five-star luxury to more affordable accommodations. Expect modern, clean and comfortable. Most importantly, expect friendly, courteous, professional service everywhere.

The Omani culture is a friendly one. Whether youre visiting the big city of Muscat or a tiny historical village, youll find the locals to be exceedingly courteous. A suitable analogy might be the State of Maine in the United States. While large American metropolitan areas like New York can be intimidating and people are taught not to make eye contact, in Maine, the culture is overwhelmingly amiable. Even the toll booth attendants in Maine act as though theyve known you forever. So it is in Oman. The amiable approach is natural and comfortable.

One essential element of any vacation is food. If you are a seafood or meat lover, youre going to be very happy in Oman. The nation has a rich history of fishing, so fresh fish and lobster are plentiful. If youd like to try traditional fare, you can find places to sit on the floor and order a large shared plate of seasoned basmati rice with lamb or beef, topped with spicy yogurt and tomato sauce. If you need a taste of home, western cuisine is readily available, ranging from high-end steaks to local burger joints. Platters of rice and spiced meats are available at almost every restaurant.

If youre an underwater diver, many will argue there is no better place on earth for avid divers looking for exceptional marine life. Muscat is not only the capital of Oman, it offers several dive sites within a reasonable drive, including some with private islands and genuinely unique diving experiences. There are tour operators offering 3-4 day extravaganzas that tour much of Oman and the best diving spots.

If exploring historical sites is your bag, a visit outside of Muscat is almost like going back in time. The remnants of a long-ago era are visible almost everywhere. You can visit mountain-side villages that are hundreds of years old. You can find mud homes built into the sides of mountains. Forts, castles and important historical structures dot the countryside as well.

The Hajar Mountains are a stunning and dramatic place to explore. They begin just outside Muscat and continue all the way toward neighboring countries. They are large, majestic and a reminder of how harsh mother nature can be. Soaring peaks of more than 9800 feet and plummeting valleys offer awe-inspiring views.

Oman offers no shortage of true luxury five-star resorts. Among the best is Alila Resort. Situated far from any hustle or bustle, nearly a mile and a quarter above sea level, it offers the most relaxing luxury experience with just a dash of adventure. At that elevation, every room has stunning views and the infinity pool appears as though the edge drops seemingly forever. Mountain climbs, spa days and unspoiled stargazing are all part of the experience.

While ancient history is a highlight of any journey around Oman, Muscat offers some extraordinary modern facilities as well. The Grand Mosque, completed in 2001, is made from over 300,000 tons of Indian Sandstone and its architecture makes an impressive statement. It has an information center and all tourists are invited to visit the center to ask any questions they may have about the mosque or the religion.

The Royal Opera House is a truly world-class performance hall that opened in 2011. In addition to the performance halls, the complex features formal landscaped gardens, a cultural market with retail, luxury restaurants and an art center for musical, theatrical and operatic productions. It makes a huge statement about modern culture in this ancient historical country.

When it comes time to pick up a few gifts for friends and family back home, the Mutrah Souk located on the Corniche in Muscat is an authentic old-world bazaar where tourists and locals can haggle over a variety of items including hand-made scarves, carpets and historical souvenirs.

Oman has a low crime rate and is generally considered to be safe for business, tourists, families and even for women traveling alone.

The best time to visit Oman is between October and March. The winter months are when the weather is pleasant, relatively cool and essentially perfect. April and May are considered the shoulder season, as the temperatures start to heat up, but vacations are still enjoyable.

Visit Oman. It will change your perspective.

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Vacation in the Middle East? Absolutely yes. - Washington Times

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Trumps bid to cling to power beyond Nixons imagination, Watergate duo say – The Guardian US

Posted: at 1:29 am

Donald Trump was the first seditious president in US history, surpassing in his efforts to hang on to power beyond even the criminal imagination of Richard Nixon, according to the two political reporters who were instrumental in securing Nixons downfall.

In a new foreword to their celebrated 1974 book on the Watergate scandal, All the Presidents Men, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein accuse Trump of pursuing his diabolical instincts by zeroing in on the certification of Joe Bidens presidential victory by Congress on January 6 last year. In the authors assessment, Trumps unleashing of the mob that day, culminating in the violent attack on the US Capitol, amounted to a deception that exceeded even Nixons imagination.

