Politico

Richard Grenell on cancel culture, ‘normal gays’ and his friend Melania | The Conversation lead image

Within the Trump administration, Richard Grenell is a jack of all trades. When he’s not acting in a diplomatic capacity as special presidential envoy, he’s also running one of Washington’s most esteemed arts institutions, the Kennedy Center. “Everyone should be welcome. No one should be booed. No one … Richard Grenell on Cancel Culture, ‘Normal Gays’ and his friend Melania TrumpRead more

Political leaders from across the spectrum and around the country called for calm after one Minnesota lawmaker was killed and another was seriously injured in apparent politically motivated shootings on Saturday. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state law enforcement officials said Saturday that former state Speaker Melissa Hortman … ‘Take down the temperature’: Democrats and Republicans call for calm after Minnesota shootingsRead more

Before Los Angeles, there was Portland, Oregon. For more than 170 days in 2020, thousands of Portlanders gathered to protest police violence. They lay peacefully in the middle of the city’s most iconic bridge and marched with a local NBA star — but also tore down statues and … ‘I just had flashbacks’: Portland looks to avoid repeat of 2020 protestsRead more

Democrats see turning to a new type of candidate to give them an edge in the 2026 midterms: mothers of young children. JoAnna Mendoza, a single mother of a 9-year-old son, launched a bid to run in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District in February. Christina Hines, a mother of … A new wave of candidates is putting motherhood front and centerRead more

Democrats’ newest approach to win back voters is a fresh embrace of the nation’s oldest symbol. Two days ahead of Flag Day, when President Donald Trump’s military parade will run through the streets of Washington, Democratic Reps. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) fanned out Thursday afternoon … Democrats reclaim the American flagRead more

Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political … The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politicsRead more

David Hogg will not run again for his Democratic National Committee vice chairman position, he announced on Tuesday, amid a firestorm the 25-year-old activist sparked over his pledge to take on “ineffective” Democratic incumbents. DNC members removed Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta through a virtual vote … Hogg declines to run again for DNC vice chair after new election is calledRead more

A survey of likely voters seeks to offer Democrats a blueprint for how to punch back on an issue that’s vexed them in recent elections: immigration. The poll, conducted in key 2026 battleground districts by Democratic-leaning groups Way to Win and Impact Research and shared first with POLITICO, … Democrats tested immigration messaging in battleground districts. Here’s what they found.Read more

When Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the New Jersey gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, the “Hellcats” group chat of aspiring female congresswomen lit up in celebration. All four women in the “Hellcats” chat — named after the first female Marines who served in World War I — have military experience … Why ‘Hellcats’ could be the answer to Democrats troublesRead more

Joe Walsh, the former Tea Party congressman, right-wing radio host and current Never Trumper, is eyeing a possible move to South Carolina. He says he’s considering a run as a Democratic Senate candidate against Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Walsh, who became a registered Democrat last week, told POLITICO … Former Rep. Joe Walsh is considering a bid against GOP Sen. Lindsey GrahamRead more

Democratic governors facing potential big budget problems exacerbated by the GOP megabill being fast-tracked in Washington are considering emergency measures to try to soften the blow. Blue state policymakers from Connecticut to California to New York are raising the specter that they will call lawmakers back for special … ‘Big, beautiful bill’ spurs Democratic plans for emergency actions to counter cutsRead more

ActBlue is fighting back against a House Republican investigation into its workings, saying the probe appears to have become an unconstitutional abuse of power to help the White House. The Democratic online fundraising platform said Monday in a letter obtained by POLITICO that it was reevaluating whether to … ActBlue fires back at GOP investigation, saying it appears unconstitutional and partisanRead more

Rahm Emanuel wants to save the ‘weak’ and ‘woke’ Democratic Party brand | The Conversation lead image

Rahm Emanuel has had just about every job in politics under the sun: congressman, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador, Chicago mayor, and more. “I’m pretty pragmatic about politics and almost cold to a point in my analysis,” he tells White House bureau chief Dasha Burns. Emanuel, … Rahm Emanuel wants to save the ‘weak’ and ‘woke’ Democratic Party brandRead more

Ambitious Democrats with an eye on a presidential run are in the middle of a slow-motion Sister Souljah moment. Searching for a path out of the political wilderness, potential 2028 candidates, especially those hailing from blue states, are attempting to ratchet back a leftward lurch on social issues … Democrats eyeing a presidential bid scramble to un-woke themselvesRead more

Elon Musk just launched a war against the GOP. Now the party’s hopes of holding onto power are at stake. Musk has gone from helping Republicans take total control of Washington — spending nearly $300 million to become the single biggest known donor last year — to attacking … ‘Massive crack in the MAGA coalition’: The Trump-Musk feud threatens the GOP’s futureRead more

Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political … The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politicsRead more

The tension between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk finally burst into the open Thursday, likely closing the chapter on one of the most significant alliances in recent political history. In the wake of the schism, some Republicans are stuck in the middle debating their next moves. Do … 7 Republicans stuck in the middle of the Trump-Musk divorceRead more

A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders. At a meeting in Little Rock, … State Democrats set up digital ad business with an influential private company. Now a key Dem official is becoming its CEO.Read more

President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Elon Musk’s federal contracts, a remarkable escalation in a public feud between the president and the world’s richest man, his former ally. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies … Trump floats revoking Musk’s federal contractsRead more

Elon Musk has been the Democratic Party’s boogeyman since shortly after President Donald Trump deputized him as a top adviser. The billionaire and Trump had a very public breakup this week. After Musk called the GOP’s “big beautiful bill” a “disgusting abomination” and threatened to “fire all politicians” … Democrats eye a villain-to-ally arc for Elon MuskRead more

An unsteady truce between Nashville’s Democratic mayor and Tennessee’s Republican leaders just collapsed after an ICE dragnet in the city. Tension began to build in early May, when ICE started making traffic stops in partnership with the state highway patrol in the immigrant-heavy neighborhood of South Nashville, leading … Nashville ICE raid reignites city’s turmoil with GOP leadersRead more

It turns out, Democrats aren’t online enough. Conservative organizations spend more than left-leaning ones on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram in non-election years, capturing a large audience while those Democratic-aligned groups go more dormant in the digital space. And it’s making Democrats’ election-year persuasion game that much … Democrats’ online problem: They’re not doing enough year-roundRead more

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s chief of staff is leaving her post, two people familiar with the matter confirmed to POLITICO on Tuesday. The move is yet another key departure for a congressional office that’s been marked by turnover amid mounting questions about the Democrat’s health and shifting political … Fetterman’s chief of staff leaves amid string of departuresRead more

Elon Musk came out swinging against President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on Tuesday, slamming the reconciliation package as a “disgusting abomination” in a massive break from the president just days after stepping away from his role in the administration. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it … ‘Disgusting abomination’: Musk goes nuclear on Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’Read more

Political cartoons from the desk of Matt Wuerker

After Latino voters moved toward President Donald Trump in November, a new in-depth survey of this demographic shows their support for him could be breaking, according to polling shared first with POLITICO. Throughout the president’s first few months in office, his favorability among Latinos is crashing, especially among … Trump’s approval among Latino voters is crashing, new poll showsRead more

Sen. John Fetterman is pushing back on reports that he no longer wants to serve in Congress. At a debate with Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) Monday morning, Fetterman claimed that the media is trying to “smear” him over his lack of public appearances, including for congressional votes. “I’m … Fetterman defends mental health, desire to stay CongressRead more

Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV host and Pennsylvania Senate candidate, is one of America’s most famous physicians. Now he’s running the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which means he’s in charge of programs that provide health care for about half of all Americans. He sits down with … Dr. Oz on the future of Medicaid, Trump’s Megabill and AI-avatar health careRead more