Latest news with #America'sFuture
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Tax Day: Three Facts About Small Business And Taxes
Today is the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) tax filing deadline and if you have not filed your taxes yet, you have until the end of the day to either do so or file an extension in most states. Taxpayers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, several counties in Tennessee and Virginia, Juneau, Alaska, and Chaves County, New Mexico, have until May 1 to file for 2024. In addition, individuals impacted by wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, have until October 15, while taxpayers in Kentucky and a number of West Virginia counties need to file by November 3. If you need any additional information, the IRS also offers a help center. For small business owners, filing taxes can bring an additional set of challenges given the complexity of our current tax code. Here are three facts about small businesses you may or may not know. 1. Small Businesses Drive the Economy and Much Tax Revenue Main Streets across America form the backbone of our country's economy. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.9% of all U.S. firms, employ 45.9% of all private sector workers, contribute 43.5% of the GDP, and generate 39% of the private sector's payroll. 'The entrepreneurial spirit in America remains strong, with nearly 20 million new business applications filed since 2021—a historic surge in new business formation,' said Anne Zimmerman, President & CEO of Zimmerman & Co CPAs, Inc., an accounting firm in Ohio and Co-chair of Small Business for America's Future, at a joint U.S. House and Senate Committee hearing on tax. 'These new entrepreneurs represent a tremendous opportunity for economic growth and job creation, but only if they receive the proper support to survive their crucial early years and thrive beyond them.' 2. Small Business Owners Need Up Front Tax Relief The early years of a small business are critical to its success and growth and are also a period where cashflow may be even more limited. Because of this, it is not surprising that when given a list of potential tax policies that could benefit them, surveyed small business owners rated the most helpful one to be exempting the first $25,000 of small business profit from federal income tax. 'This policy would particularly benefit early-stage and smaller businesses, allowing them to reinvest more capital into growth,' said Zimmerman. 3. Small Business Owners Want a Simplified Tax Code That same survey found that small business owners want the process of filing taxes to be easier for them. For example, 27% of business owners said that simplifying the tax code and reducing compliance burdens would be most helpful to them, while the top choice for another 17% was creating one standard small business deduction. 'Unlike large corporations with dedicated finance departments, small business owners often navigate tax compliance alone or at significant expense,' said Zimmerman.' Simplification would allow entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and growth rather than paperwork.' For better or worse, tax season can be a point of reflection for individuals and business owners. As elected leaders make decisions about the tax code, it is critical that they consider meaningful reform that will help America's small businesses navigate the current economic environment while positioning them for future growth.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel
It's considered one of the biggest political races of 2025 in America. Conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel will square off against liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford for a coveted seat on the state Supreme Court in the April 1 general election. The high-stakes contest will determine the ideological direction of the state's high court at a time when it is considering such issues as abortion, union rights and redistricting. The election, which will top the $56 million record for spending on a judicial race, is seen as a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who is leading the effort to fire thousands of federal workers, cut foreign aid and target their opponents for retribution. Musk is the biggest spender in the race, often tying Schimel to Trump. Crawford, likewise, has zeroed in on Musk's support for Schimel. Since the start of the year, we've tracked the candidates on spending, the issues and their past sentencing decisions. We've also profiled Crawford and Schimel. Here are highlights of our coverage of the race so far. Jump to: Profiles of Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel The money going into Supreme Court ads and other spending Political sparring between Crawford and Schimel The candidates' stances and