Political Wire

Archives for 2026

Schumer Won’t Rule Out Holding a Court Seat Open

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“Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is vowing that Democrats will not allow President Donald Trump to put ‘a right-winger’ on the Supreme Court once they take power, raising the possibility that his party could block a presidential nominee if there is a vacancy in the next two years,” the Associated Press reports.

“Schumer would not say if he would hold a Supreme Court vacancy open until after the next presidential election, as former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell did in 2016. But he said that Democrats are ‘not going to allow any crappy nominees’ to be confirmed to the Supreme Court — or to the lower courts or Trump’s Cabinet, either.”

Said Schumer: “The bottom line is we’re not going to allow a right-winger on the court.”

Scott Colom Widens His Lead in Mississippi

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“The race for Mississippi’s Senate seat remains dramatically close: Scott Colom (D) pulled further ahead of incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) in a state that hasn’t elected a Black senator since Reconstruction,” the Washington Post reports.

“Colom was leading incumbent Hyde-Smith by 1,724 votes, according to unofficial results as of early Thursday afternoon, extending his small lead after election night.”

Steve Scalise Tells GOP Chairs to Prep for Investigations

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“House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told GOP committee chairs Thursday to steel themselves for upcoming Democratic investigations into President Donald Trump’s administration and other targets,” Politico reports.

Said Scalise: “Although they ran on affordability, it is clear the main focus of their new majority will be retribution and unleashing countless witch hunts under the guise of ‘oversight.’”

The MBAs Who Won in the Midterms

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“An unusual force helped fuel this week’s historic Blue midterm wave: Democratic candidates with serious business credentials,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Across the U.S., candidates with experience running major companies—or working inside them—seemingly broke a curse that has sometimes plagued executives seeking office as Democrats or Independents.”

The Blue Tsunami Swept Doctors and Scientists Into Office

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Wired: “What do Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, South Carolina senator-elect Annie Andrews, Ohio governor-elect Amy Acton, and North Carolina representative-elect Jamie Ager have in common, beyond their victories in this week’s midterm elections?”

“Each is either a doctor or a scientist. And each had the backing of the political action committee 314 Action Fund, which focuses on electing pro-science voices to public office.”

“The organization’s success rate topped 80 percent this cycle for congressional candidates, with 14 of 17 of its candidates in the U.S. House of Representatives winning their races and hundreds of successful down-ballot candidates.”

Rubio Weighs Departure From Trump Administration

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“Secretary of State Marco Rubio is weighing whether to leave the Trump administration, people familiar with the matter said, as he considers his next moves following Republicans’ midterm elections wipeout this week,” Bloomberg reports.

“Rubio and his advisers are going over options for his future, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. He hasn’t made a decision about whether to quit his posts as top U.S. diplomat and national security adviser, and there is no timetable on a possible departure.”

The New Republic: Trump is losing power. Marco Rubio’s next move proves it.

Newsom Commutes Sentences of 548 Death Row Inmates

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“Gov. Gavin Newsom of California moved to spare the lives of all 548 prisoners on the state’s death row on Thursday in the largest mass commutation of death sentences in modern American history,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Newsom said he made the decision because he finds capital punishment morally objectionable. He reduced every death sentence to life in prison without parole, a sweeping move that will require a review by the state’s highest court in some cases and could draw legal challenges.”

Criminal Probe of Supreme Court Abortion Leak Started

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“The Justice Department is pursuing a criminal investigation into who leaked the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the right to abortion, examining the inner workings of an institution that has long operated in secrecy and resisted oversight from the other branches of government,” the New York Times reports.

“At issue is who provided the draft decision to Politico two months before it was formally released by the court, a seismic breach of confidentiality that led to intense partisan accusations about the motivations of the leaker.”

“Despite an internal inquiry by the court, no leaker has ever been publicly identified.”

Hegseth Faces Renewed Impeachment Effort

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“U.S. lawmakers are looking to impeach embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as soon as next week, an effort that’s gained momentum after the Iran war he championed partly led to Republicans losing control of Congress in the midterms,” Bloomberg reports.

“Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, told Bloomberg News he will ‘definitely’ reintroduce articles of impeachment when the chamber returns next week.”

“The move follows Massie’s earlier effort to impeach Hegseth — for waging the Iran war without congressional approval — and amid widespread speculation that Hegseth’s job is on the line. Trump has said he intends to keep Hegseth as Pentagon chief.”

Clock Is Ticking for Republicans to Move Their Priorities

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Washington Sun: “Senate Republicans are staring down their last chance to move key priorities during the end-of-year lame-duck session after suffering a beating in the midterm elections.”

“With the hourglass dwindling, Republican leaders are faced with decisions in the final weeks of unified government as they attempt to balance bipartisan year-end priorities with advancing party goals before handing over control to Democrats.”

“Some Republicans have indicated they want to push through a reconciliation package in the waning days of the session control.”

An Impressive Array of Villains Got Their Just Deserts

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Jason Linkins: “I simply lack the space to list them all, folks. We got a two-for-one on mendacious Republicans named Collins, thanks to Jon Ossoff and Troy Jackson. Ken Paxton, who has gotten away with so much over his political career, finally saw his bill come due, going down to James Talarico. Smarmy reptile Vivek Ramaswamy went down hard—and Amy Acton reportedly didn’t take his concession call. (Good for her.)”

“Oligarchs backing the GOP set their cash on fire. They had money, Democrats had people. There were 41 ballot measures on data centers and Big Tech lost 40 of them. It was a bad night for people fleeing other places (Flavio Bolsonaro to America; Elon Musk to Texas). Haley Stevens can go kick rocks with her tiresome fiancé and her stupid hats.”

Abortion Resurfaces as a Decisive Issue Amid Blue Wave

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“Anti-abortion leaders who spent tens of millions boosting Republicans in the midterms have a message for the party following Tuesday’s blue wave election: It’s your own damn fault,” Politico reports.

“Voters overwhelmingly rejected an anti-abortion ballot measure in Missouri, approved pro-abortion rights referendums in Nevada and Virginia, and flipped the House and Senate to Democratic control by electing candidates in Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and other battlegrounds who ran on protecting or restoring access to the procedure.”

“Now, the jockeying over what those results mean and how they should shape politicians’ actions heading into next year’s Democratic congressional majority and the 2028 presidential race begins.”

Grassley Won’t Retire Early

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“A blue wave in Iowa won’t force Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) into an early retirement,” the Washington Examiner reports.

“A spokesperson for Grassley, 93, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that he plans to serve out the remainder of his term after state Auditor Rob Sand flipped the governor’s mansion to Democrats.”

Hegseth Expands National Guard Presence in DC

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“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the National Guard to begin using boats, several dozen marked police cars, humvees and light medium tactical vehicles in the nation’s capital — an escalation of the troops’ presence that could further blur the line between their military and law enforcement role,” Politico reports.

“It’s not clear why the Trump administration is making the move now.”

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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