They write in their foreword, published by the Washington Post, they write: By legal definition this is clearly sedition thus Trump became the first seditious president in our history.

Woodward and Bernsteins comparison of Trump and Nixon carries singular weight, given that as young Washington Post reporters they helped to uncover Nixons campaign of political spying and cover-up that led in 1974 to the only resignation of a president in American history. In separate capacities, the two journalists have also reported extensively on the Trump presidency, with Woodward doing so in a series of three books: Fear, Rage and Peril.

The timing of their analysis is also potent. It comes just days before the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection stages the first of at least six televised hearings in which they will attempt to show the American people that Trump acted corruptly in his efforts to stop Bidens certification.

Woodward and Bernstein suggest that the two presidents had much in common, despite the almost half a century that stands between them. Nixons belief that it was for the greater good that he stayed in power whatever the means was embraced by Trump, they write.

A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits, Nixon told himself in 1969. That informed Trumps campaign to hold on to power through falsehoods even in the face of defeat.

Misinformation also unites the diabolical pair. Both Nixon and Trump created a conspiratorial world in which the US constitution, laws and fragile democratic traditions were to be manipulated or ignored, political opponents and the media were enemies, and there were few or no restraints on the powers entrusted to presidents, Woodward and Bernstein say in their new foreword.

The reporters also explore the differences between the two men, notably that Trump attempted his electoral subversion in public. Pulling no punches, they call the January 6 insurrection a Trump operation and predict that the House committee has an abundance of evidence to prove that point in the upcoming hearings.

Though Nixons criminal misdeeds tend to be remembered through the lens of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel on 17 June 1972, and the cover-up that followed, the authors remind their readers that his core purpose was to subvert that years presidential election. They rehearse some of the extreme measures that Nixons team of operatives took to derail the presidential campaign of his main Democratic rival, Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine.

Those measures included writing fake letters on Muskie stationery alleging sexual misconduct by other Democratic candidates and stealing Muskies shoes from outside his hotel room where he had left them for polishing in order to spook him out. Muskie ultimately lost the Democratic nomination to the liberal senator George McGovern of South Dakota.

Trump, the reporters argue, pursued equally ruthless tactics designed to undermine credibility in the 2020 presidential election. They reached a pitch on January 6 with the violent mob breaking into the Capitol chanting Hang Mike Pence against Trumps vice-president who was proceeding with certification of the election results.

In the last analysis, Woodward and Bernstein ask themselves why two such powerful men would embark on parallel efforts to destroy democracy. They have one overriding answer.

Fear of losing and being considered a loser was a common thread for Nixon and Trump, they write.

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Trumps bid to cling to power beyond Nixons imagination, Watergate duo say - The Guardian US

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Where Trumps long list of legal challenges stand – The Hill

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Former President Trump faces a number of investigations and lawsuits related to his business practices with the Trump Organization and his four-year stint in the White House as he considers running for reelection in 2024.

Heres every major legal challenge the former president is facing, from several investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol to a family inheritance feud.

The Jan. 6 investigation and related cases

Trump is facing nine lawsuits related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the 2020 presidential election.

New York officials probing the Trump Organizations property valuations

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is investigating whether Trump inflated property values for investors and deflated them in federal tax forms. She is pushing for Trump to hand over documents and for Trump himself to sit for a deposition, a call he has so far refused in violation of a court order.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D)is continuing a similar probe into potential tax fraud and financial crimes. The case already resulted in charges filed last year against former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg for his alleged role in a 15-year tax fraud scheme.

The Westchester County, N.Y., district attorneys office also launched an investigation in October into whether the Trump Organization misled officials about the property value ofTrump National Golf Club Westchester.

Federal investigators are looking at whether Trump mishandled classified documents

The National Archives has asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether the former president mishandled classified documents.

Fifteen boxes of official records that Trump was legally required to turn over were recovered from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Mary Trump is suing her uncle for allegedly defrauding her from the family inheritance

Trumps niece says she was defrauded out of millions of dollars from her inheritance.

The lawsuit is ongoing in the New York Supreme Court. Mary Trump has requested a preliminary conference to proceed, while Donald Trump has moved to dismiss the case.

Trump is suing his niece and The New York Times in a separate lawsuit over reporting on his taxes. Mary Trump revealed in her tell-all book that she gave information to the newspaper for the story.

