The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (04/17/2024):

3:05pm- On Tuesday, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) requested that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) resign—after Speaker Johnson announced he plans to hold a vote on Ukraine aid funding later this week. Massie joins Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) as Republican members of Congress now vocally opposed to Johnson remaining in power. Working with a slim Republican majority in the House (218-213 with 4 vacancies), is Johnson now in serious jeopardy of being removed as Speaker? On Wednesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said “Republicans need real leadership” and seemed to suggest Johnson should be replaced in favor of someone who is more fiscally responsible.

3:20pm- Annie Karni of The New York Times writes: “Speaker Mike Johnson’s elaborate plan for pushing aid to Ukraine through the House over his own party’s objections relies on an unusual strategy: He is counting on House Democrats and their leader, Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, to provide the votes necessary to clear the way for it to come to the floor.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/17/us/politics/johnson-democrats-ukraine-aid-plan.html

3:30pm- The Wall Street Journal writes: “Seven jurors for Donald Trump’s hush-money case were selected quickly Tuesday afternoon after a sluggish start, a pace that could clear the way for trial testimony to begin next week. Three women and four men have been chosen so far for a jury that will be the first ever to decide criminal charges against a former president. The jurors, all Manhattan residents, include a charter-school teacher, a software engineer, a salesman, a corporate lawyer and an oncology nurse.” You can read the full report from Corinne Ramey, James Fanelli, and Alex Leary here: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/jury-for-donald-trumps-hush-money-trial-takes-shape-an-oncology-nurse-a-software-engineer-a-teacher-5a65e772?mod=hp_lead_pos4

3:40pm- While speaking with Wolf Blitzer on CNN, former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori expressed concern about the anonymity and safety of the jurors serving on the Trump “hush money” trial. Khardori explained: “Now, this is not the fault of the media…Responsibility to guard all of the very specific information that we’re learning [about the jury] resides with the D.A.’s office and with the judge. I’m a little surprised that we are learning all of this because I do not think this jury is going to remain anonymous, necessarily, if they keep this up.”

4:05pm- An arrest warrant has been issued for Pennsylvania State Representative Kevin Boyle (D) after he allegedly violated a protection order by contacting his estranged wife. Earlier this year, a video of Boyle went viral when he drunkenly berated workers at a Pennsylvania bar. In the video he continually threatens to have the bar closed and asks, “do you know who I am?”

4:20pm- Following his Tuesday court appearance, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stopped at a New York City bodega and spoke with supporters.

4:40pm- On Wednesday, the Senate concluded its impeachment trial of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas—dismissing the charges. The House voted in favor of impeaching Mayorkas earlier this year. From the floor of the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee argued that the chamber’s Democratic leadership did not take the proceedings seriously.

5:00pm- Benjamin Wesier and Tracey Tully of The New York Times write: “Senator Robert Menendez may blame his wife, Nadine Menendez, for the bribery charges the couple is facing by claiming that she hid information from him and led him to believe that ‘nothing unlawful was taking place,’ according to court papers unsealed on Tuesday…The senator and his wife are accused of accepting cash, gold and a luxury car in exchange for Mr. Menendez’s willingness to use his political influence to help allies in New Jersey and to aid the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/nyregion/robert-menendez-bribery-trial.html

5:20pm- On HBO’s Real Time, Bill Maher admonished far-left Democrats in Dearborn, Michigan for chanting “death to America” at recent rallies. Congresswomen Ayana Pressley, Katie Porter, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all refused to condemn the chants when confronted by Fox News. In the past, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has also refused to condemn the chants.

5:35pm- Julie Kelly— Political Commentator & Author of “January 6: How Democrats Used the Capitol Protests to Launch a War on Terror Against the Political Right”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Supreme Court oral argument in Fischer v. United States, a case which will determine whether obstruction laws can be used to charge January 6thdefendants. You can find Kelly’s book here: https://a.co/d/eyz9CMX

6:05pm- While speaking to the press before boarding Air Force One, President Joe Biden seemingly suggested that his uncle was eaten by cannibals in New Guinea…wait. what?

6:30pm- Alfredo Ortiz—President & CEO of Job Creators Network—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Scranton, PA. Ortiz debunks the narrative that “Bidenomics” has been a success, reflecting on the massive increase in food costs. Plus, could Donald Trump win the Hispanic vote in 2024? Ortiz notes that during the Trump Administration, Hispanic home ownership reached record highs. You can find Ortiz’s book, “The Real Race Revolutionaries: How Minority Entrepreneurship Can Overcome America's Racial and Economic Divides,” here: https://a.co/d/5Pv5sX3

6:40pm- Vimal Patel of The New York Times writes: “Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean, hosted the dinner on Tuesday night in the backyard of his Oakland, Calif., home. The party was supposed to be a community building event, open to all third-year law students, with no speeches or formal activities. But a third-year law student and a Palestinian activist, Malak Afaneh, stood up at the event, holding a microphone, and launched into a speech.” In the video, which has gone viral on social media, the activists bizarrely claim they have a constitutional right to protest inside a private home. You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/us/uc-berkeley-palestinian-protest-free-speech.html