<p>Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico learned the hard way that his prospective constituents expect him to answer their questions when they take the time to attend his campaign events.</p>
<p>Talarico, who bested Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) to win the Senate primary, struggled to find answers when a woman called him out at a recent event, warning him that he would &#8220;suffer the consequences&#8221; if he chose not to stay and answer questions from the people in attendance.</p>
<p>&#8220;So you stay here! You answer our questions, or you suffer the consequences,&#8221; she shouted.</p>
<p>Another attendee cheered her on, shouting, &#8220;Say it with your chest!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m happy to engage,&#8221; Talarico, clearly taken aback, responded.</p>
<p>&#8220;Well, you talk to your staff,&#8221; the woman shot back.</p>
<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll come to — here in just a second,&#8221; Talarico said, adding, &#8220;I appreciate you being here, and I appreciate you traveling in, and I appreciate you —&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I did it for my people, not for you,&#8221; the woman said, prompting applause from around the room.</p>
<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s wonderful,&#8221; Talarico replied. &#8220;I think that&#8217;s wonderful.&#8221;</p>
<p>As the crowd began to murmur, Talarico continued, &#8220;It&#8217;s all right. It&#8217;s all right, that&#8217;s what this conversation is supposed to be about.&#8221;</p>
<p>At the same event, Texas Democratic state Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons — who supported Crockett in the earlier primary — <a href="https://x.com/FBugenhagen_/status/2078936200061026390">explained</a> why she was throwing her weight behind Talarico: &#8220;Primaries are family fights. We licked our wounds on Tuesday then we woke up ready for war.&#8221;</p>
<p>But despite Simmons&#8217; assessment, one key figure has been markedly absent from Talarico&#8217;s campaign events: Crockett. In the days since the primary, instead of helping Talarico across the finish line, Crockett has instead claimed that the primary was &#8220;racist&#8221; and has said that her time and efforts were better spent in supporting and endorsing black candidates in other races.</p>


Texas State Representative Talarico Holds Primary Election Night Event

James Talarico Stammers As Black Woman Berates Him For Not Answering Questions At Event

2026 Midterms

Democrats

James Talarico

Texas

<p>Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) encouraged members of her party to embrace the term &#8220;socialist.&#8221;</p>
<p>Moore made an appearance on C-SPAN, where she claimed that Republicans argued that any government regulation of any industry — particularly for environmental reasons — amounted to &#8220;socialism,&#8221; and said that Democrats needed to stop being &#8220;shy&#8221; about owning that.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Democrat Rep. Gwen Moore says Democrats should embrace the word &#8220;socialist.&#8221;</p>
<p>MOORE: “Regulating industry…they wanna call that socialist&#8230;Democrats have got to stop being shy about that term.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/cFjN8GGNM8">pic.twitter.com/cFjN8GGNM8</a></p>
<p>— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2077397542556270701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;Regulating industry so that they don&#8217;t dump poison into the water and the air, they want to call that socialist,&#8221; she said. &#8220;To try to have alternative energy sources and to diminish our fossil fuel imprint, they call that socialist.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;So I think that Democrats have got to stop being shy about that term,&#8221; she said.</p>
<p>In the same segment, Moore was asked to respond to a caller who&#8217;d said that all Democrats had become socialists — and to the fact that socialism, across the board, had failed everywhere it had been tried.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">C-SPAN: &#8220;[Socialism] has been tried in other countries like Venezuela to a disastrous effect&#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p>Democrat Rep. Gwen Moore: &#8220;Bill Clinton&#8230;said that if we were in Europe as Democrats we would be five different parties&#8230;we are a big tent.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/mYWlqTZ6TZ">pic.twitter.com/mYWlqTZ6TZ</a></p>
<p>— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2077404669869986293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;We had a caller just recently say that all Democrats are socialists now, and that this has been tried in other countries like Venezuela to a disastrous effect. I want to get your take on that, and where you see your party moving,&#8221; the host said.</p>
<p>Moore responded by referencing a comment from former President Bill Clinton, saying that he&#8217;d pointed out the fact that &#8220;if we were in Europe as Democrats, we would be five different parties. We&#8217;d be the Labor Party, we&#8217;d be Democratic Socialists, we&#8217;d be the Progressive Party, we&#8217;d be the Liberal Party, so we are a big tent.&#8221;</p>
<p>But while some within the Democratic Party — like Moore — defend the rise of socialism in the ranks, others are sounding the alarm. Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-says-democrats-are-flirting-with-something-americans-used-to-fear">John Fetterman</a> (D-PA) has been a vocal critic of the socialists in the party, as have Gov. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/panic-sets-in-dems-tailspin-as-they-realize-the-hostile-socialist-takeover-already-started">Josh Shapiro</a> (D-PA), former Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/crazy-sht-former-dem-senator-delivers-blistering-tirade-at-partys-socialist-drift">Joe Manchin</a> (D-WV), and even comedian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bill-maher-is-not-down-with-the-jew-hating-socialists-my-vote-is-in-play">Bill Maher</a>.</p>
<p>The self-described Democratic Socialists aren&#8217;t hiding their agenda, either: targeting established Democrats in safe blue cities and states, they are rapidly taking control of the party from within. And according to the co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America — a group with which many of these candidates are affiliated — the group&#8217;s goals include major changes, such as abolishing the United States Senate to make the nation &#8220;more democratic.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">DSA Co-Chair: We Want To Abolish The Senate</p>
<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s extreme.&#8221;</p>
<p>This is now part of the Democrat party &#8216;Big Tent.&#8217; <a href="https://t.co/xeMJW8kyig">https://t.co/xeMJW8kyig</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ld033xjgYc">pic.twitter.com/Ld033xjgYc</a></p>
<p>— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://x.com/WesternLensman/status/2077008014482014211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>


