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The unprecedented indictment of former President Trump creates a political puzzle and problem for Republican leaders in Washington who are divided over how to respond to it and have differing views about what it means for the future of their party. 

Some Republicans, such as Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), are lambasting the indictment as an “abuse of power” and a “weaponization” of the justice system, predicting it will fuel public support for Trump in 2024.  

“The American people will not tolerate this injustice, and the House of Representatives will hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account,” McCarthy declared last week.  

But other prominent Republicans, who want the party to move past Trump, such as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), are staying quiet about the news bombshell.  

“It seems like he’s gotten the base strongly behind him. Does that change over time? We’ll see, especially since there’s more legal trouble going on,” said one Senate Republican aide. “It’s probably prudent for Republicans to take a deep breath and see what he’s actually charged with. 

“It’s a puzzle right now and no one really knows how this all plays out, politically and legally,” the aide added.  

The aide warned that Republicans racing to defend Trump have “really put themselves out there on a limb.”  

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an advisor to the Senate GOP leadership team, said last month he would prefer to see House Republicans working on the issues that helped them win the majority instead of battling with Bragg.  

He offered a measured statement on the indictment. 

“It looks to me like this is an opportunity for this DA to make headlines and gain publicity,” he said Friday.  

Some of Trump’s critics within the party think that even if the latest development helps him consolidate support in the party, it may further weaken his viability in a general-election matchup against President Biden and hurt the GOP brand.  

“I really, truly think that there is fatigue over the circus that comes with Donald Trump. I think a lot of people want to support him and be supportive of him and agree with him on the policies but are fatigued by the circus,” said Matt Dole, a Republican consultant based in Ohio, a Senate battleground in 2024.  

Dole said the silence of prominent Republicans such as McConnell and Thune reflects that “fatigue.” 

“I think you’re seeing people just tired of the circus,” he said, noting GOP leaders are bracing for the possibility of additional indictments from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.  

“There’s no doubt that you could make the case that this is a politically motivated indictment,” he said of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump. “Republicans can think it’s a political indictment and also be sick of the circus. 

“If you think that other indictments are coming and you’re fatigued, the notion of coming out and saying, ‘This is a political indictment,’ well, then the next one you’re going to have to say something,” he added. “Staying quiet then I think is just an acknowledgement that there’s more to come and we’re going to let him sort it out in the court.”  

One Republican strategist said Trump already struggled with swing suburban voters because of his pugnacious style and penchant for controversy. 

“An indictment like this with two more potentially coming down in the future really hurts his chances to win back these suburban voters,” the strategist said.  

“For any Republican candidate to succeed in a presidential race, they need to bring these right-of-center voters back into the fold and this latest development really hurts his chances to be the best candidate do that,” the strategist said.  

Other Republicans think the indictment will pave the way for Trump to win the nomination next year.  

“I think this is an enormous political gift to Donald Trump,” Cruz said on his podcast, “Verdict.”  

“If I were a Democrat, I might well report Alvin Bragg to the Federal Election Commission for making the single greatest in-kind contribution to a presidential campaign in history,” he added. “This will help Trump.”  

Ross K. Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University, predicted the indictment will strengthen Trump’s support from the Republican base.  

“I think it solidifies in a general election that portion of the Republican electorate that for a long time has been committed to Donald Trump. I think they’ll stick to him like a stamp sticks to a love letter,” he said.  

And he projected “there may be initial sympathy” for Trump from independent and swing voters. 

“That may be based on the complexity of the charges, which of course we haven’t seen yet,” he added, noting that Democrats did well in the 1998 midterm election after House Republicans impeached him for having an affair with a White House intern.  

Some Republican strategists think Bragg’s case could stretch out for months, well into the 2024 election cycle.  

“If it’s being litigated, it’s going to be in appeals court, they’re going to be appealing different aspects of the case,” said Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Senate aide. “It’s helping Trump raise money now, no doubt. 

“It’s going to help Trump raise a lot of money for his re-election,” he added. 

Trump’s campaign and allied groups, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, sent out fundraising appeals citing the indictment immediately after news of it broke Thursday.  Darling said McConnell’s early silence on Trump’s indictment wasn’t surprising.  

“McConnell doesn’t like Trump. He’s not going to make any statement that would be beneficial to Trump’s potential re-election,” he said.  

Thune, who has stood in as the Senate Republican leader in recent weeks while McConnell recuperates from a concussion, indicated that Republicans are getting tired of having to regularly answer questions about Trump’s legal problems instead of talking about President Biden’s record or problems afflicting the economy, such as inflation.  

Asked if it’s frustrating to keep on getting sucked into Trump’s legal dramas, Thune replied: “What do you think? 

At the same time, Thune acknowledged that “a lot of our members, colleagues” are wondering why the Manhattan district attorney is prioritizing charges against Trump that other prosecutors have declined to pursue “when there are so many serious crime issues in New York.”  

Bragg has come under fire from Republican lawmakers for circulating a memo to prosecutors in January of last year advising them to only seek prison sentences for the most serious crimes.  

His record of downgrading 52 percent of the felony cases in his jurisdiction down to misdemeanors and winning convictions in just over 50 percent of felony cases has also drawn criticism.  

“How can President Trump avoid prosecution in New York?” asked Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a tweet Thursday.

“On the way to the DA’s office on Tuesday, Trump should smash some window, rob a few shops and punch a cop. He would be released IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote in a follow-up tweet.     

Even Republicans who aren’t viewed as staunch Trump allies see it as good politics to rally to his defense given Bragg’s record in New York and the support from Color of Change PAC, a group that accepted money from financier George Soros.   Biden’s nominee for Labor secretary on shaky ground in Senate Democratic group launches opposition database targeting DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Trump’s leading rival for the presidential nomination, said Thursday that Florida would not assist with any extradition request Bragg may make to bring Trump to stand trial in New York. No such request was likely to come given Trump’s willingness to go to New York, but the statement showed DeSantis wanted to be seen as standing up to Bragg.

Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (Wyo.), the third-ranking member of Senate GOP leadership team, accused Bragg of acting on political motives.  

“If it was anyone other than President Trump, a case like this would never be brought,” he said. “Instead of ordering political hit jobs, New York prosecutors should focus on getting violent criminals off the streets.”  

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Labor Day Sales from Anker SOLIX, Jackery, and Rad Power Bikes, score massive $683 savings on Luckeep X1 Lite e-bike at $466, more

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August 22, 2025

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Labor Day Sales from Anker SOLIX, Jackery, and Rad Power Bikes, score massive 3 savings on Luckeep X1 Lite e-bike at 6, more

Closing out this week’s Green Deals is several holiday sales from some of our favorite brands, lead by Anker’s SOLIX Labor Day Sale that is taking up to 61% off power stations and solar bundles starting from $120. We also have further Labor Day Sales from Jackery (up to 50% off with bonus 5% and 7% savings) and Rad Power Bikes, a massive $683 price drop on Luckeep’s X1 Lite Folding All-Terrain e-bike at $466, and much more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings are at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Lectric Labor Day Sale with the $500 price cut on the ONE e-bike to a new low, Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 deals, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Review: The ST3 Pro e-scooter brings serious suspension alongside smart controls and more as Navee’s latest flagship

As a long-time rider of Segway electric scooters, my expectations are quite high for new brands looking to climb their way up to the standard that the household-name has set in stone at this point. Only within the last few months did Navee come onto my radar, with the brand offering me the chance to test out its latest flagship model, the ST3 Pro Electric Scooter, which has been quite the surprise, to say the least. At first, it seemed like it was full of gimmicks that were destined to fail, but after riding around for several weeks now, I can happily say that Segway may just have found a new challenger. Head below to get my hands-on impressions of this high-end e-scooter that still retains accessible pricing for the stunning list of features.

To get our full hands-on impression of this new flagship e-scooter, be sure to check out our review here.

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Anker SOLIX power stations

Save up to 61% on Anker SOLIX power stations and solar bundles during its Labor Day Sale – deals start from $120

Anker has launched its Labor Day Sale running through August 30 and taking up to 61% off the brand’s lineup of power stations, solar bundles, accessories, and more. Coinciding with the new pre-launch promotion on the upcoming C1000 Gen 2 station, we spotted Anker dropping its first-gen C1000 Portable Power Station bundled with a 200W solar panel and protective waterproof bag back to $729 shipped for the second time. This bundle normally fetches $1,598 in full, which we saw discounts take as low as $799 until last month’s Prime Day Sale when it hit this low price for the first time. At Amazon, you’ll only find the station and solar panel pairing for $700 shipped, so you’re getting the waterproof bag (valued at $100) for $30 more. This is a 54% markdown that cuts $869 off the tag for a second chance at the best price we have tracked. Head below to browse this sale’s full lineup.

The Anker SOLIX C1000 power station is one of the brand’s best compact backup power companions for camping trips, right alongside the smaller C800 Plus, C300 series, and C200. While not as big as its home backup models, it still brings a solid 1,056Wh LiFePO4 battery (expandable up to 2,112Wh) along for your off-grid adventures with 11 output ports that provide up to 1,800W of steady power that can surge as high as 2,400W. It can refill its own battery to 80% in 43 minutes through a standard AC outlet, with it taking 58 minutes to reach full. There’s also the 600W max solar input that can recharge it in 1.8 hours, so with the included 200W panel, you’re looking at things taking a little longer, around five or so hours. And your solar setup gets the added protection of the waterproof bag that fits the station and keeps it safer from the elements.

