Political Wire

  • Front Page
  • Members
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
  • Trending
  • Resources
    • Politics Extra
    • Political Job Hunt
    • Political Dictionary
    • Electoral Vote Map
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!


Trust in Pete Hegseth Has Evaporated

October 21, 2025 at 10:01 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has lost the trust and respect of some top military commanders, with his public ‘grandstanding’ widely seen as unprofessional and the personnel moves made by the former cable TV host leading to an unprecedented and dangerous exodus of talent from the Pentagon,” the Washington Times reports.

Said one Army general: “If he ever had us, he lost us.”

U.S. Drives Wedge Between Argentina and China

October 21, 2025 at 9:58 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration is pushing officials in Argentina to limit China’s influence over the distressed South American nation at the same time the U.S. and Wall Street banks are working on a $40 billion lifeline for Buenos Aires,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Trump Nominee Withdraws After Report of Racist Texts

October 21, 2025 at 7:56 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A Trump nominee withdrew Tuesday from a Senate confirmation hearing to lead a White House ethics watchdog office, following a report that he made racist and antisemitic comments in a text chain,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Paul Ingrassia’s move came after Republican senators voiced opposition to the nomination and it became clear President Trump’s pick had no path to confirmation.”

Politico: Ingrassia withdraws nomination after racist texts.

From our partner:

IRS Raises Tax Brackets. Scammers Raise Their Game.

The IRS just announced new tax brackets for 2026, sparking a rush of Americans updating their financial details online. Scammers are watching too—ready to pounce on exposed personal data.

The truth? They don’t hack the IRS. They just buy your financial info—from data brokers selling names, emails, and income ranges to anyone who pays.

Once your data’s out there, it’s open season for phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. That’s why I recommend Incogni. Their team forces data brokers to delete your data and keeps it off the web automatically. Try Incogni here and get 55% off your subscription with code POLITICALWIRE.



Trump Calls Summit With Putin a ‘Waste of Time’

October 21, 2025 at 7:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump said that meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be a waste and that he would reveal his new thinking on the Ukraine war within two days, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Said Trump: “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting. I don’t want to have a waste of time til I’ll see what happens.”

White House Expands East Wing Demolition

October 21, 2025 at 7:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A demolition job that began Monday with the disappearance of the White House’s eastern entrance advanced Tuesday with the destruction of much of the East Wing,“ the Washington Post reports.

Graham Platner Will Have Tattoo Removed

October 21, 2025 at 7:09 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner (D) “expressed regret over getting a tattoo that appears similar to a Nazi symbol nearly two decades ago and plans to have it removed, his latest mea culpa after a week of damning headlines over resurfaced social media posts,” Politico reports.

Bangor Daily News: Platner knew his tattoo of a Nazi symbol was a problem weeks ago, former staffer says.

Democrats Call on ‘Disengaged’ Trump to Get Involved

October 21, 2025 at 7:01 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“As the government shutdown crosses the three-week mark, Democrats are increasingly calling on President Donald Trump to get more involved in finding a solution,” NBC News reports.

“And some Republicans acknowledge that Trump has been disengaged and say it wouldn’t hurt if he got more involved.”

Some Trump Critics Fear They Could Be Targeted Next

October 21, 2025 at 4:56 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Fear is spreading among some who’ve run afoul of President Donald Trump,” NBC News reports.

“A foreboding that grew out of Trump’s election victory last November has deepened after the Justice Department secured indictments against two public figures who’ve long been in his crosshairs: New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.”

“Some said they worry that the Trump administration will target them for prosecution, draining their life savings and potentially landing them in jail. In a time of heightened political violence, others said they fear that the president’s most zealous followers may try to do them harm.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

October 21, 2025 at 4:43 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I am not a secret Nazi.”

— Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), quoted by Jewish Insider, after after photos of his tattoo emerge.

Beshear Says He’ll Consider Running for President

October 21, 2025 at 4:39 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D)  told reporters a presidential run is something he and his family will “consider” if they feel he’s the best candidate for the job in 2028, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Said Beshear: “What’s most important is that we have a candidate that can heal the country. And so if we think that might be me, it’s something we’ll consider. But if that is another candidate, I care much more about this country than I ever will about a title for myself.”

