In the current political environment, Iâm struggling with an extreme case of what psychologists call âcognitive dissonance.â Put simply, half of me is praying for a Democratic takeover of the House and Senate; and the other half is suffering fitful sleeplessness that the Democratic Socialist Alliance (DSA) and its fellow travelers may become the dominant voice in my once beloved Party.
Archiv: Democrats left
No, the Democratic Party is not shifting on Israel
(August 25, 2026)
It is a strategy that the party is likely to repeat in the next Congress to secure Israeli interests while appearing to acknowledge votersâ demands.
Furthermore, the Democratic establishment has shown little interest in breaking its dependence on AIPAC. In April, the Democratic National Committee rejected even a symbolic resolution condemning the lobbyâs interference in Democratic primaries.
Complicit Coverage
The titles of two new books about Israelâs genocide in Gaza succinctly state their shared argument: Corporate, mainstream media have been complicit in the horrific violence the Zionist state has inflicted and continues to inflict on Palestinians in Gaza. Print and online media, as well as cable news, have sold the genocide to their readers and audiences, turning reality on its head by portraying the Israeli perpetrators as victims of bloodthirsty terrorists and their Palestinian victims as bloodthirsty terrorists, terrorist sympathizers, or terrorists-to-be. As Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Nissim Vaturi said in a televised 2025 interview, âany childâ born in Gaza is âalready a terrorist from the moment of his birth.â
Adam Johnson, a media analyst and co-host of the podcast Citations Needed, and Robin Andersen, professor emerita of media studies at New Yorkâs Fordham University and contributor to various independent media, have meticulously documented how U.S. media enable Israelâs mass killings. Their reviews of print, online, and cable coverage illustrate how media have acted as virtual mouthpieces for Israelâs government and its military as well as for the U.S. State Department.
âWe Are in a Constitutional Crisisâ: Congress Urged to Sue Trump to End Iran War
With no end in sight to President Donald Trumpâs illegal war with Iran, Congress is being urged to take legal action to bring the conflict to an end.
Jamal Abdi, executive director at National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, said on Wednesday that Congress must go to court to enforce the war powers resolution that passed in the House and the Senate earlier this year.
âBeyond Parodyâ: Critics Left Stunned by Revelations in Shocking WSJ Report on John Fetterman
Critics were shocked by the numerous allegations in The Wall Street Journalâs bombshell report on Sen. John Fettermanâs (D-PA) behind-the-scenes behavior, with one calling the Pennsylvania Congressmanâs actions âbeyond parody.â
âToo lazy to do the jobâ: Democrats dump on Fetterman after WSJ report
A swath of Democrats denounced Sen. John Fetterman in the aftermath of a Wall Street Journal report that showed the Pennsylvania Democrat routinely ducking meetings with constituents, skirting committee hearings and contemplating skipping a police funeral in his home state.
Trump Goes on Posting Rampage Against Rising Dem Star
President Donald Trump launched an unhinged attack on rising Democratic star James Talarico as the Senate candidate looms as a key threat to the GOPâs control of Congress.
The 80-year-old president turned his social media firehose on the 37-year-old Texas House representative on Thursday afternoon as he headed to the Lone Star State to campaign for the embattled Republican Senate candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Progressive vs. moderate showdown for Senate seat tops Minnesota primaries
Another Midwestern moderate versus progressive showdown will play out Tuesday in Minnesota, where Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are competing to replace Sen. Tina Smith.
Flanagan has the backing of national progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Smith, who is retiring.
Craig has the backing of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top local leaders like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
How Hakeem Jeffries and J Street Teamed Up for Arming Genocide
When House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries sent out a recent âdear colleagueâ letter, its second sentence cited âthe position articulated by⊠pro-peace organizations like J Street.â The congressman and J Street were opposing an amendment to block $3.3 billion in military shipments and other aid to Israel.
Jeffries (NY) contended that the measure was âoverly broad.â On the same day, using the same phrase âoverly broad,â J Street issued a statement declaring that âwe support Leader Jeffriesâ decision to oppose the amendment.â
Both Jeffries and J Street respectfully noted that many members of Congress had understandable reasons to back the measure. The next day, July 15, a record 103 Democrats voted in favor of blocking weaponry to Israel.
