“The White House misrepresented and exaggerated a recent crime report to overstate the impact of last summer’s federal intervention in four cities,” NOTUS reports.

Primary elections in six states today will offer fresh clues about President Trump’s grip on the Republican Party — and Democratic voters’ appetite for progressive candidates.

Among the marquee races are Democratic primaries for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota, along with a crowded Republican contest in South Carolina to succeed Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Poll closing times and results:

• South Carolina: 7 p.m ET
• Vermont: 7 p.m. ET
• Alabama: 8 p.m. ET
• Connecticut: 8 p.m ET
• Minnesota: 9 p.m. ET
• Wisconsin: 9 p.m. ET

Leave your reactions in the comments as the results come in.

Only 16% of Political Wire members earned a perfect score on this week’s quiz.

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Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) threatened Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) — his former father-in-law — with “exposing a deeply and personal embarrassing matter” in a CNN interview.

He appears to be alluding to unverified whispers that Moreno is gay.

The entire interview was a train wreck — but worth watching in full.

The Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) over allegations of illegal drug use and domestic abuse.

“This is truly the 7th level of Hell.”

— Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), talking to reporters about his family’s problems with Rep. Max Miller (R-OH).

Former Clinton strategist Doug Sosnik predicts a blue-wave election for Democrats in a new memo, pointing to the party’s consistent overperformance in special elections, President Trump’s record-low approval ratings, growing economic frustration and a Republican Party that appears vulnerable when Trump himself is not on the ballot.

“President Trump has said he has not decided whether he will allow Ukraine to produce Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles, casting doubt on whether Washington will agree to one of Kyiv’s top priorities,” the Financial Times reports.

Said Trump: “It’s a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to. We don’t really license equipment.”

Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball moves Georgia’s U.S. Senate race from Leans Democratic to Likely Democratic.

A new Texas Public Opinion Research poll finds James Talarico (D) leading Ken Paxton (R%) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 40%, a two point increase from the post-runoff poll in May. 

Political Wire members can test their political knowledge with the Weekly News Quiz or see if they can put major historical political events in the right order with Hindsight.

They’re a fun way to challenge yourself — and maybe learn something new along the way!

“I was just gifted a book that I’m about to crack open called Boss Lincoln. It’s about the lost years when Lincoln was building a political machine before he ran for the presidency.”

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), when asked by a reporter if she has any book recommendations.

Boss Lincoln

The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln

by Matthew Pinsker · W. W. Norton & Company · 2026

Buy on AmazonSave to reading list

Hardcover·Kindle

More on this book from Political Wire →

“Privately, most elected Republicans in this building think the president has lost it and is dooming them to dismal losses this fall.”

— Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), speaking to reporters.

President Trump reversed himself on charging a 20% toll for transiting cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, the AP reports.

He now says on social media that his reversal was “based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership” and the Gulf states will make “Trade and Investment Deals” into the U.S. and investments “will be MASSIVE,” though it’s unclear if these would be new commitments relative to what he announced after a visit last year to the Middle East.

Financial Times: Trump says U.S. to abandon proposed Strait of Hormuz cargo fee.

Chuck Todd: “There are two types of people in politics, there are those who are ideologues, and those that want to be in the middle of everything. Certainly may have their own leanings, they may lean left or right, but ultimately they want to be in the middle of every debate. That is probably the greatest lesson that Lindsay Graham took away from John McCain.”

“I think if you understand Lindsay Graham through that prism, that is why he seemed to be involved in every story. It also will explain why he chose to essentially do a 180 on Donald Trump, because ultimately he understood two things: one, the Republican Party was following Donald Trump, and not where his views were, and two, if he wanted to stay relevant and be in the middle of everything, he essentially, like a sailor, had to tack to where the wind was blowing.”

Earlier for members: The Price of Staying Relevant

President Trump’s statement:

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”