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October 9, 2026

75 posts · Friday

← October 8, 2026October 10, 2026 →

Why Is Kash Patel Planning to Visit Russia?

October 9, 2026 · 3:49 pm ET · Leave a Comment

The Atlantic: “Russia is a U.S. adversary, with a track record of interfering in U.S. elections. It’s providing support for Iran in its war with the United States even as the U.S. backs Ukraine in its long-running war against Russia. FBI agents work day and night to combat a long list of threats emanating from Russian soil: espionage, cyber intrusions, influence campaigns, and efforts to infiltrate American institutions and critical infrastructure.”

“So when the news emerged this summer that FBI Director Kash Patel would be visiting Moscow just three weeks before the midterm elections, many of his own employees were puzzled—and concerned.”

2026 Campaign, National Security

Trump Makes Deal with Putin for Russian Diesel Fuel

October 9, 2026 · 3:26 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“President Trump announced Friday that the U.S. will buy large amounts of Russian diesel to address surging fuel costs — making a major foreign-policy pivot to ease costs just before the midterm elections,” the New York Post reports.

Said Trump: “I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.”

NewsNation: Russia will supply U.S. with diesel.

Energy, Foreign Affairs, White House

Kansas Senate Race Is a Surprising New Midterm Fight

October 9, 2026 · 2:51 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. The Republican domination of the state’s two Senate seats, lasting nearly a century, is one of the longest partisan winning streaks in Senate history,” the New York Times reports.

“But suddenly, a megachurch pastor who became a Democrat this spring appears to have a shot at breaking it.”

“A race that once barely registered nationally has emerged as one of the most unexpected battlegrounds on a midterm map that has rapidly expanded into longtime Republican strongholds. The arrival of the pastor, Adam Hamilton, as a serious Senate contender in Kansas has come so fast, it appears to have caught the incumbent Republican, Senator Roger Marshall, by surprise.”

2026 Campaign, Senate

From our partner:

October Surprise! 

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Another Bonus Quote of the Day

October 9, 2026 · 2:48 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Paxton’s gonna lose. We need to teach those Republicans a lesson. It’s going to be hard to learn, but they need to know that their decisions have consequences.”

— Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), quoted by CNN, in a conversation with a friend.

2026 Campaign

Vance Won’t Watch Live Stream of Execution

October 9, 2026 · 2:40 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Vice President JD Vance said Friday that he wasn’t sure whether there would be a live stream of Nidal Hasan’s December execution, despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation of that plan, adding that if it were to be live-streamed, ‘I’m not going to be watching,'” ABC News reports.

The New Republic: Even (a few) Republicans are shocked by execution livestreaming plan.

Crime and Punishment, White House

House Democratic Campaign Arm Needs $17 Million

October 9, 2026 · 2:39 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is begging for resources, and setting a hard deadline for donors to give $17 million in order to compete in a handful of districts that Republicans carried easily in 2024,” Politico reports.

2026 Campaign, House of Representatives

Katie Zacharia Picked as Trump’s New Press Secretary

October 9, 2026 · 2:31 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator who briefly worked at the Department of Homeland Security, has been chosen as the next White House press secretary,” the New York Times reports.

“Ms. Zacharia will succeed Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is currently a communications adviser to Trump Media and Technology Group, which runs Truth Social.”

White House

Trump Is Trying Last-Minute Ways to Bring Down Prices

October 9, 2026 · 2:22 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “Trump has tried to address Americans’ concerns about high beef prices by temporarily bringing in imported beef (which enraged ranchers).”

“Another step has been to let farmers use tax-exempt diesel through the end of the year, which he announced in Nebraska this week after a behind-the-scenes push from Vice President JD Vance. It’s a small change: Diesel costs in the Midwest have risen nearly $4 in a year, and this plan would lower them by about 24 cents.”

Economy, White House

Kimberly Guilfoyle Allegations Add to Spotlight

October 9, 2026 · 1:34 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“President Trump faces a scandal involving a top official, with Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle under scrutiny for allegedly soliciting debt relief in exchange for political access. That revelation follows other reported questionable conduct, including favoring a Greek energy firm,” NewsNation reports.

