Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 1/22/2025
Below is Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing:
TOP STORY: Trump Pardoning Menendez? Don’t Think it Can’t Happen
Download and read Insider NJ’s 2024 Insider 100: Rising Generations publication.
President Trump was inaugurated on Monday, beginning his second non-consecutive term.
President Trump asked his Chief of Staff to ‘find out’ about drone activity above the state, according to NJ.com.
Governor Murphy asked President Trump for help in the congesting pricing fight, according to NJ.com.
President Trump’s immigration orders could affect 500,000 New Jerseyans, according to NJ Herald.
AG Platkin is participating in a legal challenge over President Trump’s birthright citizenship order, according to NJ Monitor.
Governor Murphy announced new proposals to expand access to early education and support working families.
An analysis finds the state’s power grid is stressed and may get worse, according to NJ.com.
The state Supreme Court expanded access to police body camera footage, according to NJ Monitor.
Former US Attorney Sellinger is returning to Greenberg Traurig.
Hudson County Executive Guy announced a LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force, according to Hudson County View.
Senator Kim says the Senate is more collegial than the House, according to NJ Spotlight.
Rep. Sherrill reintroduced the ‘Auto Theft Prevention Act’.
Rep. Watson Coleman mourned the passing of Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
ICYMI: Murphy delivered SOS address, mentioned ‘elephant not in the room‘, laid out priorities including removing cellphones from classrooms; NJDOL reported NJ leads Northeast population growth; state announced a historic low in gun violence
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Mayor Fulop’s gubernatorial campaign announced four more Assembly candidates on his slate. Fulop was endorsed by 12 local elected officials.
Rep. Sherrill made a gubernatorial campaign stop in Red Bank.
Bill Spadea will leave his radio show as he runs for Governor, according to NJ.com.
Jack Ciattarelli added support in Burlington and Salem counties, according to NJ Globe.
In LD14, Assemblymembers DeAngelo and McKoy announced their re-election bid.
In LD17, Assemblymen Egan and Danielsen announced their re-election bid.
In LD19, Speaker Coughlin and Assemblywoman Lopez announced their re-election bid, according to TAPinto.
In LD33, a messy Assembly primary is taking shape, according to Hudson County View.
Morris County GOP incumbents launched their re-election campaign.
The Kitchen Table Conservatives PAC launched an ad slamming Bill Spadea on immigration.
Jen Sweet joined Moss Media as Managing Director.
ICYMI: In LD32, Allen won’t seek re-election as Bhalla launched bid; in LD35, Wimberly prevailed for Senate; Sumter, Wimberly collision course; Insider NJ sits down w/ Spiller; Sweeney announced campaign manager; Fulop released primary education video; look ahead at guv race; NJGOP announced Gonzalez as ED; Bramnick made reorg rounds
The Governor’s Office touted support from leaders for his State of the State address.
Morris County’s Jack Curtis is the man behind the push to reform the state’s farmland assessment program.
Assembly races are intensifying, according to NJ Globe.
Senate President Scutari applauded the selection of Assemblyman Wimberly as the LD35 Senator-select. Wimberly will be the fist black Senator in Passaic County, according to NJ Spotlight.
The LD10 legislators urged Congress to honor ‘Bud’ Lomell Jr.
Senator Bramnick proposed property tax relief for first responders.
Senator Testa fired off a letter to Governor Murphy for an update on forestry management.
Assemblyman Bergen chastised Governor Murphy for ordering the raising of flags at 6pm on Inauguration Day, saying the Governor ‘made it about politics’ and was ‘petty and disgraceful’.
Ronald Baus Jr. was named NJCAR Chairman.
ICYMI: Scutari announced committee leadership changes
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In Hillside, Angela Garretson was appointed to the council.
In Atlantic City, supporters packed Mayor Small’s re-election kickoff, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Former casino union President McDevitt will challenge the mayor in a primary, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Clifton, the ON3 site proposed its next development, according to NorthJersey.com.
