USpolitics 🇺🇸

USpolitics 🇺🇸

@uspol.skyfleet.blue

Monitoring News and Opinions about 🇺🇸 Politics America in motion: tracking the narratives, power shifts, and political currents shaping the U.S. From policy to propaganda, from influence to backlash. 🆘 @skyfleet.blue ℹ️ @trumpwatch.skyfleet.blue

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USpolitics 🇺🇸
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Ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump takes effect in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine town

thehill.comCeasefire brokered by Melania Trump takes effect in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine townA localized ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia took effect on Tuesday after first lady Melania Trump announced last week she secured a temporary humanitarian agreement for the border city of Oleshky.  The Russian-occupied town is located in southern Ukraine, and residents have faced shortages in food and medicine amid the ongoing war. The pause...
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Trump says East Potomac renovation will proceed despite judge's order blocking golf course closure

thehill.comTrump says East Potomac renovation will proceed despite judge's order blocking golf course closurePresident Trump is insisting his plan to redevelop East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., and renovate the public golf course there will be carried out as scheduled despite an order from a federal judge halting future work at the site. In a Truth Social post late Monday, the president said "we are closing the East...
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Midway through voting, Israeli turnout hits 53-year high

axios.comMidway through voting, Israeli turnout hits 53-year highTel Aviv, Israel - Halfway through election day , 45 percent of Israeli voters had cast a ballot — the highest level since 1973. Why it matters: This looks like bad news for Benjamin Netanyahu. Higher voter turnout will likely push several of the parties in his bloc below the electoral threshold — making it harder for the prime minister to reach a 61-seat majority in parliament. An increase in turnout among Arab minority communities could lead to a record number of seats in parliament for them. As in previous elections, Netanyahu has tried to energize his voters by making false claims about "Muslim Brotherhood supporters" of his opponents who are "stealing the elections." State of play: After multiple reports of long lines at many polling stations across the country, the Central Elections Commission issued orders to expedite the voting process and clarified that any voter who arrives at a polling station by 10 pm local time will be allowed to vote. Polls close at 10 pm local time (4pm ET) and exit polls will be published simultaneously by Israel's three TV networks. Driving the news: This is one of the most consequential elections in the country's history — with rival camps warning that victory for the other would put Israel's future in jeopardy. The elections are yet another referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the path he's taken the country down over the past four years. It's Israeli voters' first chance to hold Netanyahu accountable for the security failures that led to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks — or to reward him for what he claims were unprecedented military successes in the three years of war since.
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Live updates: Trump heads to Texas for a rally doubleheader

thehill.comLive updates: Trump heads to Texas for a rally doubleheaderWith one week to go before the midterms, President Trump is heading to Texas, with stops in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, as Republicans work to maintain their congressional majorities. He'll be in the Lone Star State hoping to boost support for GOP Gov. Greg Abbott's reelection bid and state Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate race....
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Key Senate Democrats set high bar for permitting bill support

axios.comKey Senate Democrats set high bar for permitting bill supportFour Senate Democrats are pressing Trump officials to begin restoring billions of dollars in clean energy grants before a key vote on the permitting deal. Why it matters: The path for the bipartisan bill in the lame duck session just got steeper. The big picture: Before the first vote, the senators — Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Ed Markey (Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (Ore.) — want Trump aides to tell the Energy Department to: Begin reinstating grants terminated in October 2025 that have not already been restored with a clear timeline for completion, and allow recipients to draw on the funds under the original terms. Pledge in writing not to cancel grants based on the political hue of a state or its officials. Driving the news: Their new letter to the bill's authors stops shy of an ultimatum, but says it would be "compelling" if these steps occurred. It shows deep misgivings about the bill, arguing it could provide new tools for Trump to favor fossil fuels. "[T]he promise of BAAJA will only succeed if President Trump takes care that it is faithfully executed. The Trump administration's record gives us no basis to assume that he will," the letter states, calling the bill by its acronym. Catch up quick: The letter recounts the scuttling of Biden-era grants, and White House budget chief Russ Vought listing states that did not vote for President Trump in 2024. The Energy Department has acknowledged , in a court filing , that selections of grants for termination in October 2025 were based on politics. Restoring "unlawfully terminated DOE clean energy awards would be a small but important first step" toward fairness in permitting, it states. Friction point: Co-authors Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) want to see more federal approvals of stalled renewables projects. They've called some recent administration moves a step in the right direction. But the new letter shows that other lawmakers have separate asks of the administration. Already, some House Democrats have criticized other portions of the bill and called for changes, such as its effects on tribal input into energy projects. State of play: The status of billions of dollars in scuttled or frozen grants — under the 2021 infrastructure and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act — is a moving legal and administrative target. Many are in "limbo," per a report this month from the DOE Alumni Network and Lawyers for Good Government. It also found that most projects DOE retained have received "negligible" funding. The October 2025 cancellations largely targeted blue states, but wider delays and uncertainty have affected places of varying political stripes. Flashback: DOE has said it reviewed grants for financial soundness, economic viability, consistency with administration goals, and other criteria. Sign up here for Axios' Future of Energy newsletter.
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Democratic senator: Trump is ‘laying the groundwork’ to steal Minnesota election

