New York Times: “Even as Mr. Putin has pounded Ukrainian cities and waged grinding warfare in the country’s east, he has invested dozens of hours into flattering Mr. Trump, dangling the prospect of Russian-American business deals and sending the message that Russia is open to talks to end its invasion.”
“The tactic has helped Mr. Putin head off repeated deadlines and sanctions threats by the American president without curtailing Russia’s war effort.”
The new Fifty Plus One polling averages show Abigail Spanberger (D) leading the Virginia governor’s race by 10 points and has Mikie Sherrill (D) leading the New Jersey governor’s race by 6 points.
Meanwhile, G. Elliot Morris explains how partisan polls can increase the bias of these averages.
China’s second-ranked military general has become the latest in a series of top brass to come under investigation for corruption, the South China Morning Post reports.
President Trump said the government shutdown had given him license to eliminate “a $20 billion project” in Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s home state of New York, without specifying which one, Bloomberg reports.
Said Trump: “We’re cutting Democrat programs that we didn’t want because, I mean, they made one mistake, they didn’t realize that. That gives me the right to cut programs that Republicans never wanted, you know, giveaways, welfare programs, etc.”
“Members of Congress are growing incensed with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, claiming that necessary government contracts are being slow-walked and that her office has become difficult to communicate with,” NOTUS reports.
“This frustration among the Republican conference on the Hill has made its way to both GOP leadership and administration officials, sources told NOTUS. It’s reaching a boiling point.”
Podcaster Joe Rogan ripped into President Trump’s deployment of troops onto the streets of U.S. cities, warning that it could have serious long-term consequences, the Daily Beast reports.
He added: “The military in the street, I think, is a dangerous precedent.”
“There’s a shutdown in D.C., clashes in Chicago, and economic worries bubbling up all over the country — but at the moment, President Trump seems more focused on Gaza, Ukraine and Venezuela,” Axios reports.
“Trump’s foreign policy focus — and the peace deals he has secured — is the stuff of presidential legacy building. But the globe-trotting risks blurring his America First’ brand.”
Los Angeles Times: How Rubio is winning over Trumpworld on striking Venezuela.
“Most people think I’ve got the shittiest job in America, but I feel like I’ve got the best job in America.”
— DNC chair Ken Martin, quoted by Politico.
ProPublica: “The government doesn’t track how many citizens are held by immigration agents. We found more than 170 cases this year where citizens were detained at raids and protests.”
“More than 20 citizens have reported being held for over a day without being able to call their loved ones or a lawyer. In some cases their families couldn’t find them.”
Punchbowl News: “It’s true that there are House Republicans eager to extend the enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits. A significant number of them.”
“It’s also true that when Republicans are being honest, they’ll admit privately that if Congress fails to extend the credits and premiums skyrocket for millions of Americans, the GOP will be to blame.”
“But here’s another truth: House Republican leadership really doesn’t want to extend these tax credits. And their view is only hardening as the shutdown drags on.”
“What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what Andrew Cuomo lacks in integrity, he could never make up for with experience.”
— Zohran Mamdani, in his debate with Andrew Cuomo.
“Secretly recorded conversations indicate Frank Carone — a former top aide to Mayor Eric Adams who’s now boosting ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral bid — intervened on behalf of an alleged mob associate who was trying to get his suspended tow truck firm’s license reinstated,” The City reports.
A new Fox News poll in New York City finds Zohran Mamdani leading the mayoral race with 49%, followed by Andrew Cuomo at 28% and Curtis Sliwa at 13%.
Support for Mamdani has increased since the September Fox News survey, up 5 percentage points among likely voters.
A new Fox News survey finds Mikie Sherrill (D) ahead of Jack Ciattarelli (R) by 5 points among New Jersey likely voters, 50% to 45%, down from an 8-point lead in late September.
“Zohran Mamdani did not make any major or minor mistakes. He was calm, smiled and made his points over attacks from rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa,” Politico reports.
“Mamdani dominated most of the two-hour debate against his more experienced opponents. His performance was miles better than what he turned in earlier this year during the primary campaign, where he often appeared less confident or flustered.”
Wall Street Journal: Five takeaways from the debate.
“Graham Platner, who is running as an insurgent Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, once suggested in online posts that violence is a necessary means to achieving social change – comments now drawing scrutiny in an era of increased political violence,” Politico reports.
“Tom Steyer swooped in with millions of dollars to tout Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting measure. Top Democrats involved with the campaign wish he would stay away,” Politico reports.
“The billionaire investor’s eleventh-hour intervention ahead of the Nov. 4 special election, without coordinating with the California governor’s campaign team, has landed with a thud among proponents of Proposition 50.”
Taegan 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.