4 House Republicans rebel against Trump, vote with Dems to block Iran war powers
Thursday‘s vote is largely symbolic, and the resolution will not go to Trumpâs desk for signature if the Senate chamber were also to pass it.
But Democrats‘ war powers effort underscores that the war in Iran is continuing to divide Republicans, several of whom have complained the White House has not given enough visibility to Congress about the militaryâs actions.
Just 34% of voters approve of Trump‘s handling of Iran, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.
House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect
The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday morning. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a strong signal to the Republican president that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administrationâs endgame.
The war has had âno clear mission, no strategy, no end goal,â said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who led the resolution on the House floor.
Mamdani slate sweeps Democratic primaries in New York, ousts 2 incumbents from Congress
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is in his fifth term, was defeated by Mamdaniâs most polarizing pick, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who once helped organize pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, a two-term incumbent, was beaten by the Mamdani-backed former city Comptroller Brad Lander, a fixture among New York progressives who has often shown sympathy to the democratic socialist movement. And another Mamdani ally, democratic socialist state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, defeated the handpicked successor of retiring U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez.
New York Primary-Elections Map: Live Results
A number of Democratic strongholds are hosting competitive congressional primaries, with establishment incumbents and candidates trying to fend off left-wing challengers.
Democrats‘ Jeffries and Mamdani wings face off in New York
State of play: In the state‘s 10th district, Jeffries is supporting Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) while Mamdani is backing NYC comptroller Brad Lander.
In the 13th district, Jeffries-backed Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) faces a spirited challenge from Mamdani-endorsed democratic socialist Darializa Avila-Chevalier.
Mamdani is also supporting democratic socialist State Assembly member Claire Valdez in the 7th district over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, though Jeffries hasn‘t endorsed in that race.
Mamdani challenges Democratic leaders ahead of primary elections: âThe Democratic Party must changeâ
(june 19, 2026)
Not long ago, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was demonized by leaders of both political parties. On Thursday night, the 34-year-old democratic socialist was celebrated as a political force, the face of the regionâs sports renaissance, even the leader of âMamdanistan.â
In a rally with Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that drew thousands to a Brooklyn theater, the emboldened mayor delivered a fiery message to Democratic leaders in Washington â and even those considering 2028 presidential bids â as he worked to elevate a slate of likeminded candidates in Tuesdayâs New York primaries.
Ending the Costly, Unnecessary Iran War Is the Right Thing. Period.
The task now is not to reward Trump politically, nor to excuse the recklessness that produced this war. It is to prevent the war from returning. Democrats can condemn the decision to start it without sabotaging the agreement that ends it. They can hold Trump accountable without helping Netanyahu drag the United States back into conflict. The choice before them is not between opposing Trump and supporting peace. It is between learning from Americaâs endless wars and repeating them.
House blocks Rep. Rashida Tlaib‘s war powers resolution on Lebanon
The resolution, introduced by Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, directs the president to remove U.S. armed forces „from Lebanon“ within seven days of the measure‘s adoption. It failed in a 92 to 324 vote, with two voting present.
„Currently, there are no U.S. servicemembers involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon,“ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said in a statement before the vote.
House Dems Coming Around on Iran War â But Wonât Vote to Stop Israelâs Destruction of Lebanon
House Democrats voted unanimously on Wednesday against continuing the Iran war without congressional approval â but a day later, Democratic leaders helped defeat a similar measure aimed at Israelâs parallel war in Lebanon.
The second measure failed 324-92 Thursday afternoon, a day after passage of a war powers resolution focused on Iran sent a message to the Trump administration.
Ninety-one Democrats voted for the measure sponsored by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., to block U.S. support for Israelâs assault on Lebanon. 117 Democrats voted against.
James Talarico for Texas: Itâs time to Start Flipping Tables.
James is an eighth-generation Texan, former middle school teacher, and Presbyterian seminarian. As a state representative, heâs led the fight against the billionaire mega-donors and puppet politicians who have taken over Texas.
Now, heâs running for U.S. Senate to take his fight against corruption to Washington and win power back for working people.
âFascism Ainât Prettyâ Goes National
(November 11, 2025)
Washington, D.C. was the proving ground for our campaign, antagonizing Stephen Miller.
