The Influencer Who Came to Congress

Contact Your Elected Officials
Time Header Red

Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna was on her way off the House floor on June 15 when she saw Mike Turner of Ohio headed her way. She steeled herself for a tough exchange. Less than 24 hours earlier, Turner and 19 other Republicans had blocked Lunaโ€™s resolution censuring California Democrat Adam Schiff, the MAGA-world villain who led Trumpโ€™s first impeachment. Undaunted, Luna had mobilized a backlash by right-wing firebrands Steve BannonCharlie Kirk, and an activist known as DC_Draino who labeled Turner and the other GOP dissenters the โ€œCoward 20,โ€ publishing their Congressional office phone numbers and triggering a wave of irate calls and social media harassment.

Turning to face the bulky ten-term veteran who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, a defiant Luna, 34, paused near the back doors of the House chamber. But as Turner started engaging her in discreet chitchat, it quickly became clear that he wasnโ€™t picking a fight. He was looking to surrender. โ€œWe really want to censure Schiff,โ€ Turner told the Florida freshman. โ€œHow can we work together?โ€

If Luna was surprised, she was also prepared, pulling from her purse a revised censure resolution that would force a House Ethics investigation into Schiff but that dropped an unprecedented $16 million fine. Sitting in her House office moments after the conversation with Turner, Luna exhibited a studied swagger. โ€œI am telling you: I am persistent, and I am not kidding, censuring is going to happen.โ€ Six days later, Luna forced another House vote to censure Schiff. This time, it passed 213-209. Not a single Republican voted against it.

The resolution was a milestone for Luna, marking her emergence from the mass of recently arrived GOP insurgents. To some, sheโ€™s a dangerously effective new version of the millennial MAGA politician ready to tear down the institutions of government in pursuit of an ultraconservative revolution. To others, sheโ€™s something more, the vanguard of a potentially significant turn in American politics. Luna is less a politician who parlayed her seat in Congress into a huge online followingโ€”like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezโ€”than the other way around: the first social media influencer to parlay an online audience into a seat in Congress.

By Eric Cortellessa

Read Full Article on Time.com

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

The Very British Stalemate: British Politics Explained for Americans

The assumption in the minds of American commentators, politicians, and analysts is that the UK has "gone to the dogs" with "woke" political ideology.

NFL Vikings Male Cheerleader Controversy ย 

The NFL under the leadership of Roger Goodell is back to yet another controversy that is causing backlash and a possible boycott.

Euronews Is Euro-Trash: Lessons in Media Deception Tactics

Euronews โ€œcoveredโ€ the vicious murder of a 17-year-old Dutch girl by so-called asylum seeker who raped another girl, calling him simply a โ€œ22-year-old man.โ€

The Woke Left Goes Lock, Stock And Cracker Barrel

Another legendary American institution has been targeted by woke leftists. This time it is the popular family restaurant chain, Cracker Barrel, founded inย 1969.

โ€˜Indigenous Drag Story Hourโ€™: A Back-to-Public-School Treat For the Kids

I gave leading child-grooming outfit Drag Queen Story Hour my email to solicit me for funds to convert more public school kids into trannies.

Former Sinaloa Cartel Boss Zambada Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

Former Mexican cartel kingpin Ismael โ€œEl Mayoโ€ Zambada pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 25.

FBI Announces 1,000 Arrests Since Federal Government Took Over DC Police

The FBI announced that more than 1,000 arrests have been made across Washington since the federal govt took over law enforcement for the city.

From Voting Rights to Legal Issues: Five Things You Need to Know About Trumpโ€™s Intel Deal

Agreement between the Trump admin and Intel Corp gave the federal govt a 10% ownership stake sparked a rally in shares but drew fire from conservatives.

North Carolina Supreme Court Allows Bars to Sue State Over COVID-19 Restrictions

North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 5-2 in decisions that bar owners may pursue their lawsuits against the state over COVID-19-related shutdowns in 2020.

Trump Signs Order Targeting American Flag Burning, Desecration

President Trump signed an EO that directs the attorney general to prosecute those caught burning the American flag or desecrating it in other ways.

Trump Signs Executive Orders Aimed at Ending Cashless Bail

Trump signed two EOs aimed at eliminating cashless bail, along with order adding specialized law enforcement units to executive agencies in Washington.

Airbnb Co-founder to Redesign Thousands of US Government Websites

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia is honored to redesign thousands of U.S. government websites after he was appointed as Trumpโ€™s new design chief.

Trump Warns He May Send Troops to Baltimore to Fight Crime

President Trump suggested heโ€™s contemplating sending National Guard troops to Baltimore, Maryland, to fight โ€œcrime disasterโ€ in the city.
spot_img

Related Articles