statements on abortion, voter ID and other issues Crawford's and Schimel's sentencing histories Details of the Supreme Court debate in March March 11, 2025: Crawford explains why she decided to run for the state's highest court. March 6, 2025: Where Crawford stands on voter ID, abortion, redistricting and more. March 11, 2025: Schimel explains why he's running for the state's highest court. March 6, 2025: Where Schimel stands on voter ID, abortion, redistricting and more. Jan. 8, 2025: For the first time since 2019, the two Supreme Court candidates will be unencumbered by the need to fend off a rival from the same end of the political spectrum. Jan. 16, 2025: Partisans are spending heavily in the state Supreme Court race for control of the state's highest court, with both candidates amassing millions ahead of the April 1 election. Feb. 3, 2025: Schimel said he regularly burns through knee pads from begging so many people for their support in the race. Feb. 5, 2025: Crawford's campaign filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission after her image was digitally altered in a new TV attack ad. Feb. 11, 2025: Deep-pocketed donors have recently given six- and seven-figure sums to the state's two political parties, which then transferred the money to Crawford and Schimel. Feb. 12, 2025: Crawford's campaign ran an ad during Sunday's game on the Fox affiliates in the Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison and Milwaukee. Feb. 17, 2025: Schimel all but begged specific conservative groups — one a business group and the other a super PAC largely funded by a billionaire — to start airing TV ads in his increasingly expensive, high-stakes contest. Feb. 17, 2025: Building America's Future, an Musk-backed dark money group, began buying TV time in all five state markets. Feb. 19, 2025: Schimel said he can remain impartial and fair on the Supreme Court even with all of the outside money helping his campaign. Feb. 20, 2025: America PAC, an unregistered committee, is spending $1 million on canvassing and field operations to aid Schimel in his race. Feb. 26, 2025: Crawford explains why she accuses Musk of trying to buy the election but doesn't say the same for Soros. March 4, 2025: Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler said the party would air digital ads, conduct town halls across the state, do door-to-door canvassing and host media events. March 5, 2025: Progress 2028, which is tied to a Musk-funded nonprofit, promote Crawford with stances she doesn't actually support or ties her to unpopular positions. March 17, 2025: Spending in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race could ultimately top $100 million, doubling the record-breaking spending from the race for the high court just two years ago. Jan. 10, 2025: Schimel explains why he likes being a judge, citing his private bathroom and the ability to set his own work hours. Jan. 29, 2025: Crawford took part in a Zoom call with some Democratic donors interested in having maps for two Wisconsin congressional districts being redrawn. Jan. 30, 2025: The race for a coveted Supreme Court seat has been — and will continue to be — anything but politically neutral. Feb. 4, 2025: Schimel's campaign acknowledged it digitally altered a photo of his opponent because the campaign felt she should look "ashamed" in the attack ad. Feb. 24, 2025: Building America's Future, a Musk group, is currently running on social media featuring a picture of Harvard professor Susan P. Crawford, not Susan M. Crawford, the Supreme Court candidate. Feb. 26, 2025: Wisconsin's high-stakes Supreme Court race has put the battleground state's congressional maps back in the spotlight. Feb. 28, 2025: Schimel said in November that some of the liberal justices "were on the brink of losing it" during the oral arguments in an abortion case. March 3, 2025: Crawford said she was surprised Schimel has begun attacking sitting Supreme Court justices. March 5, 2025: The statewide poll found that about 40% of registered voters don't have an opinion on Schimel and nearly 60% said they didn't know Crawford. March 6, 2025: Crawford went on a statewide TV program and distorted what Schimel had said about his reason for running and his opinions on pending Supreme Court cases. March 12, 2025: Musk's super PAC is distributing a mailer that says Schimel will be Trump's bestie on the bench. March 14, 2025: Some Wisconsin voters have received postcards telling voters to vote in an April 11 election — 10 days after the real election date. Jan. 24, 2025: The two candidates are debating the backlog of untested rape kits during Schimel's time as Republican state attorney general. Jan. 30, 2025: Calling it "perilous times" for opponents of abortion rights, a leader of Pro-Life Wisconsin say members of the organization are personally advocating for Schimel. But