E. Jean Carrolls sexual assault suit

E. Jean Carroll, a magazine writer who says Trump sexually assaulted her in the 90s, is suing the former president for saying she fabricated her claims that he raped her.

The lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York. A federal judge recently denied Trumps attempt to countersue.

Former personal attorney Michael Cohen is also suing Trump

In Manhattan federal court, Cohen is suing Trump, the U.S. government and other officials for allegedly retaliating against him after writing a tell-all book about his time serving Trump in a legal capacity.

The attorney says he was returned to federal prison in 2020 because of the book, according to The Associated Press.

Trump Tower lawsuit

Trump actually sat for a four-hour deposition on this one in October.

Six protesters are suing Trump, accusing his security guards of assaulting them outside Trump Tower during a 2015 protest.

Trump called the lawsuit pending in New York State Court ridiculous after his deposition.

Doe v. Trump Organization

A class-action lawsuit first filed in 2018 alleges the Trump Organization used their business to scam investors into supporting false or worthless business opportunities.

The case is taking place in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.

Tenants suing Trump for hiking prices

In a lawsuit filed in the New York Supreme Court, tenants who lived in a building once owned by Trumps father say the Trump family hiked rents by inflating prices for appliances.

The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in March.

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Where Trumps long list of legal challenges stand - The Hill

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Raskin says Jan. 6 panel has found more on Trump than incitement – The Hill

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Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Monday said the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol has found evidence on former President Trump that supports a lot more than incitement.

The comment from Raskin, a member of the Jan. 6 panel, referenced Trumps second impeachment in January 2021, when the House voted to impeach the then-president for incitement to insurrection.

The Jan. 6 panel is set to hold its first public hearing on Thursday, where Raskin said the committee will lay out information regarding individuals who played a role in the attack including Trump.

The select committee has found evidence about a lot more than incitement here, and were gonna be laying out the evidence about all of the actors who were pivotal to what took place on Jan. 6, Raskin said during an interview with Washington Post Live.

Trump was impeached in the House by a 232-197 vote, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in sanctioning the president. The following month, however, the Senate acquitted him in a 57-43 vote. Seven Senate Republicans joined the entire Democratic caucus in voting to convict.

The select committee says Thursdays prime-time hearing, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., will feature new material and witness testimony from the nearly yearlong investigation, which has largely been conducted behind the scenes

Raskin on Monday told The Washington Post Live that this weeks hearing will tell the story of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election and block the transfer of power.

Asked if Trump is at the center of that conspiracy, Raskin said I think that Donald Trump and the White House were at the center of these events.

Thats the only way really of making sense of them all, he added.

He noted, however, that people are going to have to make judgments themselves about the relative role that different people played.

The Maryland Democrat then pointed to Trumps second impeachment, in which Raskin was the lead manager of the Senate trial.

Of course the House and the Senate in bicameral and bipartisan fashion have already determined that the former president, Donald Trump, incited an insurrection by majority votes in the House and the Senate, Raskin said.

Although, Donald Trump wasnt convicted by the requisite two-thirds majority, but commanding majority found that he had in fact incited this insurrection, he added.

Updated at 2:21 p.m.

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Why Trump is hands off in re-election race for CA House Republican who voted for impeachment – Fox News

Posted: at 1:29 am

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Republican Rep. David Valadao infuriated conservatives in Californias Central Valley when he voted to impeach President Donald Trump in the days after the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

But the former president whos repeatedly targeted many of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him on a charge of inciting the deadly attack that unsuccessfully attempted to derail congressional certification of President Bidens 2020 Electoral College victory over Trump has been hands-off on Valadao, whos represented Californias 21st Congressional District for most of the past decade.

Valadao is one of two Golden State House Republicans along with Rep. Young Kim who face potentially challenging re-elections in the 2022 midterms, with the first test coming Tuesday in Californias primary, where all the candidates regardless of party identification are listed on the same ballot and the top two finishers move on to Novembers general election.

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National Republicans view the congressman, whos running for re-election in a district that Biden carried by double digits two years ago, as their best shot to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Valadao is facing three primary challengers for the renumbered and slightly redrawn district fellow Republicans Chris Mathys, a former Fresno city councilman, and King County school board member Adam Medeiros. Also running is Democratic Assemblyman Rudy Salas, who has represented much of the congressional district for the last decade in the state legislature in Sacramento.

