Political Wire

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

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

If you're already a member, log in for the full experience.


Trump Sees GOP as ‘Party of the American Worker’

February 25, 2017 at 1:08 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Boston Globe: “Attempting to put a defining framework on his tumultuous first month in office, President Trump on Friday articulated a new vision for the Republican Party as a populist defender of the working class that will challenge elites at home and abroad. Trump, speaking to hard-line GOP activists at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, made it clear how much the world has changed for rank-and-file Republicans since his insurgent campaign upended the party. At times, he promoted positions that could have been ripped from the playbook of liberals Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.”

Said Trump: “The GOP will be from now on the party also of the American worker. First, we need to define what this great, great unprecedented movement is and what it actually represents. The core conviction of our movement is that we are a nation that will put its own citizens first.”

Democratic Groups Do Their Own Autopsy

February 25, 2017 at 1:05 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Unable to get closure on the party’s stunning losses in November, nearly 20 Democratic interest groups, operatives, and state committees have commissioned their own private 2016 election autopsy reports,” Politico reports.

“The projects, which aim to diagnose the party’s ills and pave a path forward, are designed in part to fill the void left by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, which has yet to offer any formal explanation for its defeat. Instead, leaders of her campaign effort have let the candidate’s complaints to donors about Russia and FBI Director Jim Comey’s intervention stand alone, leaving a public silence about the details of her defeat that has spawned tangible frustration among party operatives.”

Why Demographics Are Not Helping Democrats

February 25, 2017 at 7:52 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This piece is only available to Political Wire members.

A new report from Third Way disputes the notion that Democrats can win elections by relying on a rapidly growing base of young and minority voters.

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.



GOP Senators Seemingly Embrace Russia Probe

February 25, 2017 at 7:30 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A Senate Intelligence Committee investigation of Russia’s effort to influence last year’s U.S. election is shaping up as an unexpectedly bipartisan effort that could take months to complete as it explores the most significant controversy shadowing the new Trump administration,” Bloomberg reports.

“The investigation, which will involve scouring highly classified material, is still in its early stages, but Republicans are so far joining Democrats on the panel in pledging to conduct it in a serious manner.”

Issa Calls for Special Prosecutor on Russia Ties

February 25, 2017 at 7:01 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) called for a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into Trump associates’ contacts with Russia, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

Said Issa: “You cannot have somebody, a friend of mine Jeff Sessions, who was on the campaign and who is an appointee. You’re going to need to use the special prosecutor’s statute and office to take — not just to recuse. You can’t just give it to your deputy. That’s another political appointee.”

Still No New Travel Ban from the White House

February 25, 2017 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Just two weeks ago, President Donald Trump was a man in a hurry — itching to move forward with a revised version of his travel ban executive order because, he said, the security of the nation depended on it. But there’s still no sign of it,” Politico reports.

“Several factors are contributing to the delay, including Trump’s stated desire to ‘tailor’ the new order to withstand inevitable legal challenges and an effort to consult in advance with agencies that will have to implement the new policy once it’s issued.”

Grass Roots Activism Masks Intense Democratic Anxiety

February 25, 2017 at 6:14 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“They’re energized by the marches and excited about the crowds showing up at town halls held by Republican lawmakers. But not far below the surface, Democrats are just as anxious, depressed and strung out as they’ve been since the night Donald Trump won the presidential election,” Politico reports.

“Gathered here for the Democratic National Committee winter meeting at which they’ll elect a new chair and other officers on Saturday, state leaders and top operatives can’t go long in the hallways or at the hotel bar without sighing, grimacing, shaking their heads at how bad the situation still is.”

Muhammad Ali Jr. Detained by Immigration Agents

February 24, 2017 at 10:23 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained for hours by immigration officials at a Florida airport,” a family friend told the Louisville Courier-Journal.

“Officials held and questioned Ali Jr. for nearly two hours, repeatedly asking him, ‘Where did you get your name from?’ and ‘Are you Muslim?’ When Ali Jr. responded that yes, he is a Muslim, the officers kept questioning him about his religion and where he was born. Ali Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1972 and holds a U.S. passport.”

Blistering Trump Speech Follows Bannon Blueprint

February 24, 2017 at 10:21 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Stephen Bannon brought the battle plan. President Trump brought the fight,” the New York Times reports.

“A day after his secretive chief strategist laid out a hard-edged new definition of conservatism animated by attacks on ‘the administrative state,’ globalism and the ‘corporatist media,’ Mr. Trump delivered a visceral gut punch of a speech that executed almost all of the tactics that define the forever-war philosophy of the Trump-Bannon West Wing.”

Bannon “has a hand in nearly every scripted public Trump utterance.”

For members: A Few Thoughts on Stephen Bannon

Top Trump Donors Are Part Owners of Breitbart

February 24, 2017 at 8:02 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Breitbart News CEO Larry Solov acknowledged “that the Mercer family — top Republican donors and key backers of President Trump’s campaign — are part owners of the controversial news site,” USA Today reports.