he says the group has not endorsed him. Feb. 10, 2025: Crawford once declared the state's voter ID law "draconian" and liken it to a "poll tax." Feb. 12, 2025: When it comes to their views on abortion, Schimel and Crawford are polar opposites. Feb. 20, 2025: When Schimel was the state attorney general, he hired a top aide who later played a key role in developing a strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade. Feb. 25, 2025: Karofsky, who worked for Schimel while he was attorney general, entered the fray over the untested rape kits. Feb. 11, 2025: Schimel is accusing fellow judge and state Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford of going easy on criminals, citing in part her handling of sexual assault cases. Here's are the details of those cases. Feb. 18, 2025: Crawford has labeled Schimel "soft on crime" and "too extreme." Here's what to know about cases Crawford's campaign is highlighting. Feb. 25, 2025: Television ads supporting Schimel are criticizing Crawford for a sentence she handed out in the case of a man charged in 2018 with having sexual contact with two children in a public swimming pool. This is what you need to know about the case. March 3, 2025: Schimel has come under fire in TV ads for giving "a plea deal to a man caught with thousands of files of child pornography featuring children as young as 6, after getting thousands in campaign contributions from the man's lawyer." We give you the details of the case. March 5, 2025: Ads airing on TV slam Crawford over the case of an accused pedophile she heard as a Dane County judge. Find out more about the case here. March 13, 2025: The attorney for a man whose criminal case has been heavily featured in attack ads against Crawford has asked that she recuse herself from the matter. March 13, 2025: Supreme Court candidates Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford crossed swords repeatedly during a testy March 12 debate, arguing with one another about abortion, union rights and Elon Musk. March 14, 2025: During the Supreme Court debate, Schimel called out a transgender performer for opening a recent Bernie Sanders Wisconsin rally with a song that Schimel called an "attack on people of faith." Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@ Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Susan Crawford vs Brad Schimel Supreme Court race: Complete coverage
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President Trump Says He Offered Michael Flynn ‘About Ten Jobs' In The New Administration
President Donald Trump was apparently interested in bringing one of the more problematic figures from his first administration into his new one. On Tuesday night, Trump made an appearance at his private Florida beach club, Mar-a-Lago, which played host to a gala for America's Future, a right wing organization chaired by retired Gen. Michael Flynn. TPM reviewed portions of Trump's remarks, during which the President declared he was eager to see Flynn, who had a short and scandalous stint as White House national security adviser in 2017, make a return to government. 'Let me tell you, this guy, he's the real deal,' Trump said with a beaming Flynn at his side. 'He's a real general and I told him — I offered him about ten jobs.' Flynn was forced to resign from his post in the first Trump administration amid revelations he lied to former Vice President Mike Pence and others about his communications with the Kremlin's ambassador to the U.S. He subsequently pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with the Russian diplomat, kicking off a unique legal saga that culminated in a pardon from Trump. Since then, Flynn has become a prominent right wing activist involved in multiple organizations and business ventures that blend extremist politics with entrepreneurialism. He was also a prominent proponent of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In his remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Trump suggested Flynn's current endeavors are too prosperous for him to justify taking any of the President's job offers. 'I think he's doing so well he doesn't need them, but I offered,' Trump explained. 'I said, any time you want to come in, you know that Mike, OK?' The White House and Flynn did not respond to requests for comment. America's Future was founded in 1946. Past chairs of the group include retired Brigadier Gen. Robert E. Wood, who was a key figure in the World War II era America First Committee, which was known for rampant anti-Semitism and fascist sympathies. According to the group's website, America's Future is 'committed to preserving the Judeo-Christian values that make America exceptional.' Tuesday night's gala was billed as a celebration of 'American Exceptionalism.' According to the Palm Beach Post, the party touted a lineup of stars who are no stranger to right wing politics and controversy; actors Russell Brand and Mel Gibson were part of the event. Based on photos from the gala, comedienne turned pro-Trump rapper Roseanne Barr was also in attendance. Along with Flynn, Trump was flanked by boxer Mike Tyson and musician Ted Nugent during his speech. The president — after baselessly echoing his past claims that the election he won was stacked against him — boasted about his performance since returning to office last month. 