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Business group abandons Lombardo in favor of Ford
The Retail Association of Nevada, which represents stores and restaurants in Nevada, is endorsing Democrat Attorney General Aaron Ford for governor, a turnaround from the 2022 election when it endorsed now-Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican. “This is the first time in recent history that RAN has endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor,” the association said […]
House Democrats add three seats to ‘Red to Blue’ target list
Democratic Party leaders had previously declined to promote Michigan activist William Lawrence, who has drawn attention for past social media posts.
FBI chief Kash Patel is set to face off with Democrats critical of his leadership at Senate hearing
FBI Director Kash Patel is set to return to Capitol Hill for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Pennsylvania senators McCormick, Fetterman seek answers on canceled health grants
Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman are pressing the Department of Health and Human Services for details about the cancellation of federal health research grants affecting institutions across the commonwealth.
Democrats say supreme court rejection of Trump mail ballot restrictions will ensure ‘safe, secure and accurate elections’
Comments come after court on Monday rejected the president’s mail ballot restrictions ahead of the November midterm elections
Vance’s presence in Kansas signals how spooked Republicans are as map tilts in Democrats’ favor
The vice president is campaigning in the state on Monday as Sen. Roger Marshall (R) faces a tougher-than-expected challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Democrats Gain Midterms Edge as Trump Drags Down Republicans, Per Times/Siena Poll
Even some Republicans are losing faith in Trump’s economy, a New York Times/Siena poll found, and Democrats were favored on the top issues as the sprint to the midterms gets underway.
Alex Bores Wants Democrats to Make AI Safety a 2028 Election Issue
Alex Bores, who lost a congressional primary contest that revolved around A.I. regulation, is trying to position himself at the center of the conversation for the next presidential election.
Max Miller’s challenger launches attack ad based on domestic violence allegations
Democrat Brian Poindexter said that accusations against the Ohio Republican have become “a very prominent topic” in the race.
Migration, belonging and the politics of cultural visibility
In the run-up to Sweden's 2026 election, far-right parties treated the hijab as proof that migrants neither belong nor can be assimilated. Azher Hameed Qamar argues that this debate reveals a democratic tension. Does equality demand sameness? Or does it protect participation despite cultural differences
Inside Iowa Politics: Former presidential candidate O’Malley on Democrats’ 2026 chances
Former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley explained why he feels confident about Democrats' chances in 2026 elections.
Inside Iowa Politics: Former presidential candidate O’Malley on Democrats’ 2026 chances
Former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley explained why he feels confident about Democrats' chances in 2026 elections.
Inside Iowa Politics: Former presidential candidate O’Malley on Democrats’ 2026 chances
Former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley explained why he feels confident about Democrats' chances in 2026 elections.
Inside Iowa Politics: Former presidential candidate O’Malley on Democrats’ 2026 chances
Former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley explained why he feels confident about Democrats' chances in 2026 elections.
Albany County lawmakers reject clothing sales tax cut
The Republican-led measure split mainly down party lines, with most Democrats voting against the move.
Nevada voters will have early say in 2028 presidential nominations for both parties
Nevada party voters will be able to make their choice in the Democratic Party’s primary at second in the nation and in the third calendar position for Republicans.
Health problem delays sentencing for Gov. Newsom's ex-chief of staff
Dana Williamson, a former top political aide to key Democratic leaders in California, including Gov. Newsom, is recovering from what appears to be an unplanned surgery, and court records show her attorney is asking a federal court to delay her sentencing.
A bitter battle is brewing in one of Washington state’s last swing districts
Democrats are looking to scoop up more legislative seats this November in Battle Ground and other chunks of Southwestern Washington as they edge toward a supermajority in Olympia — a shift that would give them broad power to pass legislation or redraw the state’s voting maps.
Judge strikes down rule changes favored by Brooklyn Democratic Party chair
In a decision Monday, the judge wrote that votes taken in August to approve those changes were “improper.”
Democratic leaders panic and GOP divides as AI fears spread
Top executives from three of the country’s leading AI companies issued exceptional calls for collaboration on a path forward that could “pace the frontier” of AI development.
