“A Montana Democrat running for Congress in the red state has picked up what once would have seemed like an unlikely backer: a former GOP governor who was once chairman of the Republican National Committee,” MS NOW reports.
“Marc Racicot, who won two terms as Montana’s governor in the 1990s before leading the RNC during George W. Bush’s first term, is set to endorse Sam Forstag’s bid for the state’s 1st Congressional District, currently held by a Republican.”
“The median net compensation for Americans in 2023 was $43,222.81, just enough to buy the $41,600 Hublot watch (taxes and tariffs not included) that eagle-eyed internet users believe Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton was wearing on the campaign trail earlier this week,” the Washington Post reports.
“The White House is at odds with some private sector analysts over how much oil is leaving the Strait of Hormuz — but it will take weeks until the picture of what’s truly getting through becomes clear,” Axios reports.
“How much oil exits the waterway sways the price of gasoline and other consumer products.”
”The White House is claiming success in forcing open the world’s most important energy chokepoint, which handled 20 million barrels of crude and oil products each day before the Iran war.”
”The verdict could arrive as fall election campaigns near fever pitch.”
Oliver Darcy: “Bartiromo’s termination stems from an incident, which has not previously been reported, that occurred in July. After Trump delivered his unhinged prime time speech in which he pushed more conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, this time making a number of allegations against China, I am told that Fox issued guidance to senior employees instructing them to steer clear of giving credence to Trump’s delusional claims. I’m told that the guidance was issued in writing.”
“Indeed, the day after Trump’s prime time address, Fox conspicuously avoided covering the debunked claims the president had pushed. The lack of coverage raised eyebrows among media observers at the time. It also appears to have caught the attention of the White House.”
“It’s unclear whether Trump or someone at the White House inquired with Bartiromo about the lack of coverage. But ultimately Bartiromo spilled the secret, divulging to the White House that Trump’s speech had received scant coverage on the channel because network bosses had ordered it so… In doing so, Bartiromo not only effectively betrayed her employer, but also disclosed confidential company information, violating the terms of her employment agreement.”
“The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state can’t use redrawn congressional districts that could have benefited Republicans in November’s midterm elections, and voters must decide if they should be used in future elections,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The unanimous decision was a blow to Republicans who were hoping to gain one U.S. House seat with the redrawn map in the midterms. Around the country, both parties have been changing congressional maps hoping to gain an advantage in the House.”
Wall Street Journal: “Behind closed doors, the first-term senator shows little interest in doing the job beyond cultivating relationships with conservative media figures and advocating for Israel, according to interviews with more than a dozen former staffers and lawmakers, as well as text messages and other internal records.”
“With a pivotal election looming in November that could yield a split Senate and give Fetterman outsize influence, his office is staffed with a revolving door of aides who are constantly scrambling to keep up the face of a functional operation, the interviews and text messages show.”
Mediaite: Fetterman reportedly ditched meeting with paralyzed vets to do Fox News hit.
“The Maryland Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Democrats’ much-debated redistricting amendment to appear on ballots in November,” NOTUS reports.
“Voters will decide whether to change the state constitution to allow lawmakers to draw legislative and congressional districts without facing stringent compactness standards in the future — marking a win for state Democrats who passed the amendment last month.”
“President Trump said on Thursday that he was appointing Adam R. Telle, the official overseeing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to take over as the acting Army secretary, following the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll earlier this week,” the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Driscoll, formerly the civilian leader of the Army, resigned on Monday after clashing repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army. Under the regular chain of command, Michael Obadal, the under secretary of the Army and principal deputy to Mr. Driscoll, would have become acting secretary in Mr. Driscoll’s place.”
“Vice President JD Vance said Thursday he couldn’t predict when the fighting with Iran would end or when gas would return to $3 a gallon,” the Washington Post reports.
“President Donald Trump originally said the war, which began Feb. 28, would last four to six weeks. In July, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he hoped gasoline could average $3 a gallon nationwide by Labor Day.”
“Vice President JD Vance said Thursday he is ‘looking forward’ to meeting with former President Joe Biden while in New York City next week for the 25th anniversary of 9/11,” Fox News reports.
Said Vance: “I’m really looking forward to hanging out with Joe Biden. I’m sure that we’ll have many, many intense intellectual conversations and, you know, it’ll be great. We’ll have a great time with Joe Biden and the other presidents.”
“Pentagon official Emil Michael on Thursday said that Anthropic is still considered a ‘supply chain risk,’ a day after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the company is ‘back on the right side,'” Axios reports.
“The Trump administration is not entirely aligned on one of the world’s leading AI labs following months of fighting over how the military can use its models.”
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could be on a collision course with progressives and grassroots activists who are demanding Congress pass legislation to pause the construction of new data centers. Jeffries, who is set to become speaker if his party wins the House majority in November, hasn’t weighed in on whether he will push a moratorium,” NOTUS reports.
“Polls show Americans have recoiled from President Donald Trump’s directive to become the ‘world’s No. 1 superpower in artificial intelligence’ and the recent blitz of data centers. Democratic candidates across the country are campaigning on a pledge to pause or ban the construction of new data center projects.”
“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced new legislation Thursday calling for a permanent ban on superintelligence alongside a renewed demand for a pause on advanced AI development,” Axios reports.
“Sanders is the first prominent American politician to call for an outright ban on superintelligence as Big Tech companies release increasingly powerful AI models that they themselves admit they may not be able to control.”
“Minnesota congressional candidate Matt Little (D) is eyeing an ambitious goal this week: More than 13,000 handshakes in eight hours, which would be a new world record,” NOTUS reports.
“He said it’s been on his mind for more than a decade: a record so untouched it has only been held by two other people, an influential governor and one of the nation’s most formative presidents.”
“Administration officials Thursday announced they would soon begin work to build President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot-tall triumphal arch, his most significant change to Washington’s skyline,” the Washington Post reports.
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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