Hillary Clinton Says Trump Is ‘Destroying’ White House

October 21, 2025 at 3:52 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Hillary Clinton slammed President Trump for undertaking modifications of the White House’s East Wing to build an added ballroom space for state dinners.

Said Clinton: “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”

NewsNation: Who’s funding Trump’s $250M ballroom renovation?

Elon Musk Calls Acting NASA Chief ‘Sean Dummy’

October 21, 2025 at 3:50 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk lashed out at Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a series of insulting posts on his social media platform X on Tuesday, after Duffy suggested NASA may sideline SpaceX from its moon mission,” CNN reports.

“Musk called Duffy ‘Sean Dummy,’ accused him of having a ‘2 digit IQ’ and posted sophomoric memes aimed at Duffy.”

Said Musk: “Should someone whose biggest claim to fame is climbing trees be running America’s space program?”

Trump Demands Justice Department Pay Him $230 Million

October 21, 2025 at 2:48 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him, according to people familiar with the matter, who added that any settlement might ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him or those in his orbit,” the New York Times reports.

“The situation has no parallel in American history, as Mr. Trump, a presidential candidate, was pursued by federal law enforcement and eventually won the election, taking over the very government that must now review his claims. It is also the starkest example yet of potential ethical conflicts created by installing the president’s former lawyers atop the Justice Department.”

This would be the most corrupt act in presidential history.

Trump Snubs Rand Paul

October 21, 2025 at 2:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump invited Republican senators to lunch at the White House but noted: “Everybody showed up. We’re just missing one person.”

Sen Rand Paul (R-KY) later posted on X: “I actually wasn’t invited to the White House lunch today, but that’s OK. I had a previously scheduled Liberty Caucus Lunch with Thomas Massie.”

One Recruit Away from Possibly Taking Back the Senate

October 21, 2025 at 1:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) may hold the key to Democrats reclaiming the Senate majority — if she decides to take the plunge.

She’s weighing two options: a bid for Alaska’s open governor’s seat or a challenge to Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

Join now to continue reading.

Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.

If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.

Trump Refugee Plan Seeks 7,000 Afrikaners

October 21, 2025 at 1:36 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “If the administration succeeds, almost all people admitted to the U.S. as refugees — as many as 7,000 from a maximum potential pool of 7,500 — could be Afrikaners, a group not traditionally eligible for the program but one that President Donald Trump says has been tyrannized by South Africa’s Black majority.”

Tearing Down Trump’s Palace

October 21, 2025 at 1:22 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Jonathan Last: “The stated policy of every Democrat seeking the presidency should be that the first thing they will do is demolish the Trump ballroom and restore the East Wing of the White House and the White House grounds to their pre-Trump state.”

“Period. It’s the easiest layup in the history of politics. Trump’s transformation of the People’s House into a presidential palace is undemocratic. Presidents are not kings. Erasing this monstrosity is fundamental statement about the right-ordering of our project in self-government.”

“Why is this so hard? Why haven’t Democrats already laid out a marker on this?”

Voters Narrowly Blame Republicans for Shutdown

October 21, 2025 at 1:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

An internal Democratic poll finds a very slim plurality of voters blame Republicans for the continuing government shutdown, 45% to 42%.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8231
  • Next Page »

Get Smarter About Politics

Members get exclusive analysis, a trending news page, the Trial Balloon podcast, bonus newsletters and no advertising. Learn more.

Subscribe

Your Account

Sign in

Latest for Members

  • One Recruit Away from Possibly Taking Back the Senate
  • What Trump Doesn’t Get About the Insurrection Act
  • Four Ways Trump Acts Like a King
  • Peaceful Protests Undercut Trump’s Warnings of Unrest
  • The Resistance Finds Its Voice

Word of the Day

Morning Business: Morning business is routine business that is supposed to occur during the first two hours of a new legislative day in the U.S. Senate.

Read the full definition

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan 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.

Praise for Political Wire

“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.

Copyright © 2025 · Goddard Media LLC | Privacy Policy | Corrections Policy

Political Wire ® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC