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Why Senate Republicans Won’t Scrap the ‘Blue Slip’

August 19, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Donald Trump last month tried to goad Sen. Chuck Grassley into ending the practice of giving deference to home-state senators in the judicial nominations process — a pressure campaign that quickly escalated into an all-out social media war on the 91-year-old Judiciary Committee chair,” Politico reports.

“It didn’t work. Despite Trump’s threats to rally his base against Grassley, Senate Republicans rebuffed the attempts to get their colleague to give up on so-called blue slips, which allow members of the minority party power to effectively veto nominees for U.S. attorneys and district court judges who would serve their regions.”

India Sees ‘Upward Trend’ in China Ties

August 19, 2025 at 11:45 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top aide and China’s chief diplomat hailed their nations’ warming ties, in another signal both sides are recalibrating their foreign policy amid mounting tariff pressure from President Donald Trump,” Bloomberg reports.

Economic Data Has Taken a Dark Turn

August 19, 2025 at 11:30 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“At the moment, the American economy feels a little bit like a hot August afternoon. The air is heavy and still, as lightning flashes on the horizon. The storm could sweep through and leave destruction in its wake. It could set in for a brief drizzle,” the New York Times reports.

“Or it could pass by in the distance, and take its fury elsewhere.”

“In this very humid metaphor, the electricity in the sky is the steep tariffs that President Trump has now imposed on most goods coming into the United States. It’s also his strict immigration curbs, mass firings of government employees and the pullback in government spending.”


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Quote of the Day

August 19, 2025 at 11:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I’ve got all the qualifications to be president. I’m rich, I’ve been arrested a few times, and I always say crazy shit.”

— Comedian Tiffany Haddish, quoted by The Wrap.

How Does Trump’s Federal Takeover End?

August 19, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

David Graham: “What exactly is their mission and training, though? National Guard troops prepare for civil unrest, which is why they’re frequently called up when major protests break out. But D.C. isn’t seeing big demonstrations—certainly not before Trump’s takeover, and not really since, either, despite some smaller protests by residents.”

“As for the mission, that’s even more obscure. Last Monday, Trump said that the plan was to “liberate” D.C. from crime. Depending on who you believe, the takeover was triggered by the president’s desire to change the subject away from Jeffrey Epstein, a reflexive reaction to a Fox News segment about D.C., or anger about an attempted carjacking involving a former DOGE staffer. But Trump cited no acute emergency, and he hasn’t explained what the goal is. With no stated objective, there can be no end point. (It can’t be that crime ceases to exist, an impossible goal.) That raises the scary prospect that it could just go on forever—or slide into martial law around the country.”

UK Wealth Tax Would Spur Millionaire Exits to US

August 19, 2025 at 10:45 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“More than half of UK millionaires in a survey signaled they’d be more likely to leave the country if the Labour government introduces a new wealth tax,” Bloomberg reports.

“About 60% of the respondents also said that they thought they could have a better quality of life overseas, according to the survey by financial advisory firm Arton Capital. Nearly half of the questioned millionaire Labour voters indicated they’d be more inclined to exit if a new levy was brought in.”

“The US topped the rankings among wealthy Britons for potential relocation, followed by Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Defies U.S. and Israel

August 19, 2025 at 10:30 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Its commanders have been assassinated, its air defenses destroyed and its ranks penetrated by Israeli intelligence,” Bloomberg reports.

“Yet somehow, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has emerged from the 12-day war with Israel with more power than before.”

Spanberger’s Lead for Virginia Governor Narrows

August 19, 2025 at 10:06 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Abigail Spanberger (D) holds a 7-point lead over Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the race for Virginia governor, 46% to 39%, according to a new Roanoke College Poll that shows the contest tightening since the spring.

Katherine Clark Maintains AIPAC Endorsement

August 19, 2025 at 10:01 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

After a video surfaced last week of Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), the House minority whip, referring to Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, Clark walked back the remark on Monday — and maintained her endorsement from AIPAC, Jewish Insider reports.

