| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | Good Thursday morning! Is New Jersey at the center of an international intrigue between the United States and Iran? U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew is suggesting as much. The congressman has argued that the large, mysterious drones spotted all over New Jersey recently may be from an Iranian “mothership” floating off the coast. Van Drew cited “very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources.” “Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can’t imagine, or whether it was Iran — and I think it very possibly could be — they should be shot down,” Van Drew said on Fox News. I know that sounds far-fetched at first blush. And Iran — Iran's so far away. But drone technology has the potential to advance asymmetrical warfare, while Van Drew’s not pulling the drone mothership idea out of thin air. Business Insider reported that satellite images showed an Iranian drone ship had left port sometime after Nov. 12. It’s also worth noting that Van Drew aired the Covid lab leak theory during a debate in 2020, which was widely dismissed at the time but has since gained more credibility. As beleaguered as Iran has been from the recent weakening of its middle-east proxies and the fall of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria, is it that hard to imagine they could still send drones over United States airspace to — I’m just speculating here — test our reaction? | | A message from Alibaba: U.S. businesses are growing global sales on Alibaba’s online marketplace. In just one year American businesses sold billions of dollars worth of goods internationally on Alibaba. These U.S. global sales also supported hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs and billions in U.S. wages. Learn how U.S. global sales on Alibaba support the U.S. economy. | | |
But Department of Defense spox Sabrina Singh outright dismissed Van Drew’s theory, saying there’s “not any truth” to it and “there is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States." What’s more, this report from Nov. 29 said the ship was at sea trials in the Persian Gulf.
To my completely non-expert ears, Van Drew’s theory sounds possible, but that’s mainly because there’s an absence of other plausible theories. And I hope he’s suggesting shooting them down over the water rather than over the most densely populated state in the union. Meanwhile, Republican state lawmakers who attended a briefing on the drones at State Police Headquarters were not satisfied with what they heard. “No answers. No resolution. They don’t know where the drones are coming from, they don’t know who’s doing it, they don’t know why they’re doing it, but they say there’s no credible threat,” said Assemblymember Brian Bergen, a Republican, told a reporter. “It was annoying to be there.” TIPS? FEEDBACK Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “[H]e had this fascination with the state of New Jersey. So to him, New Jersey was that paradise … Well, you know, in the beginning he told me that you wanted to create a New Jersey Islam in Iran. And I was wondering: What is New Jersey Islam? He said you wanted to create a New Jersey Islam in Iran, an Islam with Michael Jackson music and people having sex with each other.” — Journalist Maziar Bahari describing his interrogator/torturer in an Iranian prison in a 2010 interview with Terry Gross (h/t Steve Chernoski). HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Cody Miller, Maggee Miggins, Barry Parker, Gary Berner WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
THE BALLOT BILL — The Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design this afternoon plans to discuss legislation to standardize primary election ballots following the elimination of the county line. (While committee co-chair Benjie Wimberly told me Wednesday morning they planned to vote on it, the bill is now listed as “discussion only”). You can read the brand new bill here. Most of the more controversial proposals, like physical brackets around running mates and incumbency markers, did not make it past the draft stage. The controversial parts are around slogans. The broadest strokes: It mandates office block ballots, allows candidates to bracket together (without the actual brackets), sets uniform design and slogan standards and bars sending candidates to obscure parts of the ballot known as “Siberia.” One part of the bill says that candidates can’t use the “name of any political party, as defined under R.S.19:1-1, unless the written consent of the respective county political committee of such political party” has been granted. My initial basic reading of that was that only county party-endorsed candidates can call themselves Democrats or Republicans. That would likely be unconstitutional. But an official involved in the process assured me that it’s just intended to codify existing case law to prevent candidates from using a county political party’s name in their slogan if they’re not actually backed by them. A candidate in the primary can still call themselves a “Democrat” or “Republican,” they said. I doubt lawmakers would want to do anything that would tank this law in court. But I wonder if the language is a bit too broad. | | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | |
Another part of the bill states that “No slogan or endorsement shall include or refer to the name of any candidate appearing on the ballot in the same primary election for a different office.” That immediately drew the ire of election lawyer Scott Salmon, who works for Steve Fulop’s Democratic gubernatorial campaign. Fulop has been recruiting Assembly candidates to run along with him, and this would seem to bar them from using a name like “Team Fulop.” (I’m told that this idea actually came from Republicans). I expect we’ll hear a lot more about this today.