US House Committee on Ways and Means hearing

House Dem Calls On Party To Embrace The Word ‘Socialist’

Democratic Socialism

Democratic Socialists Of America

Media

Politics

Socialism

<p>Angie Sullivan, of the &#8220;I&#8217;ve Had It&#8221; podcast, told her cohost Jennifer Welch that she was inherently distrustful of parents who actually enjoy spending time with their children.</p>
<p>Sullivan made the comments in the broader context of a conversation about homeschooling — which she also does not like, for a variety of reasons — and she said that it was &#8220;weird&#8221; to imagine mothers wanting to spend all of their time with their children.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">‘I’ve Had It’ co-host Angie Sullivan on homeschooling&#8230;.</p>
<p>“You would not believe how many people in Bible study homeschool their kids, and you just think, ah, I worry about that.”</p>
<p>“I just think homeschooling is a bad idea from soup to nuts. I don’t care if you’re a nuclear… <a href="https://t.co/GKbhROgDGs">pic.twitter.com/GKbhROgDGs</a></p>
<p>— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) <a href="https://x.com/CurtisHouck/status/2077129530045559032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Sullivan began by suggesting that it was a red flag that so many women involved in Bible study also chose to homeschool their children.</p>
<p>&#8220;You would not believe how many people in Bible study homeschool their kids, and you just think, eeehhhh, I worry about that. And then you see those witness booklets or whatever they&#8217;re called that the Duggar&#8217;s used, and they&#8217;re like, top out at eighth grade &#8230;&#8221; she said, scrunching up her face in obvious revulsion in a clear attempt to tie all Christians and homeschoolers to the Duggar family&#8217;s more recent trials.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just think homeschooling is a bad idea from soup to nuts. I don’t care if you’re a nuclear physicist. I think it’s just f*cking weird as f*ck that you want your kids around you all day, every day, and all night,&#8221; she added, suggesting that she would have strapped her own children to her back and &#8220;crawled&#8221; if that was the only way to get them out of her house and to school each day — if only just &#8220;to get them where I wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;So, I don’t trust somebody that wants to be with their kids 24/7. I think a lot of dumb people do it because it’s just easier, and that’s a concern,&#8221; she said, arguing that homeschooling was somehow &#8220;easier&#8221; for parents than putting children on the bus and washing their hands of the entire situation.</p>
<p>She then complained that kids who homeschooled could get all their work done in a few hours because they were not tied to the school&#8217;s schedule, arguing that gave the kids too much free time: &#8220;I just can’t think of very many good things about homeschooling.&#8221;</p>


