Political Wire

Republicans Try to Brand Democrats as Communists

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New York Times: “Although this year’s Democratic primary season brought a surge of left-wing momentum, and a handful of victories by democratic socialists running for Congress in Colorado, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida, no credible midterm candidate identifies as a communist. And there is little momentum behind any communist movement in U.S. politics at the federal level.”

“Still, for months now, Mr. Trump and Republicans, staring down a daunting political environment and the potential loss of one or both houses of Congress, have been trying to cast Democrats as communists, deploying a charge that has little overlap with Democrats’ actual platforms.”

How Trump Is Wielding Power to Stifle Speech

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New York Times: “Almost 20 months into Mr. Trump’s second term, his long-running media clashes have grown into a sweeping campaign to control speech in America that stands out for applying so many levers, so fast, all at once.”

“Driven by personal pique, fury over leaks and a determination to shape the political narrative to his advantage, Mr. Trump is deploying the might of the federal government and filing personal lawsuits — targeting not just journalists and liberal critics, but also comedians and talk show hosts, and the corporate entities behind them.”

Inflation Complicates Trump’s Midterms Pitch to Voters

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“With less than two months until the midterm elections, President Trump commenced a final push this week to preserve his Republican majority in Congress, arguing that the United States under GOP control had brought prices ‘way, way down,'” the New York Times reports.

“But for many families and businesses, the economy appeared to be on far shakier footing by Friday. Fuel prices soared, mortgage costs climbed and inflation registered uncomfortably high, testing the public’s patience with Mr. Trump’s frequent assurances that the country is on the right track.”

“The contrast underscored the political and economic stakes for Mr. Trump, who may soon face the wrath of an electorate long spurned by promises in Washington to lower the cost of living.”

Trump Can’t Stop Insulting Ken Paxton

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Aaron Blake: “Republicans’ hopes of holding their Senate majority might hinge on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton more than anyone else.”

“And President Donald Trump seemingly can’t stop insulting him.”

“Trump has repeatedly made the case for Paxton — whom he endorsed over the safer candidate, incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn — in recent days. And over and over, he’s thickly layered it in insults directed at the way Paxton looks, dresses and speaks. Trump then assures any listeners that Paxton, despite how he presents, is actually a fantastic attorney general.”

“It’s both bizarre and entertaining, in a vintage Trump way — before American politics seemed to get heavier under the weight of controversial wars, more severe partisanship and increasing political violence.”

The Factions Driving the Democratic Socialists of America

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“Democratic socialists are having a breakout year, including a win in a mayoral primary in Providence, R.I. on Wednesday. Though many of the group’s contenders have fallen short, candidates recommended or endorsed by a chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America have tallied several high-profile congressional primary victories and about 100 state and local primary wins, according to an August Brookings Institution analysis,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Yet the public is still trying to learn what the movement believes, how it is organized and the level of its followers’ involvement.”

Record Diesel Prices Stoke Inflation

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“The record price of diesel threatens to stoke inflation at a time when consumers are already price-sensitive and businesses are reeling from higher costs due to trade tensions,” Axios reports.

“Diesel is a key cost throughout the supply chain, meaning soaring prices could eventually show up in what consumers pay for everything from groceries to household goods.”

”The national average price of a gallon of diesel topped $6 for the first time ever… That’s up 60% from a year earlier.”

Financial Times: U.S. diesel hits record $6 a gallon on Iran supply shock.

Attack On Saudi Pipeline Threatens Key Mideast Oil Routes

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“A key Saudi Arabian pipeline to the Red Sea was shut down after it was hit with ‘several drones’ launched Thursday from Iraq, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement early Saturday, as Iranian-backed Houthi fighters claimed major victories in Yemen, expelling Saudi forces from the country’s Red Sea coast,” the Washington Post reports.

“The separate attacks posed new challenges to the region’s ability to export oil amid the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, and further unnerved global oil markets.”

CNN: Saudi Arabian oil pipeline system hit by projectiles triggering fires.

Chinese Satellite Imagery Linked to Iranian Strike

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“Before Iran carried out its attack that killed three U.S. troops in July, Tehran acquired high-resolution satellite images of the base in Jordan from Chinese entities, according to U.S. officials familiar with details of the incident,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“It is the clearest evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran during the war has had lethal consequences for U.S. forces, according to the officials, who say the U.S. has connected the imagery to the attack.”

Populist Republicans and Democratic Socialists Are Merging

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Wall Street Journal: “That a Democratic socialist mayor and a Republican vice president have found common cause disparaging free-market icons heralds the ascendance of what could be called the Horseshoe party.”

“‘Horseshoe theory’ describes the tendency of the political extremes to bend toward each other. Coined decades ago to describe the similarities between communism and fascism, today it captures how Republicans’ populist wing, typified by Vance, and the progressive left, represented by Mamdani, have drawn closer to each and more distant from the center of their own parties.”

“Both extremes disdain free markets and globalization while embracing big, coercive government. They are obsessed with identity; the populist right rails against immigration while the progressive left inveighs against ‘colonialism’ and systemic racism. They are populists who see ordinary people pitted against global elites, including their own party establishments.”

North Carolina GOP Rally Opened by Sex Offender

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“A pastor kicked off a recent campaign stop for Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for Senate, with a prayer that asked God to bestow ‘integrity and honesty’ upon the event and to right wrongs ‘hammered down on the conservative movement,'” the Associated Press reports.

“The prayer was hardly unusual by North Carolina political standards. What was surprising was the man who delivered it. Pastor Daimon L. King is a registered sex offender, twice sentenced to prison for convictions involving children, according to state and court records.”

Trump Has No Plans to Strike Houthis for Now

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“The Trump administration is offering significant intelligence and targeting assistance to Saudi Arabia but does not currently plan on launching direct military attacks against the Houthis,” ABC News reports.

“Both officials cautioned that the administration’s thinking could change, particularly if the threat to Red Sea shipping lanes escalates significantly.”

Misconduct Inquiry Gives Mikie Sherrill Another Headache

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“New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a rising star in the Democratic Party, is facing the second major political headache of her first year in office after opening an investigation examining allegations surrounding her lieutenant governor,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Sherrill has hired an outside law firm to probe allegations that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell was behaving inappropriately with women. That probe has been under way for months, according to a person interviewed by attorneys with the firm, but wasn’t made public at the time.”

Bush Paints the Moment He Was Told About 9/11

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“Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks that defined his presidency, George W. Bush is revisiting the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, through paintings,” the Washington Sun reports.

“Bush has created a new series commemorating 9/11, depicting scenes and people connected to the attacks and their aftermath. The collection, ‘Remembering 9/11,’ is on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas through the end of September.”

Washington Post: For years, Bush was mocked for this 9/11 moment. Now he’s painted it.

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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