“The ownership of Breitbart has been a closely guarded secret, and Solov said he was reluctant to disclose it publicly. Breitbart is applying for press credentials through the Senate Daily Press Gallery, and the Standing Committee of Correspondents that serve as the gallery leadership had requested information about the site’s ownership to ensure Breitbart meets the gallery’s requirements for editorial independence.”

GOP Lawmakers Push Bills to Limit Protesting in 18 States

February 24, 2017 at 7:53 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Since the election of President Trump, Republican lawmakers in at least 18 states have introduced or voted on legislation to curb mass protests in what civil liberties experts are calling ‘an attack on protest rights throughout the states,'” the Washington Post reports.

“Some are introducing bills because they say they’re necessary to counter the actions of ‘paid’ or ‘professional’ protesters who set out to intimidate or disrupt, a common accusation that experts agree is largely overstated... Others, like the sponsors of a bill in Minnesota, say the measures are necessary to protect public safety on highways. Still other bills, in states like Oklahoma and South Dakota, are intended to discourage protesting related to oil pipelines.”

White House Sought Help to Counter Russia Stories

February 24, 2017 at 7:45 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The Trump administration has enlisted senior members of the intelligence community and Congress in efforts to counter news stories about Trump associates’ ties to Russia, a politically charged issue that has been under investigation by the FBI as well as lawmakers now defending the White House,” the Washington Post reports.

“Acting at the behest of the White House, the officials made calls to news organizations last week in attempts to challenge stories about alleged contacts between members of President Trump’s campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives… The White House insisted the officials speak on the condition of anonymity — a practice President Trump has condemned.”

Most Want Investigation Into Trump’s Russia Ties

February 24, 2017 at 5:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that 53% of Americans believe that Congress should investigate whether Donald Trump’s presidential campaign had contact with the Russian government in 2016, while only 25% say that lawmakers should not probe the issue.

A similar share — 54% — believe that Congress should look into Russian interference in the election generally, while 29% disagree.

Report Disputes Threat Posed by Travel Ban Countries

February 24, 2017 at 5:07 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Analysts at the Homeland Security Department’s intelligence arm found insufficient evidence that citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries included in President Trump’s travel ban pose a terror threat to the United States,” the AP reports.

“A draft document … concludes that citizenship is an ‘unlikely indicator’ of terrorism threats to the United States and that few people from the countries Trump listed in his travel ban have carried out attacks or been involved in terrorism-related activities in the U.S. since Syria’s civil war started in 2011.”

“Only two of the seven countries targeted by Mr. Trump—Iraq and Somalia—are among the top origins countries for foreign-born individuals who engaged in terrorism in the United States, the report found. Those countries, in order, are Pakistan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iraq and Uzbekistan.”

Flashback Quote of the Day

February 24, 2017 at 5:04 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“I think we have a respect for the press when it comes to the government. That is something you can’t ban an entity from. Conservative, liberal or otherwise, that’s what makes a democracy a democracy versus a dictatorship.”

— White House press secretary Sean Spicer, quoted by the Washington Post, on December 16, 2016.

Spicer blocked several media outlets from a White House briefing today.

GOP Lawmaker Says Protests May Stop Obamacare Repeal

February 24, 2017 at 2:37 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) said that protests at town halls around the country might prevent Republican lawmakers from repealing the Affordable Care Act, CNN reports.

Said Brooks: “I’ll tell you, there are a significant number of congressmen who are being impacted by these kinds of protests and their spine is a little bit weak. And I don’t know if we’re going to be able to repeal Obamacare now because these folks who support Obamacare are very active, they’re putting pressure on congressman and there’s not a counter-effort to steel the spine of some of these congressmen in tossup districts around the country.”

White House Blocked Some Media Outlets from Briefing

February 24, 2017 at 2:18 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The White House blocked a number of news outlets from covering spokesman Sean Spicer’s question-and-answer session on Friday afternoon, The Hill reports.

“Among the outlets not permitted to cover the gaggle were news organizations that President Trump has singled out for criticism, including CNN. The New York Times, The Hill, Politico, BuzzFeed, the Daily Mail, BBC, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News were among the other news organizations not permitted to attend.”

“Several right-leaning outlets were allowed into Spicer’s office, including Breitbart, the Washington Times and One America News Network.”

New York Times: “Reporters from Time magazine and The Associated Press, who were set to be allowed in to the briefing, chose not to attend as a form of protest of the White House’s actions.”

Giffords Tells GOP Lawmakers to ‘Have Some Courage’

February 24, 2017 at 12:56 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) blamed his decision not to hold town hall events on “the threat of violence at town hall meetings.”

He also pointed to a specific violent event to bolster his case, invoking the 2011 shooting that severely injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and killed six others, the Washington Post reports.

Giffords responded: “To the politicians who have abandoned their civic obligations, I say this: Have some courage. Face your constituents. Hold town halls.”

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 6307
  • 6308
  • 6309
  • 6310
  • 6311
  • …
  • 8123
  • 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 Moves to Nationalize the Midterm Elections
  • Democrats Weigh Risky ‘Mini-Convention’
  • It’s Pretty Simple, Stupid
  • Weekly News Quiz
  • Disrupting Politics

Word of the Day

Blue Dog Democrats: The Blue Dog Democrats are a coalition of moderate House Democrats.

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