Virginians vote on redrawing congressional map to favor Democrats Voters hit the polls Tuesday in Virginia’s redistricting referendum, which could determine control of the House of Representatives amid a national redistricting arms race.

Virginians vote on redrawing congressional map to favor Democrats

Trump's frantic late-night rant claims victory while Iran war falls apart President Donald Trump embarked on a late-night social media rampage on Monday, desperately attempting to convince the American public that he is winning his deeply unpopular war against Iran. The president attacked news organizations for reporting factually on the protracted conflict and bungled peace negotiations, labeling CNN and other media outlets "LOSERS." The tirade centered on Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 22 joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump controversially claimed the operation resulted in a "complete and total obliteration" of Iranian nuclear sites, including the Natanz Nuclear Complex, the Fordow site, the Esfahan Nuclear Complex, and Lavisan 2. However, Trump's characterization directly contradicts independent analysis. The Institute for Science and International Security, a respected nongovernmental organization founded by a nuclear scientist, reported days after the strikes that substantial nuclear material remained at the targeted sites. "There are residuals such as stocks of 60 percent, 20 percent, and 3-5 percent enriched uranium and the centrifuges manufactured but not yet installed at Natanz or Fordow," the organization reported. "These non-destroyed parts pose a threat as they can be used in the future to produce weapon-grade uranium." Enriched uranium continues to remain under the rubble at the Isfahan conversion plant, according to satellite imagery analysis. Trump's claims of victory stand in stark contrast to the reality on the ground. The ceasefire between the United States and Iran expires Wednesday, with peace negotiations stalled. While an Iranian official indicated Tuesday that Tehran was "positively reviewing" participation in a second round of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, no decision has been finalized. The president's insistence that he faces "no pressure whatsoever" to reach a deal contradicts earlier claims that he would end the war within six weeks—a timeline that has long since passed. Trump now contends that what appeared to be a broken promise was actually military success, but that he refuses to be "rushed" into accepting unfavorable terms. The Iran war has become increasingly unpopular with the American public. Recent polling shows that two-thirds of Americans blame Trump directly for skyrocketing gas prices tied to the conflict. Meanwhile, the human cost continues to grow, with six U.S. Army service members having been killed in the ongoing operations. Trump's Monday tirade extended beyond Iran policy, with the president attacking major news organizations for covering the war's stalled progress. "If you read the Fake News, like The Failing New York Times, the absolutely horrendous and disgusting Wall Street Journal, or the now almost defunct, fortunately, Washington Post, you would actually think we are losing the War," Trump posted. He further claimed that "the Anti-America Fake News Media is rooting for Iran to win," accusing journalists of undermining military efforts through factual reporting. Regarding peace negotiations, Trump offered only sweeping rhetoric without substantive details. He promised a nuclear deal "FAR BETTER than the JCPOA," the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated under the Obama-Biden administrations, which he characterized as "one of the Worst Deals ever made." However, as of Tuesday, the status of negotiations remained unclear, with no confirmed timeline for resolution and significant daylight remaining between U.S. and Iranian negotiating positions.

Trump's frantic late-night rant claims victory while Iran war falls apart

Supreme Court Reviews F.C.C.’s Enforcement Power Against Communications Companies AT&T and Verizon were penalized millions of dollars for what the agency said was a failure to protect consumer information. The companies say they were deprived of their right to a jury trial.

Supreme Court Reviews F.C.C.’s Enforcement Power Against Communications Companies

Ex-staffers defend California governor hopeful after viral clips raise conduct questions After Eric Swalwell’s exit, a letter from 30 ex-staffers of former representative Katie Porter seeks to blunt attacks as Democrats fear getting locked out of the race.

Ex-staffers defend California governor hopeful after viral clips raise conduct questions

Democrats expand their fight for the House into redder territory The party is aiming for upsets in districts that the president safely won — including some where the incumbents have been hit by scandals.

Democrats expand their fight for the House into redder territory

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Trump 'lost to China' and weakened US before the world: geopolitical experts President Donald Trump ran in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections on the promise that he would “Make America Great Again” — yet according to one geopolitical analyst, a main beneficiary of Trump’s policies has been America’s rival, China. “I spent the past week in China and was struck by how many people there felt differently about this latest American war in the Middle East compared with the last major one,” The Washington Post’s Fareed Zakaria wrote on Monday. “During the Iraq War, Chinese strategists seemed almost gleeful at the spectacle of the U.S. mired in the desert. This time, officials, think-tank scholars and business leaders were mostly bewildered by America’s chaotic policy, worried about it and deeply uncertain about what President Donald Trump might do next.” Zakaria pointed out that while some of this China needing the same oil and gas which passes through the Strait of Hormuz as the rest of the world, on a deeper level it’s because they realize their stability depends on “open sea lanes, functioning markets and steady rules of the game.” He added, “Chinese officials repeatedly told me — echoing Xi Jinping — that the U.S. was taking the world back to the ‘law of the jungle.’ It’s less a moral critique than a strategic anxiety. In a globalized world, when the reigning hegemon becomes utterly unpredictable, it’s bad for everyone.” Yet in a globalized world in which America no longer can be depended upon, China has abundant opportunities to position itself as a more reliable economic and military partner than the erratic United States. If that happens in the long-term, it will ultimately devastate America’s economy. “All this threatens to end what has been called America’s ‘exorbitant privilege’ of having the world’s reserve currency,” Zakaria explained. “If that erodes, America will get a very painful shock when its government, and its households, can no longer borrow so much so cheaply.” He concluded, “China is using this moment to burnish its reputation but mostly to build its power. If the correlation of forces moves steadily in its favor, if the U.S. continues to squander its global influence, one day Beijing might well decide that, after all, it does want to take on the mantle of the world’s leading power. And at that point, it will be too late for Washington to do anything about it.” Zakaria is not the only foreign policy expert to worry that China is benefiting from America’s war with Iran. Respected security analyst Brandon Weichert, who has authored multiple books on China and Iran, declared Trump’s policy as a failure and that “China is very happy” with how things are playing out in Iran. Arguing the U.S. and China “are working together smartly,” Weichert ended the message by saying that “what's happening, is he lost to China. Just like I warned he would if he did this stupid counter-blockade… Very predictable. People in MAGA don't understand that China has us by the short-hair b/c of trade [and] rare earths.” The Bulwark’s Jonathan V. Last has made a similar point. “When this war ends in ‘two or three weeks’ the Iranian regime will be more securely in power than it was before the war and it will have demonstrated the power of a strategic weapon,” Last said. “America will have lost. Iran will have won. Let’s examine the scope of our defeat and their victory.”

Trump 'lost to China' and weakened US before the world: geopolitical experts

U.S. and Iran Peace Talks Appear on Track to Resume With the two-week cease-fire almost over, Vice President JD Vance was expected to head to Pakistan on Tuesday for the second round of negotiations.

U.S. and Iran Peace Talks Appear on Track to Resume

Trump may stay in power indefinitely through this trick President Donald Trump has frequently discussed seeking a third term, despite the clear Constitutional prohibition on the matter — and yet one conservative commentator observed that Trump may be able to stay in power through a different trick. Simply put, he will have his son Donald Trump Jr. (DJTJ) run for president instead of either Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “DJTJ’s biggest advantage is that if he decides to run, Vance and Rubio will have their knees cut out from under them,” wrote The Bulwark’s Jonathan V. Last. “Neither would be able to oppose him. A DJTJ candidacy would carry the explicit endorsement of Trump the Father, making it impossible for the vice president or secretary of state to contest the race without becoming un-personed. Challenging Don Jr. would turn them into enemies of the people.” Adding that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson could plausibly challenge the president, it is hardly guaranteed he would prevail. Meanwhile DJTJ has a strong financial incentive to run for president. “The Center for American Progress estimates that the Trump family has seen its net worth balloon to $6.3 billion since January 20, 2025,” Last wrote. “That number includes lots of goodies: unrealized profits from the sale of various crypto holdings; the stock value of his media company.” He added, “In just cash and gifts, the Trump family’s total take is already more than $2 billion (and that doesn’t include Jared and Ivanka or Barron Trump). That’s a hard number, not a paper value. If the Trump family no longer occupies the White House and relinquishes its claim on the Republican party—thereby removing the possibility that it could return to the White House—does that money keep flowing based on the business genius of Don, Eric, Barron, and Jared? Probably not.” The younger Trump has himself cast himself as presidential timber, arguing last year “that he’s the rightful heir to MAGA, saying recently of his desire to run: ‘That calling is there. I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it.’” In December he argued about Trump’s Republican movement that “we have to stay involved. We have to stay in the game. Midterms are coming around the corner, and make no mistake, the Democrat Party wants to do whatever they possibly can to shut this movement down." He added, "Not just the Democrats. The RINOs [Republicans in Name Only]. You see the manufactured attacks on [Vice President JD Vance], myself, my father—anyone who understands that this isn’t the Republican Party anymore. It’s the America First Party. It’s the Make America Great Again Party, and we are not going back.” A DJTJ presidency would further entrench the Trump family in power, allowing them to further blur the lines between government policy and their personal political and financial interests. Presidential historian and Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer argued that “I don’t think there’s any line right now between policy decisions and political calculations and the interest of the Trump family.” Trump never put his businesses in a blind trust after being elected, despite promising that he would, and when Trump Jr. was asked about profits from his failed cryptocurrency venture and potential conflicts of interest, he replied "Frankly, it’s gotten old."

Trump may stay in power indefinitely through this trick

U.S. Has Turned Back 27 Ships Since Strait of Hormuz Blockade Started Marines are searching thousands of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized on Sunday.

U.S. Has Turned Back 27 Ships Since Strait of Hormuz Blockade Started

House Ethics Committee seeks information about sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill The rare move comes after recent scandals raised questions from lawmakers and others about how Congress handles investigations involving its members.

House Ethics Committee seeks information about sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill

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Republicans 'panicking' as support plummets in a GOP stronghold While Democrats have made a lot of progress in Arizona, Virginia and Georgia — all of which evolved into swing states after many years of being solidly Republican — Ohio has been a major source of frustration for them. Former President Barack Obama carried Ohio in both 2008 and 2012, but more recently, the Buckeye State has trended Republican. President Donald Trump won Ohio three times in a row, and Democrats suffered a major disappointment when former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was voted out of office in 2024. Brown, however, is running for the Senate again in the 2026 midterms, raising more than $10 million during the year's first quarter. In an article published on April 20, Time's Philip Elliot stresses that Ohio is showing signs of becoming a swing state again. "Need proof the political map is turning against Republicans?" Elliott writes. "Just spy the $79 million that the Senate GOP's super PAC set aside this month for Ohio, a state President Donald Trump carried all three times and where Democrats last won a statewide election in 2018. Or the fact that that eye-popping sum wasn't enough to keep D.C.'s gospel of political handicapping from shifting the race's status from 'lean Republican' to 'toss up.' Or the fact that the Republican incumbent in that seat just keeps giving the digital Democratic trolls fodder to make his campaign more difficult." Elliott notes that "none of this was on the radar when Trump returned to office" on January 20, 2025. "The thinking around Washington was that Jon Husted, who was put in his seat after JD Vance left it to become Trump's right-hand hatchet man, would be a responsible custodian who could coast through this November's special election to finish out the balance of Vance's term," Elliott explains. "After all, Husted had done just about every job in state politics and had been around long enough to get the game. But then, Democrats persuaded Sherrod Brown back onto the field." Republicans, according to Elliott, "are now panicking about Ohio." "The clearest sign came earlier this month when the Senate Leadership Fund, the outside political operation with close ties to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, released its spending plan," Thune observes. "Of a massive $342 million the group plans to spend to keep Thune in that role in 2027, the biggest amount — $79 million —is going to Ohio…. Despite the Brink's truck of cash backed up to the Husted campaign's loading dock, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race away from the 'lean Republican' status and into a true 'toss up' category last week. At the same time, Cook moved North Carolina and Georgia to 'lean Democrat' from 'toss up,' and Nebraska slid from 'solid Republican' to 'likely Republican.' All signal trouble for GOP candidates."

Republicans 'panicking' as support plummets in a GOP stronghold

Trump’s Fed Pick to Defend Central Bank’s Ability to Set Rates Independently Kevin M. Warsh is set to testify at the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday even as a criminal investigation into the central bank risks delaying his ascension to become the next chair.

Trump’s Fed Pick to Defend Central Bank’s Ability to Set Rates Independently

Supreme Court to review Catholic preschools’ bid for LGBTQ exemption The Colorado schools say they’re being excluded from funding because of their denial of enrollment to children of LGBTQ parents, which the state deems discriminatory.

Supreme Court to review Catholic preschools’ bid for LGBTQ exemption

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Flashing warning sign for Trump as voters blame him 'a lot' for soaring gas prices With the 2026 midterms roughly six and one-half months away, many GOP strategists are worried about President Donald Trump's weak approval ratings in countless polls and all the victories Democrats have recently enjoyed in special elections. Republicans entered 2026 feeling nervous the U.S. House of Representatives but confident that they will hold the U.S. in November; now, more GOP insiders fear that the U.S. Senate is in play for Democrats as well. In an article published by the UK-based Independent on April 20, journalist Ariana Baio explains why a recent Quinnipiac poll is especially bad news for Republicans in the midterms. "More than half of registered voters surveyed by Quinnipiac University said they blame President Donald Trump 'a lot' for gas prices rising recently," Baio explains. "In a poll of 1028 registered voters, approximately 51 percent of respondents said the president is mostly to blame, while 14 percent said they blame Trump 'some' for fluctuating gas prices largely been attributed to oil production disruptions from the Iran war. Earlier this month, the national average for a gallon of regular gas exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, according to AAA. While Trump has assured Americans prices will only go up temporarily, Energy Secretary Chris Wright seemed uncertain that prices could fall under $3 anytime soon." Baio notes that in the Quinnipiac poll, Trump gets a lot more blame from Democrats than from Republicans — while most independent voters say they blame Trump "a lot" or "some" for rising gas prices. "Regardless of how voters feel now," Biao observes, "it's clear the cost of gas is a concern at the top of mind for many Americans heading into the 2026 midterm elections. In a March Pew Research Center survey of 3000 adults, 69 percent of respondents said they were 'extremely' or 'very' concerned the Iran war would cause higher oil and gas prices. Should gas prices remain relatively high through the summer and heading into the fall, voters who cast their ballot for Trump in 2024 could abandon the Republican's platform in the midterms."

Flashing warning sign for Trump as voters blame him 'a lot' for soaring gas prices

Trump Administration Takes Steps to Refund $166 Billion in Tariffs The government debuted a system to repay importers two months after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs at the heart of the president’s trade policy.

Trump Administration Takes Steps to Refund $166 Billion in Tariffs

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Revealed: White House’s desperate scramble to get Trump back in Rogan’s good graces In recent months, President Donald Trump has received growing criticism from podcaster Joe Rogan due to a combination of the former's policies and dissatisfaction with the wider MAGA movement. Now, reports Axios, the White House is working “aggressively” to bring Rogan back into Trump’s corner. Rogan’s last-minute endorsement of Trump in the final hours of the 2024 election is often cited as a key factor in determining the outcome, as the host’s podcast is not only the most popular in the world, but has particular sway among young men — a vital bloc in the president’s winning coalition. But in January, Rogan began criticizing Trump for the violent tactics of ICE, questions about the Epstein files, and the decision to launch war against Iran. This came as Rogan was also attacking MAGA in general, saying it is comprised of “weird,” “unintelligent dorks.” None of this bodes well for GOP electoral hopes with the midterms approaching fast. In an attempt to win Rogan back, the White House has not only been maintaining contact behind the scenes, but has begun pushing policies the podcaster is particularly interested in. Efforts to “build bridges” with Rogan have involved repeated visits from top administration officials. Vice President JD Vance met Rogan during an RNC fundraising stop in Austin, while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his advisor Calley Means have appeared on the podcast and maintained contact. Then on Saturday, Rogan joined the president in the Oval Office for the signing of an executive order that will speed the federal review of psychedelic drugs used to treat severe mental illness. Rogan has been a major proponent of psychedelic therapy over the past decade, and while research and legalization efforts have gained traction in recent years, the executive order was a direct attempt by the administration to woo Rogan back to Trump’s favor. In recent months, Trump has fallen out with many of his most high-profile, longest-running backers, such as Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. As MAGA support erodes fast, maintaining Rogan as an ally may prove essential to holding on to the administration’s rapidly dwindling support.

Revealed: White House’s desperate scramble to get Trump back in Rogan’s good graces

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'Storm coming': GOP strategists sound alarm as Democrats gain momentum If Republicans lose the U.S. House of Representatives but hold the U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterms, they will take some consolation when it comes to President Donald Trump's nominees. A Democratic House majority would be a major stumbling block to Trump's legislative agenda, but holding the Senate would still give him an advantage with nominees for his administration, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the federal courts. After the 2018 midterms, in fact, Republicans took comfort in knowing that even though they lost the House in a big way, they were still keeping the Senate. But according to MS NOW's Ebony Davis, some GOP strategists are sounding the alarm about the possibility of their party losing the Senate in November. "For most of the 2026 cycle," Davis reports in an article published on April 20, "Republicans have been all but certain they will hold the Senate after November. The confidence was structural. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber. They have a favorable map: To win 51 seats, Democrats would need to hold all their current seats, flip North Carolina and Maine — and still win another two states that Trump carried by at least 13 points in 2024. The geography was so forbidding to Democrats that analysts with The Cook Political Report, last August, called the party's path to a majority 'herculean.' Now, just over six months out from Election Day, the herculean suddenly seems plausible." One of the Republicans who is openly worried about the 2026 midterms is Matt Rexroad. The GOP consultant told MS NOW, "There's a storm coming. This is the time to hold what you've got, get good candidates and just try to hold on to the seats we have…. There is energy on the ground among the grassroots of Democrats. We've seen it all across the country. Republicans need to find a way to energize their base and make sure they turn out and that they can match the intensity in terms of turnout." Republican strategist Evan Siegfried told MS NOW, "There are warning signs in some races. The concerns right now are if we're seeing an expanded map, that means we're going to need to go and play defense.… in more places…. We have to acknowledge the reality that it is still economically very tough to exist at this point in time in the United States for most Americans." Democratic strategist Mari Manoogian, executive director of the group The Next 50, believes that if the midterms become a referendum on Trump's presidency, it could be bad for Republican candidates. Manoogian told MS NOW, "We're seeing the American people, frankly, sounding the alarm on executive leadership right now. The next time that they have an opportunity to voice their opinion about this is at the ballot box here in November, and they're looking for new leadership in the Senate to be a check on the president." However, Manoogian, cautions fellow Democrats about becoming overconfident and warns that members of her party need a bigger message than "just being anti-Trump." Manoogian told MS NOW, "I would be under no illusions about how the Republicans will raise an enormous sum of money and deploy it strategically across the battlegrounds. You can't take your foot off the gas on any of this."

'Storm coming': GOP strategists sound alarm as Democrats gain momentum

Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million Over Article Claiming Excessive Drinking Mr. Patel sued the publication for defamation, asking for $250 million in damages. A spokeswoman for The Atlantic called the suit “meritless.”

Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million Over Article Claiming Excessive Drinking

'Train wreck': Republicans face a 'never-ending' crisis they 'don’t know how' to solve As the deadline looms for Congress to settle debate over whether and how to extend a controversial surveillance bill, Republicans are admitting that the issue is a “train wreck” they don’t know how to solve. As a result, they not only face what Politico calls a “never-ending” crisis, but risk derailing their agenda in other realms. For months, Congress has been attempting to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which allows the government to monitor the communications of foreign targets without a warrant. As a side effect, however, data can be collected on Americans, providing the government with a backdoor means of surveilling citizens. Those in Congress concerned about privacy — including many Republicans — have been firmly opposed to this, which has resulted in a number of temporary extensions on the bill, but no final passage. Because of this, FISA debates have split the GOP and distracted it from other matters. House Republicans say they’re nearly in agreement as to a multi-year extension, others are not so sure that they’ll make the April 30 deadline. After days and nights of negotiations failed last week, Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) walked off the floor in the pre-dawn hours Friday morning and had a blunt description of the situation, calling it “a train wreck.” So doubtful is the outcome of debate in the House that Senate Republicans are beginning to say they may need to take over. “We’ve just got to have optionality here,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. “I don’t know what the House is going to be able to do, and so we’ll be preparing accordingly.” While some congressional Republicans have suggested that an agreement is near, others have made it clear that they will refuse to support the proposed five-year extension, warrantless surveillance and lack of protection against the implementation of a digital currency — all red-line proposals for ultraconservatives. The ban on a central digital currency in particular has emerged as a sticking point, as it is opposed by both the White House and many Democrats. And as Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) noted, because of the lack of unanimous support among the GOP, the yes votes will have to “make a deal with the Democrats” if they want to move forward. At the same time, the situation is further complicated for the Republicans as President Donald Trump has demanded they pass a reconciliation bill to reopen DHS by June 1. If Congress fails to pass a FISA extension fast enough, the two policy fights could collide and further derail one another. In the meantime, however, debate continues with little sign of resolution. Said one House Republican speaking anonymously, “I don’t know how we solve it.”

'Train wreck': Republicans face a 'never-ending' crisis they 'don’t know how' to solve

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Chaos erupts at Trump's DOJ with no permanent AG in sight During his first presidency, Donald Trump fired a long list of conservative appointees — from former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to ex-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to former National Security Advisor John Bolton to ex-White Chief of Staff John F. Kelly. Trump hasn't fired nearly as many appointees during his second presidency, as many of picks were ultra-MAGA loyalists who were unlikely to question or challenge him. The first Trump Administration had a lot more turnover than the second one. But in 2026, Trump fired two of his most prominent loyalists: first former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then ex-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Since Bondi's departure from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Todd Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general. And it remains to be seen whether Trump's nominee for a permanent AG, if he chooses one, will be Blanche, federal prosecutor and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, Harmeet K. Dhillon (who presently heads the DOJ Civil Rights Division), or someone else. In an article published on April 20, Washington Post reporters Jeremy Roebuck, Perry Stein, Salvador Rizzo and Theodoric Meyer examine the chaos plaguing the post-Bondi DOJ. "Since President Donald Trump tapped Todd Blanche, his former defense attorney, to temporarily lead the Justice Department this month, the message from those familiar with the president's thinking has remained consistent: A permanent shot at the job of attorney general is Blanche's to lose," the Post journalists explain. "But that hasn't stopped a frenzied competition to push other candidates for what has become one of the most important Cabinet-level posts in the president's plans for his second term. And the uncertainty around top leadership roles has prompted concern from some in a department already struggling with claims of politicization and the abandonment of long-held norms over the lengths to which Trump's next pick may go to impress him." Roebuck, Stein, Rizzo and Meyer note that Trump "has given no indication of when, or if, he intends to formally nominate a permanent replacement for Bondi." "Either option carries risks," the journalists report. "Nominating Blanche could result in a fiery confirmation fight, but leaving him as an unconfirmed attorney general gives him less stature and legitimacy…. Trump's decision to fire Bondi followed months of frustration with the limited progress she had made in delivering on one of his chief expectations for the department: his desire to see his political enemies put on trial…. Even without a nomination, Blanche could continue to lead the Justice Department in an acting capacity for months to come."

Chaos erupts at Trump's DOJ with no permanent AG in sight

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What a candidate’s old Facebook posts tell us about this moment for Democrats The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.

