Newly released FBI files reveal that former Rep. Eric Swalwell had a sexual relationship with suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang, known as “Fang Fang,” settling years of public uncertainty over the nature of their relationship.
According to the May 2015 FBI files, released by the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/election-integrity/">White House</a> and reviewed by The Daily Wire, Swalwell told federal investigators that he had “physical relations” with Fang “on a handful of occasions” after meeting her in 2012.
Swalwell told investigators that the relationship was casual and that the two never dated or had a romantic relationship, but said he believed Fang was interested in pursuing a closer romantic relationship with him. Swalwell said that March of 2015 was the last time he had physical relations with Fang.
The revelation is significant because the precise nature of Swalwell’s relationship with Fang had remained disputed since her ties to the California Democrat were first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alleged-chinese-spy-got-close-to-democrat-eric-swalwell-fbi-had-to-intervene">publicly exposed in 2020</a>.
At the time, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2020/12/08/china-spy-california-politicians">Axios reported</a> that Fang had cultivated extensive relationships with American politicians as part of what U.S. intelligence officials believed was a Chinese political intelligence operation. Fang participated in fundraising for Swalwell’s congressional campaign and helped place at least one intern in his congressional office.
Axios reported that Fang had sexual or romantic relationships with at least two Midwestern mayors but did not report that she had a sexual relationship with Swalwell.
Swalwell declined to answer questions about the nature of his relationship with Fang when the Axios story broke, instead saying that he had provided information about her to the FBI and would not discuss information that might be classified.
The newly released interview shows that federal investigators were aware of the sexual relationship by 2015 and that Swalwell himself had disclosed it during the FBI investigation.
The interview also provides additional details about Swalwell’s communications with Fang. He told investigators that the pair primarily communicated through text messages, but also spoke by phone and exchanged emails. Swalwell said he had used his personal Gmail account to communicate with Fang and had reviewed the account before his FBI interview, finding approximately five email exchanges that he offered to provide to investigators.
Swalwell also told investigators that he did not know the source of Fang’s money. He said he assumed Fang or her family was independently wealthy and had never discussed the sources of her income with her.
The files also contain secondhand accounts from people in Swalwell’s orbit describing Fang’s efforts to maintain access to him. One source told investigators that Swalwell’s then-chief of staff had said Fang appeared at Swalwell’s home unannounced on at least one occasion. The source also reportedly heard that Fang had appeared at Swalwell’s door and made it clear to him that she was not wearing underwear.
The FBI documents are dated May 2015, meaning the disclosures came while Swalwell’s relationship with Fang was either ongoing or had only recently ended. Swalwell told investigators that March 2015 was the last occasion on which he had physical relations with Fang.
That timing is particularly notable because federal investigators were becoming increasingly concerned about Fang’s activities around the same period. U.S. intelligence officials later provided Swalwell with a defensive briefing warning him about Fang, after which he said he cut ties with her. Fang left the United States in 2015 amid the investigation.
Fang had cultivated relationships with numerous rising politicians in California and elsewhere between roughly 2011 and 2015. U.S. intelligence officials believed she was operating on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security and gathering political intelligence by developing access to ambitious politicians.
Among her most important targets was Swalwell, who had been elected to Congress in 2012 and joined the House Intelligence Committee in 2015.
Fang’s access to Swalwell extended beyond their personal relationship. According to the FBI files and previous reporting, she was involved in fundraising for his 2014 reelection campaign and helped place an intern in his congressional office. Intelligence officials believed Fang was cultivating relationships with politicians who could eventually rise to positions of national importance.
Swalwell has never been charged with a crime in connection with Fang, and investigators did not accuse him of knowingly participating in a Chinese intelligence operation. The House Ethics Committee also <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/4018047-house-ethics-concludes-swalwell-probe-into-link-to-chinese-spy-taking-no-action/">closed an investigation</a> into his ties to Fang without taking action.
In March, as Swalwell mounted his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-suspends-campaign-amid-sexual-assault-allegations">now-defunct campaign</a> for governor of California, his attorneys sent FBI Director Kash Patel a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/eric-swalwell-cease-desist-letter-fbi-kash-patel-suspected-chinese-spy-rcna266005">cease-and-desist letter</a> demanding that the bureau agree not to release investigative files concerning Fang. His lawyers argued that releasing the files would improperly damage Swalwell’s campaign and maintained that he had never been accused of wrongdoing.

Fang Fang

New FBI Files Blow Open Swalwell’s Long Running Fang Fang Mystery

China

Communist China

Eric Swalwell

Espionage

Politics

Sex Scandal

Sexual Misconduct

Spying

U.S.

U.S. Politics

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced Friday that he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, likely securing President Donald Trump’s nominee enough Republican support to take over the Justice Department permanently.
Cassidy’s decision came after Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/second-gop-senator-comes-out-against-blanche-confirmation">announced</a> they would oppose Blanche’s nomination, raising questions about whether the former Trump defense attorney could secure enough votes in the narrowly divided Senate.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Cassidy said he had spent days reviewing Blanche’s record, speaking with the nominee, fellow senators, current and former Justice Department officials, and former Attorney General William Barr before reaching his conclusion.
“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this,” Cassidy said. “But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche.”
Cassidy said his decision was not an endorsement of Trump’s broader approach to the Justice Department, but rather a judgment about whether Blanche would be able to effectively lead the agency and provide legal counsel to the president. “This is not a referendum on President Trump,” Cassidy said. “It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances.”
The Louisiana senator acknowledged several concerns surrounding Blanche’s nomination, including his involvement in a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund created as part of a settlement involving President Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, as well as an agreement that initially provided broad protections from tax audits for Trump and his businesses.
Cassidy said Blanche’s role in approving those measures reflected “poor judgment,” but argued the nominee had taken steps to address the concerns, including rescinding the proposed fund and clarifying the scope of the tax agreement. “No American should be unfairly targeted by the law, but no American should be above the law,” Cassidy said.
The senator also raised broader concerns about what he described as “apparent lawfare,” warning that the Justice Department’s use of prosecutions against political opponents has damaged public trust. “Both parties, presidents of both parties, have been guilty of this,” Cassidy said. “It must stop. It should stop now.”
However, Cassidy said he ultimately concluded that a confirmed attorney general would have more authority to resist inappropriate political pressure than an acting official. 
“I am told that Senate confirmation is important in interactions with the President, with others in the Cabinet, and is important to DOJ employees in general,” Cassidy said. “Being Senate confirmed gives them greater leverage to push for things that should be pushed forward.”
Cassidy pointed to Blanche’s previous work as a federal prosecutor, his management of Justice Department priorities, and his support among U.S. attorneys as evidence that he could lead the agency effectively.
He specifically cited conversations with two Louisiana U.S. attorneys, who Cassidy said praised Blanche’s focus on violent crime, drug trafficking, fraud enforcement, and providing resources to federal prosecutors.
The announcement came after Murkowski and Collins broke with the Republican majority to oppose Blanche’s confirmation. 
“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” Murkowski said. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”
Collins expressed similar concerns, citing Blanche’s involvement in the IRS settlement, the proposed anti-weaponization fund, and what she viewed as threats to Justice Department independence. With Cassidy’s support, Blanche appears positioned to overcome the opposition from Murkowski and Collins and become the second confirmed attorney general of Trump’s second administration.
Cassidy, who lost his 2026 Republican primary after Trump endorsed his challenger, acknowledged that his vote would draw criticism. “I’ll be criticized for this vote,” Cassidy said, briefly becoming emotional during his remarks. “What’s new?”
“I have a history with Mr. Trump,” Cassidy said. “But that history does not matter one bit.”

Bill Cassidy

Todd Blanche Gets Guarantee From Key Senator On Confirmation Vote

Attorney General

bill Cassidy

Congress

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

justice department

Republican Party

Republicans

Senate

Senate GOP

Senate Republicans

Todd Blanche

Trump Administration

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked further above-ground construction of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, ruling that the administration cannot move forward with the project without congressional authorization.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit <a href="https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2026/08/26-5123-2187096.pdf">ruled 2-1</a> that Congress, not the president alone, has authority to approve the ballroom project, siding with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the construction. The court paused its ruling for two weeks to give the Trump administration time to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court.
“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for executive self-help,” the court wrote. 
The ruling, however, does not completely halt all work at the site. The panel allowed below-ground construction to continue, including work related to security infrastructure, while permitting above-ground construction only when strictly necessary to protect those facilities or ensure the safety and structural integrity of the White House complex.
The decision came from a three-judge panel consisting of U.S. Circuit Judges Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia. Millett, appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Garcia, appointed by former President Joe Biden, formed the majority. Rao, a Trump appointee, dissented.
“Each president is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its executive residence,” Millett and Garcia wrote in their opinion. 
The judges argued that the White House belongs to the American people and that major structural changes require congressional approval. 
“We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for,” the majority wrote.
Rao argued that the courts had overstepped their authority by intervening in a presidential construction project and said Trump had sufficient authority to proceed. 
“The district court seized supervision of construction at the White House, and my colleagues affirm this judicial overreach,” Rao wrote. “Because the injunction is beyond the proper province of the federal courts, construction should be allowed to continue.”
Trump announced plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom as part of a broader effort to expand event space at the White House. Trump has said the ballroom would cost roughly $400 million and would be funded through private donations rather than taxpayer money, though subsequent reporting has raised questions about the extent of public funding for security work associated with the broader project. 
The administration has argued that the ballroom is necessary for both practical and national security reasons, citing the difficulty of hosting large events in temporary structures and the need for additional security capabilities.
Government attorneys have argued that the project includes protections against threats including drones, ballistic missiles, and other attacks targeting the president and White House personnel.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation argued that the administration lacked authority to demolish the East Wing and begin construction without additional approvals.
The White House demolished the East Wing last fall to make way for the new structure, sparking criticism from preservation groups that said the project represented an unprecedented alteration of the historic complex.
The appeals court’s decision leaves the future of the ballroom uncertain as the administration continues to weigh whether to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.

White House East Wing

Trump’s White House Ballroom Plans Just Hit A Major Legal Roadblock

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Executive

federal judge

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White House Ballroom

A Belgian lawmaker who escaped the clutches of Tehran’s ruthless ayatollahs warned Americans on Thursday of the same threat on U.S. soil.
Darya Safai, a member of Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives and leader of its NATO Parliamentary delegation, issued a chilling warning to the United States after shocking images surfaced from Dearborn, Michigan — a city she cautions is becoming a dangerous flashpoint just 25 years after 9/11.
&#8220;This is Dearborn, Michigan, America, only 25 years after 9/11,&#8221; Safai <a href="https://x.com/SafaiDarya/status/2085277701896540444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2085277701896540444%7Ctwgr%5Ecf5193739e52c052f3364b9d7ee9b6ce5486ec0b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.dailywire.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D1153011action%3Dedit">warned</a> in a blistering social media post that showed video clips of the Muslim Arbaeen procession in Dearborn earlier this week. &#8220;As an Iranian who suffered imprisonment under the ayatollahs occupying my beautiful country, I fight against this ideology not only to free Iran but also to preserve Western civilization.&#8221;
The procession drew thousands of Muslims, including women and children in black full-body garments, who marched over one mile through Dearborn, The Detroit News <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2026/08/02/thousands-walk-for-arbaeen-in-dearborn-to-honor-freedom-and-kindness/91083975007/">reported</a>.
&#8220;We do this every year,&#8221; said one Muslim man who owns a Pizza shop in the city. &#8220;This is about honoring freedom and kindness. Our prophet taught us to be kind to everyone, no matter who they are.&#8221;
Safai&#8217;s warning came two days after Dearborn voters helped elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abdul-el-sayed-secures-far-lefts-biggest-victory-yet-over-dem-establishment">Abdul El-Sayed</a> in the Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election, and he would become the first Muslim senator in U.S. history with a victory in November.
Safai, 51, knows the horrors of Islamic fundamentalism firsthand. Arrested during the 1999 student uprisings at Tehran University, she languished in a regime prison before fleeing into exile. Re-establishing herself as a dental surgeon in Belgium, she <a href="https://genevasummit.org/speaker/darya-safaei/#:~:text=While%20her%20participation%20in%20the%201999%20Iran,holding%20up%20a%20banner%20for%20the%20cause.">transformed her pain</a> into a crusade, launching the global &#8220;Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums&#8221; campaign and making headlines at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2022, she famously cut her hair in solidarity with dissidents fighting back after the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini.
Now, she says the very ideology that destroyed her homeland is knocking on America&#8217;s door, accusing radical displays in Michigan of mirroring the tactics used to crush ancient Persia.
&#8220;Our country, Persia, was conquered by this ideology,&#8221; Safai wrote, noting that after the conquest, Persians lost the right to practice their ancestral culture and Zoroastrian religion. &#8220;We know their tactics of intimidation through displays of power. &#8230; Know that the regime of the ayatollahs will fight America not only in the Persian Gulf but also through its Shia army inside the country.&#8221;
The outspoken MP also slammed the political establishment for turning a blind eye to radical infiltration, warning that Michigan is on the brink of electing the nation&#8217;s first Muslim senator while &#8220;dark-red communists&#8221; act as useful idiots for extremists.
&#8220;They are infiltrating politics everywhere in the world with the help of Muslims and also dark-red communists who believe they can change the system through so-called socialist politicians,&#8221; Safai blasted. &#8220;It is naïve, because under an Islamic system everyone loses the most basic human rights. Do you really think this crowd believes in equality between men and women?&#8221;
Recalling her own childhood, where at 6 years old she was forced into a dark veil and at 9, was shamed simply for laughing out loud, Safai warned that Westerners are dangerously oblivious to the slow-motion surrender of their hard-won freedoms.
Safai has also addressed the Geneva Summit for Human Rights on the systemic oppression of women under Sharia law, and her message to the American public is as urgent as it is direct: wake up before it’s too late.
&#8220;As a Persian, I have warned many times about how our beloved Iran has suffered under this dangerous ideology,&#8221; Safai pleaded. &#8220;We are trying to save Iran from the ayatollahs. Please don’t let them change the Western countries.&#8221;

