New Jersey Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell (D) “is the subject of an internal investigation by Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s office for alleged inappropriate behavior with women and possible ethics violations that include the purported offer of state jobs,” the New Jersey Globe reports.
How Well Will You Do?
About a third of Political Wire members got a perfect score on this week’s quiz.
So how well did you pay attention to the news this week?
State Dinner in the Works for Chinese President
“President Donald Trump said that he plans to host a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his counterpart’s upcoming visit to Washington later this month,” NOTUS reports.
“Xi is expected in D.C. around Sept. 24 for a summit with the president. The meeting comes as the administration steps up pressure both on countries and companies accused of supporting Iran.”
Trump Says He Will Spend Up to $500 Million on Midterms
“President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters he planned to allocate $400 million to $500 million from his MAGA Inc. super PAC to boost Republican candidates in midterm November elections,” Reuters reports.
“Trump also said, during an event in the Oval Office, that his super PAC has about $1 billion in it.”
How Talarico Is Countering Trump’s Midterms Convention
“James Talarico is planning to counterprogram President Donald Trump’s GOP midterms convention in Dallas with a focus on affordability,” Politico reports.
Said Talarico: “Next week, billionaire mega-donors and their puppet politicians will gather at a convention in Dallas to clink champagne glasses and toast their own corruption. They’re paying $20,000 for entry to a Billionaire Ball celebrating corrupt tariffs, billionaire tax breaks, and a new forever war that are all driving grocery costs through the roof.”
Trump Says Iran War Is ‘Small Potatoes’
“President Donald Trump on Friday labeled the Iran war ‘small potatoes,’ the latest attempt to minimize a six-month conflict that caused a spike in gas prices and led to the deaths of 18 American service-members,” CNN reports.
Said Trump: “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing.”
Mitch McConnell Expected to Return This Month
“Rep. James Comer (R-KY) indicated on Thursday that he has been in contact Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) staff, who have indicated that the aim is for the lawmaker to return to the Senate later this month,” Fox News reports.
Gas Prices Hit Labor Day High
“Labor Day gas prices are slated to be the highest on record, surpassing the previous one set in 2012,” Axios reports.
Trump Signs Order to Help Ranchers Bypass USDA
“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday intended to make it easier for ranchers and farmers to process their own meat and sell it directly to consumers, characterizing the move as an effort to reduce the industry’s reliance on a handful of large meat-packers,” NOTUS reports.
Senate GOP’s Midwestern Governor’s Problem
“Another warning light is blinking for Senate Republicans: underperforming gubernatorial nominees in three crucial Midwest states,” Axios reports.
“Strong candidates for governor can act as sheepdogs in tight Senate races, keeping Republican voters — and GOP-curious independents — moving in the party’s direction.”
“That’s adding to GOP anxiety in Michigan and Iowa, where the Democratic gubernatorial nominees have led for much of the summer. In Ohio — a state President Trump won by 11 points — the governor’s race is tied.”
Trump’s Ballroom Will Be Built with ‘Nuclear Concrete’
“President Trump is trying to cement his legacy — literally,” the New York Post reports.
Said Trump: “It’s made with the most powerful steel welded together and concrete that is so hard and so strong it’s used in nuclear power plants. You could take a jackhammer and go to those columns and stand there for two days at full blast and you wouldn’t even see a mark. It’s nuclear concrete. I think it would be very hard. It’s meant for if there’s a nuclear attack. I’m not sure you could take it down.”
Trump Begins to Draft Middle East Strategy
“The Trump administration is working on a post-war strategy focused on a regional effort to contain Iran and expand normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors,” Axios reports.
Exchange of the Day
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) was interviewed by Sky News:
SKY NEWS: Donald Trump says you’re full of shit.
EL-SAYED: At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.
Back to School?
Democrats Assail John Fetterman After Report
“Democratic lawmakers and activists criticized Sen. John Fetterman after a Wall Street Journal report found that the senator had shirked many of his duties as a U.S. senator—instead focusing much of his attention on backing Israel and appearing on Fox News,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Said Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D): “This report is horrifying. 2028 can’t come soon enough.”