One Story. One Future: GLAAD Celebrates Pride 2025

Popular Leftist Podcaster Doesn’t Trust Moms Who Like Their Kids

Liberal Woman Doesn't Trust Moms Who Actually Like Their Kids

Education

Homeschooling

Jennifer Welch

<p>Acclaimed actor Sam Neill passed away this week at the age of 78, and while most people remember him for his iconic role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Steven Spielberg blockbuster &#8220;Jurassic Park,&#8221; my immediate thought was of one scene in the 1990 thriller &#8220;The Hunt for Red October.&#8221;</p>
<p>In that film, Neill played Soviet Captain Vasili Borodin — serving under Captain Marko Ramius, who was played by the late Sean Connery. When Ramius reveals his plan to defect to the United States, his loyal second-in command is ready to follow him. But knowing nothing beyond his life in the Soviet Union at the height go the Cold War, he struggles to wrap his brain around the concept of liberty.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Hunt for Red October (5/9) Movie CLIP - Living in America (1990) HD" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8JW75Lv25k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>&#8220;I will live in Montana. And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me,&#8221; Borodin begins, his dreams getting bigger with every word. &#8220;And I will have a pickup truck &#8230; maybe even a &#8216;recreational vehicle.&#8217; And drive from state to state &#8230; Do they let you do that?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I suppose,&#8221; Ramius replies.</p>
<p>&#8220;No papers?&#8221; Borodin is incredulous.</p>
<p>&#8220;No papers, state to state,&#8221; Ramius repeats.</p>
<p>Borodin continues: &#8220;Well then, in winter I will live in &#8230; Arizona. Actually, I think I will need two wives.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Oh, at least,&#8221; Ramius agrees.</p>
<p>Spoiler alert: Borodin is killed before the end of the film and never gets to realize his dream. His last words are, &#8220;I would have liked to have seen Montana.&#8221;</p>
<p>But in his real life, in his own way, Neill lived out that Soviet&#8217;s dream.</p>
<p>Born in Ireland, Neill moved to New Zealand with his family when he was just seven years old, and for the rest of his life, he felt more connected to his adopted home than to his birthplace.</p>
<p>Even after reaching the heights of fame — in major releases such as &#8220;Jurassic Park,&#8221; &#8220;The Hunt for Red October,&#8221; &#8220;Event Horizon,&#8221; and more — and building a film career that spanned more than five decades, Neill often preferred the open space and quiet he found at home, making acclaimed pinot noirs at his Two Paddocks winery.</p>
<p>Neill filled his life with animals, many of whom he named after his celebrity friends, joking that the names were meant to ensure that he&#8217;d never eat them. He always asked friends&#8217; permission before naming animals after them, he said, and noted that &#8220;many of them then take an interest in their namesakes. Helena Bonham Carter is always keen to know if she’s calved again.&#8221;</p>
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<p>&#8220;I am so honored to have a pig named after me,&#8221; actress Annette Bening told Kelly Clarkson on her eponymous show in 2024 — and then revealed the reason she&#8217;d been so tickled to have Neill recognize her in that way.</p>
<p>&#8220;Well, it’s Sam Neill! I mean, oh my god. I have a crush on him, I’m just going to put it out there,&#8221; she admitted.</p>
<p>For Neill, the move to a simpler existence was about balance. He loved acting to the very end, but it was his animals and his wine-making venture that truly made him happy. As he told the West Australian, &#8220;I’d like the vineyard to support me but I’m afraid it is the other way round. It is not a very economic business.&#8221;</p>
<p>As it turned out, he loved the feeling of caring for the land and creating something with his own sweat and toil.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is a ridiculously time- and money-consuming business. I would not do it if it was not so satisfying and fun — and it gets me pissed once in a while,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;I wanted to produce a good pinot noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my family and friends &#8230; <span style="font-size: 16px;">Frankly, my friends will pretty much drink anything, so this didn&#8217;t seem too hard.&#8221;</span></p>
<p>Neill was far from alone in his desire to embrace the simpler things. Story <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/weekend-plans-with-gary-sinise-the-most-patriotic-actor-in-america">after story</a> has surfaced in recent years highlighting celebrities making the move away from industry hubs such as New York and Los Angeles, particularly when it means they can raise their children away from the Hollywood bubble.</p>
<p>What is it about the simpler existence that&#8217;s so appealing? Maybe Neill had it right all along: There&#8217;s something truly gratifying about the idea that you can pour your own blood, sweat, and tears into a project and create something that wasn&#8217;t there before — whether it be a healthy family, your own peace of mind, or just a really good pinot noir.</p>


SPAIN-CINEMA-FILM-FESTIVAL

The Late ‘Jurassic Park’ Star’s Life Offers A Lesson America Still Needs

Celebrities

Hollywood

Montana

Movies

New Zealand

Soviet Union

Upstream

<p>Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan — nominated to the high court in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama — took a moment on Tuesday to remember the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and had only kind words to say about him.</p>
<p>Kagan recalled her confirmation process, noting specifically how strange it was for a Republican to vote in favor of her confirmation when the nominee was chosen by a Democratic president — and vice versa — and said that Graham had approached the process with &#8220;seriousness&#8221; appropriate for the situation.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Justice Elena Kagan on her 2010 confirmation hearing: &#8220;Many people have talked about how funny Senator Graham was&#8230;What I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is a harder thing entirely, by asking me what I had done on… <a href="https://t.co/U6IFdoGIwN">pic.twitter.com/U6IFdoGIwN</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2077039841267646902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Kagan began by offering her condolences to Graham&#8217;s family and friends, adding that &#8220;the entire Court&#8221; wished them well.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll just say that I didn&#8217;t get many Republican votes when I was confirmed to the Supreme Court,&#8221; Kagan said with a smile, adding, &#8220;And that&#8217;s the usual state of things today.&#8221;</p>
<p>She went on to say that it was even more striking to see a Republican from a deep red state like South Carolina cast a cross-party vote for a nominee: &#8220;And yet, Senator Graham voted for me.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I vividly remember, because he was a vivid person, the conversation that we had in his office prior to my hearing,&#8221; Kagan said. &#8220;It was a long conversation; he took the opportunity to get to know me. He questioned me with great seriousness and great knowledge about my record. &#8230; And I still more vividly remember the conversations we had at my hearing itself.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;In the last day or so, many people have talked about how funny Senator Graham was. I think Al Franken said that he was the funniest man in the Senate,&#8221; Kagan continued. &#8220;What I remember about that hearing was that somehow Senator Graham made me look funny, which is a harder thing entirely, by asking me what I had done on Christmas. &#8230; Many people said to me afterwards that exchange with Senator Graham was the moment my confirmation was sealed.&#8221;</p>
<p>Graham mentioned his vote for Kagan during his famous tirade at Justice <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flashback-the-lindsey-graham-speech-that-turned-the-tide-for-brett-kavanaugh">Brett Kavanaugh&#8217;s</a> hearing. To Kavanaugh, he said, &#8220;When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them.&#8221;</p>
<p>He turned his attention back to the Democrats and said, &#8220;I would never do to them what you’ve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn’t have done what you’ve done to this guy.&#8221;</p>


Kagan, Barrett To Defend Budget As Hill Tensions Simmer

Obama-Appointed Justice Has Only Kind Words For Lindsey Graham

Brett Kavanaugh

Elena Kagan

Lindsey Graham

Supreme Court

<p>President Donald Trump reacted on Tuesday to the news that the FBI was looking into the recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), saying that he believed the agency was &#8220;wasting their time.&#8221;</p>
<p>Arguing that Graham — who died late Saturday evening of what the medical examiner&#8217;s office believes to be an aortic dissection — had most likely died of natural causes, he questioned the wisdom of expending personnel and effort on an investigation.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 REPORTER: Do you know why the FBI is looking into Lindsey Graham&#8217;s death?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT TRUMP: &#8220;I don&#8217;t see a lot of evil there. All sorts of conspiracy theories. The FBI is wasting their time if they&#8217;re doing that.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Supposedly&#8230;this is something that is almost undetectable.… <a href="https://t.co/QtQLEyNDzR">pic.twitter.com/QtQLEyNDzR</a></p>
<p>— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2077063451877237093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;Are you aware of why the FBI is looking into Senator Graham&#8217;s death?&#8221; one reporter asked. &#8220;Have you gotten any updates on why they were at his home?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t know why because I think that he had a problem. His father had a very similar problem as you know,&#8221; Trump said, referring to Graham&#8217;s health. &#8220;It&#8217;s very unique. At first I heard it was clogged arteries, because he did have clogged arteries. He had a problem with that. He was — I wish he took better care of himself. You can solve that problem, but what happened is actually something that&#8217;s very hard to detect, it was not related to the — any blockage — it was a totally different thing.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Supposedly — and I&#8217;ve watched all the medical reports, I&#8217;ve had the doctors from the White House come in and explain what happened,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;This is something that is almost undetectable. If it happens, there&#8217;s not much you can do about it. Sounds unfortunate. If you look at — his father died of the same thing at about the same age.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see a lot of evil there. I know there&#8217;s all sorts of conspiracy theories going along, but I don&#8217;t think the FBI — I think the FBI is wasting their time if they&#8217;re doing that,&#8221; Trump added.</p>
<p>A report from NBC News confirmed that more than a dozen federal agents and Capitol Police officers searched Graham&#8217;s residence, stating that they were investigating out of an abundance of caution.</p>
<p>Just days prior to his death, Graham had responded to the news that his photo — complete with a target plastered over his forehead — had been displayed at the late Ayatollah Khamenei&#8217;s funeral: &#8220;At least they used a good photo of me. Judge me by my enemies.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">At least they used a good photo of me.</p>
<p>Judge me by my enemies. <a href="https://t.co/Ok2Oq1v4O5">https://t.co/Ok2Oq1v4O5</a> <a href="https://t.co/b1RBvzKo9K">pic.twitter.com/b1RBvzKo9K</a></p>
<p>— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/2074201227332563316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Others suggested that Graham could have been targeted by Russia, given that he&#8217;d only returned from a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the day before his death.</p>


Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham

Trump Splits With FBI, Questions Decision To Probe Lindsey Graham’s Death

Trump Splits With FBI, Questions Decision To Probe Lindsey Graham's Death

Donald Trump

Executive

kash patel

<p>Two days after his sudden death, Sen. Lindsey Graham&#8217;s (R-SC) desk on the Senate floor sat conspicuously empty, save for one item: a glass vase filled with white roses.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Desk of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the U.S. Senate. <a href="https://t.co/8mcumDh5Eg">pic.twitter.com/8mcumDh5Eg</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076746110996013236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>One by one, Graham&#8217;s colleagues took the floor and offered their tributes to the late South Carolina senator, who died late Saturday after what the medical examiner&#8217;s office revealed was an aortic dissection resulting from cardiovascular disease.</p>
<p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) teared up as he spoke, praising his friend and colleague as he said of Graham, &#8220;I know that I&#8217;m not the only one who finds it difficult to imagine the Senate without Lindsey Graham &#8230; There was no bigger believer in America&#8217;s role in the world. He was confident that the United States could be a force for good, and he gave everything he had to ensuring that we would be.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a> tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham: “There was no bigger believer in America’s role in the world.” <a href="https://t.co/o1mjVcPB6b">pic.twitter.com/o1mjVcPB6b</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076753298418172227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) added, &#8220;It&#8217;s a sad day for all of us in the Senate &#8230; Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the halls of Congress.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sen. <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGrassley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChuckGrassley</a> tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham: &#8220;It&#8217;s a sad day for all of us in the Senate&#8230;Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the halls of Congress.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/rMJqnrPjpB">pic.twitter.com/rMJqnrPjpB</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076749515726487971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened the session with prayer, saying, &#8220;Eternal God, as flags fly at half-staff throughout our nation to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, we give you thanks to you for his life and for his years of public service. Lord, we remember with gratitude his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him and the many ways he sought to serve the people of this country.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">U.S. Senate <a href="https://x.com/Chaplain_Black?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chaplain_Black</a>: &#8220;Eternal God, as flags fly at half-staff throughout our nation to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, we give you thanks to you for his life and for his years of public service.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/KdVWZQDKMX">pic.twitter.com/KdVWZQDKMX</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076745343258038577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In the hallway outside Graham&#8217;s office, a makeshift memorial quickly appeared and began to grow as people left flowers and Post-it notes outside the door.</p>
<div id="attachment_1134213" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1134213" class="wp-image-1134213 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13: Sticky notes are left near the office entrance for the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the Russell Senate Office Building on July 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. Graham passed away suddenly over the weekend at age 71 after serving South Carolina in Congress for 31 years, including eight years in the House and 23 years in the Senate. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285908371.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1134213" class="wp-caption-text">Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1134215" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1134215" class="wp-image-1134215 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-864x576.jpg" alt="UNITED STATES - JULY 13: A representative from the Kurdistan Communities Assembly lays flowers outside the office of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in Russell building on Monday, July 13, 2026. Graham, who sponsored the Save the Kurds Act, passed away on July 11th. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2285310945.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /><p id="caption-attachment-1134215" class="wp-caption-text">Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images</p></div>
<p>Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said on his podcast, &#8220;The Verdict,&#8221; that Graham had left a vacancy that would be impossible to fill.</p>
<p>&#8220;Who will fill the void? Who will fill Lindsey Graham&#8217;s shoes?&#8221; Cruz asked. &#8220;My answer is nobody. Nobody. The role he played in the Senate, he was universally respected, but also universally liked and even adored by people who disagreed with him passionately.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know a single senator out of 99 other senators who didn&#8217;t genuinely like Lindsey and consider him a friend like all of them, and it was a gift,&#8221; he added.</p>


Lindsey Graham’s Desk In The Senate: Empty, Save For One Item

Lindsey Graham's Desk In The Senate: Empty, Save For One Item

Congress

U.S. Senate

<p>South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday appointed Darline Graham Nordone — sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — to serve the remainder of her brother&#8217;s Senate term.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 IT&#8217;S OFFICIAL: Lindsey Graham&#8217;s sister Darline Graham Nordone officially named interim US Senator from South Carolina after her brother&#8217;s passing</p>
<p>She just walked up to the podium to accept it 🇺🇸</p>
<p>&#8220;Lindsey has always been there for me. Now, I will be there for him.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/YA3YXbOycK">pic.twitter.com/YA3YXbOycK</a></p>
<p>— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2076761308146397471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;Darline — little sister — come here please,&#8221; McMaster invited Nordone up to speak.</p>
<p>&#8220;First, I would like to thank everyone who has called and reached out over the past couple of days. I can&#8217;t tell you how much it&#8217;s meant to me and our family,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I know Lindsey was loved and respected by many and I greatly appreciate the memories and even the funny stories that have been shared. These shared experiences and our faith have gotten us through these two very difficult days.&#8221;</p>
<p>Thanking McMaster for selecting her to serve out the remainder of Graham&#8217;s term — &#8220;an honor&#8221; — she added, &#8220;Lindsey has always been there for me. Now, I will be there for him.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nordone&#8217;s name was first floated on Monday morning when President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he believed she would be the right person to fill the vacancy — and that appointing her would be a good way for McMaster to honor Graham&#8217;s legacy.</p>
<p>&#8220;I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!&#8221; the president wrote.</p>
<p>Following Trump&#8217;s recommendation, the odds on Kalshi that Nordone would be named Graham&#8217;s successor skyrocketed, leaping from 15% at 9:37 a.m. to 94.7% just 17 minutes later. The odds of her being appointed to fill her brother&#8217;s seat were at 97% by 2:00 p.m. The two names making up the remaining 3% were Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette (R-SC) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC).</p>
<p>Indeed, Graham himself said in a 2015 interview that he could think of no one better to &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-recommends-replacement-for-lindsey-graham">represent</a>&#8221; the people of the United States than his little sister. When asked at the beginning of his presidential run about being single, Graham joked that his sister could take on some of the roles typically handled by a first lady.</p>
<p>&#8220;If she took a role on she would be a great representative of our country. I can’t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister,&#8221; he said at the time.</p>
<p>A number of others have voiced their support for Nordone&#8217;s potential appointment, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). Kevin Bishop, who served as communications director for the late South Carolina senator, also said that Nordone would be a great choice.</p>
<p>&#8220;I know Lindsey would be beaming with pride and appreciation if his sister was the one to fill the final few months of his term. He loved her dearly,&#8221; Bishop wrote. &#8220;Darline is accomplished in her own right. She has years of experience in state government leadership. She&#8217;s also a certified optician with a long record supporting government programs for the blind and workforce development.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve known Darline for years. She&#8217;s a wonderful leader, mother, and grandmother. She&#8217;s a first-class person who would represent South Carolina with dignity and honor,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I could not think of a better or more fitting choice. I&#8217;m sure Governor McMaster will give her every consideration and greatly appreciate President Trump and his team for mentioning her as a possible replacement. I certainly hope this happens.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President Trump is right that Darline Graham would be a great choice to fill the remainder of Lindsey&#8217;s term in the US Senate.</p>
<p>I know Lindsey would be beaming with pride and appreciation if his sister was the one to fill the final few months of his term. He loved her dearly.…</p>
<p>— Kevin Bishop (@KevinDBishop) <a href="https://x.com/KevinDBishop/status/2076724545168261125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Her appointment alone makes history, because once she is sworn in, Nordone will be the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.</p>


Screenshot

Lindsey Graham’s Sister Named Interim Senator — She Accepted Through Tears

South Carolina

<p>President Donald Trump waded into South Carolina politics on Monday, suggesting to Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) that he appoint Darline Graham Nordone to finish the current term for her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), after his sudden death over the weekend.</p>
<p>Just hours later, at a Monday afternoon press conference, McMaster agreed that appointing Nordone was &#8220;a good idea.&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-grahams-sister-named-interim-senator-she-accepted-through-tears">Nordone</a>, surrounded by South Carolina lawmakers, accepted the appointment through her tears and said that after years of her brother taking care of her, she was honored to have the chance to be there for him.</p>
<p>There is precedent for what&#8217;s commonly known as &#8220;<a href="https://19thnews.org/2022/05/widow-running-office-congress/">widow succession</a>&#8221; in American politics — a phenomenon that has propelled dozens of women into seats in both the House and Senate since 1922 — and Nordone, though Graham&#8217;s sister rather than his wife, is the late senator&#8217;s closest living relative.</p>
<p>Graham and Nordone were <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/us/lindsey-graham-sister-darline-nordone.html">always close</a>, she said in a campaign video years ago. She recalled her parents being truly kind people who loved them both, but said that Lindsey was always the one who stepped in to take care of her. He took care of her when she was sick, made sure she was keeping up with her homework, and even taught her to ride her first bicycle.</p>
<p>Both of their parents died within months of each other around the time Lindsey Graham turned 22. Without hesitation, he stepped up to help raise his little sister. While finishing college and then law school, he spent his weekends at home with Nordone, where she was living with an aunt and uncle. When he joined the U.S. Air Force, he made sure that she finished high school and went to college — and officially adopted her so that she could receive military benefits and insurance.</p>
<p>Nordone recalled feeling the weight of being orphaned at just 13 years old: &#8220;[Lindsey] was like ‘I am so sorry, but it’s going to be OK. I’m going to take care of you.&#8217; And he did. He’s always been there for me, no matter what.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The shoes Lindsey Graham leaves behind will be incredibly<br />
difficult to fill. His legacy is irreplaceable.🕊️🇺🇸💫</p>
<p>There is so much more to a person behind the public figure.<br />
Here exists the human story.</p>
<p>𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 〜… <a href="https://t.co/t1oLelRLDj">pic.twitter.com/t1oLelRLDj</a></p>
<p>— April Color (@ColorApril) <a href="https://x.com/ColorApril/status/2076652854710874582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>When Graham launched his political career, Nordone always stood by her brother&#8217;s side. She made the case for him in South Carolina, telling constituents that her big brother wanted to take care of them — and the way he had taken care of her was a perfect example of that.</p>
<p>In January of 2015, Nordone held the Bible while her brother was sworn in by then-Vice President Joe Biden for his third term in the Senate. Biden joked at the time that he and Graham had &#8220;something in common: sisters who are brighter and better looking than we are.&#8221;</p>
<p>Graham sparked laughs around the room when he introduced his niece, Nicole, to Biden, saying, &#8220;He&#8217;s a good man, even though he&#8217;s a Democrat.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">January 6, 2015 &#8212; Darline Graham Nordone holds the Bible for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during ceremonial swearing-in with Vice President Joe Biden. <a href="https://t.co/8vB3IvD14z">pic.twitter.com/8vB3IvD14z</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076728275414479060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>When Lindsey Graham announced his run for the White House in 2015, Nordone introduced him.</p>
<p>They were close enough that Graham once joked that Nordone would have to be his First Lady — and in a 2015 C-Span interview, he declared her to be the single greatest accomplishment of his life: &#8220;Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it by far.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;He’s kind of like a brother, a father, and a mother rolled into one,&#8221; Nordone said of her brother — and suggested that the sacrifices he made to care for her might ultimately have been part of the reason he never married. &#8220;He was a young man taking on a young girl and teenager to raise. He was just dedicating all of that time to raising me and going to school and trying to get an education. There’s just only so much time in a day.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nordone, whose professional life involved helping people with disabilities find jobs, never ventured into politics herself — but always had that world in her peripheral vision because of her close ties to her brother. She made campaign ads and stumped for Graham around South Carolina and at the Iowa State Fair.</p>
<p>Nordone certainly took a very different path than her brother, eventually becoming director of public information for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and then working as a commissioner for the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which assists state residents who are blind or visually impaired. Still, Graham said in a 2015 interview that there would be no one better, in his mind, to represent the country if it came to that.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">From 2015 interview with C-SPAN, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on his sister Darline Graham Nordone: &#8220;If she took a role on she would be a great representative of our country. I can&#8217;t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/SjkwIV2TAH">pic.twitter.com/SjkwIV2TAH</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076693824454463567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;If she took a role on, she would be a great representative of our country. I can&#8217;t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister,&#8221; he declared.</p>