'We've just had an election. Fortunately, it was too big to rig. They tried and it didn't work out too good for them,' Trump said, adding, 'We're going to do a job. … They say — this isn't me — they say it was the best three weeks so far of any president ever.' Trump went on to tout his 'DOGE' efforts that have focused on cutting thousands of federal jobs, freezing congressionally allocated funding, and eliminating programs and language focused on diversity. The lawless efforts have raised substantial questions about data security and potential impacts to essential government services. In his comments, Trump framed it all as a major culture war victory. 'We wiped out a lot of crap, a lot of stuff, a lot of fake stuff,' Trump said. 'You know what that was right? We took care of woke. I think you're not going to see too much wokeness.' During the speech, Trump also suggested his ideological rivals were completely defeated within his first few weeks. 'We have a little problem with the radical left, but the radical left — I think we've taken care of them pretty good,' Trump said. Along with touting his domestic agenda, Trump suggested his one-sided negotiations with Russia to end that country's war in Ukraine were yielding positive results. 'We had a very good meeting with Russia today to stop that ridiculous war killing everybody,' Trump said. 'It's ridiculous and we've got to stop it.' As Trump discussed one of the most crucial global conflicts, he was flanked by Flynn and two of the gala's headliners: musician Ted Nugent and boxer Mike Tyson. Trump described them as 'fantastic' and called the event 'very, very friendly territory.' 'We've got a lot of beauties here,' Trump said.
Politico
19-02-2025
- Business
- Politico
Florida Man keeps returning. Republicans follow.
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. President DONALD TRUMP officially returned to Washington a month ago. But he can't stop coming back to Florida. Just like in his first term and the decades before he ever ran for office, Trump spends his fall and winter weekends in South Florida. Now that he's president again, he's showing no signs of ending his sojourns to what he has called the 'Winter White House.' Today will mark his sixth day in a row in the Sunshine State — including a stop at the Daytona 500. Many other Republicans have followed him here, as well. On Tuesday night, Trump attended a gala at Mar-a-Lago held by conservative America's Future, the organization chaired by his former, short-term national security adviser MIKE FLYNN, whom Trump pardoned before leaving office. Attendees included boxer MIKE TYSON, actor RUSSELL BRAND and performer TED NUGENT, according to Antonio Fins of the Palm Beach Post. Today, Trump is headed to Miami to speak at the FII Priority summit, a meeting of 'global financiers and tech executives hosted by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund,' Reuters reported. Trump's properties also continue to be a draw for political events. Last month, House Republicans spent their policy retreat at Trump National Doral near Miami. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans held their winter meeting at the Breakers Palm Beach, also joining the president for dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Business executives and the lobbying world have followed, too. Capital City Consulting founder NICK IAROSSI — who is based in Tallahassee and expanded into Washington as managing director of BGR Group — told Playbook he spent significant time in Palm Beach during the transition. He bought property there and joined a golf club, because of 'the business opportunities and network there' and because 'so many people wanting to be in proximity to the president has made that county boom.' CCC is also opening an office in Palm Beach County at the end of the month. 'I've attended multiple events since the election at Mar-a-Lago, so that's become a real center of power,' Iarossi said. 