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Trump’s Oil Grab Reprises Oil Industry’s Neocolonial Past

August 30, 2026 at 8:39 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump’s plan to seize direct control of Venezuela’s oil reserves is prompting warnings that the Latin American nation will become a modern-day resource colony akin to the so-called banana republics of a century ago — something that could create long-term risks for oil companies operating there,” Bloomberg reports.

Inside the Democratic Socialists’ War Over 2028

August 30, 2026 at 7:36 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s potential run for president has exposed long-simmering divisions within the Democratic Socialists of America,” Axios reports.

“The socialism movement’s leaders are increasingly at odds over who should speak for them, what policies they stand for — and whether to support AOC, whom some dismiss as more establishment than insurgent.”

Polls Show Republicans Trailing in 8 Key Senate Races

August 30, 2026 at 7:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Just two months from Election Day, Republicans are trailing in eight of the major battleground Senate races. 

Pentagon Secretly Puts Military Influencers in Civilian Roles

August 30, 2026 at 7:30 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Pentagon has secretly installed several conservative military veterans with large online followings in government roles, declining to disclose their assignments as they amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s viewpoints and attack those who scrutinize the Trump administration,” the Washington Post reports.

“At least some of the influencers have been assigned to civilian roles that could lead to changes in policy.”

Ted Cruz Calls for Elections in Venezuela

August 30, 2026 at 5:13 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Sunday renewed his call for free and fair elections in Venezuela, just two days after the Trump administration announced that the U.S. would take over 65 billion barrels of oil from the South American nation,” NBC News reports.

Said Cruz: “There need to be democratic, free elections in Venezuela.”

Trump Rejects All Canadian Imports in Scorching Rant

August 30, 2026 at 5:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada on Sunday by declaring he wants the USA to reject all products coming from North of the border — unless those companies are willing to relocate from Canada to the States,” Mediaite reports.

Said Trump: “I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything.”

He added: “They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop. This should have happened long ago with other Presidents, just as stopping Iran should have happened long ago. They want to be treated like a State, but they aren’t one. I deal with the Leadership of many Countries, but I find Canada to be the worst.”

U.S. Strikes Iranian Targets Over Hormuz Mine Threat

August 30, 2026 at 4:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The U.S. military struck Iranian military targets to prevent the deployment of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz,” Axios reports.

“This is the first known U.S. strike in Iran since late July when President Trump paused a two-week U.S. military campaign in the Strait of Hormuz in late July.”

CNN: U.S. strikes Iranian island where forces were preparing to launch mines, official says.

Markey Crushing Moulton in Senate Primary

August 30, 2026 at 4:13 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The final Emerson College Polling poll in Massachusetts finds Ed Markey (D) leading Seth Moulton (D) in the Democratic Senate primary, 60% to 33%.

Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary
Ed Markey (D) 60%
 
Seth Moulton (D) 33%
 
Emerson College Polling poll

Venezuela’s Leader Says U.S. Deal Will Last 25 Years

August 30, 2026 at 3:51 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Venezuelan interim President Delcy ​Rodriguez said on Saturday that an energy agreement with the U.S. would remain in force for 25 ‌years, target an increase in crude output to 1.5 million barrels per day and preserve the country’s sovereignty over its natural resources,” Reuters reports.

“Rodriguez hailed the accord in a late-night address as a ‘historic’ deal that would help revive the economy and boost government revenue, saying it would ​help shape the country’s future.”

Abdul El-Sayed Leads in Michigan Senate Race

August 30, 2026 at 3:20 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new EPIC-MRA poll in Michigan finds Abdul El-Sayed (D) leading Mike Rogers (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 43%.

Michigan Senate Race
Abdul El-Sayed (D) 47%
 
Mike Rogers (R) 43%
 
EPIC-MRA poll

Haaland Leads in New Mexico Governor’s Race

August 30, 2026 at 3:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Albuquerque Journal Poll/Research & Polling Inc. poll in New Mexico finds Deb Haaland (D) leading Gregg Hull (R) in the governor’s race, 49% to 43%.

New Mexico Governor’s Race
Deb Haaland (D) 49%
 
Gregg Hull (R) 43%
 
Journal Poll/Research & Polling Inc. poll

World Mostly Shrugs Off Bessent’s ‘D-Day’ Iran Sanctions

August 30, 2026 at 3:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent began the week vowing an ‘economic onslaught’ against Iran and its trading partners in a fresh bid to end the war. By the week’s end, countries with ties to Tehran had so far shrugged off the threat and analysts were left underwhelmed by the U.S. actions,” Bloomberg reports.

“China, which buys 90% of Iran’s oil, issued a defiant warning to Washington rather than back down. Iranian bank branches remained open in Dubai.”

“Commercial flights also continued between Iran and Turkey as well as Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which had promised last week to sever all trade and financial transactions with Tehran.”

MS NOW: The Iran war is showing the costs of Trump’s strongman economics.

Hegseth Denies He’s Considering Presidential Run

August 30, 2026 at 3:14 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied reports as “100% false” that he intends to run for president in 2028, the Telegraph reports.

Merz Says Far-Right Win Would Put Off Investors

August 30, 2026 at 3:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Germany’s eastern Saxony-Anhalt region will suffer economic damage if the far-right AfD party wins control of the state’s government next Sunday,” Bloomberg reports.

Said Merz: “If things turn out the way the polls suggest, this federal state will face significant problems. I cannot imagine international investors showing up for a groundbreaking ceremony with an AfD state premier to establish new plants or set up new businesses in Saxony-Anhalt.”

The Republican Party’s Midterm Nightmare Is Taking Shape

August 30, 2026 at 2:34 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Jonathan Martin: “The Senate map is less complicated than it appears. As with every modern presidential campaign, it runs through the Midwest.”

“If Democrats flip Republican-held seats in Ohio and Iowa while retaining Michigan, they will almost certainly net the four seats total needed to take control of the Senate for President Donald Trump’s final two years.”

“As the traditional start of the campaign season draws near, though, Republicans are increasingly worried they may be consumed by a worsening prairie fire.”

Said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND): “He’s in serious trouble in farm country. He being Trump — and Trump is us. I’m not very optimistic.”

Trump Wants FCC to Probe Media Polling

August 30, 2026 at 2:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump stepped up his attacks against the media on Sunday with an admonition to the Federal Communications Commission to investigate polling used by news outlets,” Bloomberg reports.

“Trump has long had an adversarial relationship with journalists and news organizations who publish stories he doesn’t like, particularly those about his standing in the polls. Numerous recent polls show Trump has the lowest approval rating of either of his terms in office as the unpopular Iran war continues and gas prices remain high.”

USDA Cyclospora Research Projects Shelved

August 30, 2026 at 2:20 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration is shuttering research projects key to the federal government’s fight against cyclospora, the foodborne parasite sickening thousands of Americans this summer,” Politico reports.

The Mail Ballot Mess

August 30, 2026 at 2:18 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The country’s first mail ballots for November are due to be sent out this week — but the method used by one-third of voters has a cloud of uncertainty hanging over it,” Politico reports.

“The prospect of new U.S. Postal Service rules to tighten up mail voting and demand voter lists from states, given new juice by a Supreme Court decision last week, could inject some last-minute logistical chaos into election administration.”

“For President Donald Trump, the USPS regulations would achieve the crackdown on mail voting he’s long sought in an effort to stamp out election fraud, despite a lack of evidence that such fraud exists on a broad scale. The Postal Service would refuse to deliver ballots for states that don’t comply. And the Justice Department has dismissed worries about the changes as ‘doomsday assumptions.'”

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About Political Wire

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.

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