The most partisan Democrats celebrated Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for reaching a major milestone as her likely 2026 Democratic opponent Graham Platner’s campaign faltered from the fallout of a fresh controversy.
On Thursday, the Maine senator cast her 10,000th consecutive vote during a marathon vote-a-rama on President Donald Trump&#8217;s budget reconciliation package, which provides $69.5 billion in funding for ICE through 2029. The measure passed 52-47. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was the lone Republican who voted against it.
The Senate chamber erupted in applause as Collins hit the milestone, drawing rare bipartisan praise. 
“No matter what has been going on in the world or in her life, Senator Collins has never, never missed a vote in her entire Senate career. This is truly a remarkable milestone,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “Many of us try hard to make every vote. Senator Collins has actually done it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME, <a href="https://x.com/SenatorCollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorCollins</a>) 10,000 consecutive roll call votes. <a href="https://t.co/GVMKpiQDf6">pic.twitter.com/GVMKpiQDf6</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2062701833249059218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) backed up Schumer, calling the accomplishment an “impressive demonstration of endurance and determination.&#8221;
“I salute you for it,” he said. 
Collins, a moderate Republican who represents an increasingly blue state, is the first senator in history to reach the threshold. 
“Mainers are known for their work ethic, and they deserve a senator who works just as hard for them. Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those values with me to the Senate every day,” Collins said of her 10,000 votes.  
“Representing the state of Maine is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve,” she added. 
Maine is considered a must-win state for Democrats seeking to flip the Senate and block President Trump&#8217;s second-term agenda. Collins has consistently defied conventional wisdom and political headwinds, winning four reelection campaigns with cross-over support in an increasingly polarized era.
Schumer’s praise of Collins is especially notable as Democrats bend over backwards to defend Platner as he remains entrenched in controversy. 
The Democratic Senate candidate engaged in a pattern of “intimidating and disturbing” behavior toward multiple women and lied about not knowing the meaning of his Nazi tattoo, according to a new <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">report</a> from The New York Times citing former girlfriends.
Three of Platner’s ex-girlfriends described volatile and “toxic” relationships with the Senate hopeful, claiming he demeaned women, became physically threatening, and was repeatedly unfaithful. On one occasion, an ex-girlfriend accused Platner of twisting her arm, shoving her into a bedroom, and holding the door shut until she became “calm.” 
“It didn’t cause an injury, it didn’t break my arm,” she told the Times. 
In damage control, Platner strongly disputed claims of physical intimidation or violence. 
“There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true,” Platner said on MS NOW. “Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who’s politically motivated.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
WATCH: Hayes asks Platner where there are any other damning texts or pictures out there that could potentially get dropped late in the race. Platner&#8217;s response: &#8220;I&#8217;m not worried about it.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/lL70UrAaAA">pic.twitter.com/lL70UrAaAA</a>
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) <a href="https://x.com/BonillaJL/status/2062696625668075943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
Earlier this week, Platner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-still-on-the-ballot-janet-mills-reappears-as-platner-stumbles?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98I+Am+Still+On+The+Ballot%E2%80%99%3A+Janet+Mills+Reappears+As+Platner+Stumbles">met privately</a> with Senate Democrats in Washington as party leaders grew increasingly concerned about whether additional scandals could surface before the general election. 
Yet even as Democratic leaders coalesce around Platner, fissures within the party continue to surface.
“Graham Platner is a chronic liar who is mentally disturbed, sympathetic to Nazis, and dangerous to women,” Ally Sammarco, a Democratic political consultant, said. “I’m disgusted to see members of my party make excuses for his behavior because it’s politically beneficial. He should be nowhere near our party and the U.S. Senate.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Graham Platner is a chronic liar who is mentally disturbed, sympathetic to Nazis, and dangerous to women. I’m disgusted to see members of my party make excuses for his behavior because it’s politically beneficial. He should be nowhere near our party and the U.S. Senate.
— Ally Sammarco (@Ally_Sammarco) <a href="https://x.com/Ally_Sammarco/status/2062711389131551018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>

Susan Collins

Susan Collins Just Became Democrats’ Favorite Republican

Chuck Schumer

Democrats

graham platner

Maine

News

U.S. Senate

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner acknowledged Thursday that he sent sexually explicit messages to other women shortly after getting married while simultaneously denying a new round of allegations about his past relationships during a damage-control interview on MS NOW.
The appearance on MS NOW&#8217;s &#8220;All In with Chris Hayes&#8221; marked Platner&#8217;s first major national television interview since the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html">New York Times</a> published a lengthy report detailing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-girlfriends-say-platner-lied-about-nazi-tattoo-detail-disturbing-behavior?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Ex-Girlfriends+Say+Platner+Lied+About+Nazi+Tattoo%2C+Detail+Disturbing+Behavior">allegations</a> from former romantic partners just days before Maine Democrats head to the polls.
Asked directly whether he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women in 2023 and 2024 while married to his wife, Amy Gertner, Platner did not dispute the underlying conduct. 
&#8220;At the beginning of our marriage, I made mistakes, and Amy held me accountable for them, and we worked through them,&#8221; Platner told Hayes. &#8220;The work that we did made our marriage significantly stronger.&#8221;
The admission comes after weeks of scrutiny surrounding reports that Platner exchanged explicit messages with multiple women after marrying Gertner in 2023. Hayes repeatedly pressed the Democrat on the timeline, asking when the behavior ended. &#8220;It happened soon after we got married, and we dealt with it very, very early in our relationship,&#8221; Platner said. &#8220;That&#8217;s when it stopped.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Hayes: Were you sending sexually explicit messages to other women back in 2023 2024?
Platner: At the beginning of our marriage, I made mistakes and Amy held me accountable for them, and we worked through them. And the work that we did made our marriage significantly stronger.… <a href="https://t.co/1X5eInnI9K">pic.twitter.com/1X5eInnI9K</a>
— Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/2062689864093720996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
Platner is also a registered user on Kik, which the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has described as a “predator’s paradise,” thanks to a number of features that allow underage users to join the app and communicate with adults, The Daily Wire first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app">reported</a> last weekend. 
Later in the MS NOW interview, Platner said the women he messaged after getting married were adults and that the exchanges were consensual. Asked whether he knew their ages, Platner replied, &#8220;Yes. Oh God, I mean, yes, of course.&#8221;
While acknowledging mistakes in his marriage, Platner attempted to draw a distinction between those actions and the more serious allegations contained in Thursday&#8217;s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html">New York Times report</a>, which was based on interviews with more than two dozen people, including six former romantic partners.
Some former girlfriends described Platner as caring and supportive. Others characterized him as &#8220;toxic,&#8221; &#8220;unsettling,&#8221; and volatile, alleging he drank heavily, was frequently unfaithful, and in some instances behaved aggressively toward women.
&#8220;There are some allegations in this piece that I just want to be kind of unequivocal about, are simply not true,&#8221; Platner said. &#8220;Anything alleging physicality, anything alleging that I knew what my tattoo was, these are the statements of someone who&#8217;s politically motivated.&#8221;
One former girlfriend alleged Platner physically intimidated her during arguments, including grabbing her wrist, putting his hands on her shoulders, and pushing her into a room before holding the door shut.
When Hayes asked whether those incidents occurred, Platner flatly denied them. Hayes followed up by asking whether the woman was lying about the allegations. &#8220;Yes, that is not true. No, it did not happen,&#8221; Platner responded.
Platner also revisited a controversy that has followed his campaign for months involving a tattoo of the Nazi Totenkopf, or &#8220;death&#8217;s head,&#8221; symbol.
The Times reported that a former partner claimed Platner referred to the tattoo as &#8220;my Totenkopf&#8221; years before he publicly stated he learned of its Nazi associations. Platner denied the allegation. &#8220;I had that tattoo for 17 years. It&#8217;s a skull and crossbones,&#8221; he said.
The Democrat argued that he could not have knowingly displayed Nazi imagery, noting that he obtained a State Department security clearance, reenlisted in the Army, and regularly spent time with Jewish family members while the tattoo remained visible.
&#8220;Any statement saying that I did know is, again, totally false,&#8221; he said.
The interview represented Platner&#8217;s latest attempt to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/platner-promises-dem-senators-there-will-be-no-new-accusations">reassure Democrats</a> nervous about a steady stream of controversies surrounding his candidacy.
Earlier this week, Platner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-still-on-the-ballot-janet-mills-reappears-as-platner-stumbles?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98I+Am+Still+On+The+Ballot%E2%80%99%3A+Janet+Mills+Reappears+As+Platner+Stumbles">met privately</a> with Senate Democrats in Washington after reports emerged that party leaders were increasingly concerned about whether additional damaging revelations could surface before the general election. Platner told the lawmakers that no credible new allegations were forthcoming and that &#8220;the worst of the rumors&#8221; circulating about him were false.
Platner has argued that voters should focus on his policy agenda rather than his personal life, while his wife has publicly defended him and criticized the publication of private communications.
But Thursday&#8217;s interview also underscored a political reality confronting the Democratic nominee: even as he disputes some of the most serious accusations against him, he is now openly acknowledging conduct that has become central to the growing controversy surrounding his campaign.

Maine Democratic Candidate For Senate Graham Platner Campaigns Across The State

Platner Gets Defensive After Admitting To Explicit Messages With Other Women

2026 Midterms

The House struck comments made by Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller after he blasted Michigan Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib on the House floor Wednesday as someone who &#8220;advocates for terrorists on a daily basis&#8221; — but a look at Tlaib&#8217;s decade-long record suggests Miller&#8217;s got the receipts to back up every word.
Miller unloaded on Tlaib during debate, telling her directly: &#8220;Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, gentle lady from Michigan, and its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent.&#8221;
When Tlaib erupted in anger, Miller didn&#8217;t flinch.
&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sorry. Are we getting a little emotional?&#8221; he shot back.
After the chairman asked him to suspend, Tlaib erupted again — and Miller doubled down: &#8220;I certainly believe you advocate for them, yes. You advocate for terrorists on a daily basis. You advocate for a terrorist regime every single day.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A chaotic exchange grinds House floor debate on Lebanon war powers to a halt.
Max Miller says of Rashida Tlaib: &quot;Hezbollah is a terrorist organization &#8230; and its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent.&quot;
Tlaib moves to take down his words. &quot;Are… <a href="https://t.co/KDQ7qHGsFo">pic.twitter.com/KDQ7qHGsFo</a>
&mdash; Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2062297800386195563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tlaib immediately demanded Miller&#8217;s words be stricken from the record, calling them &#8220;a direct attack on my character.&#8221; The House struck the comments after Miller refused to voluntarily retract his remarks, Axios <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2062310787314524349">reported</a>.
&#8220;Such remarks impugn the patriotism and loyalty of a member of the House, which is not in order,&#8221; said California Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte, who was presiding over the House. &#8220;Without objection, the offending words are stricken from the record.&#8221;
The House itself has already weighed in on Tlaib&#8217;s record. In November 2023, the chamber voted 234–188 to censure her, with 22 Democrats crossing the aisle to support the rebuke. The resolution cited a years-long pattern of anti-Israel rhetoric, her <a href="https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/maxmiller.house.gov/uploads/2023/11/MILLOH_024_xml5.pdf">promotion</a> of the &#8220;from the river to the sea&#8221; slogan — a Hamas rallying cry calling for Israel&#8217;s destruction — and her inflammatory statement the day after the October 7 massacre, in which she called Israel an apartheid state and suggested the U.S. cut off support for its closest Middle East ally.
That was far from an isolated incident. She once said on the ‘‘Skullduggery” podcast, “There’s always kind of a calming feeling, I always tell folks, when I think of the Holocaust and the tragedy of the Holocaust.&#8221;
In 2021, Tlaib <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-rashida-tlaib-speaks-at-fringe-rally-where-activists-call-for-the-elimination-of-israel">spoke at a rally</a> outside the State Department where activists chanted for the elimination of Israel — even as Palestinian terrorists were firing hundreds of rockets into Israeli cities. In 2020, she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rashida-tlaib-expresses-support-for-palestinian-terrorist-who-tried-to-kill-israeli-soldiers">boosted</a> defenders of Ahmad Erekat, a man Israeli police say drove his car into a border checkpoint in a deliberate terrorist attack. In February 2024, she was the sole member of the entire House — Democrat or Republican — to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rashida-tlaib-votes-present-on-resolution-condemning-hamas-rape">refuse</a> to vote yes on a resolution condemning Hamas&#8217;s use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war, voting &#8220;present&#8221; instead.
She was also a member of a private Facebook group whose members <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rashida-tlaib-is-a-member-of-facebook-group-that-praised-hamas-after-its-attack-on-israel-report">glorified</a> Hamas in the immediate aftermath of October 7, posting photos of Hamas fighters posing with elderly hostages and celebrating the slaughter of Israeli soldiers as &#8220;achievements.&#8221; The group&#8217;s founder — one of Tlaib&#8217;s key fundraisers — has posted videos questioning the Holocaust and calling Jews &#8220;satanic.&#8221;
Miller called Tlaib a terrorist advocate on the House floor. The House censured her. Her own colleagues slammed her. Her own Facebook group cheered Hamas.
Strike his words? They&#8217;re the most documented words spoken in Congress all week.

Rashida Tlaib

House Strikes Rep’s ‘Terrorist’ Jab At Rashida Tlaib — But Her Own Record Tells The Story

Congress

Michigan

Republicans

Terrorism

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid into Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Wednesday over the senator&#8217;s son&#8217;s ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The viral moment came while Bessent testified before the Senate Finance Committee about the 2027 budget. While questioning Bessent, Wyden accused the Trump administration of illegally shielding President Donald Trump and his family from IRS audits. Bessent cited ongoing litigation and then unloaded on Wyden over his family&#8217;s Epstein ties.
&#8220;I did want to keep this focused on the economy, [but] Senator Wyden has mendaciously slandered the Treasury building in an attempt to cover up his son having an investment meeting with Jeffrey Epstein to ask for funding,&#8221; Bessent said.
&#8220;Let&#8217;s be clear here. Nobody is interested in the ramblings of a capo in the most corrupt regime in American history,&#8221; Wyden responded. &#8220;We want to get some facts about this deal. That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re here for.&#8221;
&#8220;We would like to hear what Adam Wyden and Jeffrey Epstein talked about,&#8221; Bessent pushed back. &#8220;Your son&#8217;s largest investment position was Rick&#8217;s Cabaret [a series of strip clubs]. So did your son and Jeffrey Epstein talk about pole dancing, as he begged him for money using your limited credibility?&#8221;
&nbsp;
<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0; height: auto;" title="DW Player" src="https://public.dailywire.com/preroll-player/embed.html?playback-id=Pedb7IbVZXvJYBGDqsOd5LZbR3suUzQz&amp;ad-tag-url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubads.g.doubleclick.net%2Fgampad%2Fads%3Fiu%3D%2F61914415%2Fdw.video.article%26description_url%3Ddailywire.com%26url%3D%26tfcd%3D0%26npa%3D0%26sz%3D640x480%26min_ad_duration%3D5000%26max_ad_duration%3D60000%26gdfp_req%3D1%26unviewed_position_start%3D1%26vpos%3Dpreroll%26output%3Dvast%26plcmt%3D1%26env%3Dvp%26vpa%3Dclick%26vpmute%3D0%26impl%3Ds%26correlator%3D%5Bcachebuster%5D" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
Adam Wyden met with Jeffrey Epstein in 2016 and sought financial backing for his hedge fund, ACM Capital Management. Emails released from the Department of Justice show Adam Wyden thanking Epstein for a meeting and expressing interest in having him invest in the fund.
“Jeffrey, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and hope my passion and dedication for my business came through in the meeting,” Adam wrote in an email dated April 28, 2016. “I intensely appreciate like minded individuals and would very much look forward to having you join us at the fund.”
The moment between Bessent and Wyden went viral online, racking up millions of views.
Another moment during the hearing that&#8217;s garnered attention was when Bessent confirmed the reported clash between himself and Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director who Trump just tapped to become the acting Director of National Intelligence.
&#8220;I actually said I was going to kick his a**,&#8221; Bessent said about the incident. The secretary added that he and Pulte are now on good terms.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fight-over-climate-chapter-exposes-tensions-between-judicial-neutrality-and-activist-lawfare">Fight Over Climate Chapter Exposes Tensions Between Judicial Neutrality And Activist Lawfare</a>