How Democrats Are Rethinking Election Protection for the 2026 Midterms
Democrats are gearing up to fight back against what they see as potential voter intimidation on the part of Republicans ahead of this year’s midterm elections. State parties announced Monday that they are launching an initiative called the “New Battlefield Project,” intended to recruit 10,000 ...
Trump's $5,000 checks turn politics into shameless vote buying
"Money is the mother's milk of politics," said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the 1960s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly.
Live Results: Delaware midterm primaries
Delaware’s Democratic U.S. senator, U.S. representative and state attorney general will go before voters in a state primary Tuesday as they seek reelection.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launches trade mission to South Korea
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday that she's participating in a trade mission to South Korea, her fourth official trip overseas of 2026. Whitmer, a Democrat in
Some Democrats recalibrating approach to transgender issues
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season.
Democrat Al Green to force House-wide vote on impeaching Trump
House Democratic Rep. Al Green is mounting yet another effort to impeach President Donald Trump, he announced on Monday.
Joe Manchin says he supports Republican candidates in battleground Senate races in Maine and Michigan
Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat-turned-independent, said Monday he supports two Republican Senate candidates running in battleground races in November.
Webinar Highlights from the "Unfinished Revolution: Social Movements, Freedom Struggles, and American Democratic Development" -
In the APSA Public Scholarship Program, graduate students in political science produce summaries of new research in the American Political Science Review. This piece, written by Deborah Saki, covers the webinar highlights from “Unfinished Revolution: [...]
Vance to Campaign in Kansas as Democrats Target a Republican Stronghold
Vice President JD Vance is beginning a key final stretch of midterm campaigning by dropping in on the Senate race in Kansas, where Republicans were long seen as heavily favored.
Pa. election 2026: Your complete guide to the candidates for governor
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro will face Republican Stacy Garrity on the Nov. 3 ballot. Learn more about them with this guide.
Sweden’s political parties launch coalition talks as both blocs try to secure power
Centre-left bloc led by Social Democrats has narrow lead with 95% of vote counted, but faces internal policy battle
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
Issue affects small group of people but is one of GOP’s most common talking points.
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
Issue affects small group of people but is one of GOP’s most common talking points.
How Much Money Have the Parties Spent on the Key Congressional Races in Pennsylvania?
We are just 50 days out from the November 3 general election and the political party money taps are flowing in an attempt to influence your vote for their preferred candidate(s). In just three Pennsylvania congressional districts alone (PA-07, PA-08 and PA-10), the Democrats and Republicans have combined to spend…
Texas Republicans denounce GOP statewide candidate for racist posts about UT students
Democrats also widely condemned Bo French’s posts.
Russia continues to divide Italian politics: Why defending Ukraine matters
M5S leader Giuseppe Conte’s call to stop sending weapons to Ukraine has reopened the clash with Elly Schlein’s Democratic Party over an issue that has long cut across Italian politics. Giorgia Meloni, meanwhile, is maintaining a tough line on Moscow despite resistance within the governing coalition and pressure from the far right. With less than [...]
Cal Thomas: Mother’s milk of politics gone sour
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the ’60s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly. It is a disgrace, if much is disgraceful these days, that we spend so much on …
How Democrats and activist groups are planning to push back if Trump tries to interfere in midterm elections
The anxious contingency planning as voting gets underway has become a marker for how fraught democracy has become in the country that once stood as an example to the world.
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
California Gov. Gavin Newsom does not like being on Donald Trump’s side on any issue. But when it comes to transgender girls and women in sports, particularly at the school level, the Democrat said he largely agrees with the Republican president. Newsom, one of his party’s leading White House prospects, believes it’s “deeply unfair” for […]
Democrats adopting the socialist term may distract voters from the issues these candidates support
The growing focus on adopting socialism terminology could hurt Democrats in the upcoming midterm election cycle
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Delaware’s state primary
Delaware’s Democratic U.S. senator, U.S. representative and state attorney general will go before voters in a state primary Tuesday as they seek reelection. Voters will also choose nominees for state
Arizona independents expected to have influential sway in the November midterms
More than 900 thousand voters registered in Maricopa County have no party affiliation, a larger group than either Democrats or Republicans.
Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power
An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season.
The 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2026
With seven weeks until Election Day, control of the US Senate is up for grabs as Democrats go on offense in red territory and Republicans look to make headway in a small number of blue-held seats.
Florida governor’s race: Donalds wrong that Jolly wants tax hikes, ignores Florida has no income tax
Jolly, the Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee, isn’t advocating for tax increases on Social Security or wages. He says it’s fair to tax wages, but he’s open to tax breaks for some tipped income.
Florida governor’s race: Donalds wrong that Jolly wants tax hikes, ignores Florida has no income tax
Jolly, the Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee, isn’t advocating for tax increases on Social Security or wages. He says it’s fair to tax wages, but he’s open to tax breaks for some tipped income.
2026 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Lecture Speaker: Dr. Tanya Golash-Boza
Austin College will host Dr. Tanya Golash-Boza as the 2026 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Lecture Speaker.
Congressman Greg Casar Wants to Stop AI From Killing Us All
The Democrat from Austin talks to Texas Monthly about his bill to prevent the development of superintelligence, which experts warn poses existential risks to humanity.
DRC’s Ebola Lessons: Learned And Unlearned (Part I)
The lethality of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not just in its genome. Neither is it entirely explained by the country’s
Sweden faces ‘very messy’ political situation after election, expert says
Sweden faces ‘very messy’ political situation after election, expert says. Lars Trägårdh, Professor of History at Ersta Sköndal University College in Stockholm, said Sweden’s election-winning Social Democrats would have to rely on “a very unwieldy coalition”, warning that the country faces a “very messy” political situation.
Union power vs. MAGA politics in California school superintendent race
Democrat Richard Barrera and conservative Sonja Shaw clash in a high-stakes battle for California’s state superintendent of public instruction post.
Alabama Democrats have had a few good weeks. But political gravity is tough.
Tommy Tuberville seems increasingly likely to need all of the Alabama GOP's advantages in the state. But they should be enough for him.
Democratic candidate in Colorado Springs’ congressional district makes misleading claim in first attack ads
Democrat Jessica Killin is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th Congressional District. She would be the first Democrat to represent the district.
Registration open for Apple Harvest Day 5K race in Dover
The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce announced registration is open for the 2026 Apple Harvest Day 5k, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3.
Opinion | Mary Peltola’s Energy Politics Fits Alaska. Democrats Need Her.
To win in states such as Alaska, the party needs a faction that can live with fossil fuels.
Dire warnings about AI shock Congress, but action is unlikely before the election
Democrats and Republicans are proposing new regulations for artificial intelligence. But there’s no consensus, and the House has only one more workweek before Election Day.
The ‘Trump before Donald Trump’ is favored to replace a centrist in Congress
Former Maine governor Paul LePage is seen as the likely winner against progressive Matt Dunlap in the race to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.
Crypto’s political clout meets resistance on the left
A group of Senate Democrats is considering voting for an industry-friendly crypto bill. The left could make that painful.
Video. Sweden faces ‘very messy’ politics after election, expert says
Video. Lars Trägårdh, Professor of History at Ersta Sköndal University College in Stockholm, said Sweden’s election-winning Social Democrats would have to rely on “a very unwieldy coalition”, warning that the country faces a “very messy” political situation.
Sweden’s Parliamentary Election Heads to a Close Finish
For the Social Democrats, a victory would represent an opportunity to reverse or slow the broader erosion of Sweden’s liberal traditions.
RNC convention leaves town. Home stretch of election begins.
Labor Day weekend is usually the kick-off to the last two months of the election where candidates really hone their message and hit the campaign trail. Lone Star Politics breaks down the highlights of the first ever midterm Republican National Convention in Dallas and speak to Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and State Rep. James Talarico.
Top Lawmakers Agree AI’s Risks Are Rising but Say They Have No Quick Fix
As warnings rapidly mount over the pace and potential dangers of artificial intelligence development, the top Republican and Democrat in the House agreed on Sunday that Congress should put guardrails in place.
Obama says Democrats should have a ‘very clear plan’ on AI policy
Researchers at AI companies have been warning about safety risks and industry leaders have called for a slowdown in development.
Iowa, national politicians court voters at CyHawk tailgates
Iowa candidates turned CyHawk tailgates into campaign stops Saturday, with Republicans and Democrats pitching voters on the issues they say matter most.
The A.I. Freakout Is Getting Political
The people building artificial intelligence are increasingly frightened of their own creation. Two Democratic operatives want to turn that anxiety into a political weapon before Republicans figure out how to harness it.
Inside a Philadelphia barbershop, Black men debate their political past and future
Although Black men vote overwhelmingly Democratic, even small shifts in their support can help swing razor-thin elections. They are often some of the most scrutinized but least understood voters, a blind spot that political strategist Khalil Thompson wants to fix.
Political debate over AI intensifies amid warnings about ‘catastrophic risk’
(CNN) — The debate around artificial intelligence is ramping up in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers sounding alarms on the dangers they say the technology poses and Republican leaders suggesting those concerns are inflated and secondary to winning the AI race with China.Some Democratic lawmakers last week pressured House Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the chamber immediately to work on AI regulation, citing what they describe as the “catastrophic risk posed by advanced artificial intelligence.” But the Louisiana Republican on Sunday resisted those calls, instead saying industry leaders should meet with lawmakers to find “balance” in any potential guardrails.“If Congress just races in and does some sort of emergency session to try to regulate AI, we will lose the race to China, and that is a threat to every single American,” Johnson said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama told Democrats to make artificial intelligence regulation a central part of their agenda during a private fundraiser Thursday, warning that the technology could be dangerous “if we don’t get on top of it.”In a fireside chat with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Obama said whoever runs in the 2028 presidential election should have a “very clear plan” on AI, adding that he saw the need for a “blueprint” on AI guardrails even at the end of his presidency a decade ago.“Certainly, if I were running for president next year, this would be one of my central agendas, and I would have a very clear plan, and I would talk about this, and I would say, ‘Here’s our plan for safety, here’s our plan for making sure our kids are not corrupted by this,’” he said, per excerpts of the remarks provided to CNN by his office. Obama’s remarks were first reported by the New York Times.Concerns over the rapid acceleration of AI reached a fever pitch after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote in a 3,800-word essay Saturday that the race to develop artificial intelligence is in dire need of a slowdown. The call to action came after an OpenAI test model breached the Hugging Face online platform, deepening concerns about cybersecurity.In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Saturday, Amodei called on industry leaders to work together to avoid “the wrong paths” and the possibility of AI harming humanity.One Anthropic researcher, Jacob Coxon, resigned from the firm over worries that the industry wasn’t doing enough to prevent AI from destroying humanity by the end of the decade.Obama said Democrats need a plan to get their agenda on AI underway should they win the House majority in this year’s midterms.Speaking to Jeffries, who is presumed to be speaker of the House should Democrats prevail in November, Obama said, “Once you are speaker, I would strongly urge that the Democrats put together a framework for a very public conversation, and you can break it out into three or four or five issues.”Obama stressed that the framework should be centered on the reality that the technology can’t be stuffed “back into a box.”“This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don’t get on top of it, I think can be dangerous. If we do get on top of it, I do think it’s beneficial,” Obama said, laying out examples of AI’s potential use in drug development and finding pathways to a clean energy future.“We don’t want to shut off those opportunities, but we have to understand that this is a tool,” he said.Jeffries agreed with the former president in a statement provided to CNN on Sunday.“President Obama is correct that decisive action must be taken on Artificial Intelligence,” he said, adding, “In the majority, we will move urgently on this issue with a legislative response that recognizes the importance of American companies continuing to lead in the Artificial Intelligence area, while putting in place meaningful guardrails that protect the American people from bad actors and the very real damage that can be done to humanity.”Jeffries also accused Republicans of having “abdicated their responsibility to govern” and said Democrats “will not repeat their error.”A source familiar with Obama’s thinking said the former president sees Amodei’s letter and similar reaction from other tech moguls as an encouraging development.But President Donald Trump waved off their concerns, saying he is not worried about any existential threat posed by AI, focusing instead on the US winning in its development of the technology over China.“We’re leading China in AI. We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way,” Trump said to reporters at the Amgen Irish Open on Sunday.About the concerns expressed by Democrats and others over the technology, the president said, “I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn’t be bringing it up, and they’re bringing up things that won’t happen.”One of Trump’s top economic advisers, Kevin Hassett, also rejected the calls for slowing the technology down, saying on Sunday the bigger concern is a scenario in which a “malevolent actor has access to an AI that’s better than the one we have that can protect us.”Hassett, the National Economic Council director, said on “State of the Union” the White House may hold meetings this week about addressing Amodei’s concerns, but he did not specify whether Trump had floated greater safeguards.“I have concerns that if we don’t win AI, we’re going to be put in a very bad position,” Hassett said. “We are leading China right now.”CNN’s Alison Main and Molly English contributed to this report.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.THE-CNN-WIRE (TM) & © 2026 CABLE NEWS NETWORK, INC., A TIME WARNER COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Political debate over AI intensifies amid warnings about ‘catastrophic risk’
(CNN) — The debate around artificial intelligence is ramping up in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers sounding alarms on the dangers they say the technology poses and Republican leaders suggesting those
Political debate over AI intensifies amid warnings about ‘catastrophic risk’
The debate around artificial intelligence is ramping up in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers sounding alarms on the dangers they say the technology poses and Republican leaders suggesting those concerns are inflated and secondary to winning the AI race with China.