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, six are running for re-election this year, but Valadaos race is the only one where the former president hasnt endorsed a challenger.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally Jan. 15, 2022, in Florence, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

"I do think Valadaos a little bit different than the others. He hasnt doubled or tripled down [on impeachment]. All the other ones are going out and making hay, elongating the story. Valadaos stayed rather quiet and subdued," a source close to Trumps political orbit told Fox News.

"There hasnt been a credible challenger making noise either. So it was easy to move on from that race and not really give it much attention," explained the source, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.

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Even without facing Trumps ire, national Republicans were concerned enough regarding Valadaos prospects of making the November ballot that they lent a helping hand. The Congressional Leadership Fund the top super PAC that backs House Republicans and is aligned with GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy spent nearly $800,000 to take aim at Mathys, with a last-minute ad criticizing him as "dangerously liberal."

Congressional Leadership Fund communications director Calvin Moore told Fox News that "David Valadao is an important Member and the only conservative who can win this otherwise deep blue seat November. Hes a fighter, and were doing all we can to help him win."

The top pro-House Democrats outside group also jumped into the fight. The House Majority PAC, which is tied to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been running ads on TV and digital spotlighting Valadaos impeachment vote and calling Mathys "a true conservative" and "100% pro-Trump and proud."

Valadao has a history of grabbing independent voters and even some crossover Democrats in his electoral victories. But Democrats are hoping that Salas stems some of those crossover votes and Mathys eats into Valadaos support on the right, potentially shutting the incumbent out of the general election.

In the Orange County based 39th Congressional District, Kim defeated Democratic Rep. Gil Cisneros one of four House pickups Republicans made in the state last cycle. Kim, one of only three Korean American women serving in Congress, was a top GOP recruit in the 2020 election.

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But her district was dramatically redrawn in the once-in-a-decade congressional redistricting process, and many of the constituents in the new district are new to the incumbent. Biden carried the seat by two-points in the 2020 election.

Kims facing primary challenges from Republican Greg Raths a councilman in Mission Viejo and a Trump fanatic and Democratic candidate Asif Mahmood, a physician.

Rep. Young Kim speaks with Fox News Digital

The Congressional Leadership Fund has spent nearly $1 million to run spots to boost Kim.

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While the Democrats won the White House and took control of the Senate in the 2020 elections, House Republicans defied expectations and took a big bite out of the Democrats' House majority. And the four seats the GOP flipped from red to blue in the Golden State were a key part of that success. As Republicans aim to win the House majority in November, California will once again be a major congressional battlefield.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

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Biden wants to get out more, seething that his standing is now worse than Trump’s – POLITICO

Posted: at 1:29 am

Its something that has bedeviled quite a few previous presidents. Lots of things happen on your watch but it doesnt mean there is a magic wand to fix it, said Robert Gibbs, a press secretary under President Barack Obama. The limits of the presidency are not well grasped. The responsibility of the president is greater than the tools he has to fix it.

The West Wing believes there is still time for a course correction.

The plan is to put Biden on the road to highlight progress being made, even incrementally, in meeting the series of tests, with visits this week to California, where he will preside over a summit of Western Hemisphere allies, as well as New Mexico to push for his climate agenda. The administration will also set aside its reluctance to work with a pariah nation with hopes to spur oil production. And it plans to sharpen its attacks on Republicans, aiming to paint the GOP as out-of-touch with mainstream America on issues like gun safety and abortion, all while hoping the upcoming Jan. 6 congressional hearings will further color the party as too extremist and dangerous to return to power.

But first aides need to quell the finger-pointing thats been erupting internally and the increasing concern over staff shakeups, according to five White House officials and Democrats close to the administration not authorized to publicly discuss internal conversations. They also increasingly are trying to soothe the greatest source of West Wing frustration, coming from behind the Resolute Desk.

The president has expressed exasperation that his poll numbers have sunk below those of Donald Trump, whom Biden routinely refers to in private as the worst president in history and an existential threat to the nations democracy.

After publication, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said: This depiction of the White House is simply divorced from reality.

