Tuesday was the biggest day of the 2018 campaign season so far. Voters in eight states, from California to New Jersey, went to the polls to cast their ballots in crucial primary contests. 

California Republicans accomplished one of their main goals. Businessman John Cox, endorsed by President Trump and CWF, finished second in the so-called “jungle primary” where all the candidates run on one ballot. 

The top two finishers, regardless of party, square off in the general election. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) finished in first place.

Had another Democrat finished second then those two candidates would run against each other in the November general election. Republicans would have been locked out of the top contest. 

With no candidate for governor, national GOP leaders feared that conservative turnout in California would have been depressed, putting several House seats at risk. Thankfully, that disastrous scenario was avoided.

Democrats also dodged a bullet. So many liberals ran this year that Nancy Pelosi feared the Left’s vote would be so divided that Democrats might be locked out in a number of targeted House races.

National Democrat committees poured millions of dollars into key races to support preferred candidates. Pelosi’s gamble appears to have paid off.

I thought it was telling that Newsom filled his victory speech with attacks on President Trump, while Cox noted that Democrat dominance of the Golden State has turned California into one of the most highly taxed states in the country.

And there seems to be something of a taxpayer revolt brewing in California as a liberal state senator who backed a massive increase in the gas tax was recalled. An initiative repealing the gas tax will appear on the November ballot. Polls indicate that it has broad support.

In other election news, Montana Republicans nominated state Auditor Matt Rosendale to take on Sen. Jon Tester (D). Trump won Montana by 20 points, making Tester’s seat a top GOP target this November.

Release the Report

The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday on the long-awaited report by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz regarding the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But the hearing was canceled because the Justice Department is refusing to release the report.

According to ABC News, the inspector general found that fired FBI Director James Comey repeatedly “defied authority” and may have been “insubordinate.” But we don’t know that for sure yet since the report is still being kept from Congress.

Various media outlets claim that individuals named in the report are being allowed to review it, while officials look for any national security concerns that may need to be redacted. But here’s the problem: The Justice Department has been using redactions not to shield national security but to cover up embarrassing issues.

For example, Justice redacted the cost of Andrew McCabe’s conference room table. I’m sure the $70,000 price tag was embarrassing to the department, but that hardly qualifies as a national security secret.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich said that the constant stonewalling from the Justice Department points to an enormous level of corruption by deep-state officials.

Speaking of deep-state officials, fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is now demanding immunity in exchange for his testimony before Congress.

The Real Danger

Many #NeverTrumpers often accuse the president of undermining the rule of law and endangering our traditions and institutions. They have it exactly backwards. Deep-state corruption is undermining our traditions, institutions and the rule of law.

As of now, I am struggling to see significant evidence that the weaponizing of our national security agencies against the Trump campaign is being seriously investigated. Sen. Grassley and Rep. Nunes are trying, but the bureaucracy appears to be in control.

For those worried about the growing divisions in the country, I can’t think of a worse blow to our constitutional republic than the president being crippled or driven out of office, while the deep state gets off scot-free.

Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page and the rest of that gang interfered in the election thinking they could get away with it because they all assumed Hillary Clinton was going to win.

The heartland of this country will be seething if the election results are effectively overturned.

The real risks to the republic are not a few Russian hackers. The far greater danger is an unelected and unaccountable bureaucracy fighting for its own interests and against the interests of the American people.

Another Obama Lie

Speaking of deep-state corruption, a new Senate report has uncovered yet another lie by the Obama administration related to the Iranian nuclear deal.

Tough U.S. sanctions prevented Iran from accessing the U.S. banking system. But in late February of 2016, the Obama administration violated those sanctions when it granted “a specific license” to a Middle Eastern bank allowing it to convert nearly $6 billion of Iranian currency through “any United States depository institution.”

Yet months later, Obama Treasury officials lied to Congress when they insisted that any reports regarding Iranian access to U.S. banks were “false” and “wrong.”

Remembering D-Day

Yesterday was the 74th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France that marked the beginning of the end of World War II.

America still has the most powerful military in the world. Its technological sophistication surpasses anything our leaders of 74 years ago could have imagined.

But when it comes to having the moral courage to do what needs to be done to triumph over evil, our retreat from the values of the Greatest Generation has been nothing short of breathtaking.

On D-Day, President Roosevelt demonstrated that moral courage when he led the nation in a prayer for our troops crossing the English Channel. His prayer was extensive. It went on for six minutes.

His prayer was not at all controversial. In fact, it was welcomed by a nation that wanted God’s favor in defeating Nazis. But today, if you defend prayer or faith in the public square, powerful people will accuse you of being a Nazi or the American Taliban or mentally ill.

Take a few moments to read or listen to FDR’s D-Day prayer. Share it with your children and grandchildren as a reminder of America’s rich religious heritage.

To all the men and women of the Greatest Generation who are still with us, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Thank you for defeating totalitarianism and for demonstrating tremendous courage throughout World War II, especially on D-Day.