Muslim Procession in Dearborn

Iranian Refugee Issues Chilling Warning After Video From U.S. City

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Dearborn

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Islam

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Maryland Democrats voted this week to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would pave the way for eliminating the state&#8217;s lone Republican-held congressional district before the 2028 election.
The measure passed largely along party lines, clearing the House of Delegates 96-38 and the Senate 32-13 before being signed by Democratic Governor Wes Moore.
If voters approve the amendment this November, lawmakers would gain significantly broader authority to redraw Maryland&#8217;s congressional map ahead of the 2028 elections, allowing Democrats to target the state&#8217;s only Republican-held House seat, represented by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Maryland Democrats currently hold seven of the state&#8217;s eight congressional seats.
The proposal would not immediately redraw district lines and would not affect the 2026 elections. Instead, it would remove state constitutional requirements that congressional districts be compact and respect natural boundaries and political subdivisions, leaving future maps subject primarily to federal legal standards.
Democrats argue the amendment is necessary to respond to Republican redistricting efforts across the country. 
&#8220;I continue to believe that our country needs national redistricting reform. But until that happens, inaction is not an option,&#8221; Moore said in a <a href="https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2026/08/06/redistricting-question-heads-to-maryland-voters/">statement</a>. &#8220;Maryland will not be caught flat-footed while Republicans engage in political redlining that guts decades of progress that the generations before us fought for.&#8221;
Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrats-put-redistricting-amendment-marylands-midterm-ballot-rcna590550">added</a>, &#8220;Maryland cannot remain on the sidelines because of uncertainty in our own constitutional language.”
The amendment marks a significant shift for Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, who earlier this year resisted calls from fellow Democrats to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 midterms. Ferguson had warned that aggressively redrawing the map could backfire in court after a Maryland judge rejected Democrats&#8217; 2021 congressional map, finding it violated the state constitution by excessively favoring one political party.
His position changed after the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year struck portions of the Voting Rights Act, a decision Ferguson said opened the door for additional Republican redistricting efforts in Southern states and changed the legal landscape surrounding congressional maps.
If approved, the amendment would remove the constitutional provisions that complicated Democrats&#8217; earlier map, making it substantially more difficult to challenge future congressional districts under Maryland law.
Republicans blasted the proposal as an openly partisan attempt to eliminate the state&#8217;s lone GOP congressional district. &#8220;Just because we can go ultra-partisan doesn&#8217;t mean we should go ultra-partisan,&#8221; Republican Delegate Kevin Hornberger said during floor debate.
Rep. Harris, whose Eastern Shore-based district is widely expected to become the primary target of any future redraw, said the amendment would fracture rural communities by combining them with heavily Democratic suburban and urban areas. He also predicted any new congressional map would face another court challenge if voters approve the amendment.
The constitutional amendment will appear on Maryland ballots during the November midterm election, with voters ultimately deciding whether the legislature should receive expanded authority to redraw the state&#8217;s congressional districts before the 2030 census.

Wes Moore

Dems Put State’s Lone GOP House Seat In Crosshairs With Redistricting Ballot Measure

2026 Midterms

2028 Elections

Democratic Party

Democrats

Freedom Caucus

gerrymandering

House of Representatives

Maryland

Redistricting

U.S. House of Representatives

Democratic members of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee announced Tuesday that they will <a href="https://jewishinsider.com/2026/08/democrats-plan-to-boycott-senate-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing-on-muslim-brotherhood/">refuse to participate</a> in a hearing on Wednesday focused on Muslim Brotherhood networks within the United States.
The boycott targets a session organized by Federal Courts Subcommittee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: Confronting the Muslim Brotherhood Network in America.” The proceeding aligns with broader initiatives by national and state Republicans aimed at cracking down on the group, which includes proposals to classify its various branches as terrorist organizations.
In a joint <a href="https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senate-judiciary-courts-subcommittee-democrats-blast-cruzs-hearing-targeting-the-muslim-community/">statement</a>, Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) sharply criticized the panel&#8217;s focus, writing, “Scapegoating Muslims may be a Texas Republican strategist’s idea of ‘solid gold’ to whip up their voters, but Democrats have no intention of indulging this political creepshow, particularly after the recent violence targeting places of faith. Our focus is the costs families face thanks to rampant, non-stop Trump corruption.”
Responding to news of the planned walkout, a spokesman for Cruz dismissed the Democrats&#8217; decision, indicating that the boycott was expected.
The hearing&#8217;s scheduled witness list features several counterterrorism and legal policy experts, including former FBI Special Agent Lara Burns, who is currently with George Washington University&#8217;s Program on Extremism; Arielle Klepach, senior counsel at the National Jewish Advocacy Center; and Kyle Shideler, a homeland security analyst at the Center for Security Policy.
In January 2026, the Trump administration officially <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0357">designated</a> three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist entities: the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood.
Last year, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy published a landmark report and companion analytical briefing titled “<a href="https://isgap.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MB-Project-Final-251117-01.pdf">The Muslim Brotherhood’s Strategic Entryism into Western Society: A Systematic Analysis</a>.”
The report examined how the Muslim Brotherhood executes a long-term, non-violent strategy aimed at embedding Islamist ideology within Western social, political, and academic institutions.
The report cited authenticated internal documents (notably the 1982 &#8220;Project&#8221; and the 1991 &#8220;Explanatory Memorandum&#8221; recovered during U.S. law enforcement actions).
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy identified four primary arenas where the Muslim Brotherhood tries to gain entry:
<blockquote>
Influencing government and politics: They build connections with government officials and lawmakers by presenting themselves as normal civil rights, religious, or human rights groups. They also team up with progressive or non-religious political groups when they share common goals, helping them gain trust and political power.
Targeting colleges and students: They try to shape what is taught in universities, who gets hired as professors, and what research gets done. They use hidden money from Middle Eastern countries (like Qatar) to fund college programs and influence classes on world politics. They also work with student activist groups to make anti-Western and anti-Israel ideas seem normal on campus.
Using the legal system: They use democratic laws and anti-discrimination rules to fight against police oversight and government terrorism investigations. They also use lawsuits to quiet their critics by claiming that any criticism of their political movement is just religious hatred or bigotry.
Controlling the media and storyline: They try to control public opinion by making people feel that criticizing political Islam is the same thing as being prejudiced against all Muslims. At the same time, they build their own network of community centers, private schools, and charities to keep control over local Muslim communities and preserve their identity.
</blockquote>

UKRAINE-US-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Dems Boycott Hearing On Muslim Brotherhood As GOP Shines Light On Vast Network

