Political Wire

Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!

Arizona Governor Meets with McCain

May 31, 2018 at 10:18 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) quietly met with Sen. John McCain (R) and his wife, Cindy, at the couple’s home outside Sedona, Arizona, The Hill reports.

“The meeting, which was not on the governor’s official schedule, comes amid speculation over whom the Republican governor would appoint to fill the Senate seat should the ailing 81-year-old senior lawmaker and Vietnam War hero unexpectedly leave office. Under state law, Wednesday marks the final day that a vacancy for McCain’s seat could trigger a special election before 2020. After Wednesday, Ducey will have the power to appoint someone to the Senate seat if it did become open.”

Arizona Republic: “In recent days, various media outlets have published reports about whom Ducey might appoint, speculating that the senator’s wife, Cindy, is among those under consideration.”

Trump Imposes Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

May 31, 2018 at 10:00 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union, Canada and Mexico, the Washington Post reports.

“The move is certain to trigger retaliation by the E.U. against a range of American products, including Kentucky bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and could complicate talks over a possible new North American trade deal — further straining ties between the United States and some of its closest allies.”

New York Times: “A 25% tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum from the European Union, Canada and Mexico, which supply nearly half of America’s imported metal, will go into effect at midnight Thursday.”

Forecast Gives Democrats 65% Chance of Taking House

May 31, 2018 at 9:50 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This piece is only available to Political Wire members.

A new statistical model from The Economist gives Democrats about a two-in-three chance of gaining a majority in the House. On average, Democrats are expected to win a 9-seat majority.

Join now to continue reading.

Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.

If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.

Trump Announces Pardon for Conservative Writer

May 31, 2018 at 9:29 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump announced he will give a “full pardon” to Dinesh D’Souza today, saying he was “treated very unfairly by our government!”

D’Souza pleaded guilty in 2014 to making illegal campaign donations.

Little Evidence of Voter Fraud Found in New Hampshire

May 31, 2018 at 9:21 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“An exhaustive review by state election officials, including a first-time comparison of voter information shared with 27 other states, has turned up virtually no evidence of possible voter fraud in New Hampshire,” WMUR reports.

Virginia Set to Expand Medicaid

May 31, 2018 at 9:16 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Six years after the U.S. Supreme Court left the decision to states on whether to expand their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, Virginia is about to extend health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of Virginians without it,” the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.

“Gov. Ralph Northam has left no doubt he will sign a pair of budget bills that will begin a two-phased process of receiving federal approval to expand Medicaid in Virginia on Jan. 1, relying on billions of dollars in long-available federal funds and a pair of taxes on hospital revenues to pay for it.”

Washington Post: “Years of obstruction in the commonwealth gave way because key Republicans from rural areas couldn’t bear to deny coverage for their constituents any longer, moderates wanted to cut a deal and, most of all, Democrats made massive gains in November’s off-year elections.”

Democrats Already Playing Blame Game In California

May 31, 2018 at 8:59 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “Confused and frustrated, a growing number of Democrats are blaming their own party as they seek to avert a drubbing in Tuesday’s congressional primaries here that would leave their candidates shut out of the November ballot in some races — and with a narrower path to win control of the House of Representatives.”

“Candidates are scrambling to set themselves apart, Democratic groups are urging unity to gain control of the House — and many voters are wondering how to contend with the despair they would feel if Democrats were locked out in this liberal state.”

Trump Says He Didn’t Fire Comey Over Russia Probe

May 31, 2018 at 8:28 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump claimed he did not fire FBI director James Comey over the Russia investigation.

Tweeted Trump: “Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!”

Exchange of the Day

May 31, 2018 at 8:21 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rudy Giuliani was interviewed by Sean Hannity on Fox News:

GIULIANI: And they — boy, they are switching fast and the Democrats are running for cover. You don’t hear them say the word impeachment anymore. I challenge Maxine Waters to say impeachment.

HANNITY: Say it.

GIULIANI: Say it. Say impeachment, sweetheart. Just say it.

HANNITY: Wow.

