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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sen. Sherrod Brown: GOP Should Allow Impeachment Witnesses but “Republicans are Afraid”

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Republicans are afraid. I mean, they liked the far right-wing judges that Trump gives them, but they’re fearful of him,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told NNPA Newswire. “They are afraid of him calling them names and coming into their space and campaign against them. Fear, too often here, does the business,” Brown stated.

Published

7 years ago

January 30, 2020

Oakland Post

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) (Photo: Marc Nozell from Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA /Wikimedia Commons)

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The bombshell information from former National Security Advisor John Bolton that stunned the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump has added more intrigue to the proceedings, and Democrats are hopeful that it could finally force Republicans to agree to witness testimony.

“Republicans are afraid. I mean, they liked the far right-wing judges that Trump gives them, but they’re fearful of him,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told NNPA Newswire.

“They are afraid of him calling them names and coming into their space and campaign against them. Fear, too often here, does the business,” Brown stated.

On Monday, January 27, the New York Times reported that a new book by Bolton scheduled for release in March revealed that the former national security adviser was told by Trump that he didn’t want to release military aid to Ukraine until that country helped with investigations that could hurt Democrats, particularly presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The Times reported that Charles Cooper, a lawyer for Bolton, said he provided a copy of Bolton’s new book to the White House just before the new year. Cooper reportedly said he wanted administration officials to review the book for classified information.

At the heart of the Democrats’ case for impeachment are allegations that Trump struck a quid-pro-quo agreement with Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

In his book, “The Room Where It Happened,” The Times reports Bolton writes that Trump explicitly told him, “he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens.”

Democrats have sought to call witnesses and submit documents during the impeachment trial, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), has steadfastly refused their requests.

With Bolton’s revelations, Democrats need just four of their Republican counterparts to vote in favor of witnesses, assuming that 10% of the Dems also vote in favor of witnesses.

“It’s clear that this is a sham trial if we don’t get witnesses, and John Bolton should be called,” Brown stated. “The president consistently says this is a witch hunt and then he says it’s all hearsay. Well, then let’s get people who were in the room, and we want to hear directly from those people who the president. Otherwise, it’s not a real trial,” he stated.

When asked about the role and power that Chief Justice John Roberts has over the impeachment trial, Brown said he doesn’t.

“It’s not just your readers that don’t understand what the chief justice does. The chief justice could basically sit there. I guess he thinks it’s his job,” Brown stated. “There is some discussion that if there’s a tie vote if we say have a 50 to 50 tie, on whether Bolton should testify, there’s some belief that the chief justice would break the tie. Some people think he wouldn’t. Nobody knows that.”

Brown added that he and others would like Roberts to decide on whether witnesses can be called. He said having witnesses could help find Trump guilty, or they could exonerate him. “The Democrats want the truth to come out. This would be better for the country,” Brown stated.

When prompted for his message to African Americans in light of the fact that the president has claimed success in lowering unemployment and providing other benefits, Brown stated that Black America and other minorities shouldn’t be fooled by Trump’s rhetoric of an “excellent economy” and his doing great things for African Americans.

“The facts are that [the booming economy] started with President Obama. This is the longest period of economic growth since the Second World War, and the first seven years or the first six started with Obama,” Brown stated.

“The economic growth under Obama’s last three years was higher than it’s been under Trump’s first three years. But, it doesn’t matter because the wages haven’t gone up.”

Brown continued:

“I’m certainly glad for more jobs, but they’re often not good-paying jobs. Today, Trump is proposing cuts to disability and the SNAP program for, in many cases, people who are working or can’t eat or who can’t work because they’re disabled. At the end of it, the president is a bigot. He’s done everything that he can to suppress the vote, to divide the country, and he’s a racist. I think that overrides all of this.”

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.