“There is no question that Cruz has been a polarizing figure, and it’s kind of ironic that a lot of people who were so critical of him are now jumping on the bandwagon because it suits their needs.”
— Ben Carson, quoted by Politico.


“There is no question that Cruz has been a polarizing figure, and it’s kind of ironic that a lot of people who were so critical of him are now jumping on the bandwagon because it suits their needs.”
— Ben Carson, quoted by Politico.
You're reading the free version of Political Wire
Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock full access. The process is quick and easy. You can even use Apple Pay.
“Karoline Leavitt is back in the press secretary’s traditional office in the White House,” CBS News reports. “Leavitt is reclaiming the roomy space with a fireplace that Taylor Budowich, President…
Philip Elliot: “Amid all these threats, the number of workers who haven’t yet found themselves furloughed is raising eyebrows, according to conversations with federal workers left in a lurch and…
“After the government shutdown began Wednesday morning, furloughed employees at an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services were told to set an out-of-office message in their email…
“The White House is targeting Democratic states with its first wave of cuts to federal projects following the government shutdown, impacting billions of dollars in funding for energy and infrastructure…
“This was a difficult vote. The paradox is, by shutting the government, we’re actually giving Donald Trump more power. And that was why I voted yes.” — Sen. Angus King…
Social Security payments to more than 74 million Americans will stay on schedule during the government shutdown, ABC News reports. Save to Favorites
“The post of United Nations ambassador isn’t a Cabinet position, as President Trump signals the decreased importance of the U.N. to his administration,” CBS News reports. “When former Rep. Mike…
“Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in a notable break with the Department of Justice, claimed late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was ‘the greatest blackmailer ever’ — and may have traded the feds…
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told House Republicans on Wednesday, the first day of the government shutdown, that the Trump administration will start firing federal employees in…
Punchbowl News: “We’re told that the Democrats in the group proposed a short-term CR — 10 days or two weeks — that would serve as a forcing mechanism to get…
A new Quinnipiac poll in Pennsylvania finds Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) with a 60% to 28% approval rating. A hypothetical re-election matchup shows Shapiro ahead crushing Stacy Garrity (R), 55%…
From the Washington Post editorial board: “The Democratic Party shut off any potential escape valve to avoid a shutdown, which began at midnight on Tuesday. In doing so, progressives embraced…
Inside Elections: “Throughout 2017 and into early 2018, election watchers kept seeing the same movie over and over: Special elections in heavily Republican areas were way closer than they had…
“A pornographic blog linked to Virginia lieutenant governor candidate John Reid (R) shared content from accounts that fetishized Nazism and sexual violence,” the American Journal News reports. “Reid has denied…
“Unfortunately, we are here this morning in a government shutdown that Democrats wanted. Chuck Schumer, at the behest of a bunch of liberal, far-left activist groups, has walked his Democrat…
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said the main reason Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rallied Democrats to defeat a Republican funding bill and trigger a government shutdown is because he’s afraid of…
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “With the benefit of hindsight, we can say that the ‘but he fights’ wing of the GOP ultimately won control of the party, culminating in the…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) mocked President Trump’s recent comments about walking up the stairs at the United Nations, calling him a “very weak man,” The Hill reports. Save to…
“Capitol Hill staff are preparing to miss paychecks if the shutdown drags on, but their bosses don’t need to worry — pay for lawmakers is mandated in the Constitution and…
“The Trump administration is planning to withhold billions of dollars from one of the nation’s largest public works projects in direct retaliation for the government shutdown, which Republicans are blaming…
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
“There are a lot of blogs and news sites claiming to understand politics, but only a few actually do. Political Wire is one of them.”
— Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press”
“Concise. Relevant. To the point. Political Wire is the first site I check when I’m looking for the latest political nugget. That pretty much says it all.”
— Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report
“Political Wire is one of only four or five sites that I check every day and sometimes several times a day, for the latest political news and developments.”
— Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report
“The big news, delicious tidbits, pearls of wisdom — nicely packaged, constantly updated… What political junkie could ask for more?”
— Larry Sabato, Center for Politics, University of Virginia
“Political Wire is a great, great site.”
— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”
“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”
— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post
“Political Wire is one of the absolute must-read sites in the blogosphere.”
— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit
“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”
— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.