Political Wire

Easing Sanctions On Russian Diesel Won’t Lower Fuel Costs

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“Diesel prices in the United States are hovering near record highs — and a deal President Trump announced last week to increase Russian fuel exports is unlikely to lower them significantly anytime soon,” the New York Times reports.

“The amount of diesel Russia could supply under that agreement is much lower than what the country was exporting this time last year and constitutes a small proportion of the diesel supply the world has lost because of Mr. Trump’s war with Iran, energy analysts said. And it is not clear that Russia could even deliver all the fuel the president and Russian officials have promised.”

Semafor: Political fallout from Trump’s Russian diesel deal overshadows price impact.

On Negative Ads

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John Ellis: “Over the course of at least two decades, powered by tens of billions of dollars of negative advertising, political campaigns have told the electorate that elected officials (or those seeking public office) are horrible, lying, thieving miscreants. After a while, people might get the idea that elected officials are horrible, lying, thieving miscreants.”

“Put another way, American political campaigns, every two years (and a bit more in between), spend vast amounts of money doing everything possible to destroy the electorate’s faith in American politics.”

“Apple doesn’t do that in its ‘category.’ Coca-Cola doesn’t either. Nor does Walmart or Costco or Eli Lilly. There’s a reason they don’t. You don’t burn the village to save it.”

Michael Whatley’s Campaign Is Currently Dark On TV

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“Michael Whatley’s campaign has temporarily gone dark in North Carolina,” Politico reports.

“The Republican Senate nominee does not currently have future linear TV ad reservations booked in the race, a highly unusual move less than three weeks before Election Day in a state that was once considered a top GOP priority.”

Subpoenas Issued in Probe of Ilhan Omar

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“The Justice Department on Friday issued about a dozen subpoenas as part of an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar, including to members of her family,” NBC News reports.

“The congresswoman herself was not subpoenaed, the source said, adding that the orders seeking information are tied to a federal grand jury in Minnesota, Omar’s home state.”

A Note to Readers

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Judge Limited Access to Ilhan Omar’s Records

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“The Trump administration pushed for an unusually aggressive search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s house in recent days in an immigration fraud probe that targets the congresswoman, possible false statements made on government documents, and a potential conspiracy, according to multiple people familiar with the investigation,” CNN reports.

“Prosecutors, however, first had to contend with a federal magistrate judge, in a prolonged back-and-forth that hasn’t previously been reported. Judge Matthew Sharbaugh of the DC District Court ultimately limited how the Justice Department could access Omar’s documents in Monday’s search, before he would approve the warrant, because of her role as a member of Congress and the Constitutional protections that affords.”

Inflation Anvil Continues to Hang Around GOP’s Necks

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Punchbowl News: “Inflation continues to crush Republicans, with Election Day less than three weeks away.”

“The Consumer Price Index, a solid gauge of changes in prices for Americans, jumped 3.7% on an annual basis. The spike was driven by a sharp increase in energy prices — the price of gas is up an eye-watering 9.1%. The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.33, while diesel sits at $6.29.”

“The war in Iran has been a major liability for Republicans this election cycle, and Wednesday’s inflation report — showing the largest monthly increase in five months — is salt in the wound ahead of the midterms.”

“The price of gasoline alone accounted for more than half of the monthly spike in inflation.”

CNN: GOP senator said gas prices would decide the midterms. Now they’re threatening his reelection.

Americans Are Losing Faith in Their Fellow Voters

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“Americans’ trust in their fellow citizens’ democratic judgment has fallen to its lowest recorded level in more than five decades, according to a new Gallup survey,” Axios reports.

“Americans’ growing distrust of political leaders and institutions now extends to one another, with Democrats and Republicans showing similar levels of skepticism.”

Josh Shapiro Will ‘Be in Court’ if Trump Challenges Ballots

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“Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration is prepared to defend lawfully cast ballots in court if President Donald Trump or other federal officials attempt to throw out votes, particularly in cases that affect the outcomes of close congressional races,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

“‘They’re going to try to stop certain votes from being counted,’ Shapiro said Monday in an interview, referring to Trump and his allies. ‘So we’ll be in court immediately to ensure all legal, eligible votes are counted.'”

Josh Turek Just Ahead in Iowa Senate Race

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A new YouGov poll in Iowa finds Josh Turek (D) leading Ashley Hinson (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 46%.

Iowa Senate Race
Josh Turek (D) 47%
 
Ashley Hinson (R) 46%
 
YouGov poll · likely voters · ±3.1%
Iowa Governor’s Race
Rob Sand (D) 50%
 
Zach Lahn (R) 44%
 
YouGov poll · likely voters · ±3.1%
A leaked Marist poll, due out tomorrow, shows Turek up by three points and Sand up by seven points.
Taegan

Five Senate Races Are Now Toss Ups

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Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “Rating changes this week leave us with five Senate Toss-ups, all in Republican-held seats.”

“Republicans now need four of these five Toss-ups (Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Texas), although all of these save the Pine Tree State are naturally red states where it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Republicans hold on.”

Bloomberg: The key states for deciding Senate control.

Trump Probes Claims of Missing Kennedy Center Money

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“President Trump has directed his White House counsel to examine explosive allegations dropped on him Friday in the Oval Office:,” Axios reports.

“Former Trump attorney Alina Habba told the president that another one of his top advisers — former Kennedy Center leader Ric Grenell — failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar donation that her billionaire husband made to the center a year ago.”

“Grenell denied the accusations as ‘absurd’ and a ‘lie.'”

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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