Mazie Hirono

Muslim Brotherhood

Richard Blumenthal

Senate Democrats

Sheldon Whitehouse

Ted Cruz

A Democratic congressional candidate competing Tuesday in a closely watched Michigan primary has repeatedly criticized what he calls America&#8217;s &#8220;cult of hard work,&#8221; urged the election of more socialist members to Congress, and accused Republicans of being an alliance between &#8220;fossil fuel billionaires&#8221; and &#8220;white supremacists.&#8221;
William Lawrence, a Democratic Socialists of America member, co-founder of the <a href="https://x.com/sunrisemvmt/status/2084685088919335135">Sunrise Movement</a>, and Democratic candidate in Michigan&#8217;s 7th Congressional District, made the remarks across multiple appearances on left-wing podcasts and radio programs uncovered by The Daily Wire.
Lawrence is competing in Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic primary against former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam for the chance to challenge Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) in November. The district is rated a &#8220;Toss-Up&#8221; by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483311">Cook Political Report</a> and is expected to be one of the country&#8217;s most competitive House races.
In one episode of his podcast “Hegemonicon,” Lawrence described what he sees as uniquely American problems facing the political Left. &#8220;You mentioned U.S. exceptionalism, the cult of hard work,&#8221; Lawrence said of American politics and culture.
In the same discussion, Lawrence argued that the Left needs to elect more openly socialist lawmakers and specifically called for additional Democratic Socialists of America members in Congress. &#8220;I think sometimes we want to talk about accountability, as if it&#8217;s simply a moral calculation, where we need more accountable working class and progressive or Left legislator[s] — we need more accountable DSA members in Congress,&#8221; Lawrence said.
Lawrence argued that socialist lawmakers should be supported by an organized political movement capable of protecting them after taking controversial votes against the political establishment. &#8220;But to become an outsider to that is, you know, we need a lot of reinforcements,&#8221; he said.
In a separate 2018 appearance on the left-wing radio program Rising Up With Sonali, Lawrence attacked the Republican Party in sweeping terms. &#8220;I said it before. The Republican Party is an organized alliance between fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brothers and white supremacists like Steve Bannon and Ron DeSantis,&#8221; Lawrence said. &#8220;They do not care one bit for the idea of democracy, and they are actively dismantling every piece of our civil liberties and our freedoms that we have fought and people have died for over the course of this country&#8217;s history.&#8221;
Lawrence has built his political career through left-wing activist organizations. He helped found the Sunrise Movement, the youth climate organization that became one of the driving forces behind the Green New Deal, and has campaigned unapologetically on the far-left despite running in one of the nation&#8217;s most competitive congressional districts.
His candidacy has highlighted an ongoing divide within the Democratic Party between its far-left and establishment wings. Lawrence has received the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and has both <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/progressives-michigan-join-forces-key-house-battleground-crucial-senat-rcna353212">endorsed and been endorsed</a> by Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, another left-wing darling in Michigan. More moderate Democrats have lined up behind his primary opponents, with Brink endorsed by former Governor Jennifer Granholm and Maasdam backed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Some Democratic strategists <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6002980-michigan-democrats-senate-house-el-sayed-lawrence/">have warned</a> that nominating Lawrence could make it harder for the party to flip the district in November, arguing his far-left positions may be a difficult fit in a swing seat that President Donald Trump carried by just over one percentage point in 2024. Lawrence has dismissed those concerns, arguing voters are &#8220;tired of the status quo&#8221; and &#8220;tired of corporate-funded&#8221; candidates.
The winner of Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic primary will face Barrett in one of the House races expected to play a key role in determining control of Congress.
Republicans have already begun highlighting Lawrence&#8217;s comments. &#8220;William Lawrence is a Champagne Socialist who attacks American competition and demonizes hard work,&#8221; Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire. &#8220;Lawrence hates the American way of life, and he is on a terror path to destroy our country as we know it.&#8221;

NYC-DSA holds a rally to tax the rich

Dem Socialist Candidate Rails Against American ‘Cult Of Hard Work’

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2026 elections

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Democratic Socialists Of America

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Texas has long been one of the Republican Party&#8217;s strongest states, particularly in the Trump era. But with just three months until Election Day, the GOP is confronting an uncomfortable reality: one of its safest Senate seats is suddenly looking competitive.
Three public polls released in the last week show Democratic state Rep. James Talarico narrowly leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, raising concerns that a bruising Republican primary and lingering questions about Paxton’s personal controversies may have left the GOP nominee vulnerable in November.
A <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-gop-divisions-shape-texas-senate-race">Fox News poll</a> released last week found Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 48% among registered voters. A <a href="https://texaspublicopinionresearch.substack.com/p/new-poll-james-talaricos-lead-over">Texas Public Opinion Research</a> (TPOR) survey of likely voters found Talarico ahead 45% to 40%, while the latest survey from the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67aa7aa3e284b002cd6a420e/t/6a713767d4ed824b91ea090d/1785804647961/Texas+Statewide+August2026.pdf">Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center</a> showed Talarico leading 47% to 45%.
While all three results fall within or near the polls’ margins of error, the consistency of the findings has forced Republicans to confront a difficult reality: Paxton is not beginning the general election with the overwhelming advantage traditionally enjoyed by Republican nominees in Texas.
President Donald Trump carried Texas by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024, but Paxton has struggled to replicate the strength of the broader Republican coalition, particularly among independents and some factions of the GOP electorate. The central challenge for Paxton is not simply convincing undecided voters to choose him, it is repairing the fractures created during a bitter Republican primary against longtime Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton defeated Cornyn after receiving Trump’s endorsement, but the contest exposed a deep divide inside the Texas Republican Party. Cornyn, a longtime Senate leader with strong support among establishment Republicans and major donors, was defeated despite millions of dollars in outside spending aimed at stopping Paxton.
That division has carried into the general election. Several prominent Republican donors who supported Cornyn have been slow to fully embrace Paxton’s campaign, creating concerns among Republicans that their nominee may lack the financial resources necessary to define Talarico before Democrats can define him first. Talarico, meanwhile, has built a <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/democrats-dominate-fundraising-key-senate-races-republicans-ample/story?id=134829415">significant fundraising operation</a>, raising tens of millions of dollars as he attempts to become the first Democrat in more than three decades to win statewide office in Texas.
The polling suggests that Paxton’s personal image remains one of his biggest liabilities. The Fox News survey found 59% of Texas voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character necessary to serve in the Senate, compared with 47% who believe Talarico is too extreme. Even among Republicans, 36% expressed concerns about Paxton’s character. The TPOR poll found Paxton with the worst favorability rating of any major figure tested, with 33% viewing him favorably and 46% unfavorably. Talarico, meanwhile, held a net positive rating, with 43% favorable and 31% unfavorable.
The Barbara Jordan survey showed a similar dynamic, with 39% of likely voters viewing Paxton favorably compared with 57% who viewed him negatively. Talarico was more evenly rated, with 46% favorable and 47% unfavorable.
Still, Paxton’s supporters argue his personal numbers are less important than the ideological contrast between the two candidates. The Fox News poll found roughly eight in 10 supporters of both candidates said their vote was primarily about where the candidates stand on issues rather than their personal qualities.
Republicans have already begun attacking Talarico over his past statements and positions on issues including transgender policy, immigration, religion, and healthcare. 
The challenge, however, is that Talarico enters the general election with some advantages of his own. The TPOR poll found voters trusted Talarico more than Paxton on the issue dominating many voters’ concerns: affordability. 44% of respondents said the cost of living was among their top priorities heading into 2026, and voters trusted Talarico over Paxton by nine points when asked who they trusted more to lower costs and improve Texans’ financial situations.
The Democratic candidate has also performed strongly among independents. The TPOR survey found Talarico leading Paxton among independent voters 43% to 23%, while the Barbara Jordan poll showed Talarico ahead among independents 63% to 23%. The Fox News poll also found signs of an enthusiasm advantage for Democrats, with Democratic voters more likely than Republicans to describe themselves as highly motivated and highly interested in the midterms.
The demographic breakdowns have similarly raised concerns for Republicans. Texas Republicans have historically relied on overwhelming margins among rural white voters to offset Democratic strength in urban areas and minority communities. But the latest surveys suggest Paxton’s advantage among white voters is significantly smaller than recent Republican nominees.
The Barbara Jordan poll found Paxton leading among white voters by 14 points, 53% to 39%. That compares with Trump’s 33-point advantage among white voters in Texas in the 2024 election. 
The same survey found Talarico leading among Hispanic voters by 19 points, 57% to 38%, while Fox News found Talarico ahead among Hispanic voters by 18 points. The shift among Hispanic voters is particularly significant because Texas Republicans had hopes that gains could be made with the demographic after Trump won Hispanic voters in Texas narrowly in 2024.
Despite the warning signs, Republicans remain confident the race can be stabilized. Republicans have controlled every statewide office for more than three decades, and the Fox News poll found the Republican Party holding a higher favorability rating than the Democratic Party statewide.
For Republicans, the path forward is clear but difficult: unite the party, rebuild donor support, and convince voters that Talarico represents a Democratic agenda they do not want in Washington.
For Democrats, the challenge is equally clear: overcome decades of Republican dominance and prove that Texas has become competitive enough for a statewide breakthrough.
Texas is still a Republican state. But for the first time in years, Republicans are entering a Senate race there facing a question that once seemed impossible: whether their hold on the Lone Star State is beginning to weaken.

James Talarico/Ken Paxton

Senate Race In Solid Red State Remains Too Close For GOP Comfort

James Talarico

Ken Paxton

Poll

polling

Polls

State polls

Texas

Texas Elections

U.S. Senate

The United States Soccer Federation and head coach Mauricio Pochettino agreed to a new contract to keep him at the helm of the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team, the organization announced on Monday.
Both sides agreed on a four-year extension lasting through 2030. Pochettino, who coached Team USA to its first win in the knockout stage in over two decades this summer, is set to be the manager for the 2030 FIFA World Cup taking place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The head coach will now be tasked with advising U.S. Soccer on the broader development of the full national team pathway, youth soccer, coaching education, and professional league collaboration.
“Mauricio and his staff believe in the future of soccer in the United States and our new project allows us to build on progress of the USMNT and the momentum of U.S. Soccer,” U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General JT Batson said in the <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2026/08/usmnt/mauricio-pochettino-head-coach-new-contract-through-2030">statement</a>. “We know we have a lot of work to do to achieve our clear ambitions, including competing to win Men’s World Cups.”
“Working together with U.S. Soccer over the past two years, it has become clear to us that there is tremendous potential to make the Men’s National Team program even stronger,” Pochettino said. “The passion we experienced from the fans throughout the World Cup only strengthened our belief in what is possible here. We are excited by the opportunity to bring all our experience and knowledge to even more areas of U.S. Soccer while helping strengthen the pathways for players, coaches and teams across the Federation.”
Pochettino signed a two-year deal with Team USA in September 2024. The 54-year-old Argentine manager coached the team through the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the recent World Cup.
While the financials of the contract are not yet public, the contract is being supported by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Contributions from Scott Goodwin, Adam Freede, and other donors were also crucial in the extension.
According to <a href="https://www.sportico.com/personalities/coaches/2026/ken-griffin-us-soccer-mauricio-pochettino-contract-1234940823/">Sportico</a>, Griffin and Goodwin played a major role in bringing Pochettino to the U.S. Soccer Federation in his initial deal, which was reportedly around $6 million per year.
After the Round of 16 exit to Belgium last month, Pochettino and Team USA will shift their focus to the qualifying matches for the next World Cup, the 2027 CONCACAF Nations League, the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2029 CONCACAF Nations League, and the 2029 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

USA Training And Media Availability – FIFA World Cup 2026

Team USA Makes Decision On Head Coach After World Cup Run

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Soccer

Team USA

USMNT

World Cup

Senate Republicans unveiled a bipartisan stopgap funding bill Sunday that would prevent a government shutdown weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, though not every GOP lawmaker is on board. 
The continuing resolution, negotiated by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), would keep most federal agencies funded through December 11 while lawmakers continue negotiating full-year appropriations bills beyond the September 30 funding deadline.
The Senate is expected to hold an initial procedural vote Monday evening, with Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) hoping to pass the measure before lawmakers depart Washington for the August recess.
The agreement represents a different approach from the House, which passed its own stopgap funding measure largely along party lines last month. Senate Republicans instead pursued a bipartisan compromise that can clear the chamber&#8217;s 60-vote threshold, making Democratic support essential.
Collins called the legislation a &#8220;major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that only harms vital programs and federal workers.&#8221;
&#8220;This measure gives Congress the time we need to continue our work on bipartisan appropriations bills, which are always my strong preference for handling annual government funding,&#8221; Collins said in a <a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/sen-collins-statement-on-release-of-continuing-resolution">statement</a>.
Not every Republican supports the deal.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) blasted the compromise over the weekend, arguing it gives away too much to Democrats. 
&#8220;Will I vote for it? The short answer is no. The long answer is hell no,&#8221; Kennedy said during an interview on NBC&#8217;s <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/gop-sen-john-kennedy-says-u-s-has-lost-perspective-on-war-with-iran-full-interview-267643461813?utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Meet the Press</a>.
The Senate proposal includes several funding adjustments, known as anomalies, affecting programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), disaster relief, national security initiatives, and shipbuilding.
The legislation also temporarily blocks implementation of a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule governing federal grant approvals, a provision Democrats argued would give the administration too much authority over distributing federal funds.
Murray <a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/senator-murray-on-release-of-cr-text">called</a> the Senate package &#8220;a much-improved CR to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown that no one wants.&#8221;
Even if the Senate passes the legislation this week, its path through the House remains uncertain. House Republicans approved a different continuing resolution before leaving Washington for the August recess, meaning the two chambers will need to reconcile their competing approaches before the September 30 funding deadline.
Congressional leaders have signaled that avoiding a shutdown has become an increasingly urgent priority as both parties head into a closely contested midterm election season.
If enacted, the continuing resolution would fund the federal government through December 11, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate a longer-term spending package after the November elections.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine

The Shutdown Fight Most Republicans Don’t Want

bipartisanship

federal funding

Government Shutdown

John Kennedy

John Thune

Susan Collins

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hedged during a Sunday morning interview, brushing off questions about whether or not Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson had been throughly vetted in the wake of former nominee Graham Platner&#8217;s public implosion.
Appearing on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; Sanders praised Jackson&#8217;s working-class background and progressive platform but emphasized that he had no role in the process that elevated the former Maine Senate president to the nomination after Platner withdrew. &#8220;I was not involved in that process at all,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;As you indicated, they had to move very, very quickly, and I think the Maine Democratic Party did the best they could under difficult circumstances.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bernie Sanders doesn’t know if Maine Democrat Troy Jackson was properly vetted.
NBC: Has Troy Jackson been fully vetted?
SANDERS: I wasn’t involved…
NBC: Will you endorse him?
SANDERS: If he asks me to, I will. <a href="https://t.co/EOtF6QNtad">pic.twitter.com/EOtF6QNtad</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2083921695211929716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sanders went on to describe Jackson as &#8220;a fifth-generation logger&#8221; and a champion for working families, highlighting his support for Medicare for All and protecting Social Security.
But when asked whether he would endorse Jackson, Sanders stopped short of offering an unsolicited endorsement. &#8220;If he asks me to, I certainly will,&#8221; Sanders replied. The measured response stands in contrast to Sanders&#8217; vigorous support for Platner, the progressive outsider whose campaign became one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s highest-profile Senate efforts before collapsing under the weight of several scandals
Before rape allegations ultimately forced Platner off the campaign trail, Sanders had repeatedly defended the then-candidate despite mounting controversies surrounding his campaign. When asked Sunday whether he regretted endorsing Platner, Sanders declined to directly answer.
&#8220;There were very serious allegations against Platner,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;As a result of those accusations, I and virtually all of his supporters requested that he withdraw from the race, and he did.&#8221;
Pressed again on whether he regretted backing Platner in the first place, Sanders instead argued that hindsight made the question easier to answer. &#8220;Well, you know, it&#8217;s easier to be a Monday morning quarterback,&#8221; Sanders <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2083926150837879124">said</a>. &#8220;Platner ran a very strong campaign &#8230; A woman made very serious allegations against him. He withdrew from the race. Period.&#8221;
When NBC moderator Kristen Welker asked once more if he had any regrets, Sanders did not answer but instead pivoted to broader Democratic politics, arguing that voters are rejecting establishment candidates and increasingly embracing left-wing alternatives. &#8220;The people of this country right now are sick and tired of establishment politics and establishment policies,&#8221; Sanders said. &#8220;They want change, and I and other progressives are going to do everything that we can to bring about those changes.&#8221;
Platner&#8217;s campaign collapsed after a series of controversies culminated in rape allegations, which he denied before withdrawing from the race. His downfall also prompted scrutiny of the progressive consultants who recruited and promoted his candidacy.
According to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/17/platner-is-finished-does-the-same-fate-await-the-out-of-state-consultants-who-recruited-him-01002652">Politico</a>, campaign advisers allegedly declined recommendations for additional opposition research after an initial vetting uncovered problematic online posts and suggested further review. The report detailed broader concerns that warning signs surrounding Platner were overlooked as consultants raced to elevate the political newcomer into one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s most closely watched Senate candidates.
Jackson was selected as the replacement nominee after Platner exited the race, giving Democrats only days to choose a new standard-bearer in one of the nation&#8217;s premier Senate contests. He has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platners-replacement-accused-of-having-kids-with-cousin">since faced scrutiny</a> of his own after a report surfaced that he has two children with his longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, who genealogical records indicate is his second cousin. The relationship is legal under Maine law, and Jackson&#8217;s campaign has not publicly commented on the reporting.
Jackson will now face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November as Democrats seek to flip a seat viewed as critical to their hopes of reclaiming the Senate majority.

Graham Platner

Bernie Sanders Can’t Say Whether Dems Vetted Troy Jackson After Platner Implosion

Bernie Sanders

graham platner

Maine

Maine Democrats

Media

Troy Jackson

The U.S. military is weighing new restrictions on cellphone use for some American troops serving in the Middle East amid concerns that Iran is using publicly available social media posts to evaluate the effectiveness of its missile and drone strikes.
Some U.S. service members deployed in Jordan have been told they could be <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/iran-mines-us-troops-social-media-military-considers-seizing-cellphones">required</a> to surrender their phones in the coming days.
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-commander-warns-troops-their-videos-help-iran-sources-say-2026-07-29/">Reuters</a> reported that two sources familiar with the matter said some troops had been told their phones would be confiscated, while a third source said military officials are also considering broader cellphone restrictions across the region because of operational security concerns. Those wider restrictions have not been confirmed.
The discussions emerged as fighting between the United States and Iran has escalated. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/iran-mines-us-troops-social-media-military-considers-seizing-cellphones">vowed</a> an intentional response after Iran launched strikes targeting U.S. troops in Jordan, saying the United States would &#8220;beat the f*cking sh*t out of&#8221; Iran.
U.S. Central Command confirmed that CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper recently sent an internal message to service members emphasizing operational security. CENTCOM declined to release the message publicly.
&#8220;The message is a general reminder to our service members on the importance of maintaining operational security,&#8221; CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins stated. &#8220;This is one of many opportunities Admiral Cooper has used to convey operational priorities.&#8221;
A Defense Department official also declined to comment to Fox News whether troops had been ordered to surrender their phones or whether additional restrictions were under consideration, saying CENTCOM does not discuss force protection tactics or techniques for operational security reasons.
Cooper warned that publicly available information, including social media posts, news reports,, and audio/ video footage, can help Iran determine where its missiles and drones landed.
&#8220;The direct, unavoidable cost of this open-source intelligence could be measured in the lives of American service members,&#8221; Cooper reportedly wrote.
Cooper reportedly cited footage uploaded online after Iran&#8217;s July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The attack killed Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and fatally wounded 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan. Sgt. Angel Rampersad is also believed to have been killed.
One video, recorded through a service member&#8217;s Meta smart glasses, showed troops rushing to shelter and documented the route the individual took while evacuating. According to Fox News, Cooper warned that publicly available footage can help reveal whether Iranian strikes hit populated facilities, struck empty areas, or missed altogether.
Rules mitigating personal cellphone usage already differ across the military. Personal devices are prohibited during sensitive missions and inside classified facilities, while many service members stationed at established overseas bases are still permitted to keep and use their phones.
Cooper&#8217;s warning is separate from concerns brought in June about commercially available cellular location data. CENTCOM previously told lawmakers it had received &#8220;multiple threat reports concerning adversary exploitation of commercial location data to target or surveil U.S. personnel in theater.&#8221;
A bipartisan group led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC), later urged the Pentagon to strengthen protections against that threat, warning that commercially available location data could be used to identify military installations, monitor troop movements, or track individual service members.

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