Political Wire

Troy Jackson Likely to Win Democratic Nomination in Maine

July 18, 2026 at 10:01 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D) has built an overwhelming advantage in the short and unusual contest to replace Graham Platner and take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a must-win race for Democrats in their bid for control of the U.S. Senate,” CNN reports.

“Delegates on Jackson’s slate won about 300 of the 319 slots up for grabs Saturday during the first day of county-level delegate selection for the July 25 convention to pick a new nominee.”

New York Times: Without Platner, Maine Democrats scramble to keep grassroots energy alive.

Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change Public Opinion

July 18, 2026 at 9:32 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wall Street Journal: “Millions of similar texts have flooded American cellphones in recent months. They are written with artificial intelligence, pushed by a longtime Trump adviser’s firm—and paid for by the Israeli government.”

“Some 60% of American adults now have an unfavorable view of Israel, according to a March poll by Pew Research, driven by its handling of its wars in Gaza and Iran.”

“Israel is pouring tens of millions of dollars into a somewhat quixotic effort to beat back that tide, drawing on novel strategies powered by AI and directly paying conservative media.”

Andrew and Tristan Tate Arrested in Miami

July 18, 2026 at 9:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, whose social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny has made them among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities, were arrested Saturday in Miami as British authorities sought their extradition on rape and sex trafficking charges,” Politico reports.

“The brothers were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service on a sealed warrant.”

ICE Vetting Concerns Grow After Maine Shooting

July 18, 2026 at 9:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The fatal shooting of an immigrant in Maine has renewed concerns about the Trump administration’s push to quickly hire officers for mass deportations, after a woman said her abusive ex-husband told her he was the officer who fired his gun,” the Washington Post reports.

Trump Shrugs Off Iran Breaking Agreement

July 18, 2026 at 7:50 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump called the deaths of two U.S. service members in Jordan ‘a very sad thing’ after U.S. Central Command announced they were killed while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks,” NewsNation reports.

“Trump said the troops died ‘in service of our country’ and reiterated that the war’s central objective is ‘never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.'”

“Asked about Iran’s announcement that it was no longer abiding by a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Trump replied: ‘I couldn’t care less.'”

U.S. Retaliates After Iran Kills Two in Jordan

July 18, 2026 at 6:44 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran Saturday after two American service members were killed in Jordan by Iranian missiles and drone attacks,” Bloomberg reports.

“U.S. Central Command said in a social media post the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and ‘swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.'”

Looking for a Break from the Headlines?

July 18, 2026 at 6:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Political Wire members can test their political knowledge with the Weekly News Quiz or see if they can put major historical events in the right order with Hindsight.

They’re a fun way to challenge yourself — and maybe learn something new along the way!

Hunter Biden Wants Ted Cruz’s Laptop Revealed

July 18, 2026 at 6:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Hunter Biden named Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) among the top three ‘MAGA laptops’ he wants revealed — also speculating that the senator is ‘really kinky.'” The Wrap reports.

When asked if he thought Cruz was into gay sex, Biden said: “No, you know what I get? I get a really, really kinky, weird shit thing.”

He continued: “It may be gay, it may not be gay. It may be a little bit of this, it may be a little bit of that. But it may involve animals, too, in my opinion.”

David Crowley Reenters Wisconsin Governor’s Race

July 18, 2026 at 5:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two weeks after shuttering his bid for Wisconsin governor, David Crowley reentered the state’s Democratic primary on Saturday, with the Milwaukee County executive boasting a last-minute backing from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers in a seeming move to best position the party for success in November,” AP reports.

“Evers had initially declined to endorse in the race, but threw his weight behind Crowley and resuscitated his bid to lead the swing state known for razor-thin election margins, where appealing to moderate and independent voters is crucial.”

Scandal Sends Wisconsin Democrats Into Freakout Mode

July 18, 2026 at 5:33 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sara Rodriguez had a prime opportunity this past Saturday to show voters gathered for a gubernatorial candidate forum in Wisconsin’s rural Northwoods that she was the person who could unite Democrats, thwart a democratic socialist insurgency and deliver the party unified control of state government for the first time in a generation,” Politico reports.

