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The TAKE with Averi Harper

President Joe Biden has long promised "swift and severe costs" to Russia if it were to invade Ukraine. Now, after Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a "special military operation," Biden has his chance to deliver on that promise.

Biden is slated to lay out "further consequences" for Russia in remarks from the White House Thursday. Explosions could be heard in Kyiv overnight, a possible signifier of a broader attack.

The president issued a sobering statement in response, calling the attack "unprovoked and unjustified."

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," Biden said in a statement.

The state flag of Russia stands outside the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, Feb. 23, 2022.

The Biden administration had begun to roll out a "first tranche" sanctions, related to Russian banks, oligarchs and the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2. Some GOP lawmakers have criticized Biden of not going far enough on sanctions, which haven't resulted in Russia reversing course.

But even as tensions escalate and Ukraine braces for a full-scale attack, the White House reiterated Biden's pledge not to send U.S. troops into Ukraine.

"We are not going to be in a war with Russia or putting military troops on the ground in Ukraine fighting Russia," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday.

The RUNDOWN with Alisa Wiersema

The uncertainty of this year's election calendar following redistricting is coming to a close as two political battlegrounds gain a clearer picture of their new maps.

In Pennsylvania, the state Supreme Court settled on a congressional map in a 4-3 ruling following a monthslong redistricting saga. The map chosen by the court was submitted by a group of citizens and was drawn by Stanford University professor Jonathan Rodden.

A new map of congressional districts provided by the Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania is shown, Feb. 23, 2022.

The new map reflects the outcome of the 2020 Census, in which Pennsylvania lost a congressional seat. Although the court did not move the May 17 primary date, it did delay the timeline for when candidates needed to gather and file documentation to get on the ballot by a few weeks.

As reported by FiveThirtyEight, the state now has eight Republican-leaning seats, six Democratic-leaning seats and three highly competitive seats. The 17th District, which is currently represented by Rep. Conor Lamb, who is running for Senate, is one of those highly competitive areas.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, political tensions over redistricting continued on Wednesday, as a three-judge panel rejected a GOP-backed congressional map and instituted remedial maps in its place. Overnight, the state Supreme Court denied appeals from Republican lawmakers to delay the use of the maps issued by the trial panel.

The TIP with Brittany Shepherd

It's conservatives' time to shine in the Sunshine State with the kickoff of the Conservative Political Action Conference later Thursday morning. Republican ideology is getting its first primary of sorts as moderate to far-right GOP members (and even some Democrats) flock to Orlando and plot their way toward victory for the upcoming midterm election, where they anticipate fruitful returns.

Former President Donald Trump prepares to speak at a rally at the Canyon Moon Ranch festival grounds in Florence, Ariz., Jan. 15, 2022.

Former President Donald Trump, his son Don. Jr, party allies Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz and Sen. Marco Rubio are among those receiving top billing for this dayslong celebration in Trump's new home state. Rumored GOP 2024 contenders Govs. Ron DeSantis and Kristi Noem will be in attendance. Noticeably absent is former Vice President Mike Pence, whose relationship with his former ticket-mate continues to publicly fracture. In a speech in Orlando a few weeks ago, Pence said Trump was "wrong" for suggesting he had any power in overturning election results. It's unclear if any of the Republicans present will echo Pence's message or instead dig further into false claims.

This year's CPAC is slated to have several conversations around culture-war issues that light up Republican voting bases. The event has such panels as "School Board for Dummies," "War Through Weakness, Elections Matter," "They Can't Shut Us Up!," "The Government is Dangerous to Your Health," "Sorry Stacey, you are not the Governor" and "Fire Fauci."

CPAC runs through Sunday.

NUMBER OF THE DAY, powered by FiveThirtyEight

30,000. That's the number of poll questions FiveThirtyEight has available to readers in its Latest Polls Page, which is home to virtually every public general-election poll for president, Senate, House and governor, virtually every public presidential primary poll, and virtually every public poll of the president's and vice president's approval ratings, other important politicians' favorability ratings and finally, the generic congressional ballot, or which party voters would support for Congress if the election was today. Bookmark this page as your one-stop shop for all your 2022 polling needs. And stay tuned, as we'll be rolling out new Senate, House and gubernatorial polling averages as soon as we have enough high-quality polls.