In Jersey City, Governor Murphy will endorse McGreevey for mayor, according to NJ Globe.
In Long Branch, the train station is undergoing a major transformation, according to TAPinto.
In Madison, the BOE introduced an amended calendar, according to NJ Hills.
In Morris Plains, the planning board chair was ousted, according to Morristown Green.
In Ocean City, a hotel president says the Boardwalk doesn’t need the Mita resort, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In Phillipsburg, the town will decide on selling the wastewater system, according to TAPinto.
In Rahway, the city announced the transition of a SID to non-profit management, according to TAPinto.
In West Milford, the town seeks a partner to redevelop a once-bustling property, according to NorthJersey.com.
In West Wildwood, the Cape May County prosecutor appointed a detective to oversee the police, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
In West Windsor, a massive warehouse project stumbled, according to NJ Spotlight.
In Woodland Park, former Mayor Zaccaria passed away, according to NorthJersey.com.
ICYMI: In Parsippany, Bergen endorsed Barberio, in primary w/ Mussella; in Hoboken, Jabbour announced for mayor as Bhalla won’t seek re-election; in Jersey City, Akaezuwa announced council candidacy
Insider NJ columnist Andrew Leven ‘The Other America‘
Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg ‘Ciattarelli Wrong to Support for Kash Patel as FBI Director‘
Insider NJ reporter John Van Vliet writes ‘The League of Municipalities, the Aesthetics of Power, and Our Civic Destiny‘
AROUND THE WEB:
Brent Johnson, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- The brother of Brian Sicknick, the U.S. Capitol police officer from New Jersey who died after the Jan. 6 attack, isn’t holding back after President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned more than 1,500 people charged with crimes in the riot. “I feel that my brother died in vain and that our nation has a very long and dark road ahead of it,” Craig Sicknick said in an email to NJ Advance Media on Tuesday when asked his thoughts on the sweeping pardons Trump issued upon returning to the White House.
How will NJ manage Trump? A two-face strategy for Phil Murphy
Charles Stile, NorthJersey.com
- How will the Phil Murphy Administration handle the excesses of President Donald Trump? Call it a two-face strategy.
‘Heroic’ Bishop (from N.J.) looks Trump in the eye and scolds him. How did he react?
Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- President Donald Trump thinks they could have done it “much better.” The new president was in Washington D.C. for church services Tuesday.
These eight local Jan. 6 rioters were pardoned by President Trump
Ken Serrano, Bart Jansen, Asbury Park Press
- President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people Monday charged in the Capitol attack Jan. 6, 2021, fulfilling a campaign pledge critics said would “endorse attacks on democracy.” That figure would represent almost all of the nearly 1,600 people who were charged in the riot by the fourth anniversary Jan. 6, according to the Justice Department. About 1,270 had been convicted and 1,100 had been sentenced by that point, the department said.
Trump takes revenge on a group of outspoken critics
Matt Arco, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
- One of President Donald Trump’s first orders of business this week was to retaliate against more than four dozen former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 letter saying that the Hunter Biden laptop saga bore the hallmarks of a “Russian information operation.” His strike came in the form of revoking security clearances.
Babies are ending up in the trash bin; there has to be a better way | Quigley
Joan Quigley, For The Jersey Journal
- It’s horrible. It’s heartbreaking. It was almost inevitable. In Texas, the US state with one of the strictest abortion laws and the country’s second worst record for maternal care, 18 newborns were abandoned in 2024. Most of them died.
The Inside Edge with David Wildstein: Gary Schaer & Clinton Calabrese
David Wildstein, NJ Globe
- A look inside politics in New Jersey.
10 people running for governor will debate in February
Dino Flammia, NJ1015
- The 10 individuals fighting to become the next governor of New Jersey will take part in debates in just a couple weeks, according to Rider University. The private university announced on Tuesday that it’s set to host two gubernatorial primary debates in early February.
Are rising rental shore costs making vacationers think twice?
