'Both of those keep me up at night'

The type of violent extremism that the former president helped stoke online is exactly what worries the current attorney general. In his first congressional hearing since his confirmation, Merrick Garland appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday to discuss his $35.2 billion budget request for the next fiscal year. His priorities include combating "domestic violent extremism" and "domestic terrorism," two problems that Garland says are "an emerging and accelerating threat."

• — "The department is putting its resources into defending the country." The Justice Department is seeking an additional $101 million to address the rising threat, including $45 million for the FBI and $40 million that federal prosecutors can use to manage their increasing domestic terrorism caseloads.
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• — A focus on civil rights. The budget proposal represents a shift from the previous administration's focus on fighting street crime and gangs to combating racial inequality, environmental degradation, and gender violence. Garland said the department's funding priorities reflect a commitment to "the civil rights and the civil liberties" of Americans.
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• — Curbing gun violence. While Garland's budget was generally well received by Democrats, Republicans on the committee expressed concern about Garland's request for additional funding to enforce federal gun laws, give grants for community violence intervention programs, and support improved background checks and more comprehensive red-flag laws. —The New York Times

Rubin: Facebook's biggest problem remains

"Facebook’s problem goes beyond the hypocrisy of potentially returning one of the worst abusers of its terms of service to its platform. To be sure, if returned, he will no doubt magnify the hate speech and disinformation problem Facebook claims to be addressing. The real issue, however, continues to be whether Facebook will pay a price for its stubborn refusal to live up to its own standards and subject itself to greater scrutiny." —Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post

Jennifer Rubin is an attorney and political opinion columnist at The Washington Post.

MORE: Oversight Board upholds Trump's Facebook suspension —Axios

Damning words for Barr DOJ

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson has ordered the release of a 2019 memo supporting former Attorney General Bill Barr's decision not to prosecute Donald Trump for obstruction of justice over activities revealed by the Mueller Investigation. Jackson denounced the Justice Department's effort to keep the memo secret, as well as Barr's initial description of the investigation's conclusions. "Not only was the Attorney General being disingenuous then, but DOJ has been disingenuous to this Court with respect to the existence of a decision-making process that should be shielded by the deliberative process privilege," she wrote in a withering opinion that many others have held for two very long years. —Politico

MORE: Feds seek outsider to sift seized Giuliani records —Politico

Chauvin wants a new trial

An attorney for former Minneapolis Police Ofc. Derek Chauvin filed a motion for a new trial yesterday. Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of the murder of George Floyd last year. The defense contends that mistakes made by Judge Peter Cahill, prosecutorial misconduct, juror misconduct, witness intimidation, and the impact of publicity violated Chauvin's constitutional right to due process and a fair trial. John Stiles, deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, said, "The court has already rejected many of these arguments, and the state will vigorously oppose them." —CNN

MORE: President Biden's promises on policing reform: What the administration has accomplished —USA Today

Vanden Heuvel: RCV changes politics for the better

"[T]he For the People Act, which passed the House in March, contains a clause that would provide funding for states to implement new voting systems capable of counting ranked ballots. If passed in the Senate, it could remove a logistical hurdle for future jurisdictions seeking to implement ranked-choice voting. In an era of heated divisiveness, cynical punditry, and exhausting negativity in politics, ranked-choice voting could be the systemic electoral change we need to foster substantive campaigns—and build healthier, more collaborative, and more sustainable movements for change." —Katrina vanden Heuvel in The Washington Post

Katrina vanden Heuvel is a columnist at The Washington Post covering national politics and foreign policy.

MORE: NYC launching $15 million campaign to educate voters about ranked-choice voting —CBS News

Focus on House GOP leadership

Republicans in the U.S. House have had enough of Rep. Liz Cheney's truth-telling. They are expected to try to remove her from her leadership position as House Republican Conference chair for publicly denouncing Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. A vote could come as early as May 12. A Cheney spokesperson has said, "This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan. 6. Liz will not do that." —Reuters

• — "You know, I've lost confidence." House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, caught yesterday during a moment of candor on a hot mic, revealed his frustrations with Cheney and her pesky honesty. "I think she's got real problems," he told Fox News host Steve Doocy off-air ahead of a live "Fox and Friends" interview. "I've had it with her." —Axios
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• — "The fix is in." Seeing an opportunity, Rep. Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump defender, is working behind the scenes to lock down enough support to replace Cheney at the No. 3 spot. She spent much of yesterday working the phones to make her case to fellow Republicans and enlisted Rep. Guy Reschenthaler to make calls on her behalf as well. —CNN
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• — "Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for conference chair." Stefanik has a fan in Rep. Steve Scalise, who, as Minority Whip, is No. 2 in House GOP leadership. "House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that," a Scalise spokesperson said. Stay tuned. —NBC News

Dent: Bravo, Liz Cheney

"Liz Cheney and the few other Republicans who remain outspoken against Trump and his big lie—Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger—are providing an immeasurable service to the GOP and America by speaking so honestly, truthfully, and eloquently about the 2020 election. What these outstanding leaders need are vocal GOP followers in Congress. If a critical mass of GOP congresspeople speaks up, the Trump stolen election narrative will change." —Charlie Dent on CNN

Charlie Dent formerly represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Ethics Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. 

MORE: Susan Del Percio: Cheney-Trump-McCarthy triangle proves Republican Party is nowhere near rock bottom —NBC News

I was reflecting on my attitudes toward the GOP this morning. I realize that, despite all that has happened, I continue to be in disbelief that Trumpism prevails. I held hope throughout Trump's presidency that the majority of Republicans would part ways with him when he couldn't hurt them anymore. Now, six months after the election and four months since the Capitol insurrection, they are doing to the party and to America what Trump did to them. They have adopted his worst tactics to benefit themselves. They lie, punish dissenters, and muscle to get their way. I don't have any words to express my disgust. How dare they destroy a major political party to do the bidding of a madman? What good could possibly come from them leading a deluded public off a cliff? I still find this very difficult to accept. —Nomalanga N., New Mexico

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