Political Wire

  • Front Page
  • Members
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
  • Trending
  • Resources
    • Politics Extra
    • Political Job Hunt
    • Political Dictionary
    • Electoral Vote Map
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us

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


Obama Won the Iowa Caucuses 10 Years Ago

January 3, 2018 at 10:36 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Chris Liddell-Westefeld: “How did one of the whitest states in the union propel the first African-American president to the nomination? What about him captured Iowans’ imaginations? What compelled hundreds of young people to uproot their lives and join a movement considered so unlikely in its nascent stages? What was unique about his organization that future candidates, aides, volunteers, and activists can learn from?”

“I spent a year looking for answers to these questions… The Obama campaign billed itself as an organic effort whose success would be built upon bringing new voters into a caucus process that discouraged broad participation. I wanted to tell that story from the perspective of the bit players history usually forgets.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

January 3, 2018 at 10:10 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“You realize where this is going. This is all about money laundering. Mueller chose [senior prosecutor Andrew] Weissmann first and he is a money-laundering guy. Their path to fucking Trump goes right through Paul Manafort, Don Jr and Jared Kushner… It’s as plain as a hair on your face.”

— Stephen Bannon, quoted in Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House on the Russian investigation.

How Trump Uses Twitter as a Weapon

January 3, 2018 at 10:02 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This piece is only available to Political Wire members.

George Lakoff , a cognitive scientist with a specialty in political language, argues that President Trump uses social media as a weapon. It’s not necessarily strategic and may be entirely instinctual on his part, but it works extremely well in helping him control the news cycle.

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.

You're reading the free version of Political Wire

Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock full access. The process is quick and easy. You can even use Apple Pay.

    Upgrade Now

  • ✔ Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, a trending news page, a private podcast, no advertising and more!
  • ✔ If you're already a member, log in for the full experience.



Bannon Called Trump Tower Meeting ‘Treasonous’

January 3, 2018 at 8:53 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Steve Bannon has described the Trump Tower meeting between the president’s son and a group of Russians during the 2016 election campaign as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”, according to an explosive new book seen by the Guardian.

Said Bannon: “They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV.”

Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, “reportedly based on more than 200 interviews with the president, his inner circle and players in and around the administration, is one of the most eagerly awaited political books of the year. In it, Wolff lifts the lid on a White House lurching from crisis to crisis amid internecine warfare, with even some of Trump’s closest allies expressing contempt for him.”

Two New Democratic Senators Sworn In Today

January 3, 2018 at 8:40 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two new Democrats will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, narrowing the Republican majority and complicating efforts by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to advance the White House’s legislative agenda before the November midterm elections,” the AP reports.

“Doug Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century, is one of two new members who will take the oath of office on the Senate floor at noon. The other is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Al Franken following the Democrat’s resignation over accusations of sexual misconduct. Smith also plans to compete in the special election taking place in November to complete the final two years of Franken’s term.”

White House Alarmed By Possible Romney Bid

January 3, 2018 at 8:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Mr. Romney’s potential ascent is particularly alarming to the White House because the former presidential candidate has an extensive political network and could use the Senate seat as a platform to again seek the nomination. Even if he were not to run again for president, a Senator Romney could prove a pivotal swing vote, impervious to the entreaties of a president he has scorned and able to rally other Trump skeptics in the chamber.”

Salt Lake Tribune on a possible Romney Senate bid: “No decision, but if he wants it, he’ll likely win.”

Quote of the Day

January 3, 2018 at 7:55 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Every war in history was an accident. You just don’t know what’s going to send him over the edge.”

— A Trump administration insider, quoted by Axios.

Much Worse Than Disarray

January 3, 2018 at 7:18 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Richard Haass tells Mike Allen that the title of his book a year ago, A World in Disarray, actually understated the situation.

Said Haass: “Things have become even worse that I had imagined. Disarray is greater than expected.”

Trump Doesn’t Actually Have a Nuclear Button

January 3, 2018 at 7:14 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Associated Press: “The process for launching a nuclear strike is secret and complex and involves the use of a nuclear ‘football,’ which is carried by a rotating group of military officers everywhere the president goes and is equipped with communication tools and a book with prepared war plans.”

“If the president were to order a strike, he would identify himself to military officials at the Pentagon with codes unique to him. Those codes are recorded on a card known as the ‘biscuit’ that is carried by the president at all times. He would then transmit the launch order to the Pentagon and Strategic Command.”

This Month May Define Trump’s Presidency

January 3, 2018 at 6:59 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Steve Bannon tells Jonathan Swan that January will define Donald Trump’s presidency — “and is his last, best chance to make good on his most controversial campaign promises.”

What If Trump’s ‘Nuclear Button’ Tweet Wasn’t Insane?

January 3, 2018 at 6:37 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This piece is only available to Political Wire members.

In a series of tweets last night, President Trump threatened to use his “much bigger” nuclear button against North Korea and then promptly announced he would issue an award for the “most dishonest and corrupt media of the year.”

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.

NSA Faces Brain Drain

January 3, 2018 at 6:33 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Washington Post: “The National Security Agency is losing its top talent at a worrisome rate as highly skilled personnel, some disillusioned with the spy service’s leadership and an unpopular reorganization, take higher-paying, more flexible jobs in the private sector. Since 2015, the NSA has lost several hundred hackers, engineers and data scientists, according to current and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter. The potential impact on national security is significant, they said.”