Sen. Lindsey Graham at the Iowa State Fair

Who Is Darline Graham Nordone, South Carolina’s Next Senator?

Who Is Darline Graham Nordone, The Next Senator From South Carolina?

<p>President Donald Trump reflected Monday on the loss of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), telling the hosts of &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends&#8221; that he never doubted Graham was there &#8220;because he loved our country.&#8221;</p>
<p>But when it came time for Trump to reveal what he believed was Graham&#8217;s most &#8220;legendary&#8221; moment, there was only one moment that made sense: Graham&#8217;s passionate and unwavering defense of Supreme Court Justice <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flashback-the-lindsey-graham-speech-that-turned-the-tide-for-brett-kavanaugh">Brett Kavanaugh</a> during his confirmation hearings.</p>
<p>&#8220;[Graham] got angry, like he did in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, it was so impactful,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I think it saved &#8230; Brett becoming a Justice. You know, it was just a moment in time when the Democrats got so sick and so angry and so crazy, and they were going to do something very bad.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;And Lindsey went on his tirade, and — it was much more than a tirade — but I think it was one of the great 10 moments of Congress, if you want to know the truth,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;I said that was one of the 10 greatest moments in Congress, and I think you wouldn&#8217;t find 10 other cases where somebody did what he was able to do there. He saved Brett from a very, very unfair decision — they would have turned a man down who was so qualified and such a good man.&#8221;</p>
<p>Graham, who was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time, used his time to defend Kavanaugh — but also to publicly chastise the Senate Democrats who&#8217;d used underhanded tactics to destroy the man and to issue a warning to any Senate Republicans who might have been swayed by their efforts.</p>
<p>After getting Kavanaugh to acknowledge that he and his family had been dragged through &#8220;hell&#8221; when he should have been facing a job interview, Graham laid into Democrats: &#8220;Boy, y&#8217;all want power. God, I hope you never get it!&#8221;</p>
<p>Trump also reflected on his personal friendship with Graham in several interviews and social media posts, announcing on Sunday that all flags across the United States should be lowered to half-staff until Saturday in Graham&#8217;s honor.</p>