THE PLAYLIST

ABC News' "Start Here" Podcast. Start Here begins Thursday morning with ABCs Ian Pannell in Kyiv as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces military operations in Ukraine. And, the sponsor of Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill defends the legislation critics say demonizes the LGBTQ community. http://apple.co/2HPocUL

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

Download the ABC News app and select "The Note" as an item of interest to receive the day's sharpest political analysis.

The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the day's top stories in politics. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.

See original here:
Biden has chance to deliver on 'severe' Russian sanctions: The Note - ABC News

We are ready to continue to cooperate for the next steps. Specifically we are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes, Zelenskyy said on a July 25, 2019, call, the transcript of which became key evidence in Trumps first impeachment. Trump replied: I would like you to do us a favor, though, because our country has been through a lot, and Ukraine knows a lot about it.

Now Trump is seeking to undercut Bidens handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict by portraying himself as better-equipped to handle Moscow. Heres a look at how other key players in Trumps first impeachment are operating during the current Ukrainian invasion:

Bill Taylor: Taylor took over as the top U.S. envoy to Ukraine after his predecessor, Marie Yovanovitch, was removed following a conspiracy theory-laden campaign by Trump allies, led by Rudy Giuliani. During the subsequent impeachment probe, Taylor testified to investigators about concerns among Trumps handpicked advisers that the then-president had tied security aid to demands for an investigation of Joe Biden, Hunter Biden and discredited theories that blamed Ukraine, rather than Russia, for interference in the 2016 election. Recently Taylor has become a frequent presence on national TV analyzing Russias incursion into Ukraine and the Wests response.

Rudy Giuliani: Trumps longtime adviser and lawyer played an integral role in pressuring Ukrainian leaders to investigate Joe Biden, who had just entered the 2020 presidential race. Giuliani aligned himself with pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs and even a Ukrainian lawmaker since deemed by intelligence agencies to be a Russian agent. In recent days, hes joined the pro-Trump chorus criticizing Bidens handling of Ukraine.

Mike Pence: Trump pushed his vice president, a key conduit between his administration and Ukraine, to skip Zelenskyys inauguration in April 2019, a decision that came as the newly elected Ukrainian president was seeking U.S. recognition to show solidarity against Russia. Pence later met with Zelenskyy in Warsaw, where they discussed Trumps decision to freeze military assistance. Pence has tangled with Trump in recent months by publicly emphasizing that he had no authority to overturn the 2020 election, but he has also piled on Biden without mentioning earlier events or his role in the impeachment saga.

Jennifer Williams, an aide to Mike Pence, and Alexander Vindman testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump.|Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Alexander Vindman: A national security adviser who listened in on Trumps fateful July 2019 call with Zelenskyy, he became one of the key witnesses against Trump during the 2019-2020 impeachment process. He testified that he thought Trumps call undermined national security by essentially pressuring an ally to help the presidents domestic political fortunes. Vindman was removed from his post shortly after Trumps first trial; more recently, he sued Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., Giuliani and other close Trump allies, alleging attempted intimidation during the proceedings. Since Russia began its current invasion of Ukraine, Vindman has spoken out in support of Bidens handling of the conflict.

John Bolton: The former Trump national security adviser refused to testify during the House impeachment investigation, even as other witnesses revealed he sounded grave alarms about Trumps handling of Ukraine and called Giulianis involvement a hand grenade. Instead, Bolton waited to offer testimony until just before the Senate trial as news of his impending book began to circulate and the GOP-controlled Senate denied his offer. This year, Bolton has begun vocally criticizing Bidens handling of Ukraine despite having withheld his evidence against Trump during the key moments of the impeachment probe.

Originally posted here:
How the Ukraine invasion connects to Trump's first impeachment and where the players are now - POLITICO

By Arthur I. Cyr| The Shawnee News-Star

President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election.

Former Vice President Mike Pence was clear, calm and accurate in this statement February 4 while addressing the Federalist Society.

These qualities were helpful, to him and our nation, during the turbulent four years of the Trump administration. They continue to serve us all as Trump intensifies his false claims the 2020 election was rigged, declaring Pence could have corrected the situation.

On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence calmly certified the votes of the Electoral College, even as a violent and destructive mob was forming outside. Soon the rioters invaded the Capitol.

Federal prosecutors are systematically identifying and prosecuting the lawbreakers. Meanwhile, also on February 4, the Republican National Committee bizarrely declared the criminal behavior part of legitimate political discourse.

Overlooked in all the ongoing political noise is the nature of the Electoral College. What exactly is this obscure institution? Why not just count the peoples votes? After all, the right to vote is fundamental to our nation.

