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Texas high court rejects removal of Democratic lawmakers who led quorum break
The all-Republican court dealt a blow to Gov. Greg Abbott and state Republicans in their efforts to severely punish the more than 50 Democrats.
Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen drops reelection bid after redistricting in Tennessee
Texas high court rejects removal of Democratic lawmakers who led quorum break over redistricting
The Texas Supreme Court has refused to declare that Democratic state lawmakers who briefly left the state last year in a quorum break to stop a vote on new congressional voting maps pushed by President Donald Trump vacated their offices.
Proposed VHC Health facility needs more public input, County Board candidates say
The three Democratic candidates for County Board are all in favor of extensive community input on a proposal for a new behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn. "You need to listen -- it needs to be community-first," challenger Julie Farnam said at a debate hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation on Tuesday. Farnam and James DeVita
Wahls, Turek spar on reproductive healthcare records at Senate primary debate
Candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls sparred Thursday during the second U.S. Senate Democratic primary debate on issues like reproductive healthcare and how to best achieve their policy goals if elected.
Free primary care for all: Democratic think tank pushes the party on new health policy
The Searchlight Institute wants Democrats to shake up their approach to healthcare and offer a fresh vision for the future.
Florida Chamber poll: Florida’s Republican tilt holds steady
Ashley Moody and Byron Donalds both hold 8-point leads against their likely Democratic rivals.
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
California governor debate: Rivals gang up on Democratic frontrunner Becerra
Xavier Becerra was attacked from all sides in California's final governor debate. His response? 'This is what happens when you take the lead.'
Winners and losers of the CBS California gubernatorial debate
Candidates pile on the Democratic front-runner, Xavier Becerra, including a white-paper wielding Katie Porter. But nothing happened that's likely to shake up the race as it careens toward the finish. Some inspiration would help.
New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling
Hawaii’s Democratic governor has signed a bill to curb corporate and “dark money” influence in politics
New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's Democratic governor on Thursday signed into law a bill that uses a novel approach to reduce the influence of corporations and hard-to-track “dark money” groups that have been able to spend unlimited amounts on politics since a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling
Hawaii's Democratic governor has signed a bill to curb corporate and "dark money" influence in politics
New Hawaii law targets corporate influence in politics after Citizens United ruling
Hawaii's Democratic governor has signed a bill to curb corporate and "dark money" influence in politics. This move comes after the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election...
Why Wisconsin lawmakers blew up a state budget surplus deal
Democratic and Republican legislators reject a deal to cut taxes and boost school funding.
Vice President Vance slams MaineCare program
Gov. Janet Mills has previously characterized the Trump administration’s allegations of fraud as targeting Democratic states and as an attempt to “distract from his failing agenda.”
US southern states rush to redraw electoral maps to dilute Black voting power
Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and more are pushing to eliminate Democratic districts after supreme court ruling
California governor frontrunner Xavier Becerra's playbook: Never say you're sorry
While other California governor candidates apologize for past mistakes, Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra has a different strategy: dodge and dismiss.
Jeffries' job grows more difficult in race for House and speaker's gavel
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had warned Republicans they would come to regret the congressional redistricting fight.
Seven years after Biden predicted a GOP ‘epiphany’ over Trump, Democrats are moving on
After they bought into a prophecy that failed to materialize, Democratic voters are now demanding less compromise and more combat against the GOP as they lose hope for a gentler politics.
New Mexico politicians grapple with oil windfall from Iran war that's both 'awesome' and awkward
A global oil bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz has created a financial windfall on the other side of the world in New Mexico that is both enviable and politically sensitive in a Democratic-dominated state.
Denise Powell wins Democratic primary for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district
Political organizer Denise Powell has defeated State Sen. John Cavanaugh to win the Democratic primary in the closely watched race for Nebraska's second congressional district.
Denise Powell wins Democratic primary in Nebraska’s ‘blue dot’ 2nd District
Denise Powell has won the Democratic primary in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in a contest focused on the state’s “blue dot” status in presidential elections
Denise Powell Wins Democratic Primary in Key Nebraska House Race
Denise Powell prevailed in a close primary race for an Omaha-based seat, currently held by a retiring Republican, that could help determine control of the House.
Inside the furor plaguing Democratic National Committee leader Ken Martin
Democrats keep winning at the ballot box. And yet Ken Martin, the man leading the Democratic National Committee, is facing a crisis of confidence among party officials who are increasingly concerned about the health of their political machine barely a year into his term.
Louisiana lawmakers advance new 5-1 congressional map that favors Republicans
The new map will eliminate one of the state's majority Black, Democratic-leaning districts while keeping one Democratic-leaning district.
Iowa politics: KCCI's full interview with Josh Turek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate
KCCI sat down with Josh Turek to discuss affordability, health care, immigration, agriculture, party leadership and electability. Turek and Zach Wahls are competing for the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s open U.S. Senate race.
New poll shows major shift in California governor’s race
(Inside California Politics) — New polling shows yet another new frontrunner in the tumultuous California governor’s race. The contest to succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was thr…
Louisiana GOP lawmakers advance map eliminating one Democratic House district
Republicans currently have a 4-2 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. The map would push that edge to 5-1, dropping one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black districts.
Abdul El-Sayed’s historic Senate run builds on Palestine’s rich legacy in Michigan politics
Abdul El-Sayed is a frontrunner in Michigan’s Senate primary and part of the pro-Palestine wave reshaping Democratic Party politics. But the success of his campaign is rooted in the long history of Palestinian solidarity in Detroit politics.
Inside the furor plaguing Democratic National Committee leader Ken Martin
Democratic operatives have begun informal discussions about recruiting a new chair, even as most believe Martin’s job isn’t in serious jeopardy before the midterm elections.
Angry crowd demands County Council president's resignation
A week before facing voters in a contested Democratic primary for a state House seat, Allegheny County Council President Patrick Catena is confronting...
South Carolina state Senate rejects effort to tackle redistricting despite pressure from Trump
Five Republican lawmakers defected and voted against a plan to extend their legislative session in order to carve up the state’s lone Democratic U.S. House district.
South Carolina Republicans block plan to eliminate Clyburn’s House seat
Rep. James E. Clyburn has long been a power broker in the Democratic Party. A state Senate leader had warned that a new map could backfire for the GOP.
Colorado Politics’ 8th CD primary debate canceled after Democrat Shannon Bird withdraws
Organizers on Tuesday canceled next week’s Democratic primary debate in Colorado’s toss-up 8th Congressional District after former state Rep. Shannon Bird withdrew, leaving just one candidate planning to take the stage. Three Democrats are seeking the nomination in the state’s June 30 primary for the chance to face first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in […]
Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints
A new super PAC with ties to Republicans is intervening in Democratic primaries, in one instance helping a sex therapist in Texas accused of antisemitism.
Fetterman weighs in after PA Supreme Court justice apparently splits from Democratic Party over antisemitism
Sen. John Fetterman responds after Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht sounds alarm about antisemitism in the Democratic Party.
Hegseth faces bipartisan grilling about weapons drawdown during the Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing tough questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s end game for the Iran war, the cost of the conflict and its
Live Results: Nebraska midterm state and congressional primaries
One of the more notable matchups in Nebraska’s state primary on Tuesday features two Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate who accuse each other of being “fake” candidates with no intention of competing to win the general election.
Jen Kiggans, Virginia Republican, Faces Uproar Over Radio Host’s Racist Remark About Jeffries
Representative Jen Kiggans, a Republican in a tough re-election fight, faced criticism after she agreed with comments by a local radio host that included a racist line about Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader.
Virginia representative distances herself after agreeing with radio show host’s offensive comment about Jeffries
A Republican congresswoman from Virginia is defending herself amid calls for her to resign after she agreed with a radio host’s remark referring to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ “cotton-picking hands.”
Here are primary runoffs to watch as Texas voters pick congressional nominees for November
Since many of the state’s congressional districts are drawn to favor one political party, Democratic and Republican voters this month can go a long way toward picking their next representatives in the U.S. House.
California's Democratic incumbents face primary challenges from political newcomers
The challenges are part of a national wave reshaping the debate over generational power and the direction of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.
How the Working Families Party Can Promote Black Political Independence
In many state and local races, the WFP ballot line has helped Black candidates win office without falling in line with the Democratic political establishment.
Tuesday’s primaries will set up midterm matchups for Nebraska, West Virginia
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s 2nd District is a top target for Democrats, while Democratic drama in the Senate primary could shake up GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts’ re-election race.
Laws on veterans, 9/11 families and election certification face threat in proxy voting case
Several veterans’ benefits programs, payments for 9/11 families, a ban on TikTok on government devices, and changes Congress made to how presidential elections are certified in light of the January 6 Capitol attack are all in jeopardy with a case challenging how the Democratic-led US House relied on proxy votes to pass a massive, Covid-era funding bill.
Nebraska Senate race hinges on accusations of trying to 'trick' voters
The Democratic primary is an unusual proxy battle due to the general election between GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts and independent populist Dan Osborn.
Nebraska Democrats clash in US House primary for the state's 'blue dot' district
The fate of Nebraska’s “blue dot” will play prominently as Democratic voters select a congressional nominee in the state’s 2nd District.
Nebraska Democrats clash in US House primary for the state's 'blue dot' district
The fate of Nebraska’s “blue dot” will play prominently as Democratic voters select a congressional nominee in the state’s 2nd District.
Nebraska Democrats clash in US House primary for the state's 'blue dot' district
The fate of Nebraska’s “blue dot” will play prominently as Democratic voters select a congressional nominee in the state’s 2nd District.
Senate Republicans weigh whether to swallow Trump’s $1B push for ballroom security
Key Senate Republicans are signaling a willingness to support up to $1 billion in security upgrades for President Donald Trump’s ballroom renovation project, despite Democratic attacks, as the White House ramps up its lobbying push.
Bill would put executives on the hook for 'knowingly' causing a catastrophe
Democratic state Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and Democratic state Sen. Michelle Hinchey are sponsoring this legislation in their chambers.
How Democratic Divisions Are Playing Out in NYC’s Primary Races
Establishment and left-wing leaders are clashing over House seats scattered across the city.
Democratic strategist launches effort to repeal California’s two-top primary
Steven Maviglio submitted his “Undo the Top Two” proposal on Friday to state officials.
Virginia Democrats ask US Supreme Court to let them use new congressional map
Democratic officials in Virginia asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to reinstate a congressional map that would benefit their party ahead of this year’s midterm elections, the latest map drawing appeal to reach the high court amid a flurry of mid-decade redistricting.
KCCI hosts US Senate Democratic debate Thursday, May 14
KCCI will host a U.S. Senate primary debate on May 14 featuring two Democrats — state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs and state Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville
Evers, GOP leaders reach $1.8B deal to lower taxes, boost school funds
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders have struck a nearly $2 billion deal to deliver new funding to schools and provide tax relief.
Democrats’ internal fights sway the race to succeed Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco
With just weeks to go in the first round of the race to replace Nancy Pelosi in her San Francisco-based district, an iconic center of liberalism is trying to figure out what comes next. As the Democratic Party churns over what makes a progressive and what kind of fighters its base wants, how to tackle affordability, or even whether to use the word “genocide” about Gaza, those fights are coming to a head on in the streets of the city Pelosi has represented since 1987.
Meet 'Working-Class Mainer' Graham Platner's Oyster Farming Business Partner, an Elite Boarding School Graduate Who Drinks 'Foraged Spring Water' and Owns the Island Where the Farm Is Based
Maine's far-left Democratic Senate nominee, Graham Platner, has leaned on his career as a "working-class" oyster farmer to cast himself as a blue-collar everyman. His Ivy League business partner—who owns the secluded island where the farm is based—is, well, anything but.
Politics for the Many: Democracy and Participation in the United States and Germany - Atlantik-Brücke e.V.
03.06., 18:30 - 21:00 - Berlin This evening brings together perspectives from the United States and Germany to explore how democratic representation can be strengthened.
Hegseth calls for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated by Pentagon for second time
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday called for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated over comments he made about US weapon stockpiles, marking the second time the Pentagon chief has opened a review into the Democratic senator.
How Nebraska’s ‘Blue Dot’ Roiled a Democratic House Primary
A speck of blue on an otherwise red area in some presidential elections, the dot is now dividing candidates in a key midterm contest.
Marc Theissen warns Democrats embracing ‘politics of envy’ amid AOC’s criticism of billionaires
The ‘Fox News Sunday’ panel debates Democratic messaging on billionaires and the party’s shift toward socialism.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar
A referendum on Oregon’s primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message central to the party’s midterm election strategy
Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar
A referendum on Oregon's primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message central to the party's midterm election strategy.
Group tied to Democratic leadership in US House is funding attempt to redraw Colorado’s congressional map
Coloradans For a Level Playing Field received $150,000 from a nonprofit tied to a federal super PAC controlled by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Democratic Candidates Scramble in Virginia After Court Tosses Map
A court ruling that struck down an election map swiftly ended some Democratic House candidacies and pushed others into much tougher races.
Sen. John Fetterman — again — says he won’t leave the Democratic Party in late-night interview
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he's a "committed Democrat" during a late-night talk show interview Friday. His comments followed renewed speculation of a party switch.
‘My ambition is to change the country,’ AOC says when asked about seeking higher office in 2028
New York’s Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brushed off question about run for presidency
Nebraska’s ‘blue dot’ becomes the center of a closely watched Democratic primary fight
Omaha may be a blue dot in a sea of Nebraska red, but that point of political pride has sparked a bitter divide among Democrats in one of the nation’s most closely watched congressional races.
Top Maryland Democrat is fighting for his job after resisting redistricting plan
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) faces a tough primary challenge after defying Democratic leaders including Gov. Wes Moore on redistricting.
A state-by-state guide to the redistricting fight
Republicans have opened up an advantage in a national redistricting battle among states after a pair of court rulings that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities and invalidated a key Democratic redistricting effort.