“The Trump administration appeared caught off guard by the reports involving Guilfoyle.”

Ethics, Scandal, White House

Trump Celebrates Christopher Columbus at White House

October 9, 2026 · 1:27 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“President Trump is hosting a Columbus Day celebration at the White House on Friday, renewing his push to honor the Italian explorer amid years of debate over his legacy,” NewsNation reports.

“The event comes months after Trump installed a 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus on White House grounds — a replica of a monument that protesters toppled and threw into Baltimore’s harbor in 2020.”

Culture Wars, White House

ABC News Removes Trump Sons Report

October 9, 2026 · 1:24 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“ABC News removed an investigation into government contracts involving companies linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump because the article was published prematurely,” The Wrap reports.

“The article was taken down while reporting is being finalized.”

Here’s my post on the article that has since been taken down.
Taegan

Media Buzz

What’s Driving the French Student Protests

October 9, 2026 · 1:11 pm ET · Leave a Comment

New Yorker: “A movement born in the Paris banlieues has mobilized young people against diminished school conditions and accumulating problems at home and beyond.”

Foreign Affairs

Why Kansas Might Do the Unthinkable and Vote Blue

October 9, 2026 · 12:55 pm ET · Leave a Comment

New Republic: “A perfect storm could be brewing in Kansas to elect a Democratic senator for the first time since 1932. Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton’s skills as a candidate, experts say, combined with uniquely bad conditions for the state’s farmers, could be the right ingredients for an upset.”

“The problem is numbers: Registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in the state almost two to one.”

2026 Campaign, Senate

GOP Attack Ad Misidentifies Its Democratic Target

October 9, 2026 · 12:49 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“A Republican group linked to President Donald Trump began airing an attack ad on Friday targeting Jonathan Nez, the former president of the Navajo Nation and Democrat running against Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ),” the Washington Post reports.

“The one problem with the ad? It misidentified Nez twice, using a photo of Myron Lizer, Nez’s vice president of the Navajo Nation and a prominent Republican surrogate.”

2026 Campaign, Political Advertising

Trump Backs Public Firing Squad Execution

October 9, 2026 · 12:48 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“President Trump Friday backed the Department of War’s decision to execute the Fort Hood mass shooter by firing squad, quipping that the Army major who turned his handgun on fellow soldiers ‘deserves it,'” the New York Post reports.

Said Trump: “We’re giving a man the death penalty who killed 14 soldiers a couple of years ago. Death penalty through firing squad — and, uh, and he deserves it. Killed and wounded many, many people. Maniac.”

National Security, White House

Blockers

October 9, 2026 · 12:31 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Just published: Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State by Michael Lewis.

An inside look at the early days of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

New · Out October 6, 2026Blockers
Rebels in the Deep State
by Michael Lewis · W. W. Norton & Company
Buy on Amazon
Hardcover·Kindle
More on this book from Political Wire →

Political Books

Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded Ad Bombs in Focus Group

October 9, 2026 · 12:28 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Sarah Longwell: “Since the ads began to air, it’s become pretty clear that people hate the idea of the government using taxpayer money to broadcast them. And I mean, they truly hate it…”

“What’s been less clear is whether the ads themselves are effective. After all, voters always claim to hate political ads. Even when campaign commercials are really effective, voters almost never admit to liking them, trusting them, or being influenced by them. And yet they work. But do Trump’s?”

“To find out, we convened a group of voters from Florida who backed Trump in 2024 but now disapprove of his job performance—the very voters he needs to win back—and showed them the ad. What we saw was a whole new level of revulsion. In fact, we couldn’t even get through the question.”

Political Advertising, White House

Moderate Democrats Propose Banning Pocket Rescissions

October 9, 2026 · 12:24 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Moderate Democrats want Congress to wrest back some control over government spending from the president,” the Washington Sun reports.

“Their proposal: a major overhaul of the budget process that would impose new limitations on the White House.”

“A new bill introduced on Friday by the Blue Dog Coalition would end pocket rescissions, the process through which President Donald Trump rescinded more than $800 million in already appropriated funds.”

Budget & Taxes, House of Representatives

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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 →

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