thehill.comDemocratic senator: Trump is ‘laying the groundwork’ to steal Minnesota electionRetiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) says that President Trump is “laying the groundwork” for MAGA allies to “steal” the Senate election after Trump said the federal government would be keep an eye on the state. “He's blatantly laying the groundwork to steal an election if his chosen candidate doesn't win... Minnesota will not take kindly...
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There are 7 days until the Midterms, 742 days until the next theoretical Presidential Election, and 816 days until the next optional Inauguration Day. Midterms progress: █████████▒ 99% Presidency/Regime progress: ████▒▒▒▒▒▒ 46% Until Next Inauguration : ████▒▒▒▒▒▒ 44% #protest

impeachtrumpagain.orgIMPEACH TRUMP. AGAIN.Impeach Trump. Sign the petition NOW to defend democracy and demand accountability! He is disqualified from office, and has violated the U.S. Constitution.
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Inside Trump's red state blitz to stave off a Democratic midterm sweep

thehill.comInside Trump's red state blitz to stave off a Democratic midterm sweepRepublicans are working to salvage the House and Senate maps one week before Election Day as the chance of a Democratic sweep becomes more likely.  Turnout has played a central role in the GOP’s strategy despite midterm election cycles often yielding lower turnout than presidential years. The party has argued that President Trump’s presence on...
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Socialist civil war engulfs Los Angeles mayor race

axios.comSocialist civil war engulfs Los Angeles mayor raceA fight over Israel is fracturing the socialist movement just as it stands within reach of capturing the Los Angeles mayor's office . Why it matters: The same socialist movement celebrating its ascendancy through New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is now debating whether to disown Nithya Raman before Los Angeles voters can even weigh in. National Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leaders face demands to overturn the local chapter's endorsement of Raman over her position on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The Los Angeles chapter of DSA still enthusiastically endorses Raman , arguing Angelenos deserve a functioning city government. The mayoral race has been defined by homelessness, affordability and public safety. By the numbers: Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in recent polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election, though many voters remain undecided. Overall : A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll put Raman ahead 39%-28%, with 33% undecided. A more recent Manhattan Institute poll showed Raman leading 38%-32%, with 30% undecided. Among likely Latino voters: Raman led 45%-21%, with 34% undecided in the Berkeley poll. Among socialists: DSA's Los Angeles chapter endorsed Raman in a 937-484 vote, with 52 abstentions. State of play: On Oct. 4, DSA's National Political Committee found that the chapter violated endorsement rules by failing to ask Raman about BDS, but stopped short of invalidating its support. National leaders have considered proposals to revoke the endorsement and bar the chapter from using resources to campaign for her, per Vanity Fair . A DSA faction has called for questioning Raman about her views on Palestine, with possible expulsion if national leaders find her positions incompatible with the group's principles. Sticking point: The Democratic Socialists of America's published endorsement requirements say candidates must actively support BDS and avoid affiliations with the Israeli government or "Zionist lobbying groups." The DSA declined to comment. Zoom in: Raman has broken with DSA before, including on Israel, policing and housing. DSA-LA censured her in 2024 for accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles but maintained its support. She voted to approve LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell over DSA objections and sought changes to L.A.'s mansion tax . At a September 29 Jewish voter forum , Raman defended calling Israel's military campaign in Gaza genocide but declined to put BDS on her municipal platform. Raman said she believes Israel has a right to exist. What they're saying: Raman has stressed her independence from DSA. "My independence will always be paramount," she told the Jewish forum, according to AP . The next night, Raman described her approach to socialism to Axios and Noticias Telemundo as "sewer socialism" or "pothole politics," adding: "I just want government to work for the people." Zoom out: Raman isn't the first prominent progressive to clash with DSA over Israel. National DSA leaders withdrew a conditional national endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in July 2024 over unmet demands involving Israel and BDS. Its New York City chapter continued supporting her. In March, Ocasio-Cortez pledged to oppose all U.S. funding for Israel, including defensive weapons. New York City's DSA chapter subsequently endorsed her reelection despite more than 500 opposing votes.
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Israel braces for an election each side warns could bring ruin