Ed Condran, DownBeach
- When Jersey shore rental prices soared in 2022, Dave Bara was inspired to examine other vacation options. “It just started to become too expensive,” Bara said. “The rent went through the roof, and I told my wife that I wasn’t going to the shore that summer. When you’re from Philadelphia, you go to the Jersey shore every summer since it’s tradition. You think back to all of those years when you were growing up going to the shore. There’s a lot of memories.”
Connell Foley re-elects Corriston as managing partner, adds three to executive committee
ROI-NJ Staff
- Connell Foley has elected Tim Corriston to serve as the firm’s managing partner for another two years, the firm announced. This appointment comes during a period of significant leadership evolution at the firm, highlighted by the addition of three new members to its executive committee: George Garcia, co-chair of the Real Estate and Land Use Practice Group; Leo Hurley, co-chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group; and most recently Margot Wilensky, partner in the Complex Casualty Litigation Group.
Voters narrowly rejected easing ban on weed businesses in this township. What’s next?
Glenn Epps, For lehighvalleylive.com
- White Township Committee is expected to deliberate more on the consequences of a majority vote in favor of leaving the township’s prohibition on cannabis businesses unchanged.
NJ elementary school inspired proposed pet therapy bill
Melanie Burney, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Two beloved Greater Swiss Mountain dogs are providing therapy to help students learn. First-grade reading scores have improved and behavior problems have decreased, according to Absecon Superintendent Daniel Dooley.
Kushner Cos. wants to scrap Onada Surf Club hotel plan for condos at Long Branch’s beach
Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press
- Kushner Companies wants to swap out its plan to build a seven-story 107 room oceanfront hotel next to Pier Village for an eight-story luxury condo building instead. Based on a new agreement it’s seeking; Kushner Cos. said the hotel plan was no longer economically feasible. The hotel would’ve been Kushner’s third hotel at the beachfront along with the Wave Resort and the Bungalow Hotel, which are both located inside Pier Village, the marquee attraction at the beachfront.
Murphy celebrates “a full week of declining numbers” then says “status quo of lockdown will remain until new cases and fatalities decrease.” So, which of Murphy’s statements is accurate? He said 2 opposite things in a single paragraph of speaking.
He;s “vacationing” at his villa in Italy, while Covid surges and the state is paralyzed by “remote work”…………translation: NO WORK
That is what happens in practicality when they are “suspending their disbelief” (HR Clinton) in real numbers and going on predictive models to make decisions. And then after doing that, they vote with “feelings.”
lmao imagine supporting lockdowns after the largest mass death event in american history and calling that a feeling driven conclusion? maga chuds never fail to disappoint
keeping up with the news
OK
What I — and most of the women I know who are passionate about cosmetics —like about make up isn’t that the right gloss can make your lips poutier or that false lashes can make your eyes more doe-like. Rather, it’s how women can communicate messages and express ourselves through makeup. Certainly it’s not our single factor of communication, but it’s one of many forms of expression that allow us to showcase our individual styles.
keeping up with the news
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So….about those 56 machines in Bergen… <<>>
Murphy running for President is LAUGHABLE. Nased on what??
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Increasing Use of Cosmetic Products & Their Side Effects
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Murphy doesn’t want to be the president, he wants to be a state trooper.
Nice article! thanks for sharing the post!
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lETS NOT FORGET that during the pandemic Donald Trump sent the MERCY, a fully equipped, COVID prepared Hospital ship to save lives of victims and healthcare workers . But Murphy in his wisdom would rather send Patients back to nursing homes that were ill-equipped to treat these patients so they could die , rather than utilize a life-saving gift and be like NY governor Cuomo, another anti-Trump
tool.
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Gun owners don’t have to talk about guns because they know that they have to come out and vote to protect their constitutional right to bear arms. The Supreme court decision has affirmed that right and somehow our “leaders” haven’t learned how to read.
NJ is one of the most corrupt and racist places to live. There’s “0” accountability for the criminal acts, corruption, and unfair treatment of the people of this state. It starts with our governor who cares less for truth and honesty. Continue to ruin the lives of the citizens of this state.
