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October 11, 2026

55 posts · Sunday

Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 191

Blue Wave Update

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 191: Blue Wave Update

Pete Buttigieg Gambles On a Different Path for 2028

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“Pete Buttigieg has been able to campaign for Democrats across the country more than many of his potential 2028 rivals this past year. One reason: He doesn’t have a job,” Axios reports.

“That’s by choice. Buttigieg said no when top Democrats urged him to run for governor or the U.S. Senate in Michigan this year.”

“That decision is a gamble for Buttigieg’s presidential ambitions. He’s been able to build a national network over the last two years but hasn’t added to his relatively thin resume as a former mayor of South Bend, Ind. and Joe Biden’s transportation secretary.”

Price of Drugs From Canada Set to Soar for Millions

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“Millions of Americans who buy cheap drugs from Canada could soon lose access when a customs rule goes into effect later this month, a change that has sparked opposition from Democrats and some Republicans with the cost of living a top issue for voters ahead of midterm elections,” the Associated Press reports.

“The rule applies to a swath of goods beyond drugs and is intended to collect tariffs and prevent illegal drugs from coming into the U.S. It comes as President Donald Trump has made lowering drug prices a top target in addressing soaring healthcare costs, and critics say the rule will hurt patients seeking affordable medicine.”

Newsom May Commute All California Death Sentences

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“Gov. Gavin Newsom is reportedly considering commuting the sentences of the 563 people condemned to death row in California prisons, as public opinion has shifted in the week since a Tennessee female prisoner survived a botched execution by lethal injection,” the Sacramento Bee reports.

“Newsom, who is term-limited, has discussed with his advisors reducing death row inmates’ sentences to life in prison without parole as one of his final acts in office.”

Hack Reveals Netanyahu Campaign’s Media Ties

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“Hacked messages from an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are providing a glimpse of his aides’ close ties to the media,” Semafor reports.

“The incumbent prime minister’s reelection campaign has been repeatedly rocked by hacked and leaked documents, part of broad attempts to destabilize a wildly divisive leader both inside and outside his country ahead of Oct. 27 elections.”

Judge Orders Trump to Cancel Taxpayer-Funded Ads

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“President Donald Trump must cancel any remaining television commercials paid for with millions of dollars in taxpayer money to promote his political message, a federal judge ordered Sunday night, even as the administration said the ad campaign was coming to an end,” the Associated Press reports.

CNBC: Judge orders Trump admin to stop airing challenged government-funded ads immediately.

National Republicans Pivot to Kansas in Tight Senate Race

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“On the day he secured the Republican nomination in Kansas, Sen. Roger Marshall projected confidence that national Republicans could spend their precious campaign resources elsewhere,” the Kansas City Star reports.

Said Marshall: “We’re hoping we don’t need them.”

“Now, as his reelection campaign enters its final month, the top fundraising arm for Senate Republicans is wading into Kansas in a race that could prove pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term.”

Tim Walz Said He Considered Leaving Public Office

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“Gov. Tim Walz considered leaving public office after the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark,” Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Said Walz: “I didn’t want to do this job anymore after that. Not just out of fear or anything, but the joy of public service, the joy of being with Melissa Hortman, and just how that was taken.”

Trump Faces Republican Opposition to His Deal with Putin

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“Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Vladimir Putin has angered members of his own party, who joined with Democrats in claiming that it was against the law,” the Financial Times reports.

“Seven senators, including four Republicans, on Sunday called on the U.S. president to ‘immediately reverse course’ on his deal to purchase millions of tons of diesel fuel from Moscow, calling it a ‘financial lifeline’ to a murderous regime and a violation of U.S. law.”

Probe Into TV Networks Rests On Thin Legal Grounds

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“During the second Trump administration, major news outlets and their journalists have been sued, searched or subpoenaed by the president and his administration and kicked out of the White House,” the Washington Post reports.

“The Justice Department’s antitrust investigation into five major television networks is the latest, and one of the starkest, escalations yet of the administration’s approach toward taking action against the news media — and rests on thin legal grounds, according to experts on media and antitrust law interviewed Sunday.”

Another Bonus Quote of the Day

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“I can’t fucking stand her. But if she asks you to go on the podcast, or come over for dinner, you say yes, because Stephen Miller is the second-most powerful person in the world.”

— A White House ally, quoted by Vanity Fair, on Katie Miller.

Trump Could Face a New Threat in January

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“In his six years in the White House, President Donald Trump has never had to contend with a Democratic Senate majority — but that could change in January,” the Washington Post reports.

“Senate Republicans are staring down the prospect of losing control of the chamber in the November midterm elections — and are sounding the alarm that it could be a disaster for Trump’s final two years.”

“Republicans have braced for months for Democrats to retake the House. But recent polling suggests Democrats could also capture the Senate, giving them full control of Congress — once an almost-unthinkable prospect.”

Trump Weighs Firing Kimberly Guilfoyle

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“President Donald Trump is weighing whether to dismiss Kimberly Guilfoyle from her position as U.S. ambassador to Greece after a string of embarrassing revelations about her conduct,” CNN reports.

“Trump has been monitoring reports claiming Guilfoyle, who was engaged to Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. for four years, accepted lavish gifts as ambassador and sought money in exchange for providing access to administration figures before she was confirmed.”

NewsNation: Guilfoyle told Greek businessman: “I’m going to make you a lot of money.”

Trump to Stop Promotional Ads Sunday

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“The Trump administration argued that a federal court doesn’t need to weigh in on a lawsuit over taxpayer-funded promotional ads since their run ends Sunday anyway,” the Washington Sun reports.

“President Donald Trump has faced public scrutiny and several legal challenges to his administration’s use of up to $20 million in taxpayer funds to run ads ahead of the midterm elections, many of which seem like campaign spots.”

U.S. Threatens to Block Arms for Ukraine

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“The Trump administration is threatening to stop the procurement system that provides Ukraine with weapons in order to press Kyiv to halt its deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, according to officials in Europe,” the Financial Times reports.

“The officials, who received calls from American officials on Saturday and Sunday or were briefed on them, said the U.S. was lobbying European capitals and Kyiv in an attempt to end the attacks on Russian oil refineries.”

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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