The answer is the Framers of our Constitution were committed to popular representation, but greatly opposed uncompromised concentration of power. The Constitution begins We, the people … At the same time, the Framers feared mob rule, a point brought home by the January 6 riot.

The men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft the new Constitution also were well aware central authority was necessary. The earlier Articles of Confederation, put in place from the start of the American Revolution, proved ineffective.

Yet above all, the Framers regarded concentrated political power as inherently dangerous. A powerful head of state could easily abuse the position, and the British Crown provided Exhibit A. A powerful legislature could also became dangerously assertive, and the British Parliament provided Exhibit B.

The Framers responded by setting up a rather complex network of institutions in which none was dominant, actually or potentially, by design. They considered having the president selected by Congress. However, ultimately they discarded that concept as encouraging potentially dangerous cooperation between two of the three branches of the federal government.

The final Constitution involved clear separation in allocated powers, but required practical cooperation in carrying out governing functions. People opposed to changing or abolishing the Electoral College express concern about dangers of tinkering with this mechanism.

The Electoral College reflects this network approach. The College consists of people assembled in each state, plus the District of Columbia, to select the president and vice president of the United States after the people vote. The electors are equal in number to a states congressional delegation. Federal office holders cannot serve.

Each state allocates all electors to the candidate for each high office receiving the most votes, except for Maine and Nebraska. In these states, two electors represent the winning ticket, with others allocated to the winning ticket in each congressional district.

Direct election would spur campaigns focused on metropolitan populations. Trumps 2016 Electoral College victory permitted representation of an enormous but diffused alienated population.

In the 1950s, there was serious sustained public debate about abolishing the Electoral College. Freshman Senator John F. Kennedy took a leading role, noting any change involved not only the … presidency …, but a whole solar system of government. He added,If it is proposed to change the balance of power of one of the elements …, it is necessary to consider the others.

Think hard, never easy.

Arthur I. Cyr is the author of After the Cold War (NYU Press and Macmillan/Palgrave). Contactacyr@carthage.edu

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Cyr: Election Integrity, the Electoral College and Mike Pence - Shawnee News Star

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Former Vice President Mike Pence last week rejected former President Donald Trump's claim that he could have 'overturned' the results of the 2020 election. The Morning Joe panel discusses.Feb. 7, 2022

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Read the original:
Mike Pence rebukes Trump, says he had no right to overturn election - MSNBC

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki HaleyNikki HaleyWhy Mike Pence should run for president Trump endorses Rep. Nancy Mace's primary challenger GOP challenger says Mace 'sold out President Trump' MORE said on Monday that she thinks former Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PencePence to give commencement address at South Carolina university Why Mike Pence should run for president Fight over Trump records puts focus on low-profile National Archives MORE "did what he thought was right" on Jan. 6 when he certified the results of the 2020 election.

"Mike Pence is a good man. He's an honest man. I think he did what he thought was right on that day," Haley told Fox News's Bret Baier on Monday.

"I will always say Im not a fan of Republicans going after Republicans because the only ones that win when that happens are the Democrats and the media, and we have to keep our eyes on 2022," she added.

Haley's remarks came after Pence said last week that the idea of overturning the election results was "un-American."

"President TrumpDonald TrumpGiuliani in discussions with Jan. 6 committee about testifying: report Rapper Kodak Black, three others wounded in shooting outside California bar Sunday shows preview: White House says Russia could invade 'any day'; RNC censure resolution receives backlash MORE is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election," Pence said at a Federalist Society event in Florida. "The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. Frankly, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president."

Former President Trump has explicitly said Pence should have unilaterally overturned the results, something he did not have the power to do.

If the Vice President (Mike Pence) had 'absolutely no right' to change the Presidential Election results in the Senate, despite fraud and many other irregularities, how come the Democrats and RINO Republicans, like Wacky Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsOn The Money Inflation hitshighest rate since February 1982 Three indicted following investigation into illegal donation scheme to Collins campaign, PAC Senators introduce a resolution honoring Tom Brady's career MORE, are desperately trying to pass legislation that will not allow the Vice President to change the results of the election? Trump said in a statement.

Trump has repeatedly blamed widespread voter fraud for his loss, but actions at the state level in several states backed by Democrats and Republicans have not found evidence to support his claims.

Haley is also seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, though she has said she will not run should Trumpdecide to launch his own bid.

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Nikki Haley: Pence 'did what he thought was right' on Jan. 6 | TheHill - The Hill