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.
Wahab, who ran on slashing prescription drug costs and ending forever wars, will represent Californiaâs 14th Congressional District until at least January. In November, Wahab will face Bay Area Rapid Transit board member Melissa Hernandez again in a race for a full two-year term in the US House. Tuesdayâs special election was significantly closer than earlier primary contests, signaling a highly competitive race later this year.
Our Revolution, a progressive advocacy organization that backed Wahab, called her win âa national model for how progressives can defeat big-money outside groups and build a Democratic Party rooted in working people.â The United Democracy Project, AIPACâs super PAC, spent $2.5 million on the contest in an effort to boost Hernandez.
(August 19, 2026)
The group of volunteers for her underdog Senate campaign sat inside a union office in suburban Broward County, a liberal stronghold in the increasingly Republican-leaning state. It was a small group, maybe a dozen people.
But donât worry, Ms. Nixonâs political director, Rachel Gilmer, reassured them: âThis tiny room is part of many, many tiny roomsâ across the state, she said, with more volunteers also ready to knock on Democratic votersâ doors.
In a surprise upset described variously as âstunningâ and âa shockerâ in headlines, State Rep. Angie Nixon won the Democratic primary for the open US Senate seat in Florida on Tuesday, defeating Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, the former national security official who many presumed would sail to victory with the support of the party establishment and a massive cash advantage.
Nixon, a former union organizer and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, will now face Sen. Ashley Moody, whom Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed to the seat after former Sen. Marco Rubio became Secretary of State, in the general election.
What Led To This Moment
Angie Nixon is a Florida State Representative, union organizer, and mother born and raised in Jacksonville who has spent her career fighting for hardworking Floridians. In the State House, she expanded childcare, took on corporate price-gouging, and led the fight against DeSantisâs unfair voting maps. Her leadership is rooted in lived experienceâwatching her mom work two jobs to get by, attending public schools, and losing her cousin to gun violence. Angie is running to lower costs, raise wages, and build a people-powered government that puts families firstânot greedy billionaires.
Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon, from Jacksonville‘s Moncrief neighborhood, beat former Trump Administraton whistleblower Alex Vindman in a stunning upset.
Vindman ran a centrist camapaign focused on corruption and the need for congressional checks on the Trump administration. But some strategists have said his campaign was a sleepy one, centered more on the general election than on the primary, where he faced an experienced campaigner.
Vindman declined to debate Nixon during the campaign. He conceded the race Tuesday night, applauding her âhard workâ and Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate. ââI will be standing by her,â he said, âand my hope is that she wins this election, because again, the stakes couldnât be higher.â
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon scored a massive upset in the state‘s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Nixon ran against retired Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a prominent critic of Trump who played a central role in the left‘s failed 2019 impeachment attempt, who was expected to emerge victorious.
She defeated Vindman by almost 12 points, despite his $16.3 million war chest, compared to hers of only about $1 million. As of July, Vindman had spent about $9 million on the race, while Nixon had spent just over $700,000.
(May 14, 2025)
The revelation of the intertwined scandals captivated Americans. Between the fall of 1986 and the fall of 1987, more than seven out of 10 Americans watched some of the televised congressional hearings about Iran-Contra. But once it became clear that Democrats would not impeach Reagan, public interest waned. Unlike Watergate, when a smoking gun tape implicated President Richard Nixon, to many, the 1980s scandal seemed a blur of byzantine Cold War diplomacy, opaque Swiss bank accounts, and a large cast of forgettable middlemen. The country boxed up the ugly affair and stored it in the attic of its memory.
It did so even as the scandal persisted and investigators indicted dozens of administration officials. In 1988, Reaganâs vice president, George H.W. Bush, won the presidency, and throughout his entire administration, those responsible for Iran-Contra dodged the political and legal consequences of their actions.
Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist running in the Democratic primary for the Wisconsin governorâs race, lost last night in an extremely close election. She came within half a percentage point of beating David Crowley, the executive of Milwaukee County. Preelection polling showed Hong with a commanding lead, and many assumed she would coast to victory. As such, her result is being spun as a hard defeat for the socialist left.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsinâs closely watched Democratic gubernatorial primary, handing the party establishment a key win. Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers, will face Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.
Status Coup reporter JT Cestkowski is LIVE ON-THE-GROUND in Wisconsin from Democratic socialist candidate for governor Francesca Hongâs election night watch party. JT will report the election results as they come in and speak with supporters of Hongâs campaign.
Status Coup is the leading INDEPENDENT ON-THE-GROUND reporting outlet in America that covers what the corporate media COVERS UP. We are FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLEâand need your support to help us stay ON-THE-GROUND. Join us as a paying member for as low as $5 bucks a month:
Now, Peggy is running for Senate to stop Donald Trump and the billionaires ransacking our government from making it harder for families, like the one she grew up in, to have a fair shot. At a time when Washington is more rigged than ever, Peggy will be a Senator who has the guts to take on our toughest fights and win for Minnesota families.
Peggy lives in her hometown of St. Louis Park with her husband, Tom, and her daughter, Siobhan. She is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota.
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.
State Representative.
Single Mom. Restaurant Worker. Chef.
And other leaders say they arenât familiar with who she is, underscoring the work Hong has ahead of her if she wins Tuesday.
âI donât know her,â Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said in a brief hallway interview.
Sanders has said he would not endorse Hong and declined to comment when asked by POLITICO about the race last Friday on Capitol Hill.
Asked whether AOC, who is 36, would make a good president, Mamdani did not hesitate: âI think sheâd make a good anything.â The rise of socialists, personified by this pair of young politicians, has provoked thinly veiled concern within the Democratic establishment, especially among those sectors tied to the partyâs traditional support for Israel.
(July 27, 2026)
The War Powers Resolution was passed by both the House and Senate in June, marking the first time Congress approved a concurrent resolution under the 1973 War Powers Act directing the termination of an unauthorized war.
Section 5(c) of the 1973 War Powers Act states that âat any time that United States Armed Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization, such forces shall be removed by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution.â
(July 27, 2026)
Massie accused Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth of being „in blatant violation of two sections of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.“
„For the first time since the law was enacted, a concurrent resolution has passed in accordance with 5(c) of the law, but the White House has ignored it. It seems theyâve assumed the law is unconstitutional, but no court has ever found that to be the case, so the law remains on the books while the White House flouts it. In the 1983 case INS v. Chadha, the Supreme Court did not opine on the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Itâs time for the courts to settle this, and thatâs what our legislation directs,“ Massie said.
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.
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.
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.
(August 6, 2023)
In Israel, there‘s concern that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, might delay and consider pushing the U.S. agreement until after the 2024 presidential elections.
Israel has sent signals to Saudi Arabia emphasizing the advantages of forging ahead under the current Democratic regime. If a future Republican government, possibly under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, were to take over, bridging bipartisan support for the deal might become an uphill battle.
(…)
Beyond a defense pact, the Saudis also have raised requests with the US for civilian nuclear capabilities, advanced weaponry, and beyond. Israeli agreement would be crucial for these components.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, citing President Trumpâs war with Iran, which continues to rage following the collapse of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding.
The NDAA would provide the Pentagon with over $1.1 trillion in funding as part of the White Houseâs plan for a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, a nearly 50% increase from this year. The bill also includes an amendment, Section 1217, to further merge the US and Israeli militaries under a plan being pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A procedural vote of 50-46 fell well short of the 60 votes that it needed to advance the NDAA. Every Democrat, except two who werenât present for the vote â Senators Jon Fetterman (PA) and Alex Padilla (CA) â voted against advancing the sprawling military spending bill.
(Updated on October 1, 2024)
– Congress works less than half the year, with the House averaging 147 legislative days annually.
– Senate members have slightly more legislative days, averaging 165 days each year since 2001.
(June 9, 2026)
However, legal experts said the issue is not settled law. No concurrent resolution under âthe 1973 war powers law had passed since the law was enacted.
„The executive branch will likely ignore it on constitutional grounds, and itâs not clear who might have âstanding to sue to enforce it,“ said Scott Anderson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and senior editor of the online legal publication Lawfare, although he added that he expected someone âwould.
Asked by CNN about Vanceâs comments, Ocasio-Cortez smiled and said, âI hope he isâ the nominee.
Kiros, a 29-year-old former lawyer, was fired from her job after refusing to remove a post that criticised law firms for their stance on Israel and Palestine and has called Israelâs actions in Gaza genocide.
Kiros is âthe latest democratic socialist to oust an incumbent Democrat this summer.
(video)
(June 26, 2026)
âThe misdirect here is that Newsom is opposing a WEALTH tax on billionaires in his own state and insisting he supports a new national INCOME tax on billionaires. But billionaires make money off non-income sources.â
(June 26, 2026)
A new McLaughlin poll shows shifts in a possible 2028 Democratic primary, with former Vice President Kamala Harrisâ early lead tightening and California Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria OcasioâCortez gaining support as potential candidates weigh whether to jump into the race.
The push to put a billionaire tax to a popular vote in blue California has exposed deep divides on the left, even as Democratic politicians across the country rally around calls for the wealthy to pay more. The issue is pitting the populist mood of the public against many Democratsâ fears that the measure will push the ultrawealthy to join a broader exodus from the state and take their tax dollars with them.
(June 25, 2026)
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West President Dave Regan refused to back down on the billionaire tax.
(June 23, 2026)
While other Democrats are distancing themselves from Bidenâs failed reelection bid and the political wreckage that followed, Californiaâs governor is leaning in. Newsom has praised Bidenâs presidency, defended his record, and positioned himself as one of the partyâs most visible Biden loyalists.
He has called the Biden presidency a âmasterclass of policymaking.â He has said he will never turn his back on Biden. And last week, he went further.
He hosted Hunter Biden on his podcast.
That matters.
(June 12, 2026)
Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power reacts to Hunter Biden speaking about his political future on Gavin Newsom‘s podcast. The son of former US President Joe Biden teased a potential vice-presidential run in 2028.
(January 12, 2026)
The conversations, reported here for the first time, have occurred intermittently for months as SEIU-UHWâs ballot initiative targeting billionaires migrated from the backrooms of California politics to the center of a raging debate about Silicon Valley and income inequality, sparking tech titansâ wrath and vows to move out of state.
âWeâve been at this for four months,â Newsom said in an interview with POLITICO, describing an âall-handsâ effort that has included him meeting one-on-one with SEIU-UHWâs leader, Dave Regan.
A compromise does not appear imminent. A union official cast doubt on the possibility of a deal, saying the two sides do not currently have another meeting scheduled and framing a ballot fight as an inevitability.
(January 16, 2025)
The very richest Americans are among the biggest winners from President Joe Bidenâs time in office, despite his farewell address warning of an âoligarchyâ and a âtech industrial complexâ that threaten US democracy.
The 100 wealthiest Americans got more than $1.5 trillion richer over the last four years, with tech tycoons including Elon Musk, Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg leading the way, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The top 0.1% gained more than $6 trillion, Federal Reserve estimates through September show.