Virginia Supreme Court blocks Democratic-drawn congressional map voters approved in April
The court ruled that Democrats did not follow proper procedure when they put the constitutional amendment on the ballot in an effort to flip four House seats.
‘People are not passive’: Newsom and top California Democrats move behind the scenes in governor’s race
California Democratic leaders have shifted their strategy to prevent their party from being locked out of the governor’s race: Instead of thinking about consolidating the field, they have turned to behind-the-scenes operations and political spending aimed at tamping down Republicans and building up Democratic turnout.
Anger mounts after Tennessee Republicans redraw maps
Legislature has eliminated the state’s one Democratic, Black-majority congressional district
Fetterman Says He Has ‘No Plans’ to Leave the Democratic Party
In an opinion piece in The Washington Post, the Pennsylvania senator wrote that while he was “at odds” with the party’s approach to some issues, his values had not changed.
Tennessee Approves New Map Aimed at Flipping the Last Democratic Seat
After a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans carved up a majority-Black Memphis seat as the national redistricting wars continue.
Tennessee approves House map to eliminate Democratic-held seat
Republicans in the state could hold a 9-0 advantage in the U.S. House with their new map, the first approved since the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Bill Would Stop Sports Blackouts
New legislation led by democratic Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin would stop professional sports leagues from blacking out games for fans and end the complicated, costly web of streaming services. The […]
Appeals court appears poised to reject Hegseth’s bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video
A federal appeals court appeared ready Thursday to reject Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to punish Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his call to US service members to refuse illegal orders.
Republicans poised to vote on new House map that would erase Democratic seat in Tennessee
Such a move could reshape the electoral map ahead of the midterms by carving up a majority-Black congressional district
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
How Nueces County went from blue to red; leaders talk shift
From Latino voters to the economy, several factors led to Nueces County's shift from Democratic to Republican. But will the county turn blue again?
Endorsement snubs, rethinking redistricting, public campaign fund feuds, in political notes
AFSCME endorsements are missing two big Democratic names, recent events have Senate President Bill Ferguson "evaluating ... where things stand" on redistricting, and money is becoming the issue in the Howard County executive race, in political notes.
House race in west Louisville pits traditional Democrat vs. socialist
Two candidates on the Democratic ticket are vying for Kentucky's House District 43 seat, but their political approaches differ significantly.
Sen. Dave McCormick talks Sen. John Fetterman's political future
A recent report describes a Republican effort to flip Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) from the Democratic party to the GOP.
Michigan’s Combative Democratic Senate Primary Heats Up
Attacks are flying, prominent Democrats are taking sides and the fight is just getting started.
Harvey Shifrin jumps into HD 72 contest, setting up Democratic Primary against Luther Wilkins
The Democratic nominee would challenge either incumbent Lakewood Ranch Republican Rep. Bill Connerly or John Phillips III.
FBI searches business, other locations associated with Democratic Virginia state senator
Lucas, the president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, has recently focused her attention on redrawing the state’s congressional maps
FBI raids Sen. Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office, cannabis business
Federal agents on Wednesday morning raided the Portsmouth office of state Sen. Louise Lucas, one of Virginia’s most powerful Democratic lawmakers, with multiple news outlets reporting an extensive law enforcement operation that included FBI agents, SWAT teams and court-authorized searches tied to several locations across the commonwealth.Fox News, who was first to report the news, said the FBI executed search warrants at several sites, including Lucas’ legislative office in Portsmouth. Staffers inside the building were ordered outside and were not allowed to re-enter as agents searched the premises. Witnesses saw federal agents carrying boxes out of the building.
Office of Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas Raided by F.B.I. Agents
Two people familiar with the case said the search of a Democratic lawmaker’s office was related to a Biden-era investigation of possible corruption and bribery related to marijuana businesses.
FBI raids Spanberger ally office as federal corruption probe targets cannabis business
The FBI raided the office of Virginia Democratic state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a key ally of Gov. Spanberger, in a corruption and marijuana probe.
'My heart is so full.' Meeka Owens wins county commission primary
Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens is the Democratic pick for Hamilton County commissioner.
Ohio Senate race set between Jon Husted, Sherrod Brown after projected primary wins
CBS News projected that former Sen. Sherrod Brown won the Democratic primary, while incumbent Sen. Jon Husted ran unopposed.
Linked to health risks | Democratic lawmakers in Pa. are seeking to regulate kratom
Kratom, a substance advertised as an energy booster, mood lifter, and pain reliever, is skyrocketing in popularity and is easily accessible, including at gas stations.
Justice Department seeks the names of 2020 election workers in Georgia's Fulton County
The Justice Department is seeking the names of every person who worked in the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold Donald Trump has accused of widespread voter fraud he says cost him victory against Joe Biden in the state that year.