In happier news:
James Talarico says he’s raised $27 million in first three months of 2026, part of Democratic fundraising surge
NYT concurs. Let’s hope. (gift link)
And what’s worrisome is the possibility of a Supreme Court retirement or two to fire up the MAGA voters just before November elections.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5837188-alito-retirement-gop-midterms/
Yes, but there is really no chance of 60 dem votes. But still, even with 51, things can get done.
And other things can be stopped.
I suspect that could backfire rather spectacularly, although Trump probably would get another Supreme Court appointment out of it. One risk is that it fires up the wrong people. The other is that instead of sticking with normie, Federalist-Society-approved conservative judges like he did in his first term (he doesn’t seem to be very happy with the results, so far), he nominates someone whose only qualification is personal loyalty to him. Reminding people of just how much Trump wants to get rid of all the checks on his power just does not seem like a winning midterm strategy.
Yep, “Aileen Cannon, Come On Down!!!”
I’m sure she’s counting on that.
Can’t read behind the paywall. Summary please?
And here is a quote from the article that pretty much states the core argument that the Democrats need to be an antiwar party.
Yes, we have prevented another catastrophic attack in the 25 years since Sept. 11. To do that, we spent more than $6 trillion fighting wars that killed over 7,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of civilians, inflicting trauma on countless people. The destruction has displaced tens of millions; as refugees sought safety in the West, it fueled a right-wing backlash to democracy. Meanwhile, what have we built in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and now Iran? And what could we have built at home with those trillions of dollars?
Visceral outrage over that reality infuses Mr. Platner’s opposition to the war in Iran. Sure, at campaign stops, he talks about high gas prices and the Trump administration’s incompetence. But the core of his message is an unflinching disgust for the forever war we have waged since 9/11. “Nobody is going to be able to convince me that what I did in Iraq and Afghanistan did anything for the people of Sullivan, Maine,” he told me, punctuating his point with an obscenity. “I don’t want other young Americans to go through what I’ve been through. And I don’t want to send other young Americans to inflict the horror that I had to inflict on people.”
Janet Mills has suspended her campaign, citing a lack of funds.
Linky no worky for me.
Here’s NBC’s coverage:
Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspends Senate campaign, clearing Democratic path for Graham Platner
CNN: Democrats’ John Fetterman headaches aren’t over
What if he became a Republican?
He wont. Not in a million years. What he may do is declare Indy, like Sanders- then he would likely still caucus with the Dems- like Sanders.
That is unlikely as Collins changing to Dem. (Altho she could also go Indy if she wins, but she will caucus with the GOP)
He has broke with the party on some key votes but he still votes with them the majority of the time. It wouldn’t make sense for him to be a republican unless he changes a hell of a lot more.
He has said he won’t do it because of having so many policy differences with the Republicans. I think he’ll just be a fly in the ointment on some key issues, much like Manchin and Sinema were.
I hope you’re right, but I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if, in some future political confrontation and/or fit of pique, he crossed the aisle.
Meanwhile, in the Buckeye State:
And in the Lone Star State, Trump is being, well, Trump:
Ah someone’s feeling a little fancy after taking out Cassidy.