Most Young Adults Are Planning to Vote In 2018

May 31, 2018 at 8:04 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new AP-NORC/MTV poll finds a majority of young adults who will be old enough to vote in 2018 say they are planning to.

The study found the group highly motivated by the political environment. Forty percent said they felt extremely or very angry about the state of the country and 36% said they felt anxious. Only 13% said they felt positive, with 9% saying they were excited about the state of the country.

Inside the GOP Effort to Protect Jeff Sessions

May 31, 2018 at 7:33 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Associated Press: “Ten months later, the Republican campaign to save Sessions has continued and — at least for now — succeeded. In private meetings, public appearances on television and late-night phone calls, Trump’s advisers and allies have done all they can to persuade the president not to fire a Cabinet official he dismisses as disloyal. The effort is one of the few effective Republican attempts to install guardrails around a president who delights in defying advice and breaking the rules.”

“It’s an ongoing effort, though not everyone is convinced the relationship is sustainable for the long term.”

McConnell Set to Pass Dole as Longest Serving GOP Leader

May 31, 2018 at 7:24 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “On June 12, McConnell will surpass the 11-plus-year run of former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas to become the longest-serving Republican Senate leader ever.”

“It’s a remarkable feat given the turmoil in the Republican Party since Trump’s takeover: The House GOP will soon be on its third party leader in little more than three years, while the lower rungs of Senate leadership are about to experience significant turnover. McConnell is on his third president as Republican leader.”

Trump’s Net Worth Slides

May 31, 2018 at 7:21 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump’s net worth “slipped to $2.8 billion, a decline of $100 million over the past year, as revenue at his namesake Fifth Avenue tower and golf courses fell,” Bloomberg reports.

Manafort Allies Launch Defense Fund

May 31, 2018 at 7:19 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Self-described friends of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort are launching a defense fund to help pay the mounting legal bills he’s incurring as a result of two looming criminal cases brought by special counsel Robert Mueller,” Politico reports.

From the website: “The Defense Fund is urging anyone who values civil liberties and wishes to show the ‘Deep State’ that they cannot exert their will on ordinary citizens, to join them in supporting the Manafort family as they grapple against the Special Counsel to clear their name.”

Senate Panel Divided on Evidence of Collusion

May 31, 2018 at 7:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Senate Intelligence Committee remains deeply divided over whether there is evidence of collusion between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia after a year-long investigation, the latest sign that Congress is unlikely to find consensus over a key question surrounding the 2016 elections,” CNN reports.

“Republicans on the panel maintain they’ve seen no evidence of collusion, while Democrats say it’s clear that the Russians had found willing partners in the Trump campaign to sway the 2016 race.”

Trump Flubs Endorsement of Congressman

May 31, 2018 at 7:09 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump issued a Twitter endorsement of Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) who is facing a primary challenge from former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY):

There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again. Dan has my full endorsement!

Playbook: “There’s only one problem. Donovan voted against the tax-cut bill. He voted against it three times. He voted against it in every incarnation. The only material reason Trump gave to support Donovan was incorrect. Not only did Donovan vote against it, he was vocally opposed to it. He called it a ‘tax hike on the people I represent.'”

“An unforced error — and an embarrassing one at that for the leader of the Republican Party…. What is going on in the White House? It’s tough to think of a mistake easier to avoid than whether a lawmaker voted for the largest legislative achievement of the past two years.

Romney Voted for His Wife for President

May 30, 2018 at 9:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Mitt Romney told the Deseret News that he wrote in his wife, Ann Romney, as his vote for president in 2016.

Said Romney: “I wrote in the name of a person who I admire deeply, who I think would be an excellent president. I realized it wasn’t going to go anywhere, but nonetheless felt that I was putting in a very solid name.”

Warner Says Americans May Soon Tire of Russia Probe

May 30, 2018 at 9:01 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) warned that Americans would soon grow “tired of” the Trump-Russia scandal, tamping down the impeachment fever spreading through his party’s base, Politico reports.

Said Warner: “The notion for those who may be partisans in the crowd … ‘Well, gosh, if Democrats take control, they’ll be able to really ramp these up’ — I think the American public will be tired of it if this is not wound down in this calendar year.”