IN THE YEAR 2025 — Unpacking the most intriguing political contest of 2025, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard and Daniel Han: “It’s a powerhouse cast of Democratic contenders for New Jersey governor. The mayors of New Jersey’s two largest cities. Two influential members of Congress. The former president of the state Senate. And a former suburban mayor with a big union-backed campaign war chest. Six Democrats — ranging from tax-cutting centrists to minimum wage-raising progressives — are vying in a free-for-all June primary contest, with current Gov. Phil Murphy term-limited out. The results in the Garden State’s cities, suburbs and farmland will give Democrats a chance to see what resonates with their party’s voters after this year’s catastrophic setbacks in Washington. Each candidate has a credible path to grabbing the votes it could take to advance to the general election and it’s one of just two gubernatorial contests nationwide in 2025. Next year’s primary almost certainly will be the first in memory without a unique ballot design that for decades gave Jersey’s party bosses outsize influence in primary elections, which means the fight will arguably be fairer than in the past — and far less predictable. At least one candidate, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, has made his campaign explicitly about taking down the party machine, which he was once part of. There are also more traditional candidates that will test whether playing to the base or running to the center resonates more strongly with voters. Rep. Josh Gottheimer is pulling from his old boss Bill Clinton’s third-way moderate playbook, while Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is courting the party’s progressive base. —“Internal poll shows Sherrill with double-digit lead in Democratic primary” | | | | Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today. | | | | |
KRIS KOLL WON’T MISS THE BUS — “Kris Kolluri confirmed as new president, CEO of NJ Transit,” by News 12: “Kris Kolluri has been selected in a unanimous vote as the new president and CEO of NJ Transit. Kolluri is a former New Jersey Department of Transportation commissioner. He most recently led the group building the new Hudson River rail tunnel. ‘Kris Kolluri has played a vital role in strengthening our region's transit infrastructure, and I am confident in his ability to lead NJ TRANSIT as we work to deliver the reliable, efficient, and modernized mass transit system that New Jerseyans deserve,’ Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.”
WOOP-WOOTP THAT’S THE SOUND OF THE PREETLICE — Platkin taps Bharara to investigate State Police enforcement slowdown, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Attorney General Matt Platkin has appointed a prominent former federal prosecutor to investigate whether New Jersey State Police purposefully pared down traffic enforcement following a scathing report that found racial bias in its traffic stops. Preet Bharara, a former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017, will be special counsel overseeing the investigation, Platkin said. “I am deeply disappointed that this well-deserved reputation for serving the public good has been tainted by the alleged and unprecedented slowdown in State Police traffic enforcement from approximately July 2023 to March 2024,” Platkin said in a statement. | | | | Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today. | | | | |
THE KNOW NOTHING PARTY — “NJ legislators frustrated by State Police drone briefing, 'We know nothing',” by the Record’s Lisa Robyn Kruse and Jenna Calderón: “Despite weeks of investigation, New Jersey authorities still don’t know where the mystery drones are coming from, who’s operating them, or where they are taking off or landing from, state lawmakers were told at a briefing Wednesday. "The one thing that I feel confident about coming out of that briefing is that the federal and state governments know very little about the situation," said Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, R-Ocean. "Every single person [at the briefing] was varying degrees of irate, angry, horrified and scared." “We know nothing. PERIOD,” said Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia … At a closed-door briefing about the drones at State Police headquarters Wednesday morning, lawmakers were told that investigators have been unable to electronically detect the drones”
—“NJ 'drone' Facebook group with 22K members looks to solve mystery” —“Drones over New Jersey: Aliens? Spies? Secret military tech? Let's speculate | Opinion” —“NJ 'swarming drones' expert says U.S. military likely behind mystery” —“'You were in the wrong war': Vietnam vet shocked that NJ tax credit doesn't apply to him” —“New Jersey is considering banning sales of diet and muscle building pills to minors” —“Trenton bill will put New Jerseyans’ eyes at risk | Opinion” —“Train to the plane: Extend PATH to Newark Airport | Opinion” —Lalevee: “FDU poll finds bipartisan backing for Turnpike expansion from New Jersey voters” —"Environmental, business groups clash over plastic packaging bill" | | BIDEN TIME | |
ICYMI: — “New Jersey politician fakes spotify wrapped to show all Springsteen songs”
| | LOCAL | |
I ASSURE YOU THIS SEAT IS OPEN — “Colabella will retire as Ocean County Clerk,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Three-term Ocean County Clerk Scott Colabella will not seek re-election next year and plans to retire at the end of the year, setting up a possible internal fight over his successor and a potential fight over county commissioner seats occupied by longtime incumbents. Colabella’s departure sets up a series of immediate changes. Deputy County Clerk John Catalano, a former assemblyman, would become acting county clerk until Gov. Phil Murphy appoints a replacement – and the State Senate confirms his pick – to serve until the November 2025 election results are certified. County Commissioners John P. Kelly and Gary Quinn are possible candidates for county clerk, although the field could grow over the coming weeks. Kelly starts as the clear favorite.”