axios.comIsrael braces for an election each side warns could bring ruinIsraelis head to the polls today for one of the most consequential elections in the country's history — with rival camps warning that victory for the other would put Israel's future in jeopardy. Why it matters: The elections are yet another referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the path he's taken the country down over the past four years. It's Israeli voters' first chance to hold Netanyahu accountable for the security failures that led to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks — or to reward him for what he claims were unprecedented military successes in the three years of war since. If Netanyahu and his far-right coalition win, they're likely to renew the war with Iran in an effort to topple its regime, intensify their crackdown on Israel's democratic institutions and move to end Netanyahu's corruption trial. Driving the news: Netanyahu's campaign was totally focused on the war with Iran. After two military campaigns over the last 18 months in which he claimed that Israel destroyed Iran's nuclear program, Netanyahu's main talking point was that Iran is moving closer to a nuclear bomb. Earlier this week, Netanyahu went as far as posting an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being destroyed by an Iranian nuclear bomb — implying that's what will happen if he loses. Behind the scenes: Netanyahu spent weeks trying to persuade President Trump to give him a green light to strike Iran ahead of the elections. Trump did not go along. In the 72 hours before the elections, Netanyahu tried to order the Israel Defense Forces to take steps to lay the ground for a potential new military strike or take actions short of an overt attack, Israeli officials say. IDF chief of staff General Eyal Zamir refused to abide. He warned that such a strike could lead to a miscalculation that quickly escalated hostilities and potentially forced the elections to be called off, the officials said. The Israeli officials said Zamir insisted there was no operational urgency in taking these steps ahead of the elections and eventually got Netanyahu to back off. The other side: Netanyahu's main opponent, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, ran on holding Netanyahu accountable for the October 7 failure, forming a national commission of inquiry and drafting ultra-Orthodox men to strengthen the IDF after three years of war. Another Netanyahu opponent, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, blamed the incumbent for what he called extreme government dysfunction the past four years. Both attacked Netanyahu over the fact that some of his closest advisers and his campaign manager received money from Qatar in return for trying to sway Israeli public opinion during the war. Bennett called it "treason." (Netanyahu said he didn't know his advisers were paid by Qatar, and the aides said the money was for a project involving the World Cup.) State of play: Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, ultra-Orthodox bloc arrived at the election unorganized, divided, and highly unpopular. Many of its voters are demoralized, and they face a significant risk of losing voters who back pro-Netanyahu parties that don't pass the 3.25% electoral threshold. The opposition bloc, by contrast, arrived at the elections well organized and with little risk of losing votes to the electoral threshold. The voters of the opposition parties have been much more motivated, with many civil society organizations focusing on canvassing and increasing turnout. More than 50,000 Israelis who have left the country over the last four years traveled back to participate in the elections, according to estimates. Most of them are expected to vote for the opposition parties. The turnout among the Arab minority in Israel is pegged to be the highest ever, with the two Arab parties projected to win around 15 seats combined. With 61 seats needed for a majority, that's a sizable bloc. But the final days of the campaign saw infighting between the opposition parties. Some members of Eisenkot's bloc have yet to accept his leadership. Yes, but: Netanyahu has defied all odds multiple times before. He could still energize his base on election day and win back disgruntled voters who considered switching sides. Netanyahu doesn't have to win. He only needs to get enough seats to block his opponents from forming a coalition or swearing in a minority government. That would allow him to serve as a caretaker prime minister for another six months until another election is held. What to watch: If the opposition bloc wins more seats than Netanyahu's, it will be up to Eisenkot to quickly unite his political partners behind a government that would remove Netanyahu from power. More than 7 million people are eligible to vote, and turnout is expected to be the highest in decades. Polls close at 4 pm ET.
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Anthropic IPO leads AI's $235 billion dealmaking blitz

axios.comAnthropic IPO leads AI's $235 billion dealmaking blitzAnthropic filed yesterday for what could be the biggest IPO ever, capping a massive day of AI dealmaking that nearly equals 1% of U.S. GDP. Why it matters: Few industries have ever become so central to the American economy so quickly — and we're watching Wall Street finance the buildout in real time. Driving the news: Anthropic's long-awaited IPO may seek to raise a record $100 billion. Also yesterday, SpaceX secured $40 billion in debt financing to lease GPUs — the chips that power modern AI — and Meta said it would seek up to $95 billion in financing for its AI buildout. Together, that's roughly $235 billion in a single day — more than the entire U.S. airline industry adds to the economy in a year. The big picture: AI's appetite for capital has outgrown what any one single part of the financial system can supply. Anthropic alone has committed roughly $750 billion to computing power in the coming years — about seven times what its record-setting IPO may raise. Even private investors are struggling to keep up: OpenAI's record $120 billion funding round took months to close. Zoom in: Most Americans will be financially exposed to these deals, even if they never buy a share. SpaceX and Meta are already major holdings in the top stock indices that fill pensions, 401(k)s and other retirement plans. Anthropic will soon join them. Between the lines: Anthropic's filing spells out how big the stakes are, devoting more than a quarter of the document to risks. The company warns that AI could pose "catastrophic or existential risks to humanity" and that models may try to manipulate the people using them. Zoom out: Each of these three deals is a bet that AI use keeps compounding fast enough to justify the industry's trillions in spending. The flip side, however, is that declining use could crack the foundation of America's entire economy. The bottom line: Everyone is on the AI train, whether we want to be or not.
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Democrats’ affordability message collides with calls to defend transgender rights

