Associated Press lede: "Jeanine Pirro this week found out there is a trade-off between loyalty to President Donald Trump and being loyal to reality." apnews.com/article/trum...

No evidence? No problem. Trump pushes ahead on false claims that Reflecting Pool was vandalized

Jeanine Pirro this week found out there’s a trade-off between loyalty to President Donald Trump and being loyal to reality.

apnews.com

A political unknown who raised almost no money and dropped out defeated a Trump-endorsed candidate in the Republican primary for Michigan's competitive 8th congressional district. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Candidate who dropped out beats Trump’s pick in a battleground GOP House primary

NBC News projects that Thomas Smith, who raised very little money for his bid, won the Republican nomination in Michigan’s 8th District.

nbcnews.com

Wesley Bell: "Progressives are supposed to make progress." He says lawmakers must "do the work" and not simply say things to get attention.

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 5h ago

NEW: The left is notching big victories in Democratic races. But in St. Louis, center-left Wesley Bell just flipped the script and crushed his lefty rival. I asked him about defying the trend. And we spoke to voters to understand why. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

NEW: The left is notching big victories in Democratic races. But in St. Louis, center-left Wesley Bell just flipped the script and crushed his lefty rival. I asked him about defying the trend. And we spoke to voters to understand why. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

How a center-left Democrat flipped the script on a fiery progressive in one primary battle

Amid a summer of trouble for other Democratic House members facing progressive challengers, Rep. Wesley Bell managed to defeat former Rep. Cori Bush.

nbcnews.com

2018 debate stage, Michigan Democratic governor primary. Quite a journey these three have been on. (Photo credit: AP)

Asked Jasmine Crockett last night in St. Louis if she thinks James Talarico can turn Texas blue this fall. “I don't know,” she said. She doesn’t buy the polls. “I watch money… When I look at the money, if Republicans start spending money in Texas, then I'll be convinced.” MORE:

Schumer/Gillibrand on @abdulelsayed.bsky.social's nomination: "Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate. We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November."

Donavan McKinney wins the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th congressional district, @nbcnews.com projects. He defeats incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar.

🚨🚨 Abdul El Sayed wins the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, NBC News projects. He defeats Haley Stevens.

Jasmine Crockett just swung by the Wesley Bell election night party in St. Louis.

William Lawrence wins the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, @nbcnews.com projects. He will face first-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in this key swing district.

37.6% of the vote counted in Michigan: El-Sayed and Stevens are separated by fewer votes than non-candidate Mallory McMorrow is getting. Too early to call.

!! Wesley Bell’s victory over Cori Bush was so quick and decisive it surprised even his campaign.

🚨 Rep. Wesley Bell defeats former Rep. Cori Bush in a Missouri Democratic primary rematch, @nbcnews.com projects from St Louis: www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Rep. Wesley Bell defeats former Rep. Cori Bush in a Missouri Democratic primary rematch

Bell won, NBC News projects, with ad support from a pro-Israel super PAC, while Bush had backing from prominent progressives.

nbcnews.com

Wesley Bell on Cori Bush highlighting his support for aid to Israel: "What we've seen over and over is talking about an issue that that is not impacting folks right here in St. Louis, and while we take those issues seriously...the M in Missouri doesn't stand for Middle East. It stands for Missouri."

South Dakota's Democratic nominee for Senate drops out, giving independent candidate Brian Bengs a 1-on-1 match against Republican Sen. Mike Rounds... an outcome many Dems had wanted.

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 6d ago

NEW —> Democratic Senate candidates pursue a new strategy in rural states: Dropping out It’s happening in Nebraska & Idaho. Efforts underway to replicate in MT & SD. Dem brand is so tarnished there Ds have no shot. But independents may—in 1 on 1 vs Rs. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

From St. Louis — Cori Bush on Wesley Bell: "He is actually, in my opinion, a Republican." When I ask if she'd support him against the GOP nominee this fall if he wins the primary, Bush replies: "See myself voting for a Republican? Oh, I don't think that's on the ballot, for me."

Susan Collins is a NO on Todd Blanche for AG: “While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.” Unlikely to change the outcome; he can lose two Rs and get confirmed. Collins voted YES on Blanche as Deputy AG last year.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Wesley Bell is facing Cori Bush in a 2024 rematch after he ousted her two years ago. Two big contrasts in this