DNC Takes $15M Loan to Rebuild Ahead of 2026 Elections
By Ben Kamisar The Democratic National Committee took out a $15 million loan in October, an unusually large amount of debt for this point in the political calendar, as the party looks to rebuild its brand and infrastructure under new leadership. New fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show the national party committee took out the loan at the start of October, about a month before Democrats secured major victories in pivotal elections for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, a key redistricting referendum in California and various other downballot races. Those results have energized the Democratic Party one year after
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick Indicted for FEMA Fund Misuse
By Zoë Richards and Kyle Stewart Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., was indicted Wednesday on charges she stole and laundered $5 million in federal relief funds and used the money for her congressional campaign, the Justice Department said. In a news release citing the indictment, the Justice Department said that Cherfilus-McCormick, 46, and Edwin Cherfilus, 51, her brother, worked on a staffing contract funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Covid vaccinations tied to their family health care company in 2021 and that the company was overpaid by $5 million in relief funds. She and her brother are accused of conspiring to steal the overpayment and
Democrats Push Bill to Sue Federal Agents for Rights Violations
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON — Seizing on allegations of federal law enforcement officials’ committing constitutional violations as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, Democrats have launched a new effort to allow civil rights claims against rogue agents. Lawmakers reintroduced legislation Tuesday that would ensure federal officials, including immigration agents and other law enforcement officers, can be sued individually for constitutional violations. The bill, introduced in the House and the Senate by Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., would amend a post-Civil War-era law that allows such claims against state and local officials to make it clear that federal officials are covered, too.
Texas Redistricting Map Blocked as Supreme Court Appeal Begins
By Blaise Gainey, Andrew Schneider Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has quickly appealed to the Supreme Court a ruling that the redistricting passed by lawmakers at the urging of President Trump was based on racial gerrymandering. “Any claim that these maps are discriminatory is absurd and unsupported by the testimony offered during ten days of hearings,” Abbott, a Republican, said in a statement. “This ruling is clearly erroneous and undermines the authority the U.S. Constitution assigns to the Texas Legislature by imposing a different map by judicial edict.” A three-judge panel had earlier Tuesday placed a temporary block on the map
“Chi Ossé Challenges Hakeem Jeffries in Brooklyn Primary”
By Bridget Bowman Chi Ossé, a member of the New York City Council, has filed paperwork to launch a primary challenge against House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The campaign filing, first reported by Axios and filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission, notes Ossé is running as a Democrat in New York’s Brooklyn-based 8th District, which Jeffries has represented since 2013. Ossé did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He he said in a statement to Axios, “The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to effectively fight back against Donald Trump, they have also failed to deliver a vision that
Greene–Trump Rift Deepens as GOP Faces New Internal Tensions
By Luke Garrett Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., once one of President Trump’s strongest supporters in Congress, called his foreign policies “not America first positions” and said his recent attacks against her can “put my life in danger.” Greene and Trump have traded barbs in last few days over the future of the Make America Great Again movement, raising new questions about the president’s firm grip on the Republican Party. On Friday, Trump withdrew his endorsement of the Georgia lawmaker calling her “Wacky” and claiming Greene’s recent criticism of him was all about his refusal to support her future political ambitions. On
New Prosecutor Takes Over Georgia RICO Case Against Donald Trump
Written By Lexx Thornton The sprawling 2023 racketeering indictment case in Georgia against President Donald Trump and several allies, which alleges a conspiracy to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election results, is set to continue under the supervision of a new lead prosecutor. The transition follows a high-stakes legal fight that resulted in the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the prosecution team. Peter Skandalakis, the Director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PAC), formally confirmed his assignment to the case on Friday morning. In a brief statement, Skandalakis announced, “An Administrative Order appointing me to the
ACA Subsidy Expiration Looms After Shutdown Ends
By Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Sahil Kapur The government shutdown has ended, but Senate Democrats didn’t get a key provision they were fighting for: extending the Obamacare tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. The credits, also referred to as enhanced subsidies, have kept health care premiums affordable for millions of Americans. Open enrollment for 2026 coverage is well underway, and people who get their insurance through the Affordable Care Act have seen how much their costs will rise without the subsidies — many could see their monthly premiums double or even triple. Some may delay signing up, hoping lawmakers intervene
Adelita Grijalva Sworn In After GOP Standoff Ends
By Scott Wong More than seven weeks after her special election victory, Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva stood on the House floor and took the oath of office Wednesday, marking the end of a bitter standoff with GOP Speaker Mike Johnson, who had refused to seat her during the record government shutdown. Johnson swore Grijalva in as the House opened Wednesday afternoon to applause from both sides of the aisle. “Congratulations, you are now a member of Congress,” he said. Grijalva’s swearing-in shrinks the GOP majority to 219-214, where just three Republican defections can derail any piece of legislation Johnson brings to
Democrats look to expand on their record number of female governors next year
By Alexandra Marquez When Meghan Meehan-Draper first started working at the Democratic Governors Association, “there were more governors named John than there were women governors,” she told reporters last week. Now, with Govs.-elect Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia poised to take office, there will be 10 female Democratic governors serving next year, along with four Republicans for a total of 14. “We now have the highest number of Democratic women governors in the history of the United States,” Meehan-Draper, the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, told NBC News, adding: “That’s almost half the caucus,