politico.comDemocrats’ affordability message collides with calls to defend transgender rightsSome Democrats are fired up to use their potential majorities in Congress next year and undo President Donald Trump’s attacks on transgender Americans. Others just want to focus on the cost of gas. Ahead of the midterms, progressive lawmakers and congressional candidates are clashing with moderates in office and on the campaign trail over whether to pursue a legislative agenda that includes protecting trans people — whose health care , participation in athletics and protections against discrimination have been targeted by the administration. “We need to have an affirmative platform that protects and expands rights for LGBTQ people,” said Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey in an interview. He is among nearly a dozen lawmakers and advocates who said they want Democrats to pursue a two-pronged approach: pass legislation to codify certain rights for trans individuals, and use committee gavels to compel public testimony from Trump officials on their efforts to undermine protections for trans and nonbinary people. But the need to tackle affordability, not culture war fights, has been the overriding theme of the Democrats’ push to retake control of Congress. Many Democrats believe that their promise to lower the cost of living will be the reason they win back majorities in the House or the Senate. Many centrists fear any pivot away from that pledge would splinter a new Democratic majority on Capitol Hill, especially with some candidates openly rejecting some trans rights initiatives during their campaigns. “You have to focus on what people care about,” Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) said in an interview. “Right now that’s affordability, and they want some relief. That’s what we should talk about.” Rep. Marc Veasey, a moderate Texas Democrat who is retiring this year, said “cultural issues” including transgender rights are “something we should dive into once [Trump] is gone.” “The American public is going to want to see our caucus focus on costs as long as he continues to affect the markets negatively with his tariffs and wars,” he said. Progressive advocacy groups and their Hill allies say they can’t wait. Democrats, they argue, should hold hearings on the DOJ’s decision last summer to subpoena more than 20 doctors and clinics who’ve provided gender-affirming care to obtain potentially patient-identifying information, advocates say, leading some hospitals to stop providing youth gender affirming care . They also want Democrats to challenge the Education Department’s move last month to officially rescind anti-discrimination protections for transgender students instituted under former President Joe Biden. They’re pushing, too, for an investigation of the Justice Department’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for incarcerated people and policy against placing prisoners in populations consistent with their gender identity — a move which has faced legal challenges . In terms of legislation, Democrats are sure to encounter limitations so long as long as Trump is in office. The president is opposed to the cornerstone piece of LGBTQ+ advocates’ agenda, the Equality Act, which would amend civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit gender identity discrimination. It might not even have the votes to overcome a Senate filibuster and get to Trump’s desk. Democrats likewise are sure to run into resistance in trying to attach pro-transgender policies to must-pass legislative vehicles, such as government spending bills or the annual defense policy package. The same goes for any attempts to overrule or modify the administration’s suggested changes to the 2030 Census, which include a proposal to remove questions about sexual orientation. That reality should not be a deterrent, argued Ramiro Sarmiento, national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, a pro-LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy group. “Congress needs to use every tool it has to push back against the dismantling of protections at the federal level,” said Sarmiento. He, along with Ian Thompson, senior legislative advocate at the ACLU, and Tyler Hack, founder and executive director of the Christopher Street Project — a hybrid PAC and nonprofit focused on building support for transgender rights in Congress — said their organizations have already begun preliminary conversations with several Democrats about the moves they could make to reverse or combat anti-trans-rights initiatives by Trump administration. Those Democrats include longstanding LGBTQ+ rights champions like Markey and Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, plus progressive candidates like Minnesota’s Peggy Flanagan and New York’s Claire Valdez and Brad Lander. Hack conceded that trans protection issues are not what “most Americans are thinking about” but added, “Unfortunately, they are the issues that the White House is thinking about, and it's the responsibility of Congress to be a check on their powers.” The advocates say Trump’s executive orders and the GOP agenda have had drastic impacts on transgender Americans and their families, including by limiting their access to health care and identification documents that reflect their gender identity. It’s led some families with trans children to make plans to leave the country . “I believe our role in Congress is to stand up for the little guys who are being picked on by bullies like Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Markey said about Democrats’ obligations. They’re going up against Democrats who want nothing to do with any transgender-related fight as Republicans pummel their party for being out of touch and “woke.” GOP ads in nearly every battleground race have targeted their Democratic opponents over their party’s support for trans rights. That has prompted numerous Democrats to run rebuttal ads, such as veteran Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s recent spot stating “boys should not play in girls' sports.” Alaska Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola told voters at a recent campaign event her “hope is that we don’t have to spend one second on a conversation about trans anything” in the next Congress, according to a Washington Sun report . One senior House Democrat, who was granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation, recalled personally asking Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries not to focus on trans issues or other culture war flashpoints if the party wins the House. Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not respond to requests for comment on their plans for tackling trans-related issues in the coming Congress. Advocates argue that issues of gender identity and equality are, in fact, pocketbook issues and cannot be simply shunted aside. “When you are putting in place, for example, policies that say that you can't get a driver's license that accurately reflects who you are, or that you can't use a public restroom, what you are telling people is they can't work, they can't hold a job or participate in the public life of our country,” the ACLU’s Thompson said. “Those have very significant economic consequences." Several senior House Democrats — Minority Whip Katherine Clark, the No. 2 leader, Rep. Ted Lieu of California, the No. 4 leader, and Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Rules Committee Democrat — said much the same in interviews. “If we are telling people that we no longer value equality in this country, it's really hard to build a fair economy,” Clark said. “You can't silo these issues out.” Riley Rogerson and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
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There are 7 days until the Midterms, 742 days until the next theoretical Presidential Election, and 816 days until the next optional Inauguration Day. Midterms progress: █████████▒ 99% Presidency/Regime progress: ████▒▒▒▒▒▒ 46% Until Next Inauguration : ████▒▒▒▒▒▒ 44% #protest

impeachtrumpagain.orgIMPEACH TRUMP. AGAIN.Impeach Trump. Sign the petition NOW to defend democracy and demand accountability! He is disqualified from office, and has violated the U.S. Constitution.