How about those unintended consequences.
New Jersey mandating that all cars being sold by 2035 be electric is telling us what we can or cannot buy with our own money. There will always be gasoline powered vehicles because of the power produced by internal combustion compared to the power produced by batteries; which is to say the more power the bigger the battery to the point of rediculousness. My thought is that if the state wants fewer gas powered vehicles on the road it should create a mass transit electric powered system that would emphasize convenience for commuters and everyday shoppers. Of course that would mean vehicles weighing tons more because of the size of batteries and that creates a whole other question of where to dispose of them (also for elelectric car batteries), since they are composed of highly toxic materials that can’t be burnt or buried. These are unintended consequences no- one is willing to grapple with until its too late. I think by 2035 th he electric car fantasy will go the same way the offshore wind farm has gone.
Stephen Brickman
206 Stonehenge Dr
Phillipsburg,NJ 08865
Stephen.Brickman@gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone
The military serving in the Middle East represents every state in the Union. Those are our sons and daughters, Moms and Dads and yet we are very little to protect them, or REALLY retaliate when they’re attacked. Governor Murphy is the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, and past chair of the National Governors Association and yet you never hear him mention about any requests either organization makes to Biden to be more aggressive about protecting our kids in harms way. It’s as though it doesn’t seem to matter to them. No wonder we look so weak to the rest of the world.
Teaneck property taxes pays for the school budget. Teaneck High School students walk out. Is a Hamas military shuffle march property tax bill included?
I’m a conservative and I do believe life begins at conception but the problem is that each mother is responsible for that life and it is in the realm of her mental and physical health that she will either bring it to term or abort it. This should not be a political decision and should not be be dictated by thousand of strangers. The Supreme Court turned it over to the states but it still remains personal for the mother and her family.
I don’t think it should be an “agenda item” for any political party. A state medical society may want to impose a time frame within which an abortion can occur but even that may be subject to the mother’s doctor’s discretion.
I say just quit discussing it and leave it up to the mother a father.
Voting should be based on understanding what’s actually happening and knowing who would make life safer and more livable. The only way to do that is to get both sides of the information remembering there are always two sides to a story. Mainstream media in my area includes the Star Ledger and the Easton Express. If you look at the bylines of the opinions you will find writers from the Washington Post and Bloomberg, both notoriously on the left. Even the political cartoons are a dead giveaway. CNN and CNBC are also left leaning. So what are the options for getting opinions and news from the right? Fortunately cable news has Fox, which is near center, and Newsmax, and NewsNation which are full right. Watching these even just occasionally will show a much broader picture and give the reader more information with which to make an informed voting decision. And remember you DONT have to vote party if you feel there’s a wiser choice.
The governor signed off on having Narcan available in all schools grades 9 through 12. But what about the idea
of having Narcan available in ALL SCHOOLS in New Jersey?
How’s his for an idea? Uncover the identities of the un-elected advisors to Pres. Biden, and publish their names. That way there is actually someone to blame when we lose valuable lives from unanswered attacks by terrorist organizations. We know Biden isn’t making these decisions on his own. My guess is that these advisors will quit the team rather than take the heat for poor decisions, revealing a big weakness in this administration. It might lead to improvements to the decision-making process.
Note to Concealed Carry permit holders: make sure you subscribe to one of the insurance companies that specialize in CCP, ie: US LAW SHIELD. If you ever have to fire your weapon , that has to be the first phone call you make. The second is 911, the third is your family. With so many new permit holders there will probably be an increase in discharges until word gets out that it’s actually unsafe for criminals to be in New Jersey and crime will take a nosedive.
Now unless you have a conviction in your background you can get that CCP and really defend yourself and your family. And more women are applying which is great for family defense. The stats that record gun violence will have to be re-organized into guns used for crime and guns used to prevent crime. A lot of get-always here because sometimes just brandishing a firearm is enough to stop a crime. But it should be reported anyway..