How Brian Schatz Locked Up the Whip Race

August 19, 2025 at 10:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) was laying the groundwork for a Senate leadership position before Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) even got to the Senate,” Punchbowl News reports.

“So it wasn’t too heavy of a lift for Rosen and Kelly as they led Schatz’s ‘whip team’ in his bid to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) as the Senate Democratic whip.”

“He’s basically already doing the job, Democrats say.”

Zelensky Wasn’t Going to Repeat His Oval Office Disaster

August 19, 2025 at 9:30 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Atlantic: “Volodymyr Zelensky clearly learned some lessons from his calamitous Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump back in February. That much was apparent today just from the Ukrainian leader’s outfit. Back then, Zelensky took heat from Trump allies who felt that a suit—and not his trademark wartime ensemble—would have been more appropriate attire for an audience with the American president. Today, Zelensky showed up in a black blazer and a black collared shirt, earning praise from the same MAGA-aligned reporter who’d needled him about his sartorial choices six months ago—and from Trump himself.”

“Zelensky, who met with Trump in the Oval Office before he was flanked by European leaders for a broader discussion, adjusted more than his fashion. He also heeded the urgent advice of his continental counterparts: Show Trump gratitude, and don’t take the bait.”

Trump Falls for Zelensky’s Dapper Look

August 19, 2025 at 9:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The fates of nations have rarely, if ever, been decided by sartorial choices,” the South China Morning Post reports.

“But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was certainly hoping that a spot of fashion diplomacy on Monday could get US counterpart Donald Trump to help his country reach a peace deal with Russia.”

“Despite the life-and-death matters unfolding in Ukraine, much of the speculation among the White House press corps was about whether Zelensky would wear a suit.”

Political Novice Makes a Long-Shot Bid to Oust Collins

August 19, 2025 at 9:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats who have tried and failed for years to unseat Senator Susan Collins, the veteran moderate Republican from Maine, are pinning their hopes this time on recruiting Janet Mills, the state’s seasoned Democratic governor, to challenge Ms. Collins’s bid for a sixth term next year,” the New York Times reports.

“But Ms. Mills, 77, is being circumspect about her plans for what could be one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. And some Maine Democrats believe she is too conventional a choice to defeat Ms. Collins, a powerful political force who has demonstrated her staying power.”

“Enter Graham Platner, a 40-year-old oyster farmer and former Marine who served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and is set on Tuesday to announce a long-shot challenge to Ms. Collins, with a campaign focused on making life better for his state’s working class.”

Indiana Republicans Fall in Line Behind Trump

August 19, 2025 at 8:52 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“One by one, Indiana’s Republican U.S. representatives are coming out in support of redistricting in Indiana, weeks after Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Indianapolis,” the Indianapolis Star reports.

“The pressure campaign on X mounted at the same time that state House Republicans met privately off Statehouse grounds to discuss President Donald Trump’s push to redraw maps mid-decade, which to date has proven unpopular among the state lawmakers.”

Top Air Force Chief to Exit

August 19, 2025 at 8:50 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The chief of staff of the Air Force, Gen. David Allvin, will retire two years into a four-year term, officials said Monday, marking the latest early ouster of a senior military officer under President Donald Trump,” the Washington Post reports.

Trump’s War on Mail Ballots Could Easily Backfire

August 19, 2025 at 7:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Donald Trump is once again trying to change the rules of the game.

In a series of misleading posts and public comments, Trump vowed to eliminate mail-in ballots — even though he has no authority to do so.

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Elise Stefanik Ruthlessly Booed

August 19, 2025 at 6:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was booed and picketed during an event honoring a late public servant in her state on Monday, with protesters calling her “a Nazi” and “a bully,” Mediaite reports.

Democrats Face Their Own Realignment

August 19, 2025 at 6:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Democrats are tortured by what they should stand for now and heading into the 2028 elections. But a number of current trends suggest a likely answer: their own version of a populist, anti-establishment, MAGA-like makeover,” Axios reports.

“The debate is usually framed as liberal vs. centrist, Rahm versus AOC. But big, fast changes in AI, media habits and general public angst point to a more sweeping shift in ideas and attitude.”

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan 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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