Political debate over AI intensifies amid warnings about ‘catastrophic risk’
(CNN) — The debate around artificial intelligence is ramping up in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers sounding alarms on the dangers they say the technology poses and Republican leaders suggesting those
House Democrats urge Speaker Johnson to cancel recess to pass AI safeguards, citing ‘catastrophic’ risk
(CNN) — A group of House Democratic lawmakers is pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson to reconvene the chamber immediately and cancel an upcoming break to address what they describe as the
Trump dismisses AI leaders’ calls to slow down, citing Chinese competition
Democrats are increasingly attacking the administration’s hands-off approach to artificial-intelligence regulation as midterms approach.
Inside a Philadelphia barbershop, Black men debate their political past and future
PHILADELPHIA — Ever since Democrat Kamala Harris lost the presidential election to Donald Trump two years ago, political strategist Khalil Thompson has been traveling the country to figure out why Black men inched toward a white Republican rather than a Black woman. Although Black men vote overwhelmingly Democratic, even small
Can a Democrat flip a seat in North Carolina? Roy Cooper has a warning for his party.
New poll reveals 1 party with huge advantage in 2026 midterms. And it’s bad news for Trump.
The Quinnipiac University poll, released Thursday, found that Democrats have an 11-point edge over Republicans when voters were asked which party they would want to see in control of the House.
Inside a Philadelphia barbershop, Black men debate their political past and future
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ever since Democrat Kamala Harris lost the presidential election to Donald Trump two years ago, political strategist Khalil Thompson has been traveling the country to figure out why Black men inched toward a white Republican rather than a Black woman.
Inside a Philadelphia barbershop, Black men debate their political past and future
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ever since Democrat Kamala Harris lost the presidential election to Donald Trump two years ago, political strategist Khalil Thompson has
The Denver Broncos are on the ballot this fall
Do you want the Broncos to win the Super Bowl? Then you’d better hope Amendment 87 — which brings back Colorado’s economy-strangling “graduated” income tax — loses at the ballot box this fall. Seriously. Forget Republicans and Democrats. Forget tax policy. This is about Xs and Os — and whether Denver can afford the players […]
How Gen Z saw Trump's Dallas from inside the AAC to protests outside
For Generation Z, Trump’s GOP rally in Dallas was a look at their party’s future, from a young Republican inside the AAC to a teen Democrat protesting outside it.
A wave is building for Democrats. Republicans are building a wall to stop it
The 2026 election will be decided where the wave meets the wall.
Phil Weiser’s role starting a CU tech hub offers a window into the gubernatorial candidate’s approach
The barrier-breaking Silicon Flatirons Center’s founding, evolution and legacy at CU show the thinking carried Phil Weiser into politics and now to the Democratic nomination for governor.
This Democrat’s comeback saga began long before his primary upset
David Crowley had a surprising path to becoming his party’s nominee for governor of Wisconsin. His life before that was even more unlikely.
Why Democrats will turn out even if they dislike their party’s leaders
At a rest stop off Interstate 95, Democratic voters said they are starting to set aside their frustrations to coalesce around the party's midterm candidates.