When we covered the Capital with Stephen Millerâs face and âFascism Ainât Prettyââon walls, sidewalks, and projected it onto buildingsâwe heard from thousands of you. The message was overwhelming: WE WANT THIS IN OUR CITY.
We heard you. And weâre acting on it.
This week, Portland, Oregon, and Philadelphia are first up on our list for expanding this campaign. If youâre in either city, take a stroll and see if you can spot Millerâs face. Then snap a pic, put it on your socials, and tag us!
Asked About Stephen Miller, DNC Staffer Happy to Confirm: âI Stand by Calling Him an Ugly Fuckâ
âI said what I said.â
That was Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffer Paulina Mangubatâs statement Thursday evening after her response to White House adviser Stephen Millerâs smear against Democratic US Senate candidate James Talarico of Texas went viral earlier this week.
After Miller posted a picture on Wednesday of Talarico with the comment that Democrats in Texas had nominated âtheir first transgender Senate candidate,â Mangubat, who serves as the DNCâs content and creative director and is behind many of the committeeâs social media posts, had a concise response.
Chuck Schumer was one of 7 Senate Democrats to vote to send bulldozers to Israel. 40 Democratic Senators voted no. Mr. Schumer, you are out of touch with our base and the nation. Step aside.
(April 16, 2026)
The Imperial Presidency Is Bigger Than Donald Trump
A future Democratic-controlled Congress should take up the job that Obama and the partyâs old guard abandoned: put strict limits on the use of drones that wonât simply be alternately loosened and tightened by whichever president comes to power, explicitly outlawing âtargeted killingâ and any other attempt at finding a loophole for the already existing ban on assassinations; finally repeal the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force that has been serially abused by presidents to fight often secret wars all over the world; end mass surveillance, whether in the form of the National Security Agencyâs warrantless backdoor searches that Democrats actually expanded under Joe Biden, or in the warrantless spying that the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies now do through private data brokers; close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp that Trump is now trying to send migrants to; and embark on a twenty-first-century version of the Church Committee to investigate and lay bare national security abuses.
In Dead of Night, Johnson TriesâBut Failsâto Ram Through Domestic Spying Bill for Trump
In the 228-197 final vote, a total of four DemocratsâReps. Jared Golden of Maine, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Thomas R. Suozzi of New Yorkâjoined with all but 25 Republicans who voted to pass a 10-day extension. Twenty GOP members voted against it, while five did not vote.
Ahead of the votesâincluding on separate versions asking for a 5-year and then 18-month extensions of Section 702âopponents of any clean extension, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), said anyone opposed to warrantless spying on Americans must vote no.
Pramila Jayapal calls U.S. oil blockade on Cuba âoutrageousâ: Full interview
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press after her visit to Cuba, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) says the Cuban people are being collectively punished by the U.S. oil blockade, and says she would like to see formal negotiations between the two countries.
Truly Evil Trump Must Be StoppedâNow!
It is our responsibility as citizens of this nation to say unambiguously that what Trump is now threatening is truly evil. Itâs our responsibility as human beings to demand that Trump repudiate this threat to other human beings. It is our responsibility to call on all other Americans, in whatever capacity, to stand up against this despotic act of pure immorality.
Write. Phone. Shout. March. Trump has moved beyond indecency into the realm of insanity. This must be stopped.
An eclectic, bipartisan group suddenly calls for removing Trump using the 25th Amendment
None of it means the 25th Amendment is around the corner. The option is difficult to invoke, requiring those closest to Trump to determine he is unfit for office and opt to remove him against his will. Vance happened to be in Hungary on Tuesday, and he called Trump on the phone so the president could address a political rally.
But itâs significant even as a brushback pitch from some erstwhile Trump allies and from Democrats. They seem to be saying that Trump had better think carefully about his next actions in the war.
Itâs also worth reflecting on where things stand now.
‚His mental faculties are collapsing‘, ‚deeply flawed man‘ and more: American lawmakers shocked at Trump‘s extreme remarks
Calls to invoke the 25th Amendment have strengthened in political circles after Donald Trump spewed a bunch of shocking words against Iran after his „Open the F–kinâ Strait, you crazy bastards“ remark. On Tuesday, Trump said a „whole civilization will die“ if Iran does not reach a deal soon. His remark shocked lawmakers in the country who are now calling to remove Trump as president using constitutional methods.