”Except the lieutenant governor didn’t show up. Her reserved table sat empty, save for a lone campaign sign. She blamed the last-minute cancellation on a family emergency. But a day later, Rodriguez revealed she had just fired her campaign manager for overcounting donations by hundreds of thousands of dollars over multiple months.”

”After a weeklong scramble to unsuccessfully contain the financial and political damage she dropped out of the race on Friday, declaring in a video that her money issues were an ‘ongoing distraction’ and that she didn’t want it to ‘become a cloud over an election that Democrats need to win.'”

NOTUS: Wisconsin governor candidate drops out after reporting financial “inaccuracies.”

The Senate Braces for a House Wave

July 18, 2026 at 5:26 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Senate is set for another big House infusion next year,” Axios reports.

“The two chambers often clash over differing cultures and procedures. An influx of senators used to the faster, more confrontational politics of the House could create new headaches for Senate leaders.”

”At least five, and potentially as many as 13, current House members could become senators next year, though their paths vary widely.”

The Clock Is Now Ticking On Netanyahu’s Political Future

July 18, 2026 at 5:19 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is bracing for a fight to stay in power as he heads toward his first election since a Hamas-led attack shocked the country and plunged it into nearly three years of war,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The country’s longest-serving leader, who has held the prime minister’s officer, on and off, for a total of almost two decades, oversaw one of the most tumultuous periods in its history in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Since then, he has faced criticism over his handling of the wars in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon and Israel’s souring relations with the West, but also for a host of deeply divisive domestic issues that have split the electorate.”

“Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, was dissolved Friday, paving the way for a vote in late October.”

Two U.S. Troops Killed in Iran Missile Attack On Jordan

July 18, 2026 at 5:18 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and several were wounded in an Iranian attack on an air base in Jordan, further escalating a weeklong exchange of fire where both sides have been striking increasingly sensitive targets,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, confirmed the deaths and said another servicemember is missing as a result of the attack.”

Mamdani Says He May Still Order Netanyahu’s Arrest

July 18, 2026 at 1:24 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration was still discussing whether to arrest the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, if he comes to New York City as expected for the UN General Assembly in September,” the New York Times reports.

Said Mamdani: “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague.”

He added: “He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”

Trump Baffles Republicans with Latest Moves

July 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“It was an address that many Republicans and even some of President Trump’s own advisers didn’t want him to make,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“But 18 months into his second term, the president has little interest in hearing the word no.”

“The prime-time address Thursday, in which Trump tried to raise doubts about the integrity of U.S. elections, was the latest in a string of decisions—at home and abroad—that have baffled and frustrated senior members of Trump’s own party, according to people familiar with the matter.”

“Some in the GOP worry Trump isn’t sufficiently focused on economic issues voters say they care about most, not to mention the Iran war that shows no sign of letting up, ahead of midterm elections in which Republicans are at risk of losing their majorities in Congress.”

The Rise and Fall of Ukraine’s Drone Warfare Mastermind

July 18, 2026 at 12:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“In his zealous efforts to popularize drone warfare, Ukraine’s young defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, also gained widespread popularity himself,” the New York Times reports.

“And that, political analysts and opposition politicians said, may have helped bring about his downfall this week, as President Volodymyr Zelensky sided against him in a titanic clash with the country’s top military commander.”

Saudi Nuclear Deal Awaits Trump Signature

July 18, 2026 at 12:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without enacting international safeguards intended to prevent nuclear weapons development,” CNN reports.

“The draft nuclear accord that outlines U.S. support for Riyadh’s civilian nuclear program is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature despite U.S.-Saudi negotiations concluding in October 2025.”

GOP Exploits Democratic Left-Center Split

July 18, 2026 at 11:55 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The battle for the House majority will be won or lost in congressional districts like New York-17, NY-3, and NY-4, three crucial swing seats in suburban New York City,” Fox News reports.

“And as Republicans work to hold onto their razor-thin House majority in this autumn’s midterm elections, they view the ongoing battle between the left-wing and the center-left establishment for the future of the Democratic Party as political ammunition as they portray Democrats as radicals.”

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