'It has caused an excitement in Palm Beach County.' It's not unusual for presidents to return home on the weekend. Former President JOE BIDEN often returned to his beach house in his home state of Delaware. But Trump's Florida backdrop is far more pronounced, with numerous public appearances at crowded events and Floridians serving as the braintrust of the Trump administration. On Tuesday, Trump signed executive orders at Mar-a-Lago, including one that will look at how to make in vitro fertilization more affordable. On top of that, Trump's influence ripples through the Florida government. State lawmakers last week kept citing the president as a catalyst for their eventual actions on illegal immigration, and on Monday Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER — a Gov. RON DESANTIS loyalist — promised to champion an 'America First Agenda,' as POLITICO's Gary Fineout reported. But Trump's trips to Florida aren't expected year-round. 'The season' — as Palm Beach's peak social period for the wealthy is known — doesn't last through South Florida's sweltering, hurricane-prone months. Trump tends to spend that period up in Bedminster, New Jersey, starting to head up sometime between Mother's Day and Memorial Day, when Mar-a-Lago closes its operations for members until Halloween. WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Orlando at 10 a.m. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... CONDO CRISIS CONTINUES — 'By the end of this year, [condo] associations will be required to fund reserves fully for the first time. Associations that have neglected to save for years could have to scrape together millions of dollars in a matter of months. That burden will likely fall on the shoulders of owners in the form of special assessments,' reports the Tampa Bay Times' Rebecca Liebson. ''I think you're going to see bankruptcies, I think you're going to see people losing their homes,' said Jeff Brandes, a former state Senator who runs the Florida Policy Project, a nonprofit studying statewide issues including the condo crisis.' BILL ON CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CHILDCARE EXPENSES MOVES ALONG — Existing Florida law prohibits the use of campaign funds for childcare, but a bill to reverse that passed unanimously on Tuesday in its first committee hearing, reports the Florida Phoenix's Mitch Perry. If the bill is signed into law, Florida will join 13 other states that allow state and local candidates to use campaign funds for childcare costs incurred during campaign events. CRANKING UP THE HEAT — 'Republican state senators are escalating their opposition to a DeSantis appointee who has drawn criticism for controversial comments and now leads the board of trustees at the University of West Florida,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'Senators agreed Tuesday to strip UWF's trustee chair from a board that advances school research in direct response to past comments made by Scott Yenor, the Boise State University political science professor that one lawmaker called a 'flat out misogynist and bigot.' 'The move is a clear indicator that there are serious doubts surrounding Yenor's future as he serves as UWF board chair while awaiting confirmation votes from lawmakers that are ramping up pushback to DeSantis' appointment.' SEWAGE SYSTEMS — 'A representative of sewage treatment utilities asked a state Senate committee Tuesday to consider making changes to a 2021 state law that sets a goal of eliminating plant discharges by 2032,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie. 'Alicia Keeter, executive director of the Florida Rural Water Association, told the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that state regulators need authority to consider efforts being made by utilities on a case-by-case basis. The 2021 changes in FL SB64 (21R) established a goal of eliminating 'nonbeneficial' discharges from sewage treatment plants by 2032. Utilities can meet the requirements if 90 percent of treated wastewater is being reused.' BACKING US TIMBER INDUSTRY — Agriculture Commissioner WILTON SIMPSON joined 17 other state agriculture commissioners Tuesday in asking the Trump administration to push back on a European Union rule that seeks to restrict products produced from forest land-clearing. A letter from the commissioners argues U.S. agriculture and forest industries do not contribute to deforestation but are still subject to potentially overburdensome compliance requirements. 'This one-size-fits-all approach ignores the fact that the United States is among the most responsible suppliers of forest fiber in the world,' they wrote. — Bruce Ritchie MOVING TOWARD REINSTATING FUNDING — 'A House panel is recommending sparing six members' projects — including one to honor the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson and others fixing Key West's San Carlos Institute and Clearwater's performing arts center — from DeSantis' vetoes,' reports Florida Politics' Gabrielle Russon. FACING TWO COUNTS OF THEFT — 'Former state Rep. Carolina Amesty made her first appearance in federal court on Tuesday alongside her attorney Brad Bondi, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, to face two charges of stealing from the federal government's