Washington

26

Oct

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Culture, Election, UncategorizedCapitol Hill, congress, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Iran, Jon Husted, Ken Paxton, Ohio, Ohio voters, Sherrod Brown, Texas, United States, Washington

Elon Musk’s $7 Million Spending for Jon Husted Raises Questions About Big Tech’s Political Influence

Elon Musk is directing more than $7 million toward efforts to re-elect Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio, raising fresh concerns about the influence of wealthy technology executives over American politics and the future of artificial intelligence regulation. According to an October 19 report by the Ohio Capital Journal, Musk was channeling the money through independent political organizations supporting Husted’s campaign. The disclosure comes as Husted faces a competitive Senate race against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. While outside political spending is legal under federal campaign finance rules, the scale of Musk’s financial…

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25

Oct

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Election, OpinionsAli Abdollahi, Axios, Don Jr., Donald Trump, Florida, Greg Abbott, Iran, IRGC, James Talarico, Ken Paxton, Persian Gulf, San Antonio, strait of hormuz, Texas, Tom Barrack, Washington

Ken Paxton: Texas Doesn’t Need a Coward Who Cheers an Illegal War on Iran

I've heard the Axios audio from Ken Paxton's September fundraiser in Washington. Consequently, I know precisely what this man thinks of Trump's illegal war on Iran. He told donors and lobbyists: "It's the war, it's gas prices, it's diesel." He called affordability "by far our biggest problem." He admitted the campaign was "having a hard time with numbers" because of it. He confessed: "So many factors in this federal race are uncontrollable. I don't make the decisions." He added: "I don't know what's behind some of the decisions" in Washington. Yet Paxton campaigned with Trump in San Antonio and praised…

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23

Oct

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Electionaugusta, bangor, capitol-hill, congress, Crisis, donald-trump, Iran, lewiston, Maine, portland, republican-party, Senate, susan-collins, troy-jackson, united-states, Washington, white-house

Trump Backlash Puts Susan Collins Under Pressure

Republican Senator Susan Collins is confronting a particularly difficult fight to retain her Senate seat. Public frustration with Donald Trump, the rising cost of living and increasing calls for new political leadership are putting pressure on Collins and challenging her image as an independent-minded lawmaker in Washington. Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate for nearly three decades, is seeking a sixth term against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson. Her campaign is becoming a test of whether a Republican senator can maintain support in a state where many voters are increasingly critical of Trump's leadership, and it leaves Collins under…

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21

Oct

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UncategorizedAmerica, Asia, Donald Trump, Europe, European allies, Kremlin, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Washington, Western governments

Trump’s Diesel Deal with Putin: A Betrayal of Allies in Europe and Elsewhere

Donald Trump’s decision to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin to obtain Russian diesel — a move we can label, haphazardly, Trump’s Diesel Deal — represents a troubling reversal of American policy toward Moscow. At a time when Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia and European countries are trying to reduce their dependence on Russian energy, Washington appears willing to weaken its own pressure on the Kremlin for short-term economic and political gains. The agreement, which Trump announced on October 9, 2026, involves Russian diesel deliveries to the United States and a relaxation of certain sanctions affecting those shipments.…

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20

Oct

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Economy, ElectionAlaska, Alaska Beacon, Alaska Democratic Party, Beijing, Canada, China, Dan Sullivan, Donald Trump, Iran, Lisa Murkowski, Mary Peltola, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, United States, Washington, White House

Dan Sullivan Faces Growing Criticism Over Support for Trump Policies

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska increasingly faces growing criticism over his close alignment with President Donald Trump, as some administration policies increasingly draw scrutiny for their impact on the state’s economy. The criticism is particularly strong within Alaska’s fishing industry, a sector that depends heavily on international trade. While Sullivan has presented his relationship with Trump as an advantage for Alaska, opponents argue that his support for Trump policies has sometimes come at the expense of the state’s economic interests. One of the clearest points of disagreement involves Trump’s tariff policies. Sullivan has continued to back the administration’s approach…

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09

Oct

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ElectionDallas, Donald Trump, Iran, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, May runoff, New York, New York Times, Nick Maddux, Republican Party, Republican primary, Senate, Texas, United States, Washington

Paxton’s Trump Problem: Private Criticism Exposes Tensions Inside Republican Party

Texas Republican candidate Ken Paxton is facing growing scrutiny after reportedly admitting in a private meeting that U.S. President Donald Trump’s political influence may be hurting Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections. According to a report by The New York Times, Paxton made the comments during a private fundraiser that conservative donors and lobbyists attended in Washington last week. An audio recording reportedly captures Paxton saying that Republican candidates’ numbers fell after the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier in September. “When we did that convention, it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped,” Paxton reportedly said. Paxton’s…

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08

Oct

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Culture, ElectionAkron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Donald Trump, Jon Husted, Larry Householder, Ohio, Ohio House, Toledo, U.S. Senate, United States, Washington, Youngstown

Jon Husted Under Pressure as Ohio’s Data Center Debate Escalates

U.S. Senator Jon Husted is facing one of the most politically difficult moments of his Senate career as Ohio’s rapid expansion of data centers puts growing scrutiny on his record and ties to corporate interests. The debate is also testing his ability to address concerns from ordinary electricity customers who fear they could end up paying for the state’s technology boom. Husted, a Republican who entered the Senate after serving as Ohio’s lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state legislator, has long presented himself as a business-friendly politician who focuses on economic growth. But the rise of artificial-intelligence and Ohio’s…

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18

Sep

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EconomyChina, Donald Trump, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, middle east, Pentagon, Persian Gulf, Russia, strait of hormuz, Tehran, United States, Washington, White House

Not a Quick War: Six Months Into the Iran War, Costs for the U.S. Are Mounting

More than six months into the Iran war, the United States continues to fight a major military confrontation with Iran, and the conflict is proving far more difficult and expensive than the Trump administration initially expected. What the Trump administration presented as a relatively short operation has now developed into a prolonged war, creating growing financial, military, and political problems for Washington. When President Trump authorized the campaign in February, the administration appeared to expect a rapid outcome. The administration based the strategy on the assumption that intense military pressure could force Tehran to surrender its strategic capabilities and perhaps…

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15

Sep

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PoliticsChris Wright, Donald Trump, Iran, Israel, JD Vance, middle east, President Donald Trump, Southern Iran, strait of hormuz, Tehran, United States, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Vice President JD Vance, Washington

From Promised Deal to Prolonged War: Trump’s Iran Strategy Under Fire

The Trump administration is increasingly turning away from diplomacy with Iran. Meanwhile, the chances of reaching a new nuclear deal are fading as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate. The latest comments from a senior US official suggest that President Donald Trump’s original ambition of securing a nuclear deal may be becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. Speaking to ABC News this Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged that there may ultimately be no nuclear agreement with Iran. His remarks raise serious questions about the direction of the administration’s Iran policy, particularly because the United States and…

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29

Aug

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Economy, ElectionBrent Crude, Crisis, Donald Trump, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve, Iran, Persian Gulf, Republicans, strait of hormuz, Tehran, Trump, United States, Wall Street, Washington, White House, WTI

America’s First Swinging Miss: Trump’s Economic War Against Iran Already Hit US Markets

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new economic campaign against Iran, effectively launching an economic war against Iran, describing it as the “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY” and accusing Tehran of failing to take an opportunity to reach a deal with Washington. He warned that Iran would face “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”  Yet as Trump attempts to present the confrontation as a demonstration of American strength, its growing economic consequences are increasingly being felt beyond Iran—including in the United States itself.  Trump has also threatened countries whose banks, businesses,…

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