The Friday Filibuster: The one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about this week in politics.
Closing Numbers
45% of Americans believe Democrats govern in a more honest and ethical way that Republicans; only 29% said Republicans governed this way.
56% of Colorado voters oppose tougher gun control laws.
11.3 million illegal immigrants were in the U.S. as of 2014, outnumbering the 9.6 million Americans who were unemployed last year.
52% of Americans oppose the Iran deal.
68% of Republicans view the GOP favorably, the lowest percentage in more than two years.
45% of American Jews disapprove of the Iran deal.
Planned Parenthood’s Demise?
It keeps getting worse and worse for Planned Parenthood. Fresh off of two undercover videos that showed high level abortionists with the clinic negotiating the sale of fetal body parts, two more disturbing videos were released this week. The third video shows abortionists procuring fetal tissue for profit and the fourth reveals the group is willing to sell organs from delivered babies. It is gruesome stuff and finally seems to be getting the attention of lawmakers on Capitol Hill who may actually be able to do something about it. The Senate will vote on defunding the abortion giant, though disturbingly, two Republican senators seem to oppose this effort. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood’s CEO is struggling to justify the revelations and the group is practically begging the media to stop covering the scandal. Hillary is flip-flopping in her response to the videos, first admitting they are disturbing, then reversing course saying she proudly stands with the group. Other Dems, however, are finding it a bit harder to defend the group. One Ohio Dem introduced a bill to actually strip Planned Parenthood of state funding. Of course, things are different in California, where the Los Angeles Superior Court ordered the Center for Medical Progress to desist from releasing any new footage further exposing Planned Parenthood.
Recommended
In case you want to make an impact now, 2ndVote has compiled all major companies that directly support Planned Parenthood, and here you can see how much the abortion giant is actually costing you.
Iran Deal: Still Awful
The White House caved on all three ‘red line’ demands of Iran and Kerry even admitted this week the deal “may” lead to U.S. deaths. Iran would also like to supply its own soil samples from the alleged nuclear site, thereby inspecting itself. Sen. Tom Cotton grilled Kerry on the deal (a video that's well worth watching). Israel, meanwhile, is saying that U.S. officials are withholding major parts and details of the deal from them. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee also took flak this week for implying that the Iran deal could initiate another Jewish Holocaust.
Campaigns & Elections
On the Left:
Contrary to what Hillary had hoped, the email scandal isn’t go away; it’s so bad even Democrats can’t seem to look the other way. One “Meet the Press” anchor said the probe into the scandal is incredibly significant, also noting her dismal favorability ratings. And her email lies were eviscerated by MSNBC of all places. One report found that her emails contained classified materials from five U.S. intelligence agencies! And now Team Hillary is worried about Biden 2016, who it's been revealed has an affinity for skinny dipping in front of female Secret Service agents. Things are not looking good for the former secretary of State, or the Democratic Party, as they’re also running out of time to find solid House candidates to put forward.
On the Right:
Ohio Gov. John Kasich finally cracked the top 10 in polling this week, putting him on the debate stage with the other big hitters. Carly Fiorina also got some much-deserved attention this week for her foreign policy speech at the Ronald Reagan Library. And whether or not the Koch brothers’ rejection of Trump will help or hurt the candidate remains to be seen.
Gun Control
The push for more gun control never seems to end. This time Senate Democrats are asking gun dealers for help in expanding background checks. Meanwhile, Americans see more guns as the solution to fighting crime, not the problem. And Black and Hispanics are lining up in droves for concealed carry permits in Chicago.
In Other News
- The Kentucky Juvenile Department banned a minister from Biblical counseling.
- House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen should be fired and impeached for obstruction of justice. And on top of that, a federal judge said he’d haul Koskinen into court and personally hold him in contempt over Lerner emails.
- Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) was indicted on racketeering charges this week.
- MSNBC has axed Alex Wagner and Ed Schultz's shows.
Graphics by Townhall Graphic Designer Feven Amenu.
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