Anker’s other SOLIX C1000 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX C800 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX C300/C200 Labor Day Sale deals:

Anker’s SOLIX F2000 Labor Day Sale deals:

To check out Anker’s full SOLIX Labor Day Sale lineup, including the larger power stations and solar generator bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

woman riding Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus e-bike through farm

Rad Power’s Labor Day Sale takes up to $600 off three legacy e-bikes starting from $999 + 25% accessory discounts

Rad Power has launched its Labor Day Sale promotions through September 3 with up to $600 taken off a selection of e-bikes alongside up to 25% discounts on accessories (applied in cart). Alongside the ongoing $999 low on the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike that now sports a “last chance” mention, Rad has added one of my favorite models to the deals lineup, the RadRover 6 Plus Step-Thru Fat-Tire e-bike at $1,299 shipped. We last saw this model come off its $1,599 price tag back in June for the brand’s Father’s Day sale with a $200 discount, with today’s deal being the first we’ve seen its $1,299 pricing show up in 2025, which has mostly kept costs at $1,399 or higher, except the brief fall to the $1,199 low at the top of the year. Aside from that low price in January, you’re otherwise looking at the best deal of this year, saving you $300 off the going rate. Head below for more on this and the other models seeing discounts.

If you want to learn more about this model or the other models seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Man standing next to Luckeep X1 Lite folding e-bike atop mountain

Affordable get up to 60 miles of commuting support on Luckeep’s X1 Lite folding all-terrain e-bike at a $466

AliExpress is offering a great deal for commuters shopping for e-bikes on a budget, with the Luckeep X1 Lite Folding Electric Bike currently available for $465.77 shipped, after using the code USAFF100 at checkout for an additional $100 off, which beats out Amazon by $84 and the brand’s direct website pricing by $283. This model normally fetches $1,149 at full price from the brand, and is now seeing a giant $683 price drop for one of the lowest prices we have ever tracked and delivering a much more affordable means to commute to your daily appointments.

If you want to learn more about this budget-friendly model, be sure to check out our original coverage of this massive discount here.

Jackery power stations sit atop box with flag in background for Labor Day sale

Jackery’s Labor Day Sale offers up to 50% off on power stations and more with bonus 5% and 7% savings starting from $89

Jackery has launched its Labor Day Sale through August 28 with up to 50% discounts on its lineup of power stations, as well as bonus 5% and 7% savings on orders over $1,300. Among the offers this holiday season, we spotted Jackery’s legacy Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station bundled with an expansion battery and two 100W solar panels for $1,519.05 shipped, after using the code EMAIL5 at checkout for an extra 5% off your cart’s total. This bundle would normally cost you $2,099 in full, with discounts having usually being on the station and solar panels for $1,299. The addition of the extra battery would cost you $459 right now, meaning you’d normally be spending $1,758 for this same setup. You’re looking at a combined 28% markdown here that cuts $580 off the tag for the best price we can find. Head below to get the full lineup of deals we’re seeing during this sale.

If you want to learn more about this solar bundle, or browse the full extent of Jackery’s Labor Day lineup, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

woman cutting branch with greenworks 60V 16-inch cordless chainsaw

Clear storm debris with Greenworks’ 60V 16-inch cordless chainsaw kit at $190 annual low

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 60V 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw with a 2.5Ah battery at $189.99 shipped, which beats out the brand’s direct website pricing by $50. While it normally carries a $300 MSRP, we’ve been seeing it recently keep down at $240 at Amazon, with discounts having only gone as low as $200 this year. You’re looking at the best price of the year so far on this model, which has shed $50 off the going rate ($110 off the MSRP) and lands as the second-lowest overall price we have tracked – $40 above the low we last saw during Christmas sales.

If you want to learn more about this chainsaw’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

woman handing man drink from goal zero alta 50 portable electric cooler

Save 30% on Goal Zero’s Alta 50 single-zone and Alta 80 dual-zone electric coolers starting from $560

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Goal Zero is offering its Alta 50 Portable Electric Fridge and Freezer for $559.89 shipped, with its larger Alta 80 variant also seeing an equally significant discount (more on that below the fold). This smaller unit normally goes for $800 at full price, which we’ve mostly seen discounts this year drop between $640 and $560, though there was one fall to $559, not to mention the falls to $550 and the $522 low back in 2024. You’re looking at the second-best price of 2025, though, with the 30% markdown here cutting $240 off the going rate, landing it at the fourth-lowest price overall that sits $38 above the one-time all-time low from Black Friday.

If you want to learn more about this cooler or its larger variant, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to $200K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

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August 22, 2025

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US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to 0K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

US retirement plans could fuel Bitcoin rally to 0K despite downturn: Finance Redefined

Crypto inclusion in 401(k) plans may be more significant for Bitcoin than the 2024 launch of US spot Bitcoin ETFs, according to Bitwise’s European head of research.

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Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

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August 22, 2025

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Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

Coinbase predicts trillion-dollar stablecoin era by 2028

The forecast, which was published on Thursday, came amid renewed interest in stablecoins from several governments around the world.

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