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Getaway cars, affairs, Dubai fugitives: Trump’s pick Ken Paxton brings baggage to Senate race in Texas

18 October 2026 at 05:00

The Republican state attorney general appears uniquely ill-chosen as a candidate – but he is a political survivor who could yet frustrate Democratic dreams

Depending how you look at the situation, it is either predictable that Ken Paxton, Texas’s attorney general and Republican candidate for US Senate, is struggling in the polls – or impressive that he is not doing worse. Beloved by hardcore Maga voters and regarded with skepticism by the broader voting public, Paxton is also puzzlingly bland. Recently, Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters that the 63-year-old Paxton β€œmay not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen”. The president was endorsing him.

Yet it is Paxton’s ability to attract – and somehow scrape through – scandal that makes him a less charismatic, perhaps, but still kindred spirit of β€œTeflon Don”: nothing sticks. He has survived state prosecution (on securities-related charges that he settled without admitting guilt), impeachment by the Republican-led Texas legislature (on abuse-of-office charges of which he was later acquitted), and so many controversies that it can be difficult to pin down the most outrageous.

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Β© Photograph: Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Elon Musk becomes biggest donor of US midterms cycle with $366m spent

13 October 2026 at 13:13

Musk’s midterm donations, mostly for rightwing candidates and causes, surpass his contributions to Trump in 2024

Elon Musk has become the biggest political donor of the 2026 US midterm elections cycle, funneling about $366m into political groups and campaigns as he backs conservative candidates and rightwing causes. The world’s richest person has poured more than $276m into politics since July alone, some of the most rapid political spending in US history. He’s targeting key races that will determine which party controls the US Senate.

The New York Times first reported the spending numbers, which will be released in a federal filing on Thursday. Musk’s spending outpaces his 2024 presidential election contributions, in which he sunk nearly $300m into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.

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Β© Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Β© Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Β© Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

US midterm elections: 10 under-the-radar races worth watching

13 October 2026 at 05:00

Though Democrats have a strong edge heading into the midterms, some races have openings for Republicans

While marquee races from Maine to Michigan get all the attention, and draw in a ton of money, a significant batch of lower-profile contests across the US could result in upsets.

Democrats have a strong edge heading into November’s US midterm elections, polls show. In recent days, election prognosticators have shifted even more races in favor of Democrats.

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Β© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

Β© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

Β© Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

TRANSform the midterms

By: kristi
8 October 2026 at 19:04
Advocates for Trans Equality has a great slate of candidates running for office. Each of these leaders has demonstrated a deep commitment to the rights and well-being of the transgender community. With 5 federal candidates and dozens of state and local candidates in states as diverse as Massachusetts, California, Utah, Indiana, and Georgia, this list has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little inspiration, or a candidate you can support with some door-knocking or a donation, this list is for you.

Want more? The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is devoted to electing pro-equality, pro-choice LGBTQ+ leaders to public office at every level. Their massive list lets you filter candidates by office level, state, and party. (Choose Republican and get "There are no candidates at this time. Please check back later.") The Washington Blade has mini-profiles on the LGBTQ candidates running for U.S. House and Senate. Pop quiz: What's the biggest caucus in the House of Representatives? If you guessed the famous Freedom Caucus, or even the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, or the Congressional Black Caucus, guess again:
At the beginning of the 119th Congress, the Congressional Equality Caucus is the largest* caucus in the United States House of Representatives with 191 members, the most the caucus has ever started a Congress with. In the 118th Congress, the Equality Caucus had a peak membership of 195.
(There are 214 Democrats in the House. 191 of them belong to the Equality Caucus.) The mission of the caucus is to work for LGBTQI+ rights. The caucus is chaired by the most senior openly LGBTQ member of Congress and co-chaired by the other openly-LGBTQ members of the House of Representatives. Membership is open to any member of Congress who is willing to advance LGBTQI+ rights. Caucus co-chair Becca Balint talks about what the Equality Caucus can achieve if Democrats take the House, even with a hostile president: Rep. Becca Balint says Dems can slow Trump's anti-trans warfare. But first they must win midterms. LGBTQ Nation, Faefyx Collington This post was inspired by someone who recently received an unwanted check from the government and thought donating to pro-trans rights Democrats would be a fitting use for the money. I hope these links are helpful to any MeFites finding themselves with an unpleasant partisan windfall they'd prefer not to keep. The length of this post was inspired by my admiration for so many wonderful posts by kliuless. This post is dedicated to fabulous MeFite mephron, and also to my personal hero, Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr. (I have mentioned on MetaFilter that when I'm obsessing about the current horrorshow, I try to steer my thoughts to people who are doing the work to make the world better. Zooey Zephyr is in my thoughts a LOT.) * Some numbers: The Democratic Caucus has 214 members. The Congressional Equality Caucus has 191 members. The New Democrat Coalition has 112 members. The Congressional Progressive Caucus has 99 members (in the House, plus 1 in the Senate). The Congressional Black Caucus has 54 members (in the House, plus 4 in the Senate). The Problem Solvers Caucus has 48 members (26 Democrats). The Freedom Caucus has 31 members (all Republicans; at least 6 will be gone next year).