COVID-19 relief funds,' reports Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel. STATE CONTRACTOR UNDER INVESTIGATION — DeSantis defended the state contractor that hired an undocumented immigrant who 'struck' Pinellas County sheriff's deputy MICHAEL HARTWICK with a front-end loader, reports the Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower and Emily L. Mahoney. DeSantis claimed that the company was the 'victim of an 'interstate fraud ring' of people who created fake IDs to pass citizenship verification screenings.' State Sen. JASON PIZZO (D-Miami) criticized the state's limited response to Hartwick's death and its hesitation to 'crack down' on businesses that hire undocumented immigrants. VACANT STATE POSITIONS — 'As state Rep. Vicki Lopez recently found out after an examination of the length of scores of job vacancies, a roll call in state offices may actually awaken hordes of paper people — workers who exist only as a line item in the state budget,' per James Call of USA TODAY NETWORK — Florida. APPOINTMENT FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BOARD — House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ appointed Charlotte County Sheriff BILL PRUMMELL and Duval County Sheriff T.K. WATERS to the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, reports the Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner. Simpson picked St. Cloud Police Chief DOUGLAS GOERKE for the Immigration Enforcement Council, Scheckner also reported. LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — State Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) and state Rep. MICHELLE SALZMAN (R-Pensacola) introduced resolutions to amend the Florida Constitution to limit the terms of school board members and county commissioners to eight years, reports the Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski. … House Minority Leader FENTRICE DRISKELL (D-Tampa) and Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore TRACIE DAVIS (D-Jacksonville) filed legislation to repeal Florida's law that makes most abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. State Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne) filed legislation that authorizes concealed carry on colleges or university campuses, reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. — 'Medical marijuana expansion, grow your own plants: 7 weed bills in 2025 Florida Legislature,' by C.A. Bridges of USA Today Network — Florida. — 'Death warrant signed for man who killed Seminole County woman, granddaughter in 1993,' reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. PENINSULA AND BEYOND WINTER PARK ELECTION — 'Fights over development and the city's economic health are the top issues dividing the two candidates seeking a seat on Winter Park's city commission,' reports the Orlando Sentinel's Ryan Gillespie. KRIS CRUZADA, a community lawyer who hopes to be reelected for the commission seat, is up against JUSTIN VERMUTH, who works as a general counsel and lobbyist for the American Resort Development Association. — 'Subtropical salmon: How an enormous fish farm in Homestead hopes to change the seafood industry,' by Bill Kearney of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. — ''Dump Trump!': Protestors rip into Trump at Presidents Day rally in downtown West Palm Beach,' by the Palm Beach Post's Andrew Marra. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP FNC'S NEW SHOW — LARA TRUMP, Trump's daughter-in-law, will be hosting a new weekend show at 9 p.m. Saturday on Fox News titled 'My View with Lara Trump,' reports Cheryl McCloud of USA TODAY NETWORK — Florida. OUSTED — 'The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced in a news release the departure of U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, who was appointed to the position by former President Joe Biden in 2022,' reports Silas Morgan of the Orlando Sentinel. — 'What will education look like under the Trump administration? Probably a lot like Florida,' by Clara-Sophia Daly of the Miami Herald. TRANSITION TIME — Ballard Partners has added a strategic alliance in Italy with MAIM Group, a public affairs and media relations firm. 'Italy is a critical market for many of our clients, and this partnership allows us to offer them the highest level of strategic counsel and representation,' BRIAN BALLARD, president and founder of Ballard Partners, said in a statement. — REED POWELL has been promoted to be legislative director for Rep. GREG STEUBE (R-Fla.). ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: Tampa Bay Times' Emily L. Mahoney ... Carrie Johnson O'Brion, Regional Assistant Vice Chancellor of Marketing, Communications and Strategic Initiatives.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Tyson, Ted Nugent and Russell Brand to join Trump at Mar-a-Lago gala: What's it about?
President Donald Trump is scheduled to be the "honored" guest Tuesday evening at a sold-out gala in his own club where he is expected to be joined by boxing legend Mike Tyson, actor Russell Brand and performer Ted Nugent. The Mar-a-Lago gala is hosted by America's Future, whose chairman is Mike Flynn. Flynn was Trump's first national security adviser during his initial White House term. Flynn is a far-right political figure who now resides in Southwest Florida, and the group's mission includes a focus on child trafficking through the southern border. The gathering is the final event in the president's six-day Presidents Day stay at the Winter White House, the longest of his three sojourns to Palm Beach in his new term. During his first administration, Trump spent all four Presidents Day weekends at Mar-a-Lago, but never for as long as this one. Trump is to leave Mar-a-Lago Wednesday for Miami. So what is the America's Future gala all about? Here are five things to know. The organization was founded in 1946 and its website lists its mission as to "fight to preserve American values and ideals, protect the nation's Constitutional Republic, promote strong American families, revitalize the role of faith in our society, and advance the virtues of free market capitalism." It adds: "Under a set of guiding principles, America's Future strengthens American patriotism, reinforces American greatness, and re-establishes our founding fathers' framework that America is 'one nation, under God, of the people, for the people and by the people.'" Past leaders have included retired Brigadier Gen. Robert E. Wood, a founder of the isolationist America First Committee before World War II, and conservative activist Phlylis Schafly, who vocally opposed the 1970s re-introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment. The theme of the gala at Mar-a-Lago, the website post states, is to celebrate "American exceptionalism." The term is the 20th Century successor to the 1800s belief in Manifest Destiny, the concept that the United States had the God-given mission to expand its borders to the Pacific Ocean. American Exceptionalism gained particular favor after the Spanish-American War and then in the post-World War II era. It embraced the belief in the uniqueness, even moral superiority, of the United States for historical, ideological and religious reasons. Advocates and scholars of American exceptionalism often argued that the country's exceptionalism ordained it to be a special player in global politics. That last corollary is at odds with Trump's stated "America first" guiding principles and policies toward the European alliance, the defunding of the U.S. Agency for International Development, tariffs and other foreign policy initiatives. In addition to Tyson, Brand and Nugent, others featured include former UFC champion Colby Covington and "host committee" members Mel Gibson and Kid Rock. But it's too late to buy a ticket because the event is sold-out. Tax-deductible tickets for the black-tie event ran from $5,000 to $10,000, however. The webpage also has an offer to join a presidential advisory board that grants access to "briefings" with U.S. House and Senate members and state governors. Plus an "overnight stay at Mar-a-Lago," according to the site. Flynn, a retired and respected U.S. Army lieutenant general, had a short-live tenure as Trump's top national security aide. He lasted in the important role less than a month owing to a scandal involving contact he had with Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. Flynn reportedly misled then-Vice President Mike Pence about the communications, leading to his resignation after just 44 days in the post. In December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his communications with Kislyak. In November 2020, Trump issued Flynn a pardon. By then, Flynn had become a vocal advocate backing Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Upon questioning by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol, Flynn invoked his constitutional right to not self-incriminate himself. He did so in a video released by the committee in which he cited the 5th amendment when asked by then-U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, if Flynn believed the violence on Jan. 6 was "justified morally," "justified legally" and also if he believed "in the peaceful transition of power in the United States of America." Tuesday evening's event comes a day after the Presidents Day holiday witnessed two streetside demonstrations in Trump's home county. In downtown West Palm Beach, roughly 400 people assembled to show opposition to Trump administration policies chanting "Dump Trump!" and "Hey hey, ho ho, Elon has got to go!" 'Dump Trump!': Protestors rip into Trump at Presidents Day rally in downtown West Palm Beach Not far away, dozens of the president's supporters invited by the Republican Party of Palm Beach County gathered by the entrance to his Trump International Golf Club in a show of support. They cheered as Trump emerged from the club to wave at them and offer a thumbs up. Among those in attendance was Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader who was convicted almost two years ago by a federal jury of sedition for his actions related to the Jan. 6 violence. Sentenced to 22 years in prison, he was released after being granted a pardon by Trump on Inauguration Day. In addition to Tarrio, Trump also pardoned two other Proud Boys members, Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs. They also attended the afternoon rally. Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@ Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mike Tyson, Ted Nugent, Russell Brand to join Trump at Mar-a-Lago gala
