Political Wire

Members should sign in for the full experience.

Columbia to Pay $221 Million to Settle Trump Fight

By Leave a Comment

“Columbia University reached a deal with the Trump administration, ending a confrontation that disrupted U.S. higher education and sparked a contentious renegotiation of academia’s relationship to the federal government,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“As part of the deal, Columbia will pay $200 million to the federal government over three years to settle allegations the school violated antidiscrimination laws. The school also agreed to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $21 million.”

“In return, the Trump administration will restore nearly all of the hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants it had pulled from Columbia back in March.“

Appeals Court Dings Birthright Citizenship Order

By Leave a Comment

“A federal appeals court said Wednesday that President Trump’s executive order curtailing birthright citizenship is unconstitutional,” CBS News reports.

“The policy, which has been the subject of a complicated monthslong legal back-and-forth, is currently on hold. But Wednesday’s decision appears to mark the first time that an appellate court has weighed in on the merits of Mr. Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for many children of undocumented immigrants by executive order.”

Democrats Seek to Exploit GOP Divisions on Epstein Files

By Leave a Comment

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that Democrats have been struggling to find a message that breaks through in the era of Donald Trump. Now, they have found one that has long been a rallying cry for the MAGA base: Release the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,” the Washington Post reports.

“With the House set to go home Wednesday for the August recess, Democrats intend to continue hammering their Republican colleagues on Epstein. They plan to argue that Trump’s support for his administration’s decision not to release the files earlier this month — and GOP lawmakers leaving Washington without addressing the issue — means Republicans are protecting the rich and powerful at voters’ expense.”

For members: A Full-Blown Cover Up


You're reading the free version of Political Wire

Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock full access. The process is quick and easy. You can even use Apple Pay.




Trump Foe Massie Wins Over MAGA Allies

By Leave a Comment

“Once fighting a lonely battle against Trump, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie has found an issue that is winning him more Republican friends and political allies than he has had all year: his push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files,” NBC News reports.

“Many of Trump’s MAGA allies on and off Capitol Hill are frustrated with Trump and top officials in his administration for dragging their feet in releasing the government’s remaining documents and records related to Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.”

“But they’re rooting for Massie, who has leaned into the fight in recent weeks and made it his sole mission to get the files released.”

Josh Shapiro Rebukes Mamdani

By Leave a Comment

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) told Jewish Insider that New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) failed to condemn “blatantly antisemitic” extremists.

Said Shapiro: “When supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can’t leave room for that to just sit there.”

He added: “He left open far too much space for extremists to either use his words or for him to not condemn the words of extremists that said some blatantly antisemitic things.”

Thune Says Johnson Will Need to ‘Deal’ with Epstein Issue

By Leave a Comment

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday that Speaker Mike Johnson has to figure out a way forward on the Jeffrey Epstein controversy that’s derailed House business until the fall,” Politico reports.

Said Thune: “In some fashion, in some way, he’s going to have to handle it and deal with it. And it sounds like, yeah, that’ll be a September issue.”

House Subcommittee Votes to Subpoena Epstein Files

By Leave a Comment

“A House subcommittee on Wednesday voted to subpoena the Department of Justice for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein after Democrats successfully goaded GOP lawmakers to defy Trump and Republican leadership to support the action,” the AP reports.

“Democrats on a subcommittee of the powerful House Committee on Oversight made a motion for the subpoena Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the House was scheduled to end its July work session and depart Washington for a monthlong break.”

“Three Republicans on the panel voted with Democrats for the subpoena, sending it through on an 8-2 vote tally.”

What Else Does Elon Musk Know?

By Leave a Comment

In early June, just after a very public falling out with Donald Trump, Elon Musk made a stunning allegation: “Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”

He deleted the tweet two days later — but the Wall Street Journal has now confirmed its substance.

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.

Roy Cooper Will Run for Senate in North Carolina

By Leave a Comment

“Roy Cooper is expected to announce his campaign for the North Carolina Senate as soon as Monday,” Politico reports.

“The popular, former two-term governor’s entrance into the Senate race — for a seat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is leaving open with his announcement last month that he won’t seek reelection — is likely to transform the Senate race into the most competitive of 2026.”

Trump Was Told His Name Is in the Epstein Files

By Leave a Comment

“When Justice Department officials reviewed what Attorney General Pam Bondi called a ‘truckload’ of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein earlier this year, they discovered that Donald Trump’s name appeared multiple times,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“They told the president at the meeting that the files contained what officials felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump, who had socialized with Epstein in the past… One of the officials familiar with the documents said they contain hundreds of other names.”

“They also told Trump that senior Justice Department officials didn’t plan to release any more documents related to the investigation of the convicted sex offender because the material contained child pornography and victims’ personal information…”

“The meeting set the stage for the high-profile review to come to an end.”

Hegseth’s Signal Chats Were Based on Classified Info

By Leave a Comment

“The Pentagon’s independent watchdog has received evidence that messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Signal account previewing a U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen derived from a classified email labeled ‘SECRET/NOFORN,'” the Washington Post reports.

“The revelation appears to contradict longstanding claims by the Trump administration that no classified information was divulged in unclassified group chats that critics have called a significant security breach.”

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.