This week, ex-White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony before the House Jan. 6 Committee made waves while Democrats plotted their next move in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Additionally, the 2024 presidential election came into closer view as prominent Republicans jockeyed for position while some Democrats fueled speculation over President Joe Biden’s reelection plans. Here are the quotes of the week.
“The president said something to the effect of ‘I’m the f***ing president. Take me up to the Capitol now.’”
– Ex-White House aide and Mark Meadows assistant Cassidy Hutchinson tells the Jan. 6 committee that Trump demanded to be taken to the Capitol amid the Jan. 6 riots, later alleging that he attempted to grab the steering wheel of his vehicle from a Secret Service agent.
EDITORIAL: TRUMP PROVEN UNFIT FOR POWER AGAIN
“Now that fake storyteller Cassidy Hutchinson has been totally discredited and marginalized for making up the most ridiculous ever story that I tried to commandeer control of a moving White House Limo, and even went for a choke hold on the other very strong Secret Service Agent sitting in the front seat, in addition to her other lies, the Unselect Committee is asking to interview the former White House counsel for dirt, even though that would set a terrible precedent for future Presidents. NO!”
– Trump attacks Hutchinson for her testimony and decries the Jan. 6 committee’s decision to subpoena Pat Cipollone, his former White House counsel, in a post on Truth Social.
“This is explosive stuff. If Cassidy is making this up, they will need to say that. If she isn’t they will have to corroborate. I know her. I don’t think she is lying.”
– Onetime Trump chief of staff Mick Mulvaney defends Hutchinson’s appearance before the Jan 6. committee, writing on Twitter that her testimony marked a “very, very bad day for Trump.”
“The reality that we face today as Republicans, as we think about the choice in front of us — we have to choose because Republicans cannot both be loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution.”
– Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) argues that Republicans can’t have it both ways in a widely anticipated speech at Ronald Reagan’s presidential library.
“F*** Clarence Thomas. He thinks that we are going to stand idly by while they take our rights — our right to marry, our right to have children, our right to live.”
– Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) doesn’t mince words in her criticism of Justice Clarence Thomas for his concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in which he called for rights to contraception, same-sex sexual activity, and same-sex marriage to be revisited by the Supreme Court.
“While this extremist Supreme Court works to punish and control the American people, Democrats must continue our fight to expand freedom in America. Doing so is foundational to our oath of office and our fidelity to the Constitution.”
– In a “Dear Colleague” letter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) vows that Congress will soon reconsider legislation to codify Roe into federal law, along with “other freedoms which Americans currently enjoy,” such as rights to contraception and same-sex marriage.
“If the filibuster gets in the way … we should provide an exception.”
– Speaking to reporters at a NATO conference in Madrid, President Joe Biden backs curtailing the Senate’s filibuster to codify Roe.
“President Trump, on behalf of all the MAGA patriots in America, I want to thank you for the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court yesterday.”
– Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) makes eyebrow-raising comments at a campaign rally with Trump. Her spokesman later said she misread her speech and had intended to say “right to life” rather than “white life.”
“The president intends to run, and if he does, I will be his ticket mate. We will run together.”
– Seemingly uncertain about whether or not Biden will seek reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris promises to continue as his running mate “if” he runs.
“That’s not something I’m encouraging, but it’s certainly possible. We’ve seen it in the past.”
– Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) suggests that Biden could face a primary challenge amid increasing speculation that he’s positioning himself as a possible successor to the 79-year-old president.
“I feel this tremendous pain in my back, and I’m thinking, what the — I didn’t even know what it was. All of a sudden, I hear this guy say, ‘You’re a f***ing scumbag,’ then he moves away so nobody can grab him.”
– Rudy Giuliani responds after being slapped on the back by someone while campaigning for his son, New York gubernatorial candidate Andrew Giuliani.
“I was walking around the Capitol, realizing that Democrats are literally not working.”
– Former investigative journalist and Maryland congressional candidate Matthew Foldi explains what motivated him to decide to run for Congress.
“Now, with Roe overturned, we will see which politicians supported the pro-life cause to win elections and which actually believed it.”
– Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashes out at politicians who are only anti-abortion for political reasons in what many saw as an implicit dig at Trump.
“If Putin was a woman, which he obviously isn’t, but if he were, I really don’t think he would’ve embarked on a crazy, macho war of invasion and violence in the way that he has. … If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, it’s what he’s doing in Ukraine.”
– Recalling Vladimir Putin’s efforts to maintain a hypermasculine public persona, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls the Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine “toxic masculinity.”
“Last night I drank far too much.”
– U.K. Conservative Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher resigns from his whip duties after allegations surfaced that he groped two men during a boozy night out at a club.
“There’s really no Toy Story Buzz without Woody. It just doesn’t seem to have any connection to the toy.”
– Tim Allen, who voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies, speaks about the spinoff Lightyear that features the voice of Chris Evans instead of Allen’s.