President Trump Returns To The  White House After Spending Holidays In Florida

Trump Reflects On Lindsey Graham’s Most ‘Legendary’ Moment

Trump Reflects On Lindsey Graham's Legacy

<p>President Donald Trump said on Monday that he believes the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) would be best honored if his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, were to be appointed to serve out the remainder of his term in the U.S. Senate.</p>
<p>Graham died late Saturday night after what his office called a &#8220;brief and sudden illness&#8221; — and what the Washington, D.C., Medical Examiner&#8217;s Office later said was an aortic dissection. Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC) is now charged with appointing someone to replace him for the rest of his current term, which ends in January 2027. An announcement is expected on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.</p>
<p>&#8220;I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,&#8221; Trump posted Monday on his Truth Social platform. &#8220;This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!&#8221;</p>
<p>President Trump is not alone in his thinking, either. Graham&#8217;s fellow South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, also a Republican, voiced his support for Darline serving out her brother&#8217;s remaining days in the Senate.</p>
<p>&#8220;Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the senate term. After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and our country,&#8221; he posted on Monday.</p>
<p>And even Graham himself suggested in a decade-old interview that Darline would be a great choice to serve in such a role.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">From 2015 interview with C-SPAN, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on his sister Darline Graham Nordone: &#8220;If she took a role on she would be a great representative of our country. I can&#8217;t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/SjkwIV2TAH">pic.twitter.com/SjkwIV2TAH</a></p>
<p>— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2076693824454463567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;If she took a role on she would be a great representative of our country. I can&#8217;t think of a better person to represent our country in an event than my sister,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Graham and his sister have always been close. After losing both parents to illness when he was just 22 years old, Graham took over the role of raising Darline — who was just 13 years old at the time — and making sure that she got through school as well. After he graduated from law school, he legally adopted Darline so that she could receive benefits and insurance while he was serving in the United States Air Force.</p>
<p>In an old campaign ad for the senator, Darline described her childhood and said that even before her parents passed away, &#8220;Lindsey was always the one that took care of me.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">&#8220;Darline&#8221; &#8212;</p>
<p>One of several TV spots over the years that featured Lindsey Graham&#8217;s sister</p>
<p>Produced by Graham&#8217;s longtime media consultant Scotty Howell <a href="https://t.co/o1SFKcE7bd">pic.twitter.com/o1SFKcE7bd</a></p>
<p>— Medium Buying (@MediumBuying) <a href="https://x.com/MediumBuying/status/2076461873394823302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>She recalled him helping her finish homework, teaching her to ride her first bicycle, and even caring for her when she was sick.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was hard when we lost my mom and my dad, but Lindsey assured me that he was going to take care of me and he was going to be there for me,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And he did. He never let me down &#8230; He made sure I went to college. To take on that responsibility of raising a little sister, that came from within for Lindsey — and he did a good job.&#8221;</p>
<p>Throughout his political career — from his first days in Congress to his 2016 presidential run — Darline was by his side.</p>
<p>&#8220;Actually, I’m just kind of like devastated right now,&#8221; Darline told The New York Post in a brief phone call on Monday.</p>


Senator Lindsey Graham Makes Announcement On Presidential Run

Trump Recommends Replacement For Lindsey Graham

<p>Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took a moment on Sunday to reflect on his friendship with his late colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).</p>
<p>Graham&#8217;s office had announced his passing overnight, stating that his death had been the result of a &#8220;brief and sudden illness&#8221; — and later reports confirmed that EMTs had been called to his Capitol Hill residence to assist with a man in his 70s who was suffering from cardiac arrest.</p>
<p>While many of Graham&#8217;s fellow senators shared their thoughts via social media, Booker spoke directly to the camera to tell a behind-the-scenes story about his colleague and friend.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am stunned by Senator Graham&#8217;s passing, and thinking back this morning about some of the work we did together. My prayers are with his family and all who cherished him. Rest in Peace. <a href="https://t.co/cPUXDQxk1B">pic.twitter.com/cPUXDQxk1B</a></p>
<p>— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) <a href="https://x.com/CoryBooker/status/2076303529182978526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Booker dove right in with a story about his first real interaction with Graham, saying that when he was elected to the Senate, his first priority was to get something done on mass incarceration — and when he talked to colleagues like Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), they all told him that Graham was the guy he wanted on board.</p>
<p>The New Jersey senator said that when he approached Graham, he was initially told to come back later — Graham was in the middle of a contested primary against an opponent he described as &#8220;bat-sh*t crazy,&#8221; and needed to get that behind him before he could do the next thing. So Booker waited, and Graham won his primary — and then Booker came back to see him.</p>
<p>&#8220;I laughed, and came back to him after the primary,&#8221; Booker said. &#8220;And true to his word, he rolled up his sleeves and we went to work. And thanks to him and Dick Durbin and some other Senate heroes, our bill became The First Step Act — after years, two presidents, two Congresses, it became law.&#8221;</p>
<p>Booker went on to describe the scene as the bill was going through final revisions, when he was trying to get one last provision squeezed in about &#8220;children being put in solitary confinement&#8221; — and a White House official assured him that it was not going to happen. The official then proceeded to get Graham on the phone, thinking that the South Carolina senator would give a similar response.</p>
<p>&#8220;So he gets the White House operator to connect Lindsey Graham on the phone, and Lindsey Graham listens for maybe a hot second and then interrupts the guy,&#8221; Booker explained. &#8220;And says, &#8216;Are you kidding me? We need Cory Booker to get this bill done. We can&#8217;t do it without him, give him what he wants.&#8217; And it&#8217;s in the bill.&#8221;</p>
<p>Booker quoted one of the White House negotiators who told him early on in the process that Graham was the political equivalent of &#8220;an unguided missile.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;That, God, you never knew which way he was going to go — whether he would come back and hit you — but when he was aligned, when he would be in the right place at the right time, man, he could get things done that other people couldn&#8217;t and bring a lot of light and new possibilities to the efforts.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I am stunned at Lindsey Graham&#8217;s death,&#8221; Booker concluded. &#8220;But I pray that he is reunited with his friend [the late Arizona Republican senator] John McCain, that they both are experiencing God&#8217;s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness &#8230; I will miss my — perhaps most unexpected — friend in the Senate, someone with whom I got some good things done.&#8221;</p>


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Virginia Kruta