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Democrats Call Trump’s Bluff on Back Pay

October 7, 2025 at 5:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Members of Congress in both parties bristled Tuesday at a White House memo arguing that federal workers who have been furloughed as part of the government shutdown are not necessarily entitled to back pay,” Axios reports.

“The threat has had little apparent impact with its intended target — congressional Democrats — who expressed confidence that President Trump would ultimately lose any legal fight to deny shutdown pay.”

Said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD): “The law is simply not on the side of Trump’s threats to withhold pay from federal employees that he somehow disfavors.”

Janet Mills to Run for Senate in Maine

October 7, 2025 at 5:49 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is preparing as soon as next week to announce her campaign for the U.S. Senate, Axios reports.

“An announcement from Mills, a two-term popular governor, would mark another recruiting victory for Democratic leaders. But it also would set off another complicated Democratic primary pitting the party’s establishment and progressive wings against each other.”

Trump Blasts Democrats as ‘Insurrectionists’

October 7, 2025 at 5:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump called Democrats “insurrectionists” Tuesday and slammed the left for what he described as “kamikaze” attacks on America, invoking increasingly warlike rhetoric to describe the opposition party, Axios reports.


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Exchange of the Day

October 7, 2025 at 5:12 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi at a Senate hearing:

WHITEHOUSE: There’s been public reporting that Jeffrey Epstein showed people photos of President Trump with half-naked young women. Do you know if the FBI found those photographs?

BONDI: You sit here and make salacious remarks once again trying to slander President Trump left and right. When you’re the one who was taking money from one of Epstein’s closest confidants, I believe…

Well, that’s definitely not a denial.

Big Majority of Hill Staffers Oppose Renaming Pentagon

October 7, 2025 at 5:08 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Canvass survey of senior Capitol Hill staffers finds that 69% of them oppose renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

Hunter Biden Pursued Deal That Was ‘Ethical Quagmire’

October 7, 2025 at 4:33 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“While his father, Joseph R. Biden Jr., was vice president, Hunter Biden began developing relationships that led to an audacious proposal to sell the land around the United States Embassy building in Romania to a group that included a Chinese company,” the New York Times reports.

“Hunter Biden was involved in the proposed deal from multiple perspectives, creating what he privately acknowledged to an associate was an ethical quagmire.”

Republican Leaders Clash on Emergency Troop Pay Vote

October 7, 2025 at 4:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Speaker Mike Johnson said the House could come back to pass emergency legislation to pay troops during the government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune wasn’t willing to go there,” Politico reports.

“The unusual tactical disagreement between the two top congressional leaders played out in front of cameras Tuesday on Capitol Hill as the shutdown heads into its second week.”

GOP Won’t Consider Basic Extension of Obamacare Credits

October 7, 2025 at 3:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Speaker Mike Johnson said today that he would seek ‘dramatic’ changes to the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies in any future negotiations, throwing cold water on the idea that Congress could reach a quick resolution over the policy issue at the center of the shutdown,” Punchbowl News reports.

Said Johnson: “There are lots of conversations and deliberations and discussions right now, even bipartisan, amongst members about necessary changes that would have to be made — pretty dramatic changes — to even have that considered on the floor.”

“Republicans want to drastically overhaul the tax credits, while Democrats want a straightforward extension.”

White House Has Funding to Save Food Aid Program

October 7, 2025 at 3:20 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House has found funding to keep afloat a food aid program that had been threatened by the government shutdown,” Axios reports.

“The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (also known as WIC) is relied upon by millions of low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and young children.”

It’s Time to Fix America’s Most Dangerous Law

October 7, 2025 at 3:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

David French: “The Insurrection Act, which dates back to 1792 but has since been amended, is not, however, well drafted. And its flaws would give Trump enormous latitude to wield the staggering power of the state against his domestic political enemies.”

Airport Delays Get Worse as Shutdown Drags On

October 7, 2025 at 2:38 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Flight delays across the United States stretched into a second day Tuesday as the Federal Aviation Administration braced for more airport staffing shortages amid the government shutdown,” NBC News reports.

“Delays due to staffing issues were reported at airports in Denver; Phoenix; Burbank, California; and Newark, New Jersey, within the first 24 hours that air traffic controllers have been working without pay due to the shutdown.”

Global Trade Growth to Slow Sharply Next Year

October 7, 2025 at 2:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The World Trade Organization on Tuesday forecast slower trade growth for next year because of the Trump administration’s sweeping global tariffs, but it said trade had proved more resilient than expected so far this year,” the New York Times reports.

Republicans Have a Mess in Texas

October 7, 2025 at 1:24 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) officially entered the Republican Senate primary in Texas, complicating what has for months looked like a two-man battle between Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

But Hunt’s entry threatens to split the vote, making it harder for either Cornyn or Paxton to reach 50% and avoid a runoff.

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Justices Likely to Undo Restrictions on Conversion Therapy

October 7, 2025 at 1:14 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared poised to back a free speech challenge to a Colorado law that bans conversion therapy aimed at young people questioning their sexual orientations or gender identities in a case likely to have national implications,” NBC News reports.

“If the court rules against the state, it could affect more than 20 states that have similar bans and raise new questions about other long-standing state health care regulations.”

Both Parties Think They’re Winning, So Nobody’s Budging

October 7, 2025 at 1:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This government shutdown is unlike previous ones in that both parties seemingly think they have the political advantage. 

When both sides believe they’re winning, neither side rushes to compromise.

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Pennsylvania Court Race Has Major Implications for 2028

October 7, 2025 at 11:23 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is wading into a state Supreme Court race this fall that both parties say has far-reaching implications for the 2028 presidential race, upcoming midterms and future redistricting in the premier battleground state,” CNN reports.

“Shapiro, a potential 2028 contender himself, appears in an ad launching Tuesday for three Democratic justices on the ballot in November, warning Pennsylvanians that ‘the threats to our freedoms are very real.'”

Johnson Says Greene Not In the Loop

October 7, 2025 at 11:04 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) responded to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) criticism of GOP leaders ahead of Obamacare premiums spiking, saying she simply wasn’t in the loop as other Republicans discuss a path forward, Politico reports.

Said Johnson: “Congresswoman Greene does not serve on the committees of jurisdiction to deal with those specialized issues, and she’s probably not read that in on some of that, because it’s still been sort of in their silos of the people who specialize in those issues.”

Exchange of the Day

October 7, 2025 at 10:57 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump told reporters he’ll decide whether to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, after the Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal of her conviction.

REPORTER: But she’s convicted of child sex trafficking.

TRUMP: Yeah, I mean, I’m gonna have to take a look at it.

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  • Republicans Have a Mess in Texas
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Trickle Down Theory: “Trickle down theory” is a derisive term for the idea that giving benefits to large, powerful people and companies can yield benefits for society as ….

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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.

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