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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 188

Nothing to See Here

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 188: Nothing to See Here

Supreme Court Allows States to Purge Voters

September 25, 2026 at 12:45 pm ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Supreme Court on Friday cleared the way for states to use the federal government’s overhauled immigration database to purge noncitizens from voter rolls ahead of the midterms,” the Washington Sun reports.

“The unsigned decision sided with the Department of Homeland Security, which sought to revive the modified system — which contained Social Security information and other individual data — after U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ordered it shut down in June. Three justices dissented from the decision.”

New York Times: Supreme Court allows federal voter identification tool ahead of midterms.

Filed Under: Election Administration, Judiciary

America First?

September 25, 2026 at 12:32 pm ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump’s lavish welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping drew criticism from both the left as well as some prominent Republicans.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) called it a “WTF moment.” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) questioned the decision to honor Xi with a state visit. Even some Republicans who defended the summit acknowledged the awkward optics.

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Filed Under: Members

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Eases to Four-Month Low

September 25, 2026 at 12:19 pm ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“U.S. consumer sentiment slipped to a four-month low in September amid worries that rising inflation would ​erode households’ purchasing power,” Reuters reports.

Filed Under: Economy

White House TV Pool Is Operating Again

September 25, 2026 at 11:48 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The U.S. network video pool for the White House was back in operation Friday, for the first time since President Donald Trump banned three news outlets in a high-profile showdown over media access,” the Washington Sun reports.

MS NOW: White House allows CNN back into TV pool after blocking some journalists hours earlier.

Filed Under: Media Buzz, White House

Another Bonus Quote of the Day

September 25, 2026 at 11:39 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“My Trump sources say the president’s worst nightmare imaginable has arrived… panicked texts and emails from GOP insiders are blowing up my phone. They’re all saying the same thing.”

— Mark Halperin, writing in the Daily Mail.

Filed Under: Republicans, White House

Elon Musk’s PAC Spends $20 Million

September 25, 2026 at 11:04 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk’s super PAC is ramping up spending on key races in the midterm elections after a slow start, Federal Election Commission filings show, a blitz Democrats are seeking to offset with appeals to their supporters to counter the billionaire’s money,” Bloomberg reports.

“Musk’s America PAC has spent $16.6 million to boost Republicans in U.S. Senate contests, including in high-profile races in Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Maine. It’s also spread $3.1 million across more than 30 competitive House districts, joining GOP eff.”

Filed Under: 2026 Campaign, Campaign Finance

Pope Leo Xiv Responds to Trump’s Press Ban

September 25, 2026 at 11:02 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him, as he responded to the Trump administration’s attempt to bar U.S. media from the White House and affirmed the importance of journalists covering public figures,” the Associated Press reports.

Filed Under: Media Buzz, White House

Weekly News Quiz

September 25, 2026 at 11:00 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

How well did you pay attention to the political news this week?

Take the quiz and find out.

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Filed Under: Members

Another Bonus Quote of the Day

September 25, 2026 at 10:50 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“When I was 25, I had a really bad boss. He made me run across an open fucking field of raking machine gun fire to breach a door. So, yeah, life’s tough sometimes.”

— Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), quoted by Semafor, when asked about the New York Times story on former Rep. Mary Peltola’s (D-AK) mistreatment of staff.

Filed Under: Ethics, Senate

Trump Officials Press China On Suspected Nuclear Tests

September 25, 2026 at 10:45 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration has been quietly holding talks with China about its rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal amid doubts over Beijing’s compliance with a 30-year test ban,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Filed Under: National Security, White House

Talarico Still Leads in Texas Senate Race

September 25, 2026 at 10:40 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Texas Public Opinion Research poll in Texas finds James Talarico (D) leading Ken Paxton (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 44%.

Texas Senate Race
James Talarico (D) 49%
 
Ken Paxton (R) 44%
 
Texas Public Opinion Research poll · likely voters · ±3.6%

The same poll in Texas finds Greg Abbott (R) leading Gina Hinojosa (D) in the governor’s race, 50% to 46%.

Texas Governor’s Race
Greg Abbott (R) 50%
 
Gina Hinojosa (D) 46%
 
Texas Public Opinion Research poll · likely voters · ±3.6%

Filed Under: 2026 Campaign

Trump Claims Productive Meeting with Xi

September 25, 2026 at 10:33 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump said he had a ‘very productive meeting’ with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, but provided no details on any potential deals or breakthroughs from their discussions,” Bloomberg reports.

Said Trump: “Tremendous things will be happening.”

Bloomberg: Trump-Xi summit small on substance, big on pomp.

Filed Under: Foreign Affairs, White House

How Corruption Is Popping Up in Ads Everywhere

September 25, 2026 at 10:08 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Amid a knockdown, drag-out fight for control of Congress, one issue is dominating advertising and transcending partisan divides, instead pitting challengers against incumbents: Everyone is running against members of Congress trading stocks,” NBC News reports.

“At least one TV or digital ad mentioning the issue has run in the last month in nearly every competitive race for Congress.”

For members: Affordability Meets Corruption

Filed Under: 2024 Campaign, Ethics, Political Advertising

Republicans On Track to Lose House Majority

September 25, 2026 at 9:58 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Despite a push for mid-decade redistricting, a massive reserve of cash, and an unpopular opposition party, Republicans are on track to lose their House majority this November,” Cook Political Report reports.

“Unlike in 2018, the last midterm cycle when Republicans were in power, the most competitive House races are almost entirely in districts that President Donald Trump won. But, in large part due to his handling of the economy, the president is now deeply underwater and is dragging down Republican House members and candidates across these districts.”

“Democrats currently hold 215 seats, meaning they need to gain just three seats to take back the majority. But the realm of competitive and potentially competitive districts is fairly small. The most likely outcome at this point is that Democrats pick up five to 15 seats, resulting in Democrats holding 220 to 230 seats in 2027 — a fairly slim majority in modern U.S. history. That range could shift further in Democrats’ favor over the next five weeks if Republicans are unable to effectively stem the bleeding.”

The Cook Political Report is moving 15 House races, all in the Democrats’ direction.
Taegan

Filed Under: 2026 Campaign, House of Representatives

Trump Shows Xi Biden’s Autopen ‘Portrait’

September 25, 2026 at 9:55 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump showed off his “portrait” of President Joe Biden’s autopen to Chinese president Xi Jinping during a tour of the White House.

Nothing says “America First” like mocking an American president in front of a communist dictator.
Taegan

Filed Under: Foreign Affairs

Chinese Intelligence Aiding Iran’s Targeting of U.S. Sites

September 25, 2026 at 9:53 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Satellite imagery and intelligence support provided by Chinese groups has helped Iran threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz and launch precision strikes on U.S. military bases in the Middle East, part of a dramatic improvement in Iranian targeting capabilities over the past several months,” CNN reports.

“The imagery allowed Iran to strike a U.S. base in Jordan in July, a strike that killed three American service members, with a level of precision U.S. officials believe was otherwise beyond Iran’s capabilities.”

Filed Under: Foreign Affairs, National Security

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

September 25, 2026 at 9:34 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Yesterday, Iowa House Republicans were informed by their own pollsters that if you are in a +15 district you’re within the margin for error, if you’re in a +10 district you’re underwater, and that this might end being an even worse midterm environment than 2006.”

— Iowa talk show host Steve Deace, quoted by the Daily Mail.

Filed Under: 2026 Campaign

Democrats Enjoy Biggest Lead Yet

September 25, 2026 at 9:19 am ET By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats are heading into the final stretch of the 2026 midterms with their largest lead yet in the race for Congress and President Donald Trump’s approval rating at a significant low,” NBC News reports.

“A 9-percentage-point advantage for Democrats when it comes to control of Congress is part of a steady deterioration of the political environment for Republicans. The parties started the road to this November effectively tied in the weeks after President Donald Trump returned to office last year, but independents have gradually begun to prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress. And those voters have soured on Trump and his economic policies in particular.”

Filed Under: 2026 Campaign, Polling

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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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