The liability limits for taxi cabs are extreme starting July 1. It was a plan in place through the insurance banking committee and it was abruptly changed with an amendment. The guys are barely making a living today and you’ve increased their insurance. What’s fair is fair and this is not it was an incremental increase, which was fair, and was removed by the governor please refer back to the original plan
Iowa gets it right. What better school security is there than trained, armed teachers with concealed carry permits. You wonder what parents and local government officials when they oppose this idea. Apparently they would rather wait for some demented individual, either a student or maybe an ex student pulls out a handgun of his backpack , or a long gun out of a duffel and starts firing do they can call it in and wait for help to show up. This move would save many lives and I would heartily endorse this idea nationwide. Of course I’m just an average gun owner who believes that our kids are our most valuable asset and need real protection.
The problem with the Line is that there is no vetting process. Whoever pays the most and/or is specifically unqualified and therefore relegated to the status of puppet is who the county bosses support and threaten the committee members to support. My opponent said on-air that he will do whatever they tell him. What kind of leadership is that. I have 8-10 organizations endorsing me to his zero. I have served many statewide for almost 4 years while he has never helped anyone but himself. No-brainer who is qualified, and they know it. That’s why they are getting nasty and vile while I continue to take the high road.
With the mainstream media touting the current president and suddenly discovers he’s been lying to us all about how supportive he is of Israel when it is reported he is receiving BIG donations from Soros and Rockefellers , both proven anti-American donors, to become pro Palestinian and Pro Hamas and Anti Israel by holding up ammunition shipments to Israel. And solidly answering the question of why he never goes directly against Iran. Is the MSM party to this also. How can the general public now know who and what to trust. They warn us how terrible a trump administration will be as if they have totally forgotten how good we had it under Trump. All I can say is put on your big boy pants and tell us how it really is.
Studies show that recreational cannabis is responsible a 10% increase in motor vehicle accident deaths. These studies show that cannabis impairs driving ability and driving while high is common among regular users. Since cannabis is still an illegal drug, insurance companies are within their rights to deny coverage in for an accident ruled a DUI due to cannabis. However a state that approved its recreational use should be held accountable for any and all the consequences of that DUI. States are more interested in the money they make but they should accept the responsibility for having approved the use of recreational cannabis.
Could you please fix your “bay blood spots “ typo. It sounds like a horror movie. Although “baby blood spots” isn’t much better. Maybe there’s a clearer and less distressing turn of phrase for all of our sensitive readers, lol. Please and thank you.
Reclassifying marihuana from CI to any other category will involve Pharmacy because by law only a Pharmacist with a DEA license can purchase or sell any drug with a CII to CV
Classification. (CI is exempt because it’s heroine or any other drug with no medical purpose). This is a National problem because it is all under the DEA. And since marihuana is a hallucinogen among other things it requires control. The whole weed issue has put the cart before the horse and really requires reining in to have it conform
to the legal requirements. (Sorry Mr. Weedman). And recreational use will get the biggest hit because it will require a prescription
for medicinal use, but that cuts out the recreational aspect. Maybe in the future Pharmacists may be able to prescribe it but not yet. And how many physicians and Nurse Practitioners will want to be involved in the weed industry, I wonder? Lots of questions and few answers so far.
Changing the regulations to allow Optometrists to perform surgery is foolhardy and dangerous. Their training is doing vision tests and prescribing the correct glasses to improve vision. Only an MD in ophthalmology should be the one to do eye surgery.
That’s like asking the fellow filling your gas tank to fix a ball joint suspension.
This is not the answer to a shortage of ophthalmologists
Can’t seem to access the Steinberg column on Sam Alito, Sr. on your website. Suggestions?
Stop complaining about taxes ,our schools , our crime, ,after all folks we keep voting in the same Democrat party politicians each time .
For instance who would think that every Democrat who represents us in congress would vote for men playing in woman sports ,but they did , ask yourself are you the kind of a person who would kill ( sorry to use that word kill but hard not to since the law is that is a human being and if the mother is murdered it’s a double homicide ) a baby up to the moment of birth sorry to tell you that is the law in New Jersey.