What a candidate’s old Facebook posts tell us about this moment for Democrats

Trump just laid bare his contempt for his own voters The New Republic's Greg Sargent started off Monday with his podcast exploring the contempt President Donald Trump has for his own voters. Speaking to colleague Perry Bacon, who has a new piece on the far-right across the world turning on Trump, Sargent describes fears of being "excommunicated" for lacking sufficient devotion, a perfect indication that the movement became a cult. In one of his Sunday TruthSocial rants, Trump claimed, “I have among the best poll numbers I have ever had, and why shouldn’t I? ALL THE COUNTRY DOES IS WIN.” He then pivoted to attack his MAGA critics, “I hear Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens are fading fast. Their numbers are terrible. They were FAKE MAGA, and now they’ve been exposed!” As Sargent explained, the comments perfectly capture Trump's disdain for his own movement. "Perry, we used to joke that MAGA is whatever Trump says it is, but here he’s making that really clear. Anyone who dares to criticize him is fake MAGA," said Sargent. Bacon called it "very explicit." "As you said, we’ve been talking about a movement or whether MAGA is a movement or an ideology or something else, or just Donald Trump. And, you know, I’ve written and used that phrase to mean other things, but like Donald Trump is saying, what I’ve always thought, which is that MAGA is Donald Trump and will be gone the moment he’s off the scene, whenever that is," he said. Trump's poll brag, paired with labeling his supporters "fake MAGA" for buying his empty promises, only amplifies his contempt, the pair agreed. It led Sargent to probe whether MAGA really swallows whatever Trump dishes out. "To be fair to them, they have some evidence of that. Remember, there were polls in 2016 that showed Republicans used to pretty much be opposed to Russia. And then a lot of them started approving of Russia once Trump—they used to say, we don’t want an adulterer as president. And then they changed their mind about that," Bacon explained. "So the idea that the base is Trump supporters and the base believes whatever Trump said that day is pretty much what’s happened the last 10 years." Sargent found it darkly amusing, recalling how Obama critics relentlessly mocked the left as an "Obama cult." "But it’s just sort of weirdly ironic that they lobbed that criticism, and Trump is explicitly saying that I tell my voters what to think—period, end of story," he continued. "He’s invoking the idea that he should be compared to Jesus Christ. This is something I never would have thought Republican voters would have been for before. So yes," Bacon agreed. That is the issue Sargent said he'd like to see polls ask about, to fully understand how far MAGA is willing to compromise on its values to remain in the group. It will also determine whether MAGA can survive without him after his term is up.

Trump just laid bare his contempt for his own voters

John Oliver tears apart Trump's 'epic run of picking losing fights' Late-night host John Oliver delivered a scathing takedown of President Donald Trump's increasingly desperate attempts to win political battles he has no business fighting, highlighting a dramatic shift in the president's once-vaunted political invincibility. In a new episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight, Oliver dissected Trump's recent self-inflicted controversies, from his blasphemous AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ to his increasingly bitter feud with Pope Leo XIV — battles that reveal a president rapidly losing his grip on power. "Whatever air of invincibility he had last year is fading fast," Oliver said, describing Trump's string of recent missteps. Oliver highlighted Trump's absurd Truth Social rant attacking Pope Leo XIV, in which the 79-year-old president claimed the Chicago-born pontiff is "weak on crime" — a criticism so nonsensical it barely qualifies as an insult. "In terms of insults," Oliver said, "Trump's remark just doesn't work." The late-night host drew a comparison to illustrate the point: "It's like saying this possum is weak on Balkan geography. OK, but who gives a s---? It's not a possum's job to correctly place Bosnia and Herzegovina on a map. Her job is to eat garbage, hang upside down, and by this evidence, reproduce prolifically," Oliver said, displaying photographs of a possum surrounded by offspring. Oliver noted that Trump's "battle of words has not gone well for Trump," adding sarcastically: "I don't think they'd see eye to eye on much other than maybe whether it's a good idea to cover your workplace in more gold s---- than seems physically possible." Oliver then turned his attention to Trump's now-infamous AI-generated image of himself surrounded by disciples and holding a celestial orb of light — a deeply blasphemous image that sparked backlash from even Trump's own evangelical base. After deleting the image from Truth Social, Trump offered a laughably weak explanation: that the photograph was meant to depict him as a doctor, not as Jesus Christ. "Oh, that makes sense, a doctor!" Oliver exclaimed mockingly. "You know how when you go to the doctor, and you get checked in by a nurse and a few bald eagles, and then the doctor comes in wearing an ancient tunic and says, 'We're gonna get you started on antibiotics and on orbs of light born from my very skin. Take them with food'?" According to Oliver, Trump's recent string of self-defeating blunders represents a fundamental shift in the president's political fortunes. "The point is, Trump seems to be on an epic run of picking losing fights, and whatever air of invincibility he had last year is fading fast," Oliver concluded. "All of which is a pretty good reminder that one day he is gonna be gone."

John Oliver tears apart Trump's 'epic run of picking losing fights'