“I don’t want to reopen the old wounds either. I mean, the debate was one chapter of 35 chapters… And could you imagine if I left that out? How I’d be criticized? Of course I had to include it. But do I want to relive it again and again and again? No. And I think the Democrats are going to do great in the midterms, and we’ll go on and move past this time in history.”
— Jill Biden, quoted by Time, on the Democratic backlash to her memoir.
Paul Krugman: “It’s important to understand, however, the nature of the looming crisis. It won’t be an economic crisis. It won’t even be a serious fiscal crisis. Whatever you may have heard, Social Security isn’t in danger of going bankrupt.”
“What we’re facing, instead, is potential political crisis. Congress and the White House could easily take action to sustain America’s retirement system. But given the current state of our politics, there’s no guarantee that they will.”
Semafor: “A once-unthinkable outcome is now a live discussion among Democrats: whether they truly need to win Maine to flip the Senate in November.”
“Democratic groups in Washington closed ranks behind Graham Platner after his decisive primary win on Tuesday, declaring that the novice candidate who’s taken hit after hit can defeat Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins. But the Senate Democratic Caucus isn’t united behind him, and his series of stumbles has some in the party contending that Collins’ defeat is no longer a prerequisite to winning the majority.”
President Trump said the U.S. military will attack Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” and will soon take over the country’s “oil infrastructure points,” CNBC reports.
He said an operation to “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets and infrastructure, including taking Kharg Island, will occur “at some point in the not too distant future.”
Bloomberg: “Trump comments threaten further escalation which risks derailing slow-moving talks over a peace agreement. Taking Kharg Island would likely require the use of US ground forces, which would put servicemembers in greater danger and pose political challenges for the president, as the war becomes increasingly unpopular at home.”
“Knives are out in some capacity. I mean, people are stabbing people. Like, it’s chaos. The chaos is like creeping back.”
— A political operative close to the White House, quoted by Politico.
Wired: “Even before the first whistle blows, the 2026 World Cup—taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—already has winners and losers away from the field. Specifically, at the border, at passport control, in consular offices, and at US airports. Here, amidst denied visas, prolonged checks, and contested entries, a parallel competition is emerging where human rights are at stake.”
“This World Cup was meant to be a global celebration of soccer in North America. For the first time in history, the tournament is being held in three different countries, a move meant to unite the entire continent and turn the World Cup into an even more inclusive event.”
“But restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration are impeding those goals.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared to back Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the state’s three-way Democratic primary, Punchbowl News reports.
Said Schumer: “I think she has the best chance to win.”
Associated Press: “President Donald Trump’s planned UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn has required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies, hundreds of staff working onsite daily and at least $60 million, according to a legal filing that offers a glimpse into the preparations.”
President Trump is “increasingly frustrated with everyone, from his own team to the Senate,” an operative close to the White House told Playbook.
Said the source: “He’s pissed, and people are not recognizing the level of pissed that he is.”
The operative added: “He does not like being put in a box. When you put him in a box, then Trump’s going to blow the box up.”
“Trump is increasingly turning to a small group of loyalists and informal advisers who can reach him directly amid a broader understaffed and closed-off White House operation.”
Tom Steyer became the least successful self-funding candidate in modern U.S. political history this week, David Weigel observes.
Rob Pyers: “Between his run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States and his 2026 run for California governor, Tom Steyer will have spent $557,781,638 for 0 delegates and a 3rd-place primary finish, respectively.”
A new Emerson College national survey finds President Trump holds a 39% job approval rating, while 55% disapprove of the job the president is doing.
On the 2026 midterm election generic ballot, the Democratic candidate holds a 10-point lead over the Republican candidate, 50% to 40%.
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “We are making three Senate rating changes this week, all in favor of Democrats. North Carolina moves to Leans Democratic, and Alaska and Ohio are now Toss-ups.”
“This makes the Democrats’ path to the majority clearer, but we still favor Republicans in the overall race for the Senate.”
“Democrats need to win all four of our Toss-ups to get to a majority, while Republicans need just one to preserve a nominal 50-50 majority because they hold the vice presidential tiebreaker.”
“Democrats also have their work cut out for them in the four Toss-ups, albeit for different reasons. In Maine and Michigan, there are questions about the quality of the Democratic candidates. In Alaska and Ohio, meanwhile, the questions are more about Democrats’ ability to overcome each state’s pronounced GOP lean.”
“House Republicans on Thursday will move forward on what’s expected to be a futile effort to extend a key spy authority until early July, after President Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence rattled lawmakers,” CBS News reports.
Playbook: “The bill needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass, but most Democrats are holding firm on not moving forward while Pulte’s appointment remains in place. Barring any long-shot Senate move, the White House is preparing an executive order to cover some aspects of FISA if it expires.”
NOTUS: “President Donald Trump’s big birthday bash for America is hitting more speedbumps, as at least six states plan to sit out the Great American State Fair.”
“Days after an exodus of musical acts, officials from Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Oregon told NOTUS they won’t officially send a delegation to the 16-day fair, one of the most high-profile celebrations of the nation’s 250th birthday this summer.”
“At least three other states — Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington — remain uncommitted just two weeks before the fair is scheduled to open June 25 on the National Mall.”
NBC News: “In a time of war, rising costs and Medicaid cuts, Democrats in Maine say another issue is motivating them in this fall’s Senate race: Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court eight years ago.”
“A pivotal vote by longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine pushed Kavanaugh over the finish line in 2018 after she famously said he considered Roe v. Wade “settled law” — a comment that turned out to be wrong.”
New York Times: “As both political parties look for generational change, these candidates believe they have both an issue and their birth dates on their side. And they defy the usual politics. They include Republicans who argue against local control where cities and towns have made it hard to build new homes, and Democrats who argue for lower property taxes and less red tape on developers.”
NOTUS: “Farmers are struggling. And while the Trump administration has insisted inflation woes will end when the war with Iran does, farmers and agricultural experts know it won’t be that simple.”
“Increased costs for energy and fertilizer are compounding a host of issues for farmers already running thin business margins.”
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.
