“Sen. Bernie Sanders will hit the road for Troy Jackson in Maine starting Oct. 10, the first time the progressive leader will stump for the candidate this cycle,” Politico reports.
“The Vermont independent plans to hold three rallies with Jackson.”
Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 189
Navigating the Nonsense
Trial Balloon · Ep. 189: Navigating the Nonsense
One Chart That Explains the Midterm Elections
If you want to understand what’s driving the midterm elections, start with this chart.
It shows just how badly the political conversation in Washington has diverged from what voters are actually worried about.
Trump Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds
“The National Science Foundation, one of the biggest sources of federal research funding, withheld $1.4 billion that Congress had intended for research over the course of the past year,” the New York Times reports.
“The extraordinary move — holding back about one-fifth of the NSF’s primary research budget — is the latest sign of how the Trump administration is finding creative ways to work around Congress.”
Former GOP Lawmaker Sentenced to 10 Years
“A former Miami congressman and longtime friend of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison in connection with a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on Venezuela’s behalf during the first Trump administration,” the Washington Sun reports.
“Republican David Rivera has been jailed since jurors found him guilty in May on all counts, including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of his work for former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ’s government.”
Justice Dept Won’t Reopen Criminal Probe Into Fed’s Powell
“The U.S. Justice Department isn’t reopening a criminal investigation into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for cost overruns related to the central bank’s building renovation project,” Bloomberg reports.
“Attorney General Todd Blanche didn’t rule out continuing to look into the project’s oversight and potentially take action if evidence of wrongdoing came to light.”
Judge Throws Out Another Confession in 9/11 Case
“In a new setback to prosecutors in the Sept. 11 case, a military judge on Friday excluded the confessions of another prisoner accused of helping the hijackers who carried out the attacks,” the New York Times reports.
“Last month, the judge also threw out the confessions of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the man accused of being the mastermind of the plot that killed nearly 3,000 people.”
Senate Crushes House On Congressional Work Days
“The Senate is well on its way to claiming the congressional attendance trophy this year, spending 32 more weekdays in session so far than the House,” Axios reports.
“Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have been torched by members for all the time off — not to mention Democrats, who taunt them for their truancy.”
Christa Pike Is On Ventilator After Execution Attempt
“Christa Pike was unconscious, intubated and on a ventilator in a Nashville hospital as of Thursday evening, a day after surviving a botched execution attempt, her lawyers said in a court filing,” the New York Times reports.
Reuters: Tennessee governor calls failed Christa Pike execution “a tragedy.”
Hegseth Orders ‘Stand-Down’ to Encourage Voting
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered commanders to set aside a day this month for troops to register, request absentee ballots and vote, expanding his push for military voter participation,” the Washington Sun reports.
“The directive, signed Thursday and announced Friday, requires a one-day voting ‘stand-down’ by Oct. 15 and establishes the practice for every even-numbered year.”
Said Hegseth: “Now, we’re not telling you who to vote for, but we will give you every opportunity to do so. It’s then up to you to exercise your right as an American to choose your elected leaders.”
G7 to Release ‘Substantial’ Amount of Diesel
“The Group of Seven nations has agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel from their strategic reserves to help bring down prices,” NewsNation reports.
The Kennedy Center Honors Will Be Moved
“This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Washington’s Capital One Arena, not the riverfront building that’s been at the center of a legal fight over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building,” the Washington Sun reports.
America’s Grim Record of Failed Executions
The Economist: “Call it executive dysfunction. Since 2021 American states have executed 148 convicted criminals. Of that number, according to data gathered from news reports by the Death Penalty Information Centre, an advocacy charity, 11 were botched, with many of the condemned left writhing in pain on gurneys for 30 minutes or more. Of these, four did not succeed in bringing about death at all.”
Trump Says Republican Denying an Extra Hour of Daylight
“President Trump said Friday that a lone Senate Republican is blocking Americans from gaining an extra hour of daylight on winter evenings — as he ratcheted up pressure on senators to pass his plan for permanent daylight saving time,” the New York Post reports.
Said Trump: “Unfortunately, it’s being held up by Senator Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, for reasons unknown. People are sick and tired of having to change their Clocks twice a year.”
It’s actually been years since I had any clocks in my house that didn’t change automatically.
Both Parties Preparing for Post-Election Challenges
“For America’s two major political parties, Nov. 3 is shaping up to be an Election Day of mutual distrust. The proof is in the deluge of litigation already filed in courthouses around the country,” the New York Times reports.
“The Trump administration is heading into the midterms fixated on the unfounded claim that voter registration by noncitizens is a widespread problem. The Democrats, noting that President Trump tried to overturn his 2020 election loss — and that he recently encouraged his followers to ‘cheat like hell’ in the midterms — are bracing for what they say will be an onslaught of Republican tactics, from the intimidation of voters to the potential seizure of ballots.”
“The specific contours of these anxieties are evident in the scores of election-related lawsuits filed by the two parties and their allies. They are concerned with matters as granular as the proper way to seal a ballot envelope in North Carolina, and as sweeping as the role of the federal government in an election system that is, per the Constitution, administered by the states.”
Democrats Put $3.4M Behind Susan Collins Allegations
“The Democrats’ main Senate super PAC is turning an explosive ProPublica investigation into Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) into a 30-second, $3.4 million attack campaign in one of the closest Senate races of the midterms,” Axios reports.
Weekly News Quiz
How well did you pay attention to the political news this week?
Take the quiz and find out.
Sullivan and Peltola Dead Heat in Alaska
A new Quantus Insights poll in Alaska finds Dan Sullivan (R) and Mary Peltola (D) tied in the U.S. Senate race, 46% to 46%.
Alaska Senate Race
Dan Sullivan (R) 46%
Mary Peltola (D) 46%
Graham Barely Leads in South Carolina Senate Race
A new InsiderAdvantage poll in South Carolina finds Darline Graham (R) leading Annie Andrews (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 46% to 45%, with Mark Hackett (C) at 3% and Kasie Whitener (L) at 2%.
South Carolina Senate Race
Darline Graham (R) 46%
Annie Andrews (D) 45%
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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 →