WHY-KOFF? — “Wyckoff suspends 30-year tax assessor without explanation at special meeting,” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “Without explanation, the Township Committee voted, 3-1-1, to suspend its 30-year tax assessor, Pamela Steele, without pay at a special 10-minute meeting Tuesday … The committee received a four-page letter on Monday from Peter Zipp, an attorney for the Association of Municipal Assessors of New Jersey, advising them that assessors could be removed from office only by the director of the Division of Taxation, and only after a hearing. Such a tenured assessor can be removed only for 'good cause shown,' not 'for political reasons,' and only 'after a proper hearing before the director or his [or her] designee,’ Zipp's letter said … There was no explanation from any committee member for the suspension. Resolution 24-300 states only that ‘certain issues have arisen regarding the employment and employment status of the assessor.’ … Steele spoke remotely during the public comment section, stating she is suffering from lung cancer and could not attend the meeting in person. ‘I have given dedicated and exceptional service for 30 years,’ Steele said. ‘What you are doing is an illegal, unlawful action.’” —“State legislator calls for fiscal monitor and investigation of newark public schools spending” —“Palisades Park approves having accessory dwelling units be used as affordable housing” —“Paterson, with 118 teacher vacancies, tries to help get other employees certified” —“Full-day kindergarten coming to [Haddonfield] after voters approve $46M bond” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | SWIMSUIT EDITION STADIUM — “Red Bulls change name of home venue as part of long-term deal,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brian Fonseca: “Red Bull Arena has a new name. The Harrison soccer venue that serves as the home of the New York Red Bulls has been renamed ‘Sports Illustrated Stadium’ as part of a long-term strategic partnership between the Major League Soccer club and Sports Illustrated Tickets, NJ Advance Media has learned. A league source tells NJ Advance Media that the two sides signed a 13-year, nine-figure deal that is believed to be among the top three naming rights partnerships in MLS.” RETURN OF THE HELMI — “Helmy returning to RWJBH as chief external affairs and policy officer,” by ROI-NJ’s Tom Bergeron: “RWJBarnabas Health CEO Mark Manigan announced Wednesday morning that Sen. George Helmy will return to his role as executive vice president, chief external affairs and policy officer at the health system. Manigan praised Helmy for his efforts in the U.S. Senate, where he served from Sept. 9 to Dec. 8, filling the unexpired term of Sen. Bob Menendez … Helmy, the longtime chief of staff to Gov. Phil Murphy, said returning to RWJBH was a “no-brainer,” as it will enable him to continue a legacy of service – which is what attracted him to the health system originally. Helmy, who will rejoin RWJBH on Dec. 16, originally started on Sept. 29, 2023.” | | A message from Alibaba: New Jersey-based businesses are growing globally on Alibaba’s online marketplace. Dr. Eddie Omar, CEO of New Jersey-based Phyto-C, said that his company “experienced a 600% increase in revenue since selling globally on Alibaba.” According to NDP Analytics research company, those sales contributed millions to New Jersey’s GDP, and supported thousands of local jobs in just one year.
Learn how global sales by New Jersey-based businesses are supporting the local economy in our state. | | |
R.I.P. — “NJ native and world-famous mentalist 'The Amazing Kreskin' dies,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “George J. Kresge, better known as "The Amazing Kreskin," has died, according to his social media accounts and close friends. The New Jersey native and longtime resident was 89. "What Kreskin said at the end of every show was 'Let's not say goodbye, let's just say to be continued,' " said his former road manager, Ryan Galway. Born in Montclair, the Caldwell High School graduate began performing in his teens and rose to fame in the 1970s as a self-described ‘mentalist’ who never claimed to be a psychic but dazzled audiences with his apparent ability to read their minds. The Amazing Kreskin, born George Joseph Kreske in Montclair 82 years ago, performed feats of mentalism and mind-reading.”
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