Political Wire

Bob Woodward Criticizes Jeff Bezos in New Memoir

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New York Times: “While he says Mr. Bezos has not interfered in news stories, Mr. Woodward writes that the billionaire owner’s sweeping staff cuts, reorientation of the editorial page and personal ingratiation to the president have betrayed the legacy of a newspaper known for courageous coverage.”

“The condemnation of Mr. Bezos by his most famous employee is one of the headlines from Secrets, the long-awaited memoir of his 55 years in journalism to be published Nov. 24 by Mr. Woodward, who still holds the title of associate editor at the paper.”

Pre-order · Out November 24, 2026Secrets
A Reporter's Memoir
by Bob Woodward · Simon & Schuster
Pre-order on Amazon
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More on this book from Political Wire →

Trump Planned to Sharply Restrict Mail-In Voting

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“Earlier this month, the Supreme Court blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump restricting voting by mail in ways that could have thrown the upcoming midterms into chaos. But the White House originally had far more disruptive plans,” ProPublica reports.

”According to several people knowledgeable about the discussions, the administration initially floated an idea that would have virtually shut down mail voting: requiring all ballots to be delivered exclusively through certified mail. The proposal — which would have required voters to be home and sign for delivery of their ballots — was ultimately abandoned, after vehement Postal Service objections that it would have been impossible to execute.”

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Oil Spike Fuels Democratic Ads

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Punchbowl News: “Democrats are seizing on a new attack on GOP candidates for House and Senate seats as colder weather sweeps into the Northeast, knocking their opponents over the high cost of home heating oil.”

“High gas and diesel prices have been dominating Democrats’ messaging in races around the country. But President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is now creating more political fallout for Republicans as the winter months approach. The cost of home heating oil spiked dramatically this year, hitting an average of $6.19 per gallon as of Oct. 19, according to the Energy Information Administration. It was $3.60 per gallon last year, meaning it’s increased by more than 70%.”

Court Hands Trump Setback On California Ballots

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“A federal appeals court Monday rejected a Trump administration request to immediately require California to set aside mail-in ballots it receives from 20,000 people the federal government says might not be U.S. citizens,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“A panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the Justice Department wasn’t entitled to an emergency order segregating the ballots, in a case the DOJ just filed 11 days ago and hasn’t yet been considered by a trial judge.”

Bolsonaro Drops Bid to Annul Brazil Election

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“Flávio Bolsonaro, the defeated candidate in Brazil’s presidential election, is abandoning plans to seek to annul the vote and will instead file a case accusing reelected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of abuse of power,” Bloomberg reports.

Judge Imposes New Limits On Trump’s Golf Course Plan

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“A federal judge extended an order blocking tree removal from a Washington, DC golf course President Donald Trump is seeking to renovate, while imposing new notice requirements on any other major changes the administration seeks to make on the golf course grounds,” CNN reports.

Ex-FBI Director James Comey Charged Again

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“Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged for the third time with federal crimes, according to a court filing unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., at Comey’s request,” CNBC reports.

“Comey is accused in the new case with knowingly communicating information related to national defense to a person not entitled to receive it.”

“He is also charged with conspiring with others to violate the law against sharing such information.”

The Wrap: Trump DOJ accuses James Comey of leaking classified intel to New York Times in new charges.

Trump Offers $1,000,000 Voter Fraud Bounty

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Rolling Stone: “All around America, voters are fed up with the short-sighted, destructive policies of Donald Trump’s second administration. But rather than addressing those concerns, the president today decided to try a new tactic in shifting the balance of America’s fragile democracy: offering a boat load of cash to anyone who could catch a fraud.”

“In a Truth Social post on Monday afternoon, Trump said that ‘anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!'”

U.S. Maps Path for Venezuela to Hold New Election

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“Venezuela and the U.S. are setting up a path toward elections in the South American country that would be triggered by declaring a vacancy in the office, which technically has been empty since American forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January,” Bloomberg reports.

“The plan laid out Monday by a senior State Department official offers the clearest timetable yet for Washington’s effort to move Venezuela toward a new election, while making clear that the U.S. doesn’t want an election held under inherited institutions.”

Another Bonus Quote of the Day

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“It looked like another rigged election, frankly. Elections have to be indisputable, and it looked very bad to me.”

— President Trump, quoted by Axios, on the Brazilian election in which Trump-aligned populist Flavio Bolsonaro lost.

Prediction Markets’ Credibility ‘On the Line’ in Midterms

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“America’s political class is hurtling toward an election that some fear could turn into yet another public opinion polling flop,” Politico reports.

“Enter the prediction markets.”

“Wall Street’s buzziest startups — Kalshi and Polymarket chiefly among them — have long held themselves up as paragons of the forecasting business, arguing that voters will be more truthful with money on the line. Now, the midterm elections are about to test whether their predictive chops hold up when on display.”

Brazilian Markets Crash After Lula’s Surprise Election Win

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“Brazilian financial assets were swept by a historic rout Monday after the surprise election victory of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrong-footed investors who had bet on his defeat,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Brazilian real slid more than 10% against the U.S. dollar while the country’s benchmark stock index fell nearly 17%, which would mark a record daily loss.”

Silicon Valley Braces for a Democratic Congress

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Washington Post: “As Trump’s approval rating plummets, Silicon Valley companies that ingratiated themselves with Trump’s Washington are bracing for the possibility of a Democratic Congress — and with it congressional investigations targeting their dealings with the president and his administration.”

“Democrats are preparing to investigate some defense technology firms, as well as manufacturing and mining companies that serve the military supply chain, according to conversations with nearly a dozen congressional staffers, political lobbyists, lawyers, investors and executives.”

“The firms make a tantalizing target for Democrats because of their close ties to the Trump administration and mounting public anger over unregulated AI, autonomous weapons and data centers.”

Wes Moore Campaigns in Virginia

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Washington Post: “Moore, the only Black governor of a U.S. state, is up for reelection next month. But his Suburban with Maryland plates recently logged more than 650 miles crisscrossing Virginia, where he rallied Black and veteran voters in the commonwealth’s most competitive House districts instead of campaigning at home.”

“In the newly minted early presidential primary state, Moore also was fortifying his ties to Virginia’s Black political power structure ahead of a widely presumed 2028 presidential bid.”

Sleeper Issue Could Decide the Texas Senate Race

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“Americans’ concern with what they view as government corruption is defining midterm races across the country, as voters from both parties consistently rank the issue second only to the economy and high prices,” the Washington Post reports.

“Corruption has particularly animated the crucial Senate battleground of Texas, where Republicans are scrambling to prevent the first Senate Democratic victory since 1988 as state Rep. James Talarico (D) pounds Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) with tens of millions of dollars in advertising calling him corrupt.”

New York Times: Ken Paxton’s state-funded jet-setting draws campaign scrutiny.

A Flurry of Diplomacy in Iran

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“Senior representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met with Iranian officials in the capital, Tehran, on Monday, amid widespread concern that the United States and Israel could soon launch fresh attacks on Iran,” the New York Times reports.

“The visit is the latest in a flurry of diplomatic efforts by regional mediators to stave off further turmoil in the Middle East. American and Israeli officials are said to be drawing up plans to potentially attack Iran after the U.S. midterm elections next week.”

Bloomberg: Top Saudi, Turkish officials travel to Iran to quell war tension.

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.

More about Taegan Goddard →