Scott Bessent, Ron Wyden

The Pole-Dancing Question That Blew Up A Senate Hearing

Jeffrey Epstein

Scott Bessent

A furious Democratic lawmaker interrupted Daily Wire investigative reporter Luke Rosiak’s Capitol Hill testimony on Wednesday, shouting over Rosiak as he spoke about the massive Medicaid fraud he exposed as part of an explosive, multi-part <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/medicaid-millionaires-how-the-feds-pay-immigrants-billions-to-hang-out-with-their-families?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DW+Investigation+Reveals+One+Of+The+Biggest+Government+Waste+Scandals+Hiding+In+Plain+Sight">investigation</a>.
“I&#8217;m not waiting on the committee, but this is ridiculous,” Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH) exclaimed as Rosiak was in the middle of his testimony. 
Brown, who represents Ohio’s 11th district covering Cleveland, is not even a member of the <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/subcommittee/task-force-on-defending-constitutional-rights-and-exposing-institutional-abuses/">bipartisan task force</a>, which includes six Republicans and four Democrats. 
&nbsp;
WATCH:
<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0; height: auto;" title="DW Player" src="https://public.dailywire.com/preroll-player/embed.html?playback-id=FZdseO4FmkM9f4yxLAyVp4wn01ghMSqpA&amp;ad-tag-url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubads.g.doubleclick.net%2Fgampad%2Fads%3Fiu%3D%2F61914415%2Fdw.video.article%26description_url%3Ddailywire.com%26url%3D%26tfcd%3D0%26npa%3D0%26sz%3D640x480%26min_ad_duration%3D5000%26max_ad_duration%3D60000%26gdfp_req%3D1%26unviewed_position_start%3D1%26vpos%3Dpreroll%26output%3Dvast%26plcmt%3D1%26env%3Dvp%26vpa%3Dclick%26vpmute%3D0%26impl%3Ds%26correlator%3D%5Bcachebuster%5D" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
“This is not your committee. You are not recognized,&#8221; Chairman Gill responded. 
“This is absolutely absurd,” Brown replied. 
Another Democratic lawmaker jumped in, questioning the fairness of the hearing. 
“I hope you’re gonna be fair in this hearing,” Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA) said. 
On Wednesday, the House Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses held its first hearing, dubbed “Universal Basic Fraud: Vulnerabilities in Medicaid Waiver Programs.” Task Force Chairman Brandon Gill (R-TX) said the task force is “going after institutions that stopped fearing accountability and abused the American people.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://x.com/lukerosiak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LukeRosiak</a> blew the lid off one of the biggest Medicaid fraud scandals in the country.
Tomorrow, he testifies before my Task Force &#8211; and we start holding people accountable. <a href="https://t.co/QSOS9dfC4K">pic.twitter.com/QSOS9dfC4K</a>
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) <a href="https://x.com/RepBrandonGill/status/2061860894397673546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-ohios-home-health-empire-7-buildings-288-medicaid-companies-250-million?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Inside+Ohio%E2%80%99s+Home+Health+Empire%3A+7+Buildings%2C+288+Medicaid+Companies%2C+%24250+Million">Recent reporting</a> by The Daily Wire highlighted how state oversight agencies failed to stop shell companies from allegedly operating out of empty offices that billed taxpayers for services that were never performed.
On Capitol Hill, <a href="https://x.com/greg_price11/status/2062182280001364241?s=20">tensions flared</a> as Rosiak detailed the scope and enablers of the rampant fraud.
“Companies are committing fraud by paying kickbacks for no-show jobs. The patients are committing fraud, but we&#8217;re just beginning to look into the root of the monster, the network of doctors who rubber-stamp this fraud,” Rosiak said. “That&#8217;s a criminal enterprise.” 
Republican members of the committee appeared more receptive to The Daily Wire’s reporting. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) entered all five of Rosiak’s investigative reports on fraud into the Congressional Record.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Congressman <a href="https://x.com/ByronDonalds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ByronDonalds</a> just had ALL FIVE of <a href="https://x.com/lukerosiak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lukerosiak</a>&#8216;s Medicaid fraud investigations introduced into the Congressional Record!
Be like <a href="https://x.com/RepDonaldsPress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepDonaldsPress</a>. Head over to <a href="https://x.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> and read the stories now.<a href="https://t.co/JYfe3pak1g">https://t.co/JYfe3pak1g</a>
— Tim Rice (@TimRiceDC) <a href="https://x.com/TimRiceDC/status/2062185475884896353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
Before the chaos, Rosiak detailed how members of the Somali community in Columbus, Ohio, have exploited healthcare programs. 
“Whistleblowers in the area tell me companies knock on doors in ethnic neighborhoods where most people are on Medicaid, and most people live in multi-generational households, and they tell the older family member to go to particular doctors and plan particular symptoms,” Rosiak testified to the committee. “Then they will put the younger family member on their payroll with the parent as their only patient.”
&#8220;I visited hundreds of home healthcare companies and only saw, I think, two people who didn&#8217;t have an accent,&#8221; he added.
WATCH ROSIAK&#8217;S FULL OPENING STATEMENT:
<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0; height: auto;" title="DW Player" src="https://public.dailywire.com/preroll-player/embed.html?playback-id=XNSXEdHLUAbUM00m9tFXimVJm01a3gW4AZ&amp;ad-tag-url=https%3A%2F%2Fpubads.g.doubleclick.net%2Fgampad%2Fads%3Fiu%3D%2F61914415%2Fdw.video.article%26description_url%3Ddailywire.com%26url%3D%26tfcd%3D0%26npa%3D0%26sz%3D640x480%26min_ad_duration%3D5000%26max_ad_duration%3D60000%26gdfp_req%3D1%26unviewed_position_start%3D1%26vpos%3Dpreroll%26output%3Dvast%26plcmt%3D1%26env%3Dvp%26vpa%3Dclick%26vpmute%3D0%26impl%3Ds%26correlator%3D%5Bcachebuster%5D" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Untitled design – 2026-06-03T111339.861

WATCH: Dem Shouts Over Daily Wire’s Luke Rosiak, Calls His Medicaid Fraud Findings ‘Ridiculous’

Fraud

Luke Rosiak

Leftist California state Sen. Scott Wiener is one step closer to serving in Congress despite the last-minute decision from longtime Congresswoman and former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to endorse his opponent. 
On Tuesday, San Francisco voters made their picks for Pelosi’s successor, selecting among Wiener, Supervisor Connie Chan, and Saikat Chakrabarti, the former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
With half the vote reported as of Wednesday morning, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-california-us-house-11-primary.html">Wiener and Chan lead the pack</a> with 41.3% and 28.6% of the vote, respectively. Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November regardless of party.
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The results delivered a slight rebuke to Pelosi’s political clout, who has represented San Francisco&#8217;s 11th Congressional District for 39 years in Congress. 
The liberal firebrand, who is serving her last term in Congress, threw her weight behind Chan. 
“I know and love this district, I know the Congress, and I know Connie. I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pelosi-shatters-dreams-of-san-franciscos-favorite-gay-liberal?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Pelosi+Shatters+Dreams+Of+San+Francisco%E2%80%99s+Favorite+Gay+Liberal">Pelosi said</a>, appearing alongside Chan in a video endorsement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi endorses SF Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed her in Congress, saying Chan &#8220;stands above&#8221; all the other candidates.
The Speaker Emerita’s backing is one of the most coveted in San Francisco politics. Pelosi has held the seat for nearly 40 years. <a href="https://t.co/9osp5FpboM">pic.twitter.com/9osp5FpboM</a>
— Monica Madden (@themonicamadden) <a href="https://x.com/themonicamadden/status/2056495042613895512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Her endorsement threw a wrench into the primary <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/wiener-chan-chakrabarti-congressional-election-22224962.php">as most polls showed</a> Wiener holding a commanding lead. The pro-transgender leftist is considered one of the most radical members of the California State legislature. 
“My family escaped fascism in Europe. I never thought the United States would slip into fascism like we’re seeing today. San Francisco has always been on the right side of history,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-trans-leftist-launches-bid-for-pelosis-seat-before-she-has-a-chance-to-announce-retirement">Wiener said in his announcement video.</a>
In October 2025, Wiener called it “<a href="https://x.com/WomenAreReals/status/1982259108108743044">gross</a>” that San Francisco women turned up at his annual Halloween event to protest his transgender policies. He called the late Charlie Kirk a “vile bigot” <a href="http://sd11.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-wiener-responds-governor-newsoms-comments-transgender-women-sports">before</a> and <a href="https://x.com/Scott_Wiener/status/1967604784757940280">after</a> the conservative activist was assassinated. He called Trump-ally Richard Grenell a “<a href="https://x.com/Scott_Wiener/status/1673352593530294273">self-hating gay man.</a>”
“Make him the face of the Democrat Party,” <a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/2062095869864808735?s=20">Grenell said,</a> responding to the election results. Even Nancy Pelosi ran away from him.”
In California, Wiener has pushed policies like California’s transgender shield laws, creating a sanctuary state for those seeking cross-sex hormones and sex-change surgeries, and mandating that foster families recognize and accommodate trans-identifying children in their care. He was also behind a push to reduce the mandatory sentence guidelines for people who knowingly exposed others to HIV, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pelosi-shatters-dreams-of-san-franciscos-favorite-gay-liberal?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Pelosi+Shatters+Dreams+Of+San+Francisco%E2%80%99s+Favorite+Gay+Liberal">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>. 
Tuesday&#8217;s results allow Pelosi&#8217;s machine to fight another day but shed light on the growing tension between the party&#8217;s old guard and an increasingly restless far-Left base.

54th Annual San Francisco LGBTQ Pride Parade

Pelosi’s Pick Stumbles As Pro-Trans Radical Moves One Step Closer To Congress

California

Election

Nancy Pelosi

Scott Wiener

An adviser to Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner threatened the female former staffer who went public with Platner&#8217;s sexually explicit text messaging habits.
Morris Katz, a strategist for Platner who also advises New York City&#8217;s democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, sent a message through a third party to former state Rep. Genevieve McDonald, warning her not to cooperate with The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal on stories that dug into Platner&#8217;s explicit texts to multiple women.
&#8220;Just want to be clear on where we are right now,” Katz wrote in the message McDonald first shared with <a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/05/31/politics/top-graham-platner-adviser-threatened-former-aide-over-sexting-stories/">The Bangor Daily News</a>, warning her that she would face a smear campaign if she assisted with the story. “If the story goes in its current iteration we’ll communicate directly on the record, and by name, that Genevieve violated the personal trust of Amy and Graham and shared explicit falsehoods to sabotage the campaign.&#8221;
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McDonald was working on another campaign for Jordan Wood, also a Democrat, who is running in Maine&#8217;s 2nd Congressional District — but she quit over the weekend in an effort to shield Wood from any negative publicity she might get in the aftermath of the Platner stories going to print. The message from Katz was delivered to McDonald through another of Wood&#8217;s advisers.
Katz also appeared to lash out at McDonald via an X post, though he did not name her specifically, when the stories were published, saying, &#8220;It’s no one’s f*cking business what happened in Graham &amp; Amy’s marriage before he was ever a candidate for office. There should be no place in our politics for incompetent, opportunistic operatives who violate privacy, betray trust, and prioritize vengeance over decency.&#8221;
Platner has been dogged by a number of scandals throughout his campaign, from the discovery of a Nazi-inspired tattoo that he&#8217;s since had covered up to his Reddit posts <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/didnt-deserve-to-live-leftist-candidate-appears-to-mock-wounded-soldier-in-resurfaced-post">trashing a wounded veteran</a> and Purple Heart recipient. The sexually explicit texts — to which his campaign has admitted — and his still-active profile on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app">predators&#8217; paradise Kik</a> were only the latest wrinkles in his very bumpy campaign.

Democratic Senate Candidate For Maine Graham Platner Campaigns Around The State

Platner Campaign Threatened Female Staffer Who Exposed Sexual Deviancy

Senate

Sexual Misconduct

Sexually explicit

Democrat lawmakers are pushing a federal bill to make businesses pay for female workers to take time off for period pain — an issue they&#8217;ve framed through the lens of &#8220;economic violence.&#8221;
The bill, called the Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, would require employers to provide up to 12 days of paid leave per year for female health issues, including period pain and menopause symptoms, and also covers abortion and vasectomies.  
Notably, the legislation would hit incredibly small businesses, too, even if the owner has as few as five employees. And it&#8217;s backed by abortion giant Planned Parenthood. 
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Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who attended the presser last month, said women are tired of being told to &#8220;tough it out&#8221; when it comes to their period and suggested the issue is also about ethnicity.
&#8220;While the system is broken for all women, it is in a full blown crisis for Latinas,&#8221; the Democrat said. &#8220;The nationwide 17% of Latinos lack health insurance — more than double the rate of white Americans. Over 20% of adult Latinos in Arizona have been forced to completely avoid medical care because they simply cannot afford it.&#8221;
&#8220;Latinas are the backbone of our workforce, and yet they&#8217;re disproportionately concentrated in low wage and hourly jobs that lack flexible sick leave,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Forcing a worker to choose between paying her rent or losing a day&#8217;s pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure is not a choice; it&#8217;s an economic violence.&#8221;
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), who is sponsoring the Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, recalled during the presser the pain she&#8217;s experienced from her period.
“Today, we are here to talk about women&#8217;s pain and how long it&#8217;s been overlooked,” Ansari said. “Like most women, I have a very personal experience with reproductive health pain.&#8221;
&#8220;In the summer of 2015, while starting my career in New York City, I woke up on floor of my local bodega drenched in sweat being dragged into an ambulance,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Two male paramedics hovered over me and continued to ask me if I was pregnant. I had passed out from period pain. Even now, every month, I have days where it feels like barbed wire is tightening inside me. I&#8217;ve taken 2,000 milligrams of ibuprofen in twenty-four hours and still been in tears from the pain. Often end up on the bathroom floor in the fetal position, crying, moaning, or vomiting. Still, I put on a blazer and gone to work.” 
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) is also backing the bill. “I know that many of you understand that we&#8217;re sick and tired of women having to be expected to say, &#8216;suck it up,&#8217; or still perform at the highest level,&#8221; Tlaib said at the presser. &#8220;They&#8217;re expected to show up to work despite incredibly painful periods and sit through meetings after being denied competent health care. And for far too long, women&#8217;s pain has been minimized, ignored, dismissed, and even politicized.”
As highlighted by some online, Democrats like Tlaib are advocates for so-called trans rights, or allowing males who identify as female in women&#8217;s spaces. In fact, Tlaib once said a bill aimed at protecting girls sports was effectively &#8220;legalizing discrimination.&#8221;
However, for this bill, the definition of women has reverted back to reality and biology.
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Screenshot 2026-06-02 at 7.52.06 AM

‘Economic Violence’: Dems Hold Presser Demanding Paid Time Off For Periods

Economy

Jobs

Women

All eyes turn to California on Tuesday as voters weigh the political future of Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and choose two finalists who will compete to succeed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate. 
Election Day marks the end of a rollercoaster primary season defined by wild twists and turns, scandals, and viral fumbles. 
The contest started with an unusually crowded and wide-open field after former Vice President Kamala Harris turned down the opportunity to lead the Golden State. Political analysts believed Democrats would have cleared the field as a goodwill gesture following her wipeout defeat against President Donald Trump.  
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One by one, Republicans and Democrats threw their hats into the ring, including Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, plus Democrats Tom Steyer, Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Tony Thurmond, and several others. 
The first major shakeup came when a leaked viral video showed former Rep. Porter (D-CA) berating a congressional staffer, a controversy that has significantly set back her campaign.
“<a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/1976054425685983327?s=20">Get out of my f*cking shot</a>,” Porter shouted at a staff member when making a video message for the Biden administration. The leftist, who made a name for herself by grilling billionaires with her whiteboard in Congress, has failed to catch any momentum since. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
&#8220;GET OUT OF MY FUCKING SHOT!&#8221;
Video shows Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) chastising staffer in newly leaked video
<a href="https://t.co/COKJSv3yQ7">pic.twitter.com/COKJSv3yQ7</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/1976054425685983327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
Eric Swalwell, the former Bay Area congressman, capitalized on Porter’s collapse in the polls. He quickly amassed key Democratic endorsements and was widely viewed as the race’s frontrunner.
But his hopes to lead California came crashing down following explosive allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Multiple campaign staffers accused their boss of sending sexually explicit social media messages and inappropriate behavior beyond the halls of Congress. Days later, he dropped his gubernatorial bid and resigned from Congress ahead of an expected expulsion vote. A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-accuser-claims-dem-drugged-choked-and-raped-her?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=99&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Swalwell+Accuser+Claims+Dem+Drugged%2C+Choked%2C+And+Raped+Her">fifth woman then accused Swalwell of rape</a> in 2018, alleging the lawmaker drugged and raped her in Southern California. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am suspending my campaign for Governor.
To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.
I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) <a href="https://x.com/ericswalwell/status/2043488502327972096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
As polling showed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/even-after-shivving-swalwell-democrats-arent-home-free-in-california-governors-race?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=97&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Even+After+Shivving+Swalwell%2C+Democrats+Aren%E2%80%99t+Home+Free+In+California+Governor%E2%80%99s+Race">Republicans could lock out Democrats</a>, blue voters have appeared to consolidate behind two candidates: Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire Tom Steyer, who has poured nearly $200 million of his own money into the race, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-governor-tom-steyer-billionaire-advertising-ed00b8f4ef4fcfa3b30bc8864a7873bb">according to the Associated Press.</a> 
Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, said Left-leaning voters appear spooked by the Swalwell scandal. 
“Becerra is this year&#8217;s version of the Biden 2020 campaign. He is a stable, reassuring presence, and that seems to have attracted voters, Democratic voters who are worried about less familiar objects,” Schnur told The Daily Wire. “Eric Swalwell was, it was a near-death experience for California Democrats.”
Biden&#8217;s former HHS chief went viral for demanding a glowing profile from a local television reporter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Awkward moment kicks off KTLA interview with Xavier Becerra. <a href="https://x.com/CaliforniaICP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaliforniaICP</a> Full report: <a href="https://t.co/UcMXzidzrf">https://t.co/UcMXzidzrf</a> <a href="https://t.co/OViYkfTg3t">pic.twitter.com/OViYkfTg3t</a>
— KTLA (@KTLA) <a href="https://x.com/KTLA/status/2054225112979612081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton, a businessman and former Fox News host, has consolidated much of the Republican vote. However, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco still has a durable base of about 9-12%, according to most polls. 
Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November regardless of party.
“What he needs more than anything else is for Bianco voters to decide they should not let their perfect be the enemy of the good,” Schnur said. “There are a finite number of Republicans in California. The more they split their vote, the less likely either one of their candidates moves on to the general election.” 
In the Los Angeles mayoral race that has captured national attention, former reality television star and community advocate Spencer Pratt is challenging incumbent Mayor Bass and far-Left Councilmember Nithya Raman.
Pratt, a victim of the devastating January 2025 wildfires, has tapped into his savvy social media background to drive a message of change in a city plagued by chronic challenges, including homelessness, crime, and skyrocketing prices. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
They not like us <a href="https://t.co/78hducHDUE">pic.twitter.com/78hducHDUE</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
Republicans <a href="https://tracker.politicaldata.com/?type=City&amp;value=CA+-+City+Of+Los+Angeles&amp;tab=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make up only 15% of registered voters</a> in Los Angeles, but most polls suggest Pratt is exceeding that share. 
The top two will also advance to the November election. For months, Bass has stalled at or below 30% in most polls, putting the incumbent mayor in an “extraordinarily vulnerable place.” 
“It wouldn&#8217;t be that surprising to see her finish third and get left out,” Schnur said. “Angelenos made up their minds about her after the wildfires. Fairly or not, they decided that she wasn&#8217;t up to the job.” 
Polls in the Golden State close at 8 p.m. local time. Given the state’s notoriously slow vote-counting process, it remains unclear whether races with national implications will be called Tuesday night.
“California has become the leader of the resistance in a deeply divided country, so for voters in other parts of the country who want a sense of how the Democratic party will move forward in a post-Trump era, this could be very valuable of early indicators,” Schnur said.

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area

Scandals, Fumbles, And Millions: California’s Wild Primary Ends Tonight

Gavin Newsom

Karen Bass

Katie Porter

Spencer Pratt

Xavier Becerra

The loudest Democratic critics of the “Epstein class” continue to carve out exceptions for Senate candidate Graham Platner, despite new revelations that he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with many women and maintained an active profile on a platform notorious for enabling sexual predators.
Over the weekend, The Daily Wire exclusively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app">reported</a> that Platner created an account on the Kik platform, which the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has described as a “predator’s paradise.” The revelation followed another weekend disclosure that his wife, Amy Gertner, previously flagged messages that her oyster farmer husband exchanged sexually explicit texts with as many as a dozen women.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hostage-video-platners-wife-attempts-damage-control-over-creepy-sex-scandal?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98Hostage+Video%E2%80%99%3A+Platner%E2%80%99s+Wife+Attempts+Damage+Control+Over+Creepy+Sex+Scandal">The one-two punch</a> sent national Democrats — who view Maine as their best shot to flip the U.S. Senate — into defense mode.
“I’ve not followed this story as others have, but Graham Platner is somebody who served our country, he’s served his community; he’s also made mistakes and he’s admitted that,” Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) said when asked about Platner’s character. 
“Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country. And this race is going to be a contrast between somebody who has put his life on the line for this country, against somebody who is literally empowering the moral hollowing-out of our nation from the White House,” he added.  
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
When asked whether Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner passes the “character test,” after CBS confirmed reporting that Platner&#8217;s wife told his campaign about sexually explicit texts he sent to other women, Sen Chris Murphy (D-CT) says Platner has lived a life of… <a href="https://t.co/coKBizY1aD">pic.twitter.com/coKBizY1aD</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://x.com/FaceTheNation/status/2061122039591673970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
Murphy’s deflection of Platner’s misconduct follows months of the Connecticut Democrat railing against the &#8220;Epstein class&#8221; as a pretext to oppose the Trump administration.   
“The Epstein class&#8217;s kids won&#8217;t die in this war. Poor families&#8217; kids will. Billionaires won&#8217;t suffer. Middle class families will pay more for everything,&#8221; he said in March. 
In November 2025, a more definitive Murphy accused President Donald Trump of being in “daily panic mode” over the release of the Epstein files, calling it the “biggest scandal in presidential history.” 
“Clearly, Donald Trump was at the center of a child sex ring. That is heartbreaking that the president of the United States was involved in that kind of gross, craven immorality,” <a href="https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1989380599124046297?s=20">he said to The Bulwark’s Sam Stein.</a> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://x.com/samstein?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samstein</a>: “What is your take on how this is playing out and why he’s acting in an incredibly guilty fashion?”<a href="https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisMurphyCT</a>: “He wouldn’t be acting this way if he wasn’t so deeply worried about what sits in those files…Clearly, Donald Trump was at the center of a child sex… <a href="https://t.co/EuRUKMEh36">pic.twitter.com/EuRUKMEh36</a>
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) <a href="https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1989380599124046297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who teamed up with defeated Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to push for Epstein-related disclosures, doubled down on his support for Platner.
“I am proud of<a href="https://x.com/grahamformaine"> @grahamformaine</a> for having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against genocide, and against an unfair &amp; lopsided economy,” he posted on social media. “I am proud of him for having a vision for a new deal for our time. Excited to campaign with him June 5!”
Platner’s scandal-ridden campaign, which has already faced intense scrutiny over his Nazi tattoo, his mocking of a wounded American soldier, and derogatory social media posts about women, doesn’t appear to be worrying other progressives down the ballot. 
A smiling Matt Dunlap, the Democrat running in Maine’s red-leaning 2nd congressional district, said Monday that he still backs Platner. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
GROSS: Maine Democrat Matt Dunlap says he still supports Graham Platner, exposed for his Nazi tattoo, cheating on his wife &amp; using a notorious &#8220;predator&#8217;s paradise&#8221; app.<a href="https://x.com/dunlap4congress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dunlap4congress</a> says he thinks this makes for “a good senator.” <a href="https://t.co/KQ2yM445r7">pic.twitter.com/KQ2yM445r7</a>
— NRCC (@NRCC) <a href="https://x.com/NRCC/status/2061474963110981773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/public-safety/2026/04/02/dunlap-picks-up-khanna-s-endorsement-in-maine-2nd-cd-race">Khanna endorsed Dunlap</a> in April, calling him a “progressive champion” who supports “holding the Epstein class accountable.”
On CNN, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) dismissed concerns that Platner is suitable to serve in the upper chamber. 
“Well, he certainly has many good attributes. He has a great background. He comes to this issue with strength, both of personality and determination, as well as history. But, like most everybody, there are stumbles along the way, and there&#8217;s some things that he regrets having done, and I&#8217;m sure the public will hear about them,” <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2061446597720912089?s=20">Garamendi said.</a> 
A strategic divide appears to be deepening between elected Democratic officials eager to take back power and a left-leaning commentary class focused on the party’s broader brand.
“And I will say, as a Democrat, I find it really problematic when we stand by people who do not pass muster when it comes to some basic judgment and moral values. We stand by them because they&#8217;re on our side. How is that different than Republicans doing the same thing? I find it really problematic,” Democratic activist Lauren Leader-Chivee said. 
Leader-Chivee appeared to predict defeat before the November matchup between Graham Platner and Susan Collins began.
“It was a long shot to begin with, to think that Democrats are going to take out Susan Collins. She&#8217;s been there since 1996. The polls are wrong every single cycle. She [has] extraordinary resilience,” she said. “And now you have this very problematic guy.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Democratic activist Lauren Leader-Chivee (<a href="https://x.com/laurenleaderAIT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@laurenleaderAIT</a>) on Graham Platner: &#8220;How are we different than Republicans&#8221; if we stand by him &#8220;just because he’s on our side?&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/EGIcb4OExq">pic.twitter.com/EGIcb4OExq</a>
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://x.com/tomselliott/status/2061449971862274317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>

Sen. Chris Murphy

Epstein-Obsessed Democrats Carve Out Exceptions For Graham Platner

Chris Murphy

The wife of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner discovered that her husband had exchanged sexually explicit text messages with multiple women and flagged the texts for Platner&#8217;s campaign last year, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
Platner&#8217;s wife Amy Gertner flagged the messages for some of Platner&#8217;s aides in August 2025, but the campaign ultimately decided to keep the scandal under wraps and label it a personal matter between the couple and their marriage counselor, the Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/graham-platners-wife-flagged-sexually-explicit-texts-to-his-senate-campaign-628ec832">reported</a>.
The messages came to light within the Platner campaign just before he appeared on stage with democratic-socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for a Labor Day weekend rally where Sanders officially endorsed the leftist&#8217;s Senate bid. Exactly how many women Platner exchanged sexually charged messages with was not specified in the Journal&#8217;s reporting.
Platner tied the knot with Gertner in fall 2024, and she first discovered the sexually explicit messages just months later in spring 2025. Gertner told the Journal that she and her husband worked through the infidelity, and their &#8220;marriage today is stronger than ever before.&#8221;
“We did the hard work that marriage requires. We went to counseling. We were honest with each other in ways that weren’t easy,” she said. “And we came through it, not in spite of how much we’ve been through, but because of how much we love each other and the life we’ve built.&#8221;
&#8220;I know who Graham is. I know the man I married and the husband he has been to me on the best and the worst days of my life. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t,&#8221; she added.
National Democrats have rallied behind Platner, pushing him as a political outsider and lowly &#8220;oyster farmer&#8221; who&#8217;s prepared to be a thorn in the side to Republicans.
The text revelations, however, add yet another scandal to a campaign defined by Platner&#8217;s long list of disturbing comments and actions that include defending his Nazi tattoo, mocking a wounded American soldier, and making derogatory comments about women. Earlier this month, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-candidate-complained-about-thai-prostitute-loophole-closing?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dem+Candidate+Complained+About+Thai+Prostitute+%E2%80%98Loophole%E2%80%99+Closing">reported</a> that Platner once lamented the closing of a loophole that allowed military contractors to save money on taxes by spending their time off “banging hookers in Thailand.”
“Spend your leave banging hookers in Thailand instead of getting b*tched at by the wife back home, and you could sell it as avoiding federal income tax,” Platner wrote on Reddit in June 2019. “Once the Afghans started using our paychecks as a personal piggy bank, that whole loophole disappeared.”
Platner is expected to cruise to victory in the Democratic primary in Maine on June 9 after his top Democratic opponent, Governor Janet Mills, suspended her campaign last month. Platner also holds a polling lead over Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.

Graham Platner

Graham Platner Caught By Wife Exchanging Raunchy Texts With Women

In a recent <a href="https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/2055103483913879882">post</a> on X, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom declared victory over Trump and Republicans after unveiling what he described as a &#8220;balanced budget.&#8221; 
 
&#8220;California just released a balanced budget that wipes out the deficit this year AND next — while protecting health care and safety nets,&#8221; Newsom crowed. &#8220;Meanwhile, Trump ADDED $2.4 TRILLION to the federal deficit with his &#8216;Big Beautiful Betrayal.&#8217; Republicans ruin budgets. Democrats balance them.&#8221;
However, fellow liberals have quickly pointed out that in trying to balance the budget, Newsom has backpedaled on his previous promises and suggested many Trump-like proposals.
Newsom <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/14/may-revise/">promised</a> that the budget plan, dubbed the “May Revision,” would bless California “with transformative investments in child care, schools, higher education, public safety, healthcare, housing, clean energy, new businesses, and the protection of our state’s natural resources.”
However, leftists have pushed back on the governor, pointing out that the plan relies on many key spending cuts.
The California School Boards Association and various teachers&#8217; unions staged a protest at the Capitol in response to proposed education cuts in the bill. 
Debra Schade, president of the California School Boards Association, <a href="https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/05/unbalanced-budget-cuts-newsom-california/">said</a> that the school funding that Newsom plans to cut is mandated by law and is not “a suggestion that can be discarded when it becomes inconvenient for policymakers.”
This draws some ironic parallels to the time Newsom&#8217;s administration <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/02/18/california-files-lawsuit-against-trump-for-illegally-terminating-1-2-billion-in-energy-and-infrastructure-programs/">filed</a> a lawsuit against Trump for his &#8220;unlawful decision to terminate $1.2 billion in funding for congressionally mandated energy and infrastructure programs.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Newsom has also faced blowback from the Left after scaling back parts of his earlier promise to expand Medi-Cal benefits for illegal immigrants. This has led leftists to protest and some Democrats to <a href="https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/immigrant-rights-advocates-rally-for-more-state-healthcare-funding-criticize-california-gov-gavin-newsom/article_18f05e08-ef12-5281-bfe9-164cec3e1325.html">compare</a> Newsom to Trump and ICE.
&#8220;These are the kinds of actions we would expect from a federal government that scapegoats immigrants and sends violent ICE forces to terrorize our community,&#8221; Kiran Savage-Sangwan, executive director of California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, said. &#8220;Instead, these proposals were made by our own governor in a state that claims to value immigrant communities. We know California is better than this.&#8221;
Newsom has had a track record of fiscal mismanagement, turning California’s <a href="https://calmatters.org/commentary/2024/05/california-budget-surplus-became-deficit/">$97.5 billion surplus</a> in 2022 to a $44.9 billion deficit by 2024.
The Legislative Analyst&#8217;s Office <a href="https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5187" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that the balanced budget proposal not only requires spending cuts but also draws from emergency funds, internal funding changes, and accounting maneuvers. 
Because of this, the office warned that the &#8220;underlying budget condition is not sound,&#8221; even after Newsom’s balanced budget plan.
The California State Assembly must vote on and pass a budget proposal by June 15, per the state constitution.

Donald Trump And Joe Biden Participate In First Presidential Debate

Newsom’s Ironic Budget Spin Angers Leftists And Worries Analysts

Budget

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