Author: Andrew Rogers

Even as Tuesday’s elections hang in the balance, President Donald Trump has made it clear he is already thinking about the 2026 midterm races. Speaking late last month at the White House, Trump expressed frustration over the historical trend of presidents losing ground in midterms. “We’ve had success like nobody, but for some reason, you lose the midterms,” he said. “I don’t know why. It doesn’t make sense.” The first significant electoral test of Trump’s second term comes with marquee races in Virginia and New Jersey for governor, California’s pivotal congressional redistricting ballot measure, and the New York City mayoral…

Zohran Mamdani has emerged as one of New York City’s most closely watched political figures. After his surprising 13-point victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, Mamdani’s campaign has revealed new insights into the 34-year-old Democratic socialist ahead of the general election. Polls indicate he remains a strong contender, energizing younger voters and reshaping the city’s political landscape. Mamdani won the Democratic primary without endorsements from major party leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other senior officials. Despite their initial hesitation, he has consistently welcomed these figures into his coalition rather than…

Russian troops have intensified their assault in eastern Ukraine, surrounding two strategically important cities, Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, as the conflict in Donbas reaches a critical stage. Ukrainian defenders continue to resist, but analysts warn the situation could reshape the battlefield. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Monday that his forces are advancing from all sides around Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. He described the encirclement as “effectively complete” and invited international observers to assess the situation firsthand. Observers say the move represents a new chapter in Moscow’s eastern Ukraine operations. Despite the heavy pressure, Ukrainian troops say they are holding key positions.…

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have killed two people and injured seven others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attacks on Monday targeted two towns in the Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil districts, heightening fears of renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The first strike hit the town of Doueir, near the city of Nabatieh. Officials reported that one person died and seven others were injured after three missiles struck a vehicle, setting nearby cars and shops on fire. Firefighters and rescue teams worked for hours to control the blaze and clear debris from the surrounding area. A second attack occurred…

President Donald Trump waded into New York City’s heated mayoral race on Monday night, just hours before voters headed to the polls. In a series of Truth Social posts, he endorsed Andrew Cuomo while threatening to withhold federal funds if Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist candidate, wins the election. The unexpected endorsement came as the city prepared for one of its most closely watched contests in years. The race features three prominent figures: Zohran Mamdani, a state assembly member known for his progressive platform; Andrew Cuomo, a former governor running as an independent; and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican founder of…

Millions of Americans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, face growing uncertainty after Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to restore full funding during the government shutdown. The decision affects more than 42 million people who depend on the program to buy food each month. On Monday, Democratic senators introduced a motion that would have allowed the Department of Agriculture to release all necessary funds for November’s benefits. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pushed the resolution, hoping for quick approval through unanimous consent. Their goal was to prevent disruptions for families already struggling…

US President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the British royal family after King Charles III revoked his brother Prince Andrew’s remaining royal titles due to his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I feel very badly. I mean, it’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” Trump said Sunday aboard Air Force One when asked about the scandal. “That’s been a tragic situation, and it’s too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family.” Trump, 79, has faced scrutiny over his own past connections to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for…

US President Donald Trump has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him Beijing will not take action on Taiwan during his presidency. In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday, Trump stated, “He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘We would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences.” The discussions between Trump and Xi on Thursday in South Korea focused mainly on trade issues and did not directly address Taiwan, Trump noted. Despite this, the president expressed confidence that China would refrain from any moves toward unifying Taiwan…

President Donald Trump has delivered mixed messages about potential US involvement in Venezuela, suggesting its leader Nicolás Maduro’s days in power are limited while casting doubt on any immediate war. In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview released Sunday, Trump said he did not expect the US to go to war with Venezuela. “I doubt it. I don’t think so,” he said when asked directly. Yet, on Maduro’s tenure, Trump added, “I would say yeah. I think so, yeah,” indicating he sees the Venezuelan president’s rule as nearing its end. The remarks come as the US increases its military presence in…

The combined wealth of the top 10 US billionaires increased by $698 billion over the past year, highlighting a widening gap between the ultra-rich and ordinary Americans. A new report warns that policies from both Republican and Democratic administrations have worsened economic inequality. Using Federal Reserve data from 1989 to 2022, researchers found that the top 1% of households gained 101 times more wealth than the median household and 987 times more than households in the bottom 20% income bracket. This translated to an increase of $8.35 million per top 1% household, compared with $83,000 for the average household over…