Political Wire

  • Front Page
  • Trending
  • Reader Wire
  • Members
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
  • Contact Us

Enjoy Political Wire Without the Ads

Members get an ad-free site, exclusive analysis, the private Trial Balloon podcast, real-time trending news and the full Political Wire experience.

Become a member. Already a member? Log in.


Can You Compete?

June 12, 2026 at 5:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

So far, just 9% of today’s news quiz takers have gotten every question right.

How will you do? Click here to test yourself.

Trump Has Cratered with Independents

June 12, 2026 at 3:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Independents have grown increasingly unhappy with President Donald Trump during his second term, a new AP-NORC polling analysis finds, particularly those without a college degree.”

“Research shows that while about half of independents without a college education had a positive view of Trump around the 2024 election, his approval with that group fell to about one-quarter this spring.”

“That shift has erased the large education gap that existed among independents in the months before Trump took office for his second term, with independents now holding similarly negative views of the president regardless of their level of education.”

Trump’s Name Being Removed from Kennedy Center

June 12, 2026 at 3:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

For those interested, there is a live feed of Donald Trump’s name coming off the Kennedy Center.

Spencer Pratt Has a Message for Los Angeles

June 12, 2026 at 3:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Defeated Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt (R) isn’t going away quietly.

Pakistan Prime Minister Says U.S.-Iran Deal Finalized

June 12, 2026 at 2:50 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“After days of uncertainty and tit-for-tat military strikes, Pakistan’s prime minister said Friday that the United States and Iran have agreed to the terms a peace deal,” the Washington Post reports. 

World Cup Runs Into Trump’s Border Security Crackdown

June 12, 2026 at 2:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump promoted the 2026 World Cup as a historic opportunity to showcase the ‘beauty and greatness’ of America while boosting tourism revenues,” the Wall Street Journal reports. 

“Instead, the kickoff of the first game on U.S. soil on Friday has coincided with airport detentions, visa denials, and global criticism that his hardline immigration policies are undermining America’s role as host of the world’s biggest sporting event.”

Texas Governor Embraces the Hard Right

June 12, 2026 at 2:44 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “When the Republican Party of Texas held its convention in Houston four years ago, Gov. Greg Abbott did not deliver a speech. Instead, he held his own gathering nearby.”

“In 2024, he appeared remotely by video instead of speaking before thousands of the most hard-line Texas Republican activists.”

“But after years of keeping the gathering at arms length, Mr. Abbott is set to offer his full embrace on Friday, delivering a keynote speech for the first time since 2018 and, in the process, positioning the party’s hard right at the center of Texas politics.”

Judge Allows White House UFC Fight to Proceed

June 12, 2026 at 1:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A federal judge on Friday refused two Virginia residents’ request to block this weekend’s UFC event on the White House South Lawn, ruling they have no right to challenge the fight,” The Hill reports.

Trump Name Still Must Come Down from Kennedy Center

June 12, 2026 at 1:27 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A federal judge on Friday rejected a last-minute bid to block his order directing President Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., CNBC reports. 

Trump’s Iran Deal Has to Get Past the Revolutionary Guard

June 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wall Street Journal: “Iran’s security and military circles centered on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had yet to sign off on President Trump’s preliminary deal to wind down the war, mediators said Friday, a potentially significant stumbling block amid rising hopes of a breakthrough to end the three-and-a-half-month conflict.”

Elon Musk Becomes World’s First Trillionaire

June 12, 2026 at 12:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire on Friday.”

“The tech mogul reached that milestone when shares of his rocket company SpaceX began trading on the stock market, opening at $150, signaling a new era of ultra-affluence and widening wealth inequality.”

Devin Nunes and the Mystery of His $14 Million War Chest

June 12, 2026 at 12:52 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

NOTUS: “Federal regulators have probed why former Rep. Devin Nunes — until recently CEO of Trump Media — has a whopping $14.5 million in campaign funds despite not running for office since 2020.”

“The Federal Election Commission reached out in April to Nunes’ mom, Toni Dian Nunes, who is also his campaign committee’s treasurer, for answers about her son’s stockpile. The amount is extraordinary for someone who is not a candidate or lawmaker and is rivaled by only a few in the House. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Congress’ top fundraisers, reported on Thursday that her campaign has $15.9 million on hand.”

Cornyn Tells Mike Lee to Lay Off John Thune

June 12, 2026 at 12:50 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sen. John Cornyn isn’t a card-carrying member of the Senate GOP’s growing YOLO caucus. But with less than seven months left in office after losing his primary, the Texas Republican appears to be feeling newly free to speak his mind,” Politico reports. 

“The latest clap-back came Thursday night and in the early hours of Friday morning, when Cornyn called a conservative influencer a ‘grifter’ and told Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on social media to stop publicly blaming fellow Republicans — including Senate Majority Leader John Thune — for the fact that the GOP elections bill doesn’t have support to pass inside the party.”

Weekly News Quiz

June 12, 2026 at 11:49 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

How closely were you paying attention to politics this week?

We had another blur of court rulings, campaign maneuvering, economic signals, international drama and Trump-era chaos — enough to make even the most obsessive news junkie miss a detail or two.

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.

The Other Dan Sullivan Ineligible to Run

June 12, 2026 at 11:35 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Alaska Division of Elections says retired teacher Dan Sullivan is ineligible to run against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Alaska Public Media reports.

The decision is preliminary.

Judge Wants Permanent Block of Anti-Weaponization Fund

June 12, 2026 at 11:10 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A federal judge in Virginia on Friday granted a longer-term block against the Department of Justice implementing a “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” saying she wanted written guarantees from the DOJ and the Treasury Department that the fund is actually not going forward, as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has claimed, CNBC reports. 

Taiwan Eyes $200 Million Data Center for Ally Paraguay

June 12, 2026 at 11:07 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Bloomberg: “Taiwan plans to help bring a $200 million data center to Paraguay, its lone ally in South America, in a rare investment aimed at shoring up the two partners’ diplomatic relationship that’s backed by Washington.”

“Paraguay is hoping to have the data center, which will provide 10 megawatts of computing capacity, operational by the end of 2027, officials say. At the same time, Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund has reached out to Google, Microsoft and Amazon to gauge interest in investing in the project or becoming a customer for its computing capacity.”

Political Wire Readers Are Not Like the Rest of America

June 12, 2026 at 10:02 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Pew Research has a political typology quiz that sorts Americans into nine groups based on their political views.

Yesterday, I asked Political Wire members to take the quiz so we could see how this community compares with the country as a whole.

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.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8766
  • Next Page »

Your Account

Sign in

Members Only

  • Weekly News Quiz
  • Political Wire Readers Are Not Like the Rest of America
  • Everyone’s Concerned
  • 2026 House Overview
  • Where Do Your Politics Fit?

Trial Balloon

Add Trial Balloon to your podcast player to get new episodes each week.


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.

Copyright © 2026 · Goddard Media LLC | Privacy Policy | Corrections Policy

Political Wire ® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC