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Trump Bypasses Congress to Keep Interim Prosecutors

July 30, 2025 at 5:54 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration has decided to extend the terms of the interim federal prosecutors in Southern California and Nevada who were serving under temporary appointments that were set by law to expire, a move that sets the stage for new potential conflicts with Congress and the federal judiciary,” the New York Times reports.

“A similar maneuver in New Jersey to extend the service of the interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, President Trump’s former lawyer, has led to legal gridlock in the federal court there, as some lawyers and judges question whether Ms. Habba is legally authorized to act as the state’s chief federal prosecutor.”

A Texas-Sized Gamble

July 30, 2025 at 5:52 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“As early as today, Texas Republicans will release their proposed new congressional map for the Lone Star State,” Punchbowl News reports.

“This proposal could change some as it winds its way through the Texas House and Senate. But here’s what we expect it to look like, according to multiple sources with detailed knowledge of the process.”

“Under this scenario, there would be five new seats that President Donald Trump would have carried by 10 or more points. This could give the GOP an advantage of 30 Republicans to eight Democrats in the Texas congressional delegation in the next Congress (it’s currently 25 Rs, 12 Dems and one vacancy).”

“It’s huge news in Austin and on Capitol Hill. It may help the GOP keep control of the House in 2026 — or trigger redistricting fights in other state capitals as Democrats retaliate.”

Insider Trading Is Mike Johnson’s Next Epstein

July 30, 2025 at 5:49 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is planning to file a discharge petition to force a floor vote on banning stock trading by members of Congress. Like the parallel push for a vote on releasing the Epstein files, it’s poised to pit Johnson against rank-and-file Republicans who are thirsty to challenge elite corruption – whether their leadership likes it or not,” Politico reports.

“Luna’s move puts Johnson in a bind.”

“Johnson has signaled that he’s personally supportive of restricting stock trading by lawmakers. But allowing a vote to happen would trigger backlash from many fellow Republicans — and for what? The bill probably wouldn’t go anywhere in the Senate.”

“Yet if Johnson stands in the way, he risks fueling a narrative triggered by the Epstein fight that he’s protecting the rich and powerful and against transparency.”


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Fed Governors Could Break Ranks

July 30, 2025 at 5:42 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“This week’s Fed meeting could produce something that hasn’t happened since 1993: more than one governor voting against the Fed chair. The groundwork was laid weeks ago. Welcome to monetary policy in the age of the succession campaign,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues have signaled they favor maintaining a wait-and-see approach at this week’s meeting. The potential dissenters—governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman—happen to be President Trump’s two appointees. Both have voiced support for cutting rates, which Trump also has publicly demanded.”

Trump Admits Penalties on Russia ‘May or May Not’ Work

July 30, 2025 at 5:41 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Just 24 hours after President Trump threatened Russia with financial penalties over the war in Ukraine, he seemed unsure on Tuesday about whether the strategy would even work,” the New York Times reports.

“Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump said that in 10 days, the United States may have to impose ‘tariffs and stuff.’”

Said Trump: “I don’t know if it’s going to affect Russia, because he wants to, obviously, probably keep the war going. But we’re going to put on tariffs and the various things you put on. It may or may not affect them. But it could.”

Trump Considers Pardon For Sean Combs

July 29, 2025 at 10:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump is heavily weighing giving Sean “Diddy” Combs a full presidential pardon ahead of the convicted Bad Boy Records founder’s sentencing later this year, Deadline reports.

Senate Confirms Emil Bove as Federal Judge

July 29, 2025 at 9:42 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Senate voted Tuesday night to confirm Emil Bove as a federal appeals court judge, ending a contentious confirmation in which the top Justice Department official and former attorney for Donald Trump was the target of three whistleblower complaints alleging he put the president’s agenda above legal principles,” the Washington Post reports.

“The 50-49 vote giving Bove a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit was mostly along party lines, with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) joining Democrats in voting against Bove. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tn) was not in attendance and did not vote.”

Pete Hegseth May Run for Office in Tennessee

July 29, 2025 at 8:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed the idea of running for political office next year in Tennessee,“ NBC News reports.

“If Hegseth were to follow through on the discussions, it would amount to a major leadership shake-up at the department that oversees the American military and millions of federal employees. The Defense Department bars civilian employees from running for political office, meaning Hegseth would have to resign to do so.”

Senate Republicans Prepare to Steamroll Democrats

July 29, 2025 at 8:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Senate Republicans on Tuesday discussed making major changes to the chamber’s rules that would accelerate the confirmation of presidential nominees, a reflection of growing GOP anger at Democrats over their slow-walking of Trump’s nominees,” Punchbowl News reports.

“At a closed-door lunch meeting, Republicans were unified on the notion that Democrats’ delay tactics necessitate a more aggressive response.”

Trump’s Trade Deals Come With Few Details

July 29, 2025 at 8:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump’s flurry of trade deal announcements are so far proving light on detail — with key aspects still under negotiation, partners giving mixed signals about what they signed up for, and big numbers shrinking under scrutiny,” Bloomberg reports.

Cory Booker Accuses Democrats of Being ‘Complicit’

July 29, 2025 at 8:16 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) went nuclear on his fellow Democrats on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, accusing them of being “complicit” in President Donald Trump’s actions, Punchbowl News reports.

“Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) tried to unanimously pass a package of bipartisan pro-police bills. But Booker objected and accused them of not fighting back against what he said were Trump’s abuses of power, citing the president’s decision to withhold certain funds appropriated by Congress.”

Said Booker: “There’s a lot of us in this caucus that want to fucking fight. And what’s bothering me right now is we don’t see enough fight in this caucus.”

Wall Street Journal: “Since Trump’s return to the White House, Booker has positioned himself as a face of Democratic resistance.”

New York Times: Democrats clash on Senate floor over policing bills and how to take on Trump.

On Tyranny

July 29, 2025 at 8:14 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

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Trump’s Approval Hits New Low for Second Term

July 29, 2025 at 5:32 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump’s approval rating dropped one percentage point to 40%, the lowest level of his second term in office, as Americans remained concerned about his handling of the economy and immigration,” a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

House Panel Won’t Give Ghislaine Maxwell Immunity

July 29, 2025 at 5:31 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The House Oversight Committee, led by GOP Chairman James Comer, said it “will not consider” a request from Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorneys seeking immunity in exchange for her testimony to Congress, Fox News reports.

Washington Post: Why does everyone want to talk to Ghislaine Maxwell? 

Trump Says Epstein ‘Stole’ Virginia Giuffre from Him

July 29, 2025 at 5:27 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump said that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ‘stole’ Virginia Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago club, a stunning admission that could increase scrutiny of his relationship with the late financier — even as his administration seeks to change the subject from Epstein,” NBC News reports.

Said Trump: “He took people that worked for me. And I told him, ‘Don’t do it anymore.’ And he did it.”

He added: “I said, ‘Stay the hell out of here.'”

”Trump was then asked specifically if Epstein had stolen Giuffre, who was one of the financier’s most prominent abuse survivors and led the charge calling for his arrest. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, has said she met Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell while working at Mar-a-Lago as a teenager.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene Won’t Run for Governor

July 29, 2025 at 5:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) “will not run for Georgia governor in 2026, saying Tuesday she intends to stay in Congress and promote President Donald Trump’s agenda rather than compete for Georgia’s top job,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Said Greene: “One day, I might just run purely out of the blessing of the wonderful people of Georgia, my family and friends, but it won’t be in 2026.”

Trump Questions Whether Murdoch Controls Newspaper

July 29, 2025 at 5:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump, 79, speculated on Tuesday whether Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch, 94, actually controlled the newspaper—one day after he demanded the 94-year-old be deposed in the $10 billion lawsuit he’s bringing against the paper,” the Daily Beast reports.

Said Trump: “I would have assumed that Rupert Murdoch controls it. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. They are talking to us about doing something, but we’ll see what happens.”

Trump Shows No Sign of Wider Break with Netanyahu

July 29, 2025 at 5:23 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump raised eyebrows this week when he broke with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare apparent ‘real starvation’ among children in Gaza,” Semafor reports.

“That may well be as far as the divide goes between the two men.”

“While Trump’s frustration with the devastation in Gaza is real, those closest to him argue against viewing Monday’s remarks as a turning point in his approach to Israel. Allies and Trump aides also reject the notion that Trump is airing any new skepticism of Israel.”

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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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