Far more prone to salty language behind the scenes than popularly known, Biden also recently erupted over being kept out of the loop about the direness of the baby formula shortage that has gripped parts of the country, according to a White House staffer and a Democrat with knowledge of the conversation. He voiced his frustration in a series of phone calls to allies, his complaints triggered by heart-wrenching cable news coverage of young mothers crying in fear that they could not feed their children.

Biden didnt want to be painted as slow to act on a problem affecting the working-class people with whom he closely identifies. Therefore, when aides convened a meeting with formula company executives, the president against the advice of staffers publicly declared it took weeks before details of the shortage had reached him, even though the whistleblower complaint that led to the shutdown of a major production facility was issued months ago. Some aides feared the moment made Biden look out of touch, especially after the CEOs in the very same meeting made clear that warnings of the shortage were known for some time.

Members of Bidens inner circle, including first lady Jill Biden and the presidents sister, Valerie Biden Owens, have complained that West Wing staff has managed Biden with kid gloves, not putting him on the road more or allowing him to flash more of his genuine, relatable, albeit gaffe-prone self. One person close to the president pushed for more let Biden be Biden moments, with the president himself complaining he does not get to interact enough with voters. The White House has pointed to both security and Covid concerns in restricting the travel of the 79-year-old president.

A lot of things are out of his control and we are frustrated and all Democrats not just the White House but anyone with a platform need to do a better of job of reminding Americans of how terrible it would be if Republicans take control, said Adrienne Elrod, a senior aide on Bidens transition team and aide to Hillary Clintons presidential campaign.

Complicating the White Houses efforts to turn around the presidents midterm fate has been the exodus of staff from its communications shop: from press secretary Jen Psaki to several deputy press aides. Psakis successor, Karine Jean-Pierre, took the post with little experience, and allies were critical when, days later, the White House brought over her Pentagon counterpart, John Kirby to join the staff. Kirby has been a candidate for Jean-Pierres role but will serve on the national security team.

The staff drama hasnt ended there. While Biden is undyingly loyal to his small inner circle of advisers, whispers in the building have built over whether the return of Anita Dunn back to a senior adviser post could portend her eventually succeeding Ron Klain as chief of staff.

With worries rising about the Democrats fate this November, the White House switched to more aggressive attacks on Republicans recently. Frustrated that the GOP has not been called to task for releasing few policy ideas of its own, Biden has gone hard after a tax plan put out by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). But those broadsides have gained little traction.

The president is taking action to lower prices and fight the global rise in inflation, building on the unprecedented job creation and the manufacturing resurgence he has delivered, said Bates. And hes working with Congress to cut the deficit as well as many of the biggest costs families face, like energy and prescription drugs. He knows what families are going through and is moving to help them.

But much of what the White House can accomplish is only around the edges. Biden has sounded the alarm about the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade and continues to push Congress to act on guns in the wake of the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas. But he also signaled in his Thursday evening speech that he knows that Congress, at most, will pass small measures on firearms that will leave much of his party dissatisfied.

And while Biden has received high marks even from some Republicans for holding together an alliance to stand up to Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, voters this fall will likely care far more about some of the wars aftershocks: its further strain on supply chains has only added to rising inflation and, most painfully for the White House, soaring gas prices.

For nearly a month, Biden and his inner circle have agonized over whether to make a trip to Saudi Arabia, a nation the president deemed a pariah after its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the murder and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Biden, for a time, angrily rejected meeting with the crown prince, arguing the presidency should stand for something, according to two people with knowledge of his thinking.

But he has recently relented, recognizing a need to push Riyadh for more oil production. Still, the dates for the trip remain fluid, leaving some aides to wonder if the president will change his mind again.

Bidens inner circle is well aware of recent presidential precedent. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both overcame a rough first midterms only to benefit from economic turnarounds and cruise to reelection. But George H.W. Bush and, especially, Carter were felled by shaky economies and rising inflation.

[Carter] lost because of inflation and bad feelings about the economy and a sense that America was flailing and Biden is finding now that its hard to be a leader when other things are unraveling, said Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian at Rice University. He cant just be a mourner-in-chief, he cant just play defense. He needs to be on offense and convince Americans that, despite the challenges, better days are ahead.

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Televised hearings in Capitol riots case against Donald Trump to begin: Will America tune in? – Firstpost

Posted: at 1:29 am

For the 6 January committee, the key question about Donald Trumps involvement in the insurrection is: What did the former president do, and when did he do it?

Washington:Americans are processing the nightmare of the slaughter of children in Texas, the racist murders in Buffalo, New York, and the other numbingly repeated scenes of carnage in the United States.

Theyre contending with what feels like highway robbery at the gas pump, theyre nagged by a virus that the world cant shake, and theyre split into two hostile camps over politics and culture the twin pillars of the nations foundation.

Theyve already been through two set-piece dramas of presidential impeachment indeed, through the wringer on all things Donald Trump.

Now, beginning in prime time on Thursday, the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is setting out to establish the historical record of an event damaging not only to a community or individual families but to the collective idea of democracy itself.

After more than 100 subpoenas, 1,000 interviews and 100,000 documents, the committee has a story to tell in hearings that open this week. A story for the ages, its been said.

The open question: How much will the country care?

The committees examination of the actions of Trump and all the presidents men and women, more aggressive than any inquiry before it, has produced a multitude of plot lines that together will tell the tale of a violent uprising fuelled by the venom and lies of a defeated president.

File photo of violent insurrectionists stand outside the US Capitol in Washington during the riot on 6 January. AP

Many Republicans, even those who condemned Trump and the violence in the moment, have adopted a nothing more to see here posture since, even rejecting calls for an independent Sept. 11-style commission to investigate.

An entire disinformation ecosystem sprung up with utterly false claims about the nature and character of the attack. Rather than condemn the attack, Trump continues to insist his defeat by 7 million votes should be overturned, in effect validating the rioters cause.

Dozens of the insurrectionists have been brought to justice, many of them being convicted or pleading guilty to serious crimes. But the committees goal is larger: Who in a position of power should also be held to account?

There are endless ribbons of inquiry.

Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington. AP

Did Vice-President Mike Pence refuse to leave the besieged Capitol because he suspected the Secret Service, at the behest of Trump, was trying to take him away to stop him from certifying Democrat Joe Bidens victory?

Did Trump flush incriminating papers down the White House toilet?

How to explain the gap of more than seven hours in White House telephone logs of Trumps calls during the insurrection? Will it stand in history alongside the infamous 18 1/2-minute hole in President Richard Nixons secret White House recording system in 1972?

The Watergate affair, which exposed Nixons cover-up of politically motivated criminal acts and destroyed his presidency, centered on a question posed by a Republican senator, Howard Baker, in a Tennessee drawl: What did the president know, and when did he know it?

For the 6 January committee, the key question about Trumps involvement in the insurrection is: What did the president do, and when did he do it?

One aim is to establish whether Trumps acts are criminal, as one judge has mused they may be, and whether that would prompt a politically fraught Justice Department prosecution of an ex-president.

More broadly, the effort addresses who might be punished in the large circle of Trump enablers. Some of them are members of Congress who helped him plot how to try to overturn an honest election only to huddle in fear with everyone else in a Capitol hideout when the rioters in service of that plot swarmed the marbled corridors of power 6 January, 2021.

The prime time setting for the committee hearing is a rarity and something of a throwback to an era when people gathered en masse at their televisions in the evening before video streaming atomized viewership.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat on the committee, set expectations that may be hard to live up to as the committee tries to renew the interest of this short-attention-span country in machinations that are nearly 18 months in the rear-view mirror.

The hazards in that mirror are closer than they appear, as committee members see it.

The hearings will tell a story that will really blow the roof off the House, Raskin said in April. Because it is a story of the most heinous and dastardly political offense ever organized by a president and his followers and his entourage in the history of the United States.

That offense? In short, he told a Washington forum, an inside coup coupled with a violent attack by neo-fascists.

Trump is not expected at any of the hearings, but his words and actions will hang heavy over the proceedings as lawmakers look to place him at the center of the chaos. It seems highly plausible that he will find a way to rail against them that does not involve being under oath.

The committee almost certainly will look to draw a tight connection between Trumps vociferous rejections of the election results and his 6 January rally outside the White House sending the angry crowd off to Capitol Hill.

Free from the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, committee members are likely to try to show that the riot that ravaged the Capitol was not a spontaneous gathering but part of a broader conspiracy and a natural outgrowth of weeks of denunciations of democratic processes.

Biden framed 6 January and its aftermath in existential terms about the threat posed to democracy. Its a battle for the soul of America, he said. But a president can only have one No. 1 priority at a time, and this isnt his. Time and again, hes said its inflation.

Whatever revelations the hearings may produce, much is already known because the attack played out on screens large and small in real time, and Trump exhorted supporters to fight like hell in shouts for the world to hear.

US president Joe Biden. AFP File

In quieter times, the hearings would have a stronger hold on public attention, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and an authority on political communications. But, as is, they will be competing for attention with topics with greater immediate relevance in our lives.

Hungry babies lacking formula. Soaring prices for gas and groceries. Rising COVID-19 hospitalization among the vaccinated. The scenes of destruction in Ukraine and the threat that the Russian invasion will escalate to include use of nuclear weapons. And theres monkeypox.

To say nothing of summer vacation, Jamieson added.

If the hearings are to do anything other than reinforce our existing political biases, she said, they will have to reveal previously covered-up goings-on that threatened something that Democrats, independents and most Republicans can agree should be sacrosanct.

Some of the inquirys juicy bits are out already. Text messages and emails, thought to be private when sent, have become public, including from chief of staff Mark Meadows.

But the committee has been sitting on much more information and will have tens of thousands of exhibits and hundreds of witnesses, said Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee chairman.

Seven Democrats and two Republicans both shunned by their party make up the committee. Among them the stakes are surely highest for Rep. Liz Cheney, the deeply conservative but fiercely independent Wyoming lawmaker who is practically alone in the GOP in assailing Trump while also seeking re-election to Congress.

Daughter of a vice president and once an embodiment of the Republican establishment, she is now a renegade in a new order dominated by Trump, who wants her unseated in her primary in August.

That new order became ever clearer in February, when the Republican Party censured Cheney and the committees other Republican, Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, whos not seeking re-election, for taking part in the inquiry. The party adopted a resolution saying the witnesses summoned by the committee for their actions on and around 6 January had only been engaging in legitimate political discourse.

Matthew Delmont, a Dartmouth College history professor specializing in Black history, said 6 January cast such an ominous shadow that he expects people in the United States, for all of their other pressing preoccupations, to be drawn to the inquiry.

I think people will watch the 6 January hearings because they want to understand how our democracy reached this precipice, he said. I dont know how many people will be willing to hear the evidence that will be presented, but I think it is important for the findings to be shared openly so people today and in the future can appreciate what happened.

6 January shares certain distinctions with other past agonies. As with 9/11, you can shorthand the date, 6 January, and people know. Like Watergate, it speaks to corrupt acts in the highest office. As with the Challenger space shuttle explosion and 9/11 and more, the scene brought so much visceral shock that many people remember where they were and what they were doing when they saw it.

As far as the far right is concerned, the historical analogy is the Boston Tea Party, with liberals, Democrats and the Washington establishment as the redcoats.

Former US president Donald Trump. AP

Trump-friendly Republicans sanitized what happened that day, once the shock that nearly all felt on 6 January subsided. In measurements of public opinion, Republican voters in the main said they believe the 2020 election was rigged, when by absolutely all measures the courts, nonpartisan and even Republican state officials, and the Trump administrations own election monitors, including his attorney general the election was purely fair.

A year later, the patently violent uprising was remembered as very or extremely violent by fewer than 4 in 10 Republicans polled, compared with almost 9 in 10 Democrats.

Even so, there were signs in the latest Republican primaries for the 2022 midterms that Trumps obsession about getting fired by the voters all those months ago is wearing thin even with them.

Trump won the 2016 election with a minority of voters, lost the House to the Democrats in 2018 and lost in 2020 by a decisive margin not a glowing electoral record.

Still, he holds sway over his party, thanks to supporters whose loyalty seems immovable. Unswayed by facts throughout the fight to discredit and upend Bidens election, they wont be easily dislodged by a congressional committees revelations.

Through Trumps presidency, audacious falsehoods and elaborate exaggerations were the order of the day. But Trump, at times, had a knack for speaking a larger truth that penetrated his fog of hyperbole and misinformation.

So it was with his comment in Iowa in January 2016, en route to the Republican nomination. The comment foretells that even if the 6 January committee manages to blow the roof off the House, Trump may remain golden with millions who love him.

I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, OK? Trump said then. Its, like, incredible.

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Televised hearings in Capitol riots case against Donald Trump to begin: Will America tune in? - Firstpost

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