Walters: California’s political hopefuls remain silent on state’s job losses, unemployment
California has lost jobs and its workforce. By many measures, it has some of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates in the country.
Bills vs Texans predictions, picks, odds: Who wins Week 1 NFL game?
The Buffalo Bills take the field Sunday at Reliant Stadium to take on the Houston Texans. Here is what analysts and experts think will happen.
Obama Urges Democrats to Move A.I. Oversight to the Center of Their Agenda
During a private fund-raiser, the former president warned that the technology could be “dangerous” if not managed urgently and with a clear plan.
Pa. House Speaker Joanna McClinton on data centers, skill games and more
Pa. House Speaker Joanna McClinton talks data centers, whether a skill games deadline will be met and what a trifecta for Democrats would mean.
Maher calls Democrat politicians ‘cowards,’ referencing take on the Sept. 11 attack that got his old show canceled
Comedian Bill Maher called Democratic politicians “cowards” while doubling down on his stance that Sept. 11 hijackers were not – a position that infamously led to ABC canceling his show over two de…
Kansas candidates for governor used the State Fair debate to call each other extremists
At the State Fair debate, Democrat Cindy Holscher tied Republican Ty Masterson to former Gov. Sam Brownback, while Masterson compared Holscher to national Democrats. Both hope to court independent voters.
Governor Candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms (D-GA) on Reproductive Health Care
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms delivers remarks on reproductive health care rights in Atlanta.
Power & Politics: Caldwell investigation; 9/11
Democratic strategist Dan Bryan, Republican strategist Jeanette Hoffman and Sept. 11 survivor Brian Branco join the show this week.
Power & Politics: Caldwell investigation; 9/11
Democratic strategist Dan Bryan, Republican strategist Jeanette Hoffman and Sept. 11 survivor Brian Branco join the show this week.
Jackson Rallies Volunteers at Campaign Stop in Rockland
Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful said he entered politics because power and influence has held people back.
Republican Groups Rush to Paxton’s Aid in Texas After Staying on Sidelines
An organization allied with Senate G.O.P. leaders has booked more than $51 million in ads. Now, Ken Paxton has a financial edge after months of being outspent by his Democratic rival.
Amid uptick in rabies calls across US, bats are main threat in Sonoma County
Sonoma County health officials have a simple message for anyone who finds a dead bat: don’t touch it — it may have rabies.
Calls for Democrats to be shot go unchallenged at Republican convention
Crowd member repeatedly said some Democrats ‘should be shot’ during Ted Cruz’s speech, without senator responding
Trump ally in Wisconsin sticks close to the president as Democrats push to flip swing district
Wisconsin Democrats are hoping to unseat a Republican congressman with close ties to President Donald Trump
Germany’s Political Tailspin: Your Weekly SPIEGEL Recap
It might be tempting to dismiss the results of last Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party raked in 43.8 percent of the vote, as a rather unimportant extremist blip in a state that hardly anyone can find on the map. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so. The state’s population – around 2.1 million – is a mere 2.5 percent of the German total. And while the state capital of Magdeburg was once the political heart of the Holy Roman Empire back when Otto the Great used to hang out there (more than a millenium … no … milennium … nope … millennium ago), it is today something of a backwater, albeit one with a ginormous cathedral in its center. We wanted to briefly interrupt this week’s newsletter to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our subscribers, both new and old. And to remind you all that a free subscription gets you access to this newsletter every Saturday. A paid subscription, by contrast, gets you one DER SPIEGEL article every weekday, delivered to your inbox. We strive to select pieces that both demonstrate what Europe’s leading newsmagazine has to offer and provide an international audience – namely, you – with an insight into how Germany and Europe view the world. If you haven’t already signed up for a paid subscription, please consider doing so if you can. Our Substack channel relies entirely on reader support and we are excited to continue offering you the best of DER SPIEGEL. Subscribe But even beyond the fact that a huge percentage of the voters in the state decided to place an X next to a party with an ideological lineage that runs rather directly back to the right-wing extremist soup out of which the Nazi Party was born, the results are a perfect example of a phenomenon that has been plaguing German elections in recent years: the lack of an obvious path to a majority. Call it the Balkanization of German politics. There are a number of developments driving the phenomenon, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are two of the most salient: Persistent voter frustration with the country’s two (former) big-tent parties – the Christian Democrats (CDU) on the center-right (17.2 percent in Saxony-Anhalt last