“Democrat Brian Poindexter’s first general-election ad in his campaign to unseat Rep. Max Miller doesn’t directly mention the Republican’s well-publicized family drama — but it makes the subtext impossible to ignore,” Politico reports.
“The minute-long ad titled ‘Daughters’ features Poindexter’s three children — Ashley, Makayla and Taylor — telling stories about their dad as they sit in front of family photos.”
“The U.S. House on Tuesday is expected to vote on a stopgap spending measure that would avert a government shutdown this fall ahead of the 2026 midterm election, though GOP hardliners are vowing to complicate things,” CNBC reports.
Politico: “How much trouble is the GOP leadership floor plan in? Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, a former Rules Committee chair who is not in the habit of defying party leaders, said he plans to vote against the procedural measure advanced by the panel last night.”
“House Democrats are grumbling that Republicans are setting one last political trap for them before November by attaching language touting their marquee voter ID legislation to a resolution denouncing socialism,” Axios reports.
“This is a classic election-year tactic by the majority party in Congress, but centrist Democrats say it is also a missed opportunity for a genuinely bipartisan vote to denounce socialism.”
“Less than a month ago, a huge bipartisan Senate majority voted to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and pass legislation he pushed aimed at sanctioning Russia’s trading partners,” Politico reports.
“Now the bill is at serious risk of languishing in the House, where it is suffering from significant Democratic opposition, lack of Republican enthusiasm and fading impetus to honor the late South Carolina senator.”
Punchbowl News: “House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-MD) told us today he’d vote against a key procedural motion on the floor this week over a provision in the funding bill to delay a ban on hemp products by a month.”
“Harris has been public about his opposition to delaying the ban, which is part of the CR.”
“The CR isn’t coming to the floor under the rule, and the Dec. 11 funding bill is expected to pass by a big margin. But Harris and the HFC could torch the GOP leadership’s agenda for the rest of the week if they defeat the rule.”
“Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Monday called Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) a ‘great member of Congress’ and endorsed Miller’s bid for a third term, despite allegations of domestic violence by his ex-wife,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Johnson: “Yes. He has been a great member of Congress. He has some issues in his personal life he’s working through. The House Ethics Committee is looking into that and any applications it may have.”
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted Republicans Monday for being ‘pro-data center without any restraints,’ making his strongest rebuke yet of the tech industry’s massive infrastructure buildout as it becomes a key issue in midterm campaigns,” Politico reports.
Said Jeffries: “Donald Trump and Republicans are divorced from reality. They think that the affordability crisis is a hoax. Donald Trump and Republicans have made clear they love inflation. Donald Trump and Republicans have told the American people directly, ‘We don’t think about your personal financial situation.'”
CNN: I feel your pain vs. “let data reign.”
“Online prediction market Kalshi suspended a Republican House candidate Monday after it found that she was wagering on her own race,” the Washington Post reports.
“The candidate, Laurie Buckhout, is running in a district in northeastern North Carolina, a swing district that Republicans see as a pick-up opportunity.”
“Kalshi said on Monday that it would ban former Republican Rep. George Santos from using its platform for life after a federal regulator alleged that the ex-congressman made more than $17,000 by placing bets on his attendance at President Trump’s State of the Union address,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“In addition to the ban, Kalshi said its compliance department had imposed a penalty of $71,356, according to a filing on its website. It marks the first time the company has issued a lifetime ban.”
“The House is scheduled to return Monday from a five-week summer recess with a top priority of avoiding a government shutdown before the midterm elections,” NBC News reports.
“The House will only be in session for four days this week and will return again on Sept. 14, after Labor Day, when the Senate will also come back from its lengthy break. From there, the House has just three weeks left in session before Election Day on Nov. 3.”
“Democrats are seen as the overwhelming favorite to win back the House in just over two months. They aren’t looking to leave anything to chance,” Bloomberg reports.
“At least a couple dozen House Democrats are defending purplish districts this fall, and even more blue candidates are vying to flip Republican-held seats.”
“Democratic groups’ ad spending is ramping up in districts everywhere from Florida to Arizona to Washington state, with messages laser-focused on the cost of living — particularly healthcare.”
“The House is back in session, but it might be a short one,” Politico reports.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is looking to tick off the lone essential item on the chamber’s to-do list in lawmakers’ first days back: a Senate-passed, shutdown-averting spending bill.”
“A handful of other priorities are caught up in partisan battles and Senate limbo. Rebel factions in a thin House GOP majority continue to threaten Republicans’ plans of opening the floor for debate. And many Republicans are simply eager to get back home to campaign ahead of the November midterms rather than endure more headaches in Washington.”
“Together, those dynamics have fueled open speculation among members and aides that House leaders will call it quits until mid-November much sooner than the currently scheduled Oct. 1 exit date.”
“Lawmakers can spend years trying to land seats on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. Several could finally get their chance in the next Congress,” Politico reports.
”The panel with vast jurisdiction over health care, artificial intelligence, energy and telecommunications will have at least eight empty slots in the next Congress — four on each side of the aisle — thanks to a combination of planned retirements, attempts to climb to higher office and primary election defeats.”
“Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) on Sunday said that Democrats should not prioritize impeaching President Donald Trump if they win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, but instead should focus on making life more affordable for Americans,” NBC News reports.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is planning to meet with GOP megadonor Elon Musk in Texas,” Politico reports.
”The effort comes as Johnson stumps for Republican candidates across the Lone Star State ahead of the midterms. It’s the latest sign that GOP leaders hope Musk will spend heavily to help the party keep control of Congress.”
“As primaries wrap up, most Democratic candidates who battled it out in intense nominating contests have come out in full force to support their party’s nominees as they try to regain control of the Senate,” the Washington Post reports.
“But there’s one notable exception: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D).”
“Crockett, who has repeatedly declined to endorse state Rep. James Talarico, doubled down Thursday night. Asked in an interview with CNN’s Laura Coates if she would campaign with Talarico, Crockett said: ‘I will be campaigning downballot.'”
“The Republican congressman Ryan Mackenzie has been accused of embellishing his résumé with private sector experience in real estate sales amid an acrimonious showdown over his Pennsylvania seat,” The Guardian reports.
“Mackenzie, who has previously been accused of lying about his age on Tinder, ‘was a real estate salesperson licensed in PA,’ according to his LinkedIn profile, and biographies have consistently listed it has his former profession.”
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.
“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.