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Disrupting Politics

September 5, 2025 at 6:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The latest episode of Trial Balloon is live for members.

Democrats need to better understand the forces disrupting our politics. And Trump thinks he can do whatever he wants — including killing people.

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GOP Lawmakers Told Trump Voters Support Vaccines

September 4, 2025 at 10:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Polling showing that a majority of President Donald Trump’s voters support vaccines was shared with several Republicans lawmakers’ staffers in a closed-door meeting Wednesday,” NBC News reports.

The poll was conducted by veteran Republican pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward and concluded “that there is broad unity across party lines supporting vaccines such as measles (MMR), shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP), and Hepatitis B.”

For members: Why Does Trump Let Kennedy Push a Fringe Agenda?

Trump Praises RFK Jr.’s Performance

September 4, 2025 at 8:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tumultuous tenure atop the US Health and Human Services Department is starting to wear on some prominent Republicans,” CNN reports.

“But so far, President Donald Trump is not one of them.”

Said Trump: “I heard he did very well today.”

He added: “It’s not your standard talk. I would say that, and that has to do with medical and vaccines. But if you look at what’s going on in the world with health, and look at this country also with regard to health — I like the fact that he’s different.”

Axios: Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s fiery Senate appearance.


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GOP Support Erodes for Releasing Epstein Files

September 4, 2025 at 8:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is defying House Speaker Mike Johnson’s warnings and pressing forward with his discharge petition to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein records, even as some of his initial Republican backers are fading away,” Axios reports.

“Just days ago, the discharge petition’s success almost looked inevitable. But Republican leadership, White House pressure, and the release of Epstein-related files from the House Oversight Committee have blunted the petition’s momentum.”

Eric Adams Met with Top Trump Aide

September 4, 2025 at 7:12 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“New York Mayor Eric Adams met privately with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this week to discuss potential opportunities to join the Trump administration,” CNN reports.

Democrats Still Pine for Janet Mills

September 4, 2025 at 7:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats have the choice between oysters and craft beer in the Maine Senate race. Many of them are still pining for more traditional fare,” Semafor reports.

“Over the past two weeks, oyster farmer Graham Platner and brewer Dan Kleban barged into the state’s Democratic primary. But senior Democrats are still hoping to enlist Gov. Janet Mills to challenge longtime Sen. Susan Collins — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.”

“Schumer has twice tried to topple Collins with well-funded challengers, and he’s laser-focused on flipping Maine next year to regain the title of majority leader. While Platner’s launch blitz impressed several Democratic senators and won the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democrats also like Kleban’s profile, they’re still hoping for Mills.”

Tim Burchett Shoves Protester

September 4, 2025 at 7:08 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and a protester got into a physical altercation outside the Longworth House Office Building in Washington on Thursday, just after House votes ended for the week, NOTUS reports.

Trump to Rename Pentagon to Department of War

September 4, 2025 at 6:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump is expected to rename the Defense Department to the Department of War through an executive order Friday, a move that the administration has said more accurately reflects the mission of the men and women serving in uniform today,” the Washington Post reports.

“But it was not clear if the president could unilaterally rename the department, which was created by Congress in 1789, as each iteration of its name has come about through legislation.“

Mamdani Challenges Trump to a Debate

September 4, 2025 at 5:41 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is challenging President Trump to face off in a televised debate — calling out the White House for trying to get involved in the heated race, the New York Post reports.

Said Mamdani: “Let’s cut out the middle man. Why should I debate Donald Trump’s puppet when I could debate Donald Trump himself?”

Exchange of the Day

September 4, 2025 at 3:52 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at a hearing:

CASSIDY: Do you agree with me that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?

KENNEDY: Absolutely.

CASSIDY: But you just told Sen. Bennet that the Covid vaccine killed more people than Covid.

3 Cabinet Officials Have More Than One Primary Residence

September 4, 2025 at 3:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House has targeted opponents, including a Fed governor, for having more than one primary residence on their loan papers,” ProPublica reports.

“In one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two such mortgages in quick succession.”

“Underscoring how common the practice is, ProPublica found that at least three of Trump’s Cabinet members call multiple homes their primary residences on mortgages.”

Trump Claims Power to Kill Suspected Drug Smugglers

September 4, 2025 at 3:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“By ordering the U.S. military to summarily kill a group of people aboard what he said was a drug-smuggling boat, President Trump used the military in a way that had no clear legal precedent or basis,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Trump is claiming the power to shift maritime counterdrug efforts from law enforcement rules to wartime rules. The police arrest criminal suspects for prosecution and cannot instead simply gun suspects down, except in rare circumstances where they pose an imminent threat to someone.”

“By contrast, in armed conflicts, troops can lawfully kill enemy combatants on sight.”

“Because killing people is so extreme — and doing it without due process risks killing the wrong people by mistake — the question of which rules apply is not simply a matter of policy choice.”

Northwestern President Steps Down Amid Trump Pressure

September 4, 2025 at 3:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Northwestern University President Michael Schill said Thursday he was resigning, marking the latest university leader to step down during a tumultuous period in higher education,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Like many of its peers, Northwestern has faced pressure from the Trump administration over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.”

“The Midwestern university has had $790 million in federal research money frozen, affecting hundreds of scientific projects, including clinical trials with patients on lifesaving medicine.”

Gabriel Sterling to Run for Georgia Secretary of State

September 4, 2025 at 3:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Gabriel Sterling, a leading defender of Georgia’s voting system who famously called for President Donald Trump to condemn election threats in 2020, entered the Republican race for secretary of state on Thursday,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Massachusetts Imposes Own Vaccine Coverage Rules

September 4, 2025 at 3:09 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced her state will require health insurers operating in the state to cover vaccines recommended by the state’s department of public health, Axios reports.

Trump May Ban Transgender People from Owning Guns

September 4, 2025 at 3:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“In the wake of the Minneapolis Catholic church shooting, senior Justice Department officials are weighing proposals to limit transgender people’s right to possess firearms,” CNN reports.

“Such a move would represent a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s fight against the rights of transgender Americans.”

RFK Jr. Gets Warning Shot from Key Republican

September 4, 2025 at 3:03 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, raised eyebrows when he suggested some of Kennedy’s vaccine views were jeopardizing public safety and eroding medical progress, Axios reports.

Said Barrasso:  “I’ve grown deeply concerned.”

He added: “There are real concerns that safe, proven vaccines like measles, Hepatitis B and others could be in jeopardy, and that would put Americans at risk and reverse decades of progress.”

“Barrasso does not usually break from his party, and as a leadership member, could be reflecting broader concerns within the GOP caucus.”

MSNBC: Senators tear into RFK Jr. over vaccine restrictions in explosive hearing.

James Appeals Decision Throwing Out Trump Penalty

September 4, 2025 at 3:02 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“New York Attorney General Letitia James sent formal notice Thursday that her office will appeal a decision last month that threw out the half billion-dollar civil fraud penalty imposed on President Donald Trump in his civil fraud case,” ABC News reports.

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Word of the Day

Recess Appointment: A recess appointment is a presidential appointment typically requiring Senate approval that is made during a Senate recess.

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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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