Sunday) and the Social Democrats (SPD) on the center-left (9.3 percent). The presence of parties on the far left (Left Party), the populist left (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – BSW) and the far right (AfD) with which mainstream parties are reluctant to form coalitions. So what happens now? Stories of the Week A Lack of Leadership The answer for many people in the country, and particularly within the CDU, is clear: pin (some of) the blame on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a survey taken directly after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, 88 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that if the federal government in Berlin were doing a better job, the AfD wouldn’t be as strong. And it is true that the predominant impression of the federal government ever since Merz was sworn in on May 6, 2025, is one of ineffectiveness and bickering. His rather unique combination of bumbling-plus-bravado has also not exactly endeared him to the German public. Indeed, his standing in the country is so shaky that his popularity – according to recent polls – has now dropped even below the historic lows associated with his predecessor Olaf Scholz. The situation is such that the CDU even opted to keep him largely out of the campaign ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt vote. And since then, dissatisfied rumblings within the CDU have grown louder. DER SPIEGEL’s Swantje Karich notes that the problems with the CDU go much deeper than Merz. “The center-right has a trust problem. At a press appearance following the devastating election result in Saxony-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz said that the party wanted to ‘reach people more effectively’ through ‘emotional engagement.’ It sounded as though he were announcing a political program. On the basis of that statement, it is difficult to take his empathy seriously.” “The Chancellor’s chastened appearance did, at least, reveal where he stands: with his back to the wall. Elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania next week, and the CDU could fare even worse there. The party is polling at between 8 and 10 percent in the state.” “What is at stake is the political tradition that has lent stability to the Federal Republic since 1945: a democratic conservatism that understands what must be preserved, but also how to embrace progress and openness to the world. If the Union continues along its current path, it risks becoming politically irrelevant after the 2029 federal election – and Germany could soon find itself with a government of the far right.” The Trumpification of Political Debate? It is often said in Germany that to understand the political and social trends that will soon be dominant in Europe, one need only look across the Atlantic to the United States. When it comes to political debate, that has certainly proven true. Donald Trump understood early on that triggering mouth-foaming outrage among Democrats is an ideal way to both generate headlines and to secure loyalty among supporters. And he realized that far more quickly than the left side of the political spectrum understood that simply ignoring the old man might be the best recipe. To be sure, there have been signs recently that the US president may be over-relying on the strategy. Earlier this week, in an apparent grandpa-discovers-AI moment, Trump sent out 60 posts in the space of 10 hours, many of them AI-assisted images portraying him as a hero – or showing Iceland as part of the US (outrageous!!!). It was also during that slew of schlock that he explicitly backed the AfD with an “MGGA” post. In Germany, though, the outrage cycle remains in full swing, with much of the focus on those who would dare to vote for the AfD. They are alternately portrayed as being dim-witted, ungrateful, backward, racist or all of the above. That, argues DER SPIEGEL columnist Sabine Rennefanz, is not particularly helpful. “Everywhere on election night, people spoke of a watershed moment, a rupture, a turning point. But what is that supposed to mean in concrete terms? A watershed would imply an interruption, a moment of pause – perhaps even a willingness to rethink and learn. At first, there was little sign of that in the main television panels. Instead, the familiar rituals that had already shaped the election campaign continued: outrage, lecturing and abuse.” “That’s just the tone, one might object. They’re only talk shows. Given that the party’s state branch has been classified by domestic intelligence officials as confirmed right-wing extremist, there are more important problems than hurt feelings on television. Yet although the condescending tone is not the cause of the AfD’s success, it is an expression of the broader mood within the so-called political center – a kind of institutional blindness that too often treats material concerns as a communications problem.” “People have a pretty good sense of whether you like them – whether you approach them with curiosity or merely study, lecture and manage them as a problem group. They notice whether you genuinely want to understand their fears and pain, or whether you are simply waiting for the chance to correct them. They can also tell whether someone still has the energy to change things, or whether they have barricaded themselves behind platitudes and empty phrases.” “Anyone who wants an egalitarian democratic society cannot promise equality only to those whose language, tastes and moral convictions they share. They must also acknowledge the wounds, resentments and fears of those whose political conclusions they consider wrong. Acknowledging them does not mean agreeing with them. But a democracy that communicates with almost half its citizens only through warnings and labels gives up on political debate before it has even begun. An atmosphere must be created in which people can express their opinions without fearing that they will be canceled. We are currently a long way from that.” East-West? One of the clear undercurrents in the election last Sunday was, of course, Germany’s ongoing east-west divide, particularly as it pertains to the success of the AfD. Historically, the party has been far stronger in the former East German states than in former West German states. The fact that this generalization no longer reliably holds is certainly one of the primary concerns that many have about the party’s growth. And yet, there is still a distinct flavor of “stupid easterners, they don’t understand democracy” to the coverage. In the weeks before the vote, there was even a rather interesting back-and-forth in Germany’s culture pages about how ungrateful eastern Germans allegedly are for being pulled out of their pre-reunification backwardness and into the light of the West. DER SPIEGEL’s Jochen-Martin Gutsch has had enough. “Ten years ago, in 2016, elections were also held in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won more than 20 percent, which at the time rightly provoked outrage and incomprehension in western Germany. Today, in 2026, the AfD is also polling at around 20 percent in western German states, but this no longer provokes outrage and incomprehension. Instead, it is now regarded as proof of democratic conviction and civilizational resistance. After all, in the east, it’s 40 percent!” “This allows people to continue feeling morally superior to the East, but the wiser course would be to admit: if something doesn’t happen soon, the West will turn AfD-blue too. Or bluish.” “But will anything happen? The truly depressing thing about election night was not so much the AfD leaders intoxicated by their own success. It was the representatives of the other parties, who once again said that they were utterly shocked, needed some time to digest the result and would, of course, not simply return to business as usual. The SPD, a former big-tent party, celebrated its ‘stable’ result of 9.3 percent. Congratulations!” “For 10 years, the AfD has gone from one electoral success to the next. And still, the established parties remain ‘shocked’ and scratch their heads in astonishment. How long can they keep being shocked? Friedrich Merz says he may need to communicate his reform ideas in a more ‘emotional’ way. So the CDU’s political professionals sit down together after the election, mull over a strategy, and in the end come up with this: Fritz, try to be a little more relaxed, charismatic and emotional – or something. Beyond that: no political plan, no defiance, no promise of a future. That is frightening.” What was good, what was bad for democracy? Good: Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was 77.8 percent, the highest ever recorded in the state. Whatever one thinks of the result, that figure is encouraging. Democracy needs citizens to take an interest. Bad: Although a strong AfD result had been expected in Saxony-Anhalt, many politicians from the mainstream parties – including in Berlin – appeared confused, helpless and overwhelmed in their initial reactions. That is not how they will win back voters’ trust. Last Week’s Highlights: 🗳️ Meet the Germans Who Voted for the AfD: Why would voters in a country like Germany, with its Nazi past, vote for a right-wing party? It’s a question only an editor in Berlin could come up with. On the ground, the view is different. 🟦 How the AfD Wants to Expand Its Power Across Germany: The far-right AfD is planning to decimate public broadcasting in Saxony-Anhalt, revamp education and install extremists in positions of power. And it is eyeing victory on the national stage as well. 🕯️ The Continuing Reverberations of September 11: It was a generational shock, and the consequences can still be felt today - from massive surveillance and significant increases in presidential power to violent excesses at ICE. 🤝 “For Europe, Canada Is the Preferred Partner in Trans-Atlantic Relations”: In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discusses his country’s failed trade deal with the US and why Canada is looking to Europe. 🏛️ The True Historical Roots of the AfD: During the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, there were numerous parties on the extreme right espousing “Germany first” nationalism. The Nazis may not be the best comparison for today’s AfD. 🌊 AfD in a Landslide: Merz Is the Wrong Leader for Germany: The right-wing Alternative for Germany won in a landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday. What does that mean for the country at large? Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful week! Subscribe Share Leave a comment Your SPIEGEL Substack Team Compiled and edited by Charles Hawley
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