So stop complaining your part of the problem.
NOTE TO SENIORS
I was 85 when I got my Carry permit. If you want to protect yourself and your family you are never too old to carry. As log as you can pass the test at the range, which is pretty simple, and you have a handgun you can handle (which is why I purchased a Walther CCP M2 PLUS which is easy to rack) and you have no police record or mental health problems, you can qualify. Of course you need to get a Federal weapons ID card, if you don’t already have one. We are targets because we are older and look easy. Well surprise , surprise. The more folks that are carrying the less crime because the bad guys wont know if you are armed and might not try something. By the way
it doesn’t matter- male or female!!
Great article, thanks for keeping us informed!
Assemblyman Schaer’s Bill to define antisemitism for New Jersey residents and to be able to react to it is great. But what about our kids going off to college, especially the Jewish kids. They should have a means to know what schools have active anti-Jewish protests, and/or pro-Palestinian demonstration allowed on and off campus. They should be able to feel safe wherever they go, and not have their studies interrupted by what I consider this unlawful activity. Are there websites with this kind of information posted?
Concerns about Jan 6 violence
The simple solution to allay the concerns of the Jan.6 violence happening again is to make sure the election is run in an honest and above board manner, which must include voter I.D. via a totally transparent system. Otherwise I’m betting all bets are off.
(The state’s voting system is secure, according to NJ Spotlight.)
This was without doubt one of the most farcical articles perhaps ever written. To give you an idea just how corrupt and lawless the voting system is, in 2021 Governor Murphy deviously ousted the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections with over 30+ years of experience (coerced and strongarmed into early retirement) in order to then deliberately and deviously insert Loretta Weinberg’s Chief of Staff who, had absolutely NO previous election experience whatsoever.
This was all masterfully formulated and then executed just several weeks prior to the Gubernatorial primary. But of course there was nothing nefarious regarding such an abrupt change.
Although Bergen County is not the largest County in New Jersey it is however home to the most registered voters of which the vast majority are also Democrats.
Keep in mind The Superintendent of Elections Office is also in charge of voter “registrations” – polls books, voting machines and of course – investigating any and all reports of voter fraud.
Murphy’s intentions had been to leave the position vacant until “after” the Gubernatorial Election in November but the media exposed his chicanery and he was forced to fill and announce his personal “appointment” immediately and how all of this came to light.
The former Superintendent of Elections was also a Republican and certainly would’ve never voluntarily retired “prematurely” but just prior to a major election. Her integrity was legendary throughout the entire County.
But of course there was nothing to Murphy’s sudden lead change “in the middle of the night” in Bergen County after the polls had already closed.
Murphy was and still remains loathed and despised by all because of his despotic actions and stance on the Covid lockdowns. He knew there was no other way he could ever beat Ciattarelli and never did. But certainly not legally nor ever legitimately. But keep believing “the voting system in NJ” is actually secure.
Once Trump pardons the Jan 6 participants they should immediately begin Class Action suit against Nancy Pelosi who was instrumental in conducting a huge Political Kangaroo Court unfairly sending hundreds of of participants to jail. They should seek 200 million dollars for redress as well as compensation for Ashley Babbit’s shooting for being unarmed and unthreatening and totally not deserving of a death sentence. And it should cover the medical needs of those jailed who were denied adequate medical care. This was a total abuse of politely power and a Class Action suit is needed to clear the air.
The selling off the wall piecemeal by Biden’s administration was not addressed, but it has to be looked at as a huge black eye for Biden. To counter this it seems prudent to advise those companies that bought in to the “Great American Fraud” that returning their purchase is a most patriotic act, even if there is a monetary reward of maybe 25 cents on the dollar, as well as not being seen to be in collusion with the deep state.in this fraudulent act. Remembering that American taxpayers already paid millions for the wall and would very much appreciate getting it back to increase Homeland Security, which was its purpose in the first place.