Another Government Shutdown Threat Looms

January 3, 2018 at 6:30 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Another shutdown showdown looms this month and Congress isn’t even back yet. Happy New Year, Washington. Congressional leaders from both parties will sit down with top White House officials on Wednesday to haggle over the basics of a budget deal they were supposed to settle last spring. And while aides say the talks will stick to spending, a fight over immigration looms along with a host of other thorny policy disputes that will shape the 2018 legislative agenda.”

“Ahead of the meeting, there was little sign of conciliation on either side.”

North Korea Re-Opens Communication with South

January 3, 2018 at 6:22 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Associated Press: “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reopened a key cross-border communication channel with South Korea for the first time in nearly two years Wednesday as the rivals explored the possibility of sitting down and talking after months of acrimony and fears of war. The sudden signs of easing animosity, however, came as President Donald Trump threatened Kim with nuclear war in response to his threat earlier this week.”

“The recent softening of contact between the rival Koreas may show a shared interest in improved ties, but there’s no guarantee tensions will ease. There have been repeated attempts in recent years by the rivals to talk, but even when they do meet, the efforts often end in recriminations and stalemate.”

Firm Defends ‘Dossier’ on Trump-Russia Ties

January 2, 2018 at 9:46 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch, founders of Fusion GPS, write in the New York Times:

Yes, we hired Mr. Steele, a highly respected Russia expert. But we did so without informing him whom we were working for and gave him no specific marching orders beyond this basic question: Why did Mr. Trump repeatedly seek to do deals in a notoriously corrupt police state that most serious investors shun?

What came back shocked us. Mr. Steele’s sources in Russia (who were not paid) reported on an extensive — and now confirmed — effort by the Kremlin to help elect Mr. Trump president. Mr. Steele saw this as a crime in progress and decided he needed to report it to the F.B.I…

We’re extremely proud of our work to highlight Mr. Trump’s Russia ties. To have done so is our right under the First Amendment.

It is time to stop chasing rabbits. The public still has much to learn about a man with the most troubling business past of any United States president. Congress should release transcripts of our firm’s testimony, so that the American people can learn the truth about our work and most important, what happened to our democracy.

Bonus Quote of the Day

January 2, 2018 at 8:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘nuclear button is on his desk at all times.’ Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a nuclear button, but it is a much bigger and more powerful one than his, and my button works!”

— President Trump, on Twitter.

Foreign Governments Find Ways to Please Trump

January 2, 2018 at 8:16 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

McClatchy: “In Indonesia, a local government plans to build a road to shorten the drive between the main airport on the island of Bali and the new high-end Trump resort and golf course.”

“In Panama, the country’s federal government intervened to ensure a sewer system around a 70-story Trump skyscraper shaped like a sail in Panama City would be completed.”

“And in other countries, governments have donated public land, approved permits and eased environmental regulations for Trump-branded developments, creating a slew of potential conflicts as foreign leaders make investments that can be seen as gifts or attempts to gain access to the American president through his sprawling business empire.”

Democrats May Issue Minority Report on Russia

January 2, 2018 at 8:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) told Greg Sargent that Democrats “are seriously exploring the possibility of issuing a minority report that details (among other things) the degree to which Republicans tried to impede a full investigation, should that end up happening.”

“In this scenario, the public would at least have a clear sense of just how far Republicans went to protect President Trump and his top officials from accountability.”

Said Himes: “It’s in both the Democrats’ and the Republicans’ interests to … write a report based on a common set of facts. It would be a tragedy if the report has a minority section that says, ‘Look, we wanted to talk to these two dozen witnesses and weren’t able to do so.'”

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 5982
  • 5983
  • 5984
  • 5985
  • 5986
  • …
  • 8192
  • Next Page »

Get Smarter About Politics

Members get exclusive analysis, a trending news page, the Trial Balloon podcast, bonus newsletters and no advertising. Learn more.

Subscribe

Your Account

Sign in

Latest for Members

  • Trump Gets Away With What Sank Clinton and Romney
  • A Shutdown With No Clear Exit Ramp
  • Shutdown Showdown
  • Republican Trust in the News Media Craters
  • This Isn’t Gridlock

Word of the Day

Red Meat: “Red meat” is a term used in politics to refer to statements or policies that are designed to appeal to a political party’s base or ….

Read the full definition

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.

Praise for Political Wire

“There are a lot of blogs and news sites claiming to understand politics, but only a few actually do. Political Wire is one of them.”

— Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press”

“Concise. Relevant. To the point. Political Wire is the first site I check when I’m looking for the latest political nugget. That pretty much says it all.”

— Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report

“Political Wire is one of only four or five sites that I check every day and sometimes several times a day, for the latest political news and developments.”

— Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report

“The big news, delicious tidbits, pearls of wisdom — nicely packaged, constantly updated… What political junkie could ask for more?”

— Larry Sabato, Center for Politics, University of Virginia

“Political Wire is a great, great site.”

— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”

— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post

“Political Wire is one of the absolute must-read sites in the blogosphere.”

— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit

“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”

— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.

Copyright © 2025 · Goddard Media LLC | Privacy Policy | Corrections Policy

Political Wire ® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC