| Former President Trump received what he said was unwelcome news from Big Tech on Wednesday as Facebook’s oversight board upheld his suspension from the social media platform, which the company imposed following his persistent falsehoods about the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The 20-member board said in a statement that Trump “created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible,” leading to the ban following the deadly insurrection. The board also said Facebook must reexamine its decision within six months, effectively postponing any final decision about the former president until then (The Hill). In reaction, Trump assailed Facebook, Twitter — which banned him in January — and Google as “corrupt” and said Big Tech is destroying the U.S. election “process.” The Facebook decision to continue its ban affects how Trump can converse with his supporters. The 45th president has largely used cable news interviews and press releases to reach out to his base since his social media accounts were blocked. On Tuesday, Trump’s team announced the launch of what appears to be an expanded blog, allowing supporters to share Trump’s posts and missives. Republicans say they doubt Facebook’s decision will change much for Trump as he gears up for a potential third White House bid. “President Trump can galvanize supporters without the help of social media companies, but if Facebook decides to lift their suspension in six months it certainly doesn’t hurt his chances for 2024,” said one GOP strategist who worked for Trump’s reelection, adding that Trump’s fundraising prowess should not be hampered too much despite his reliance on the platform for reaching donors in past campaigns. “He’s capable of raising unrivaled amounts from small-dollar contributors even without the platform,” the strategist added. A second strategist suggested Facebook’s decision will backfire by displaying what conservatives assert is partisan bias (The Hill). "It’s incredible stupidity on the part of Facebook, who's now shut him out twice. It fuels the fire for conservatives to go after Big Tech,” the strategist said, predicting that Facebook will eventually relent. “In the short term it probably helps him. He can yell and scream about how Big Tech is trying to shut him out.” Rebecca Klar, The Hill: Facebook board decision on Trump ban pleases no one. Politico: Trumpland thought he’d get back on Facebook. Now, they’re anxious and scrambling. The Hill: Trump told Facebook board his supporters were “law-abiding” during the Capitol riot. Kara Swisher: Good riddance, Donald Trump? On Capitol Hill, GOP leaders have turned on House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (Wyo.) as they prepare to oust her next week in favor of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who received public boosts from Trump and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Wednesday. Trump on Monday panned Cheney as a “warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership,” all the while hailing Stefanik, 36, as a “far superior choice” (The Hill). As Niall Stanage writes in his latest memo, the impending takedown of Cheney is a sign that the battle for the future of the GOP post-Jan. 6 is effectively over — and that Trump is the victor. Republican leaders who expressed dissent from Trump or criticized him, including McCarthy, have swung around to his side, quieted their voices or moved on entirely. According to Politico, Cheney is not doing much to retain her post. However, she kept up her criticisms in an op-ed in The Washington Post on Wednesday evening, pleading with the GOP to move away from the “Trump cult of personality.” She also hit House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), saying that he “changed his story” on Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6 riot. 
© Getty Images Paul Kane, The Washington Post: From former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) acolyte to Trump disciple: Stefanik sets out to replace Cheney in GOP leadership. The Wall Street Journal: Behind Cheney’s break with McCarthy over Trump. With the vote to remove Cheney from leadership on deck for next week, The Hill’s Scott Wong writes that her ouster is sparking backlash from some Republicans who see a double standard in the party’s effort to boot the most powerful woman in the GOP from her post while men who criticized Trump sit pretty. Namely, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who intensely criticized Trump on and following Jan. 6, remains in his post, while Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) survived a recent censure vote at home. “The women don't get the same slack that the men get,” former Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), a Cheney ally, told Scott in a phone interview. “And I think a lot of the men are attacking her because they resent that she's got guts and they don't.” “They're on their knees for Trump and she's standing up for herself,” Comstock added. “And that's kind of an embarrassing thing if you're the guy on your knees.” However, rank-and-file Republicans believe Cheney’s ouster has more to do with her critiques of the members who voted her into leadership than her impeachment vote or anti-Trump remarks. “She’s always had to prove she had bigger balls than her colleagues. Eventually, that just got old,” one House Republican told the Morning Report. “She never had grace with fellow members. It was always her way or the highway. It’s not about whether there’s room for debate. It’s that Liz always wanted to embarrass anybody who didn’t agree with her.” “Liz kept poking all the members who voted not the certify. There are 130 of them,” the member added. “That’s just math.” A second member added that they weren’t surprised by her looming removal. “Cheney wants this,” the lawmaker said, noting that Stefanik “has made more calls and has more commitments at the moment” than the Wyoming Republican. However, Stefanik’s roadmap to becoming the No. 3 House Republican is not without speed bumps as multiple outside groups indicated their displeasure with her candidacy. The Club for Growth tweeted on Wednesday evening that the New York Republican is a “liberal” and “NOT a good spokesperson” for the House GOP, noting that she has a 35 percent Club for Growth lifetime rating — the fourth-lowest rating among House Republicans. “House Republicans should find a conservative to lead messaging and win back the House Majority,” the Club for Growth said. One GOP member speculated that the group wants Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, for the post even though he removed his name from consideration. In addition, Stefanik has a 43 percent rating with the American Conservative Union (ACU). The group indicated that it is not enthusiastic about her taking the spot. “That’s a terrible rating,” ACU President Matt Schlapp told the Morning Report, adding that the group is “considering the situation.” Eliana Johnson, Politico Magazine: The real reason Republicans want to oust Cheney. Reid Wilson, The Hill: GOP legislatures target critical race theory. The Hill: Tim Scott (R-S.C.) sparks buzz in crowded field of White House hopefuls. 
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