US midterms: key takeaways from Senate debates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine

Candidates traded personal attacks and clashed over a range of issues in closely watched US Senate debates on Thursday, with control of Congress at stake

With just weeks left in the contentious midterm election campaign, candidates in a trio of highly-competitive Senate races debated Thursday night, clashing over the economy, tariffs, the Iran war and abortion rights, with control of the upper chamber at stake.

In Georgia, incumbent Democratic senator Jon Ossoff faced GOP representative Mike Collins. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul Al-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers debated over the state’s open Senate seat. And in Maine, longtime senator Susan Collins met Democratic challenger Troy Jackson. Democrats need to flip four Republican-held Senate seats to win the majority.

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Β© Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

Β© Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

Β© Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

A Public Health-Minded Senator Asks: What Comes After Trump and Kennedy?

7 October 2026 at 15:59
Senator Patty Murray, a former chair of the Senate health committee, is forming a group of experts to examine how to insulate the C.D.C. from political interference.

Β© Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times

Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, at the Capitol last month.

Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children

5 October 2026 at 11:46
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, has alleged a sprawling profit-driven conspiracy. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation.

Β© Kaylee Greenlee for The New York Times

Dr. Rachel examining a patient in Texas last month.

Trump Backtracks on Plan for New Controls on N.I.H. Grants

23 September 2026 at 17:16
Democrats and Republicans in Congress opposed the creation of a commission with the power to veto federal research awards.

Β© David Goldman/Associated Press

N.I.H. is the nation’s largest research agency, which disburses much of its $48 billion annual budget to labs and academic researchers who study cancer, infectious diseases and other health priorities.

LG Sanctions Bill Doesn't Sanction Russia, Does Give Trump Tariff Powers

By: subdee
17 September 2026 at 10:11
The Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, which the House will likely vote on this week [note: has voted on and passed], looks like a no-brainer for supporters of Ukraine who have been calling for President Trump to get tougher on Russia.... But the bill is not what it seems. The legislation would impose no significant new sanctions on Russia, and it would allow Trump to waive any of its measures simply by claiming that doing so is in the national interest. In other words, a law that appears to handcuff Trump would offer him a key to free himself. What's more, its most important provisions are about not sanctions per se, but tariffs. The bill could provide Trump with the same kind of sweeping authority to impose tariffs that the Supreme Court took away from him in February, allowing him to intensify his trade war with many of America's allies and partners.

Posted this because I saw an absolutely shameful number of articles about the Lindsay Graham Sanctions Bill that focused on the fact that two Democratic members of the House crossed the aisle to vote for it, while not reporting anything at all about the actual content of the bill. Total journalistic negligence to frame this as "both sides" obstructionism without mentioning that the entire bill is a sham. I hope Democratic messengers are taking note of this and making a plan to get out ahead of the propaganda messaging before this bill gets to the Senate. PS Another headline bill that's not as advertised (voted down in the Senate, thankfully): Crypto legislation would greenlight Trump corruption.

Senate Votes to Block Crypto Bill in Major Blow to the Industry

15 September 2026 at 16:06
The landmark legislation, known as the Clarity Act, stalled in the Senate as Democrats raised concerns about President Trump’s personal investments in crypto.

Β© Alex Kent/The New York Times

The bill passed in the House last year, but it has faced numerous delays in the Senate.

Pentagon Agreement With N.I.H. on Biodefense Draws Alarm From Democrats

Under a new partnership, the Defense Department would play a larger role in biodefense and pandemic preparedness. Democrats warned it could allow a Pentagon cash grab.

Β© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The agreement, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, is focused on chemical and biological defense research.
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