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Greg Abbott Asks Court to Expel Top Democrat

August 5, 2025 at 7:51 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) asked the state’s high court Tuesday to remove a top Democratic lawmaker from office, arguing he had abandoned his job by leading dozens of his colleagues out of state to block a GOP plan to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of next year’s midterm elections,” the Washington Post reports.

“The move sharply escalated a standoff that has mushroomed into a national political battle over congressional districts, with red and blue states threatening to redraw their maps to benefit their side in elections that will determine control of the U.S. House.”

Texas Tribune: “The Supreme Court of Texas is entirely Republican, and Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, appointed in January, was formerly Abbott’s general counsel.”

RFK Jr. Pulls $500 Million in Funding for Vaccines

August 5, 2025 at 6:44 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary and a longtime vaccine critic, announced in a statement Tuesday that $500 million worth of vaccine development projects, all using mRNA technology, will be halted,” the AP reports.

“The projects — 22 of them — are being led by some of the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna to prevent flu, Covid-19 and H5N1 infections.”

Democrats Favored in Nebraska’s Second District

August 5, 2025 at 5:58 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Cook Political Report: “If Democrats don’t win Nebraska’s 2nd District next year, it’s almost impossible to see them taking control of the House. The Omaha-based district shot to the top of the party’s target list at the beginning of July, when GOP Rep. Don Bacon announced he wouldn’t run for reelection next year.”

“Given the partisan lean of this district — it has a Cook PVI of D+3 — a generic Democrat should have an edge over a generic Republican.”

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Epstein Prosecutor Left Off Subpoena List

August 5, 2025 at 5:14 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump’s former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta was not one of the former government officials subpoenaed Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee over the Jeffrey Epstein probe,” Axios reports.

“As a federal prosecutor in 2008, Acosta approved a highly controversial non-prosecution agreement that allowed Epstein to serve minimal time in prison and shut down the federal investigation into his alleged sex trafficking ring.”

“The sweetheart plea deal, which Acosta negotiated without consulting Epstein’s victims, also shielded his alleged co-conspirators from future prosecution related to his sex crimes.”

Trump Plans to Take Over Gaza Aid

August 5, 2025 at 5:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A U.S. official said that the Trump administration will “take over” management of the humanitarian effort in Gaza because Israel isn’t handling it adequately, Axios reports.

Ken Paxton Will Move to Expel Texas Democrats

August 5, 2025 at 4:48 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is moving forward with a plan to remove quorum-breaking House Democrats from office, asserting that by leaving the state they have abandoned their positions,” Politico reports.

Said Paxton: “Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office. The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don’t show up to work, you get fired.”

CNN: Will Texas Democrats’ walkout work?

Russia Ends Moratorium on Intermediate Range Missiles

August 5, 2025 at 4:46 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Russia has declared that it no longer considers itself bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race as tensions between Moscow and Washington rise again over Ukraine,” the AP reports.

“The Russian Foreign Ministry linked the decision to efforts by the U.S. and its allies to develop intermediate range weapons and preparations for their deployment in Europe and other parts of the world. It specifically cited U.S. plans to deploy Typhoon and Dark Eagle missiles in Germany starting next year.”

Ghislaine Maxwell Opposes Release of Epstein Files

August 5, 2025 at 3:36 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell is opposing the US Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts in her criminal case, saying she is still fighting her conviction,” Bloomberg reports.

Prison Officials Decry Ghislaine Maxwell’s Transfer

August 5, 2025 at 3:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Not long after it was first reported that Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to one of the cushiest federal detention facilities in the country, a private Facebook group dedicated to current and former federal prison staffers erupted in shock and outrage,” NBC News reports.

“The federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, is one of seven minimum security, dormitory-style federal security facilities that do not typically hold inmates like Maxwell who are convicted of sex crimes and serving lengthy sentences.”

Said one prison employee: “Since when are sex offenders allowed at the camp? I don’t care who she snitched on, she’s a damn human trafficker.”

The Independent: “Maxwell’s new prison mainly houses inmates convicted of ‘white-collar’ crimes and minor offenses, and they are said to be angry about her presence.”

Daily Beast: Trump administration broke rules to move Ghislaine Maxwell to Club Fed camp.

Josh Shapiro Calls for Aid to Gaza

August 5, 2025 at 3:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday called for the United States to ‘dramatically increase’ aid to Gaza as he joins a national conversation about the deepening humanitarian crisis there as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid grows,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Said Shapiro: “I think it is fair to say that I’m both praying for the return of the hostages and praying to make sure that these kids get fed in Gaza. The fact that kids are starving in Gaza is not OK.”

Inside Laura Loomer’s Rise

August 5, 2025 at 3:07 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “Loomer has remained close withTrump despite what she describes as ‘contempt’ for her by a number of White House staff and Trump advisers. While those close to the president caution that her influence with Trump only goes so far — something Loomer acknowledges — they say it’s undeniable that her persistence and loyalty have paid off.”

“In her own telling, corroborated by people around Trump, Loomer’s ability to capture the president’s attention and sometimes influence his actions is hardly mysterious. She uncovers information she believes will be of interest to him, passes it along to Trump officials, then pushes it out publicly in lengthy posts on X, on her website or on her weekly streaming show, ‘Loomer Unleashed.’ She is confident the reports will get to the president, given her reputation as a trusted ally.”

Pentagon Keeps a Lid on Golden Dome

August 5, 2025 at 3:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “A sprawling missile defense conference kicks off Tuesday in Alabama, but no one on stage can mention the Pentagon’s most ambitious missile defense project.”

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office, according to the event’s organizers, has banned officials at the event from talking about President Donald Trump’s favorite weapon system: the nascent multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile shield.”

“The clampdown follows new Pentagon rules that ban personnel from participating in think tank and research organization events — a major channel for communicating policy and gathering outside input. And it occurs alongside a broader tightening of the department’s public engagement, including reducing press conferences and limiting media access in the building to prevent a stream of embarrassing leaks.”

Only Congress Can End the Redistricting Wars

August 5, 2025 at 1:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rick Hasen: “A sudden war over redistricting has broken out in Texas and looks to spread across the country, with California, New York and elsewhere considering tit-for-tat Democratic partisan gerrymanders to negate the Republican hardball in Texas.”

“Congress, rather than the courts, is in the best position to stop the upcoming race to the bottom. But even though it’s in everyone’s interest that Congress act, don’t hold your breath.”

Trump to End Elon Musk’s ‘5 Things’ Email

August 5, 2025 at 1:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration plans as soon as Tuesday to formally axe a program launched by billionaire former Trump adviser Elon Musk requiring federal employees to summarize their five workplace achievements from the prior week,” Reuters reports.

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

August 5, 2025 at 1:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The list of reasons why I’m now a Democrat continues to grow. Most importantly, my decision puts me in the best possible position each day to love my neighbor.”

— Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, writing in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, on why he left the Republican party to become a Democrat.

Trump Says Migrants ‘Naturally’ Do Farm Work

August 5, 2025 at 11:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Donald Trump told CNBC that migrants are “naturally” able to do farm work in a way American citizens can’t.

Said Trump: “These people do it naturally — naturally. I said, what happens if they get it to a farmer the other day? What happens if they get a bad back? He said, ‘They don’t get a bad back, sir, because if they get a bad back, they die.’ I said, that’s interesting, isn’t it? In many ways, they’re very, very special people.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

August 5, 2025 at 11:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“We have full support from the president. He wants this done. He wants — he promised to make American health again, and he’s gonna do that. He called me last night. He calls me three or four times a week and says, ‘Where are you? Why aren’t people healthier yet?’”

— Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at a press conference.

Karl Rove Says Trump Making the Same Mistake as Biden

August 5, 2025 at 11:41 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Karl Rove told Fox News that President Trump that he’s “making the same mistake” Joe Biden did and is likely to pay a political price for it.

Said Rove: “To me, what’s ironic is, is that the Trump administration is making the same mistake that the Biden administration made, which was to basically, remember we had Bidenomics is working, well, now we have the golden age of American prosperity is returned, and Americans are not feeling that. Better to say we’re working hard to put America on the right road, rather than declaring premature victory.”

He added: “I think that’s a big mistake for the White House and is likely to come back and bite them in the midterm election.”

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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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