trump s claim that the economy is fragil after all, the economy exceeded expectations in 2023, and last week, the u.s. got yet another strong jobs report, capping off a year of steady gains for the jobs market, although trump has been trying to magically think into existence a biden crash nce the 2020 election and his maga flank in the house is certainly dng its part to help. but the far right once again threatening to blow up a proposed government spending deal to fce a partial shutdown xt week, or else republican speaker mike johnson could suffer the same fate as kevin mccarthy and lose his job. because apparently, now one of the litmus tests for the maga republican party is willingness to crash the economy, just as the party is fully pro insurrection three years after the january 6th attack. take louisiana republican clay higgins for example. who tweeted that he would brief mike pence on how it was an fbi inside job and use their bond over jesus to prove it. that coming just days af
now, to the race for the white house, and a critical day for presidential hopefuls at the iowa state fair. former president donald trump and florida governor ron desantis holding competing events, 11 days from the first gop primary debate. abc s rachel scott has more from iowa. reporter: today, donald trump and his closest rival, ron desantis, facing off at one of the most crucial political litmus tests, the iowa state fair. the florida governor still struggling to chip away at trump s commanding lead, was heckled on stage. what you re hearing and seeing across iowa. reporter: a plane over the fairgrounds even flying a banner teasing, be likable, ron. and as desantis stopped to flip pork chops and burgers, voters chanted for his opponent. we love trump! we love trump! reporter: how do you close the gap with the former president? i think iowans want to see you, they want to be able to kick the tires, and they want to know that you ll fight for them as president. reporter
true. the democrats are intent on solving actual, relevant world problems, republicans are intent and stating an ideology in creating litmus tests. an example i pointed to is senator tommy tuberville. here he is effectively blocking the nominations in the military out of an ideological fight about abortion provisions that privilege for abortions in the u.s. military. the idea is that the u.s. military must in order for the military to staff. whatever it is, the department of defense has said the the number of active duty military that has been stationed in a place where it can t get access, the immediate family can t get access to reproductive rights, reproductive surfaces that they need. the military will say that they
it increasingly feels like on a host of issues, that holds true. the democrats are intent on solving actual, relevant world problems, republicans are intent and stating an ideology in creating litmus tests. an example i pointed to is senator tommy tuberville. here he is effectively blocking the nominations in the military out of an ideological fight about abortion provisions that privilege for abortions in the u.s. military. the idea is that the u.s. military must in order for the military to staff. whatever it is, the department of defense has said the the number of active duty military that has been stationed in a place where it can t get access, the immediate family can t get access to reproductive rights, reproductive surfaces that they need. the military will say that they take time and go to another place, and we will help play for travel. that s it, that s all what we ll do.
should do. you serve your constituents and serve your conscious. that may require you to leave your party at times, vote against your party at times. she should be no more penalized for supporting ways, thinking more creatively about how we educate kids that have been left behind than a republican that votes for common sense gun safety laws. you should be allowed to vote for what you want to vote for and not have your party trash you. she took the step to say i no longer want to be a democrat. voters in the district will have an opportunity to weigh-in here. i don t like litmus tests, judge. she s standing up for students, kids, families that want safer neighborhoods. if you read that statement, she obviously has a point of different with democrats on immigration has well. so i salute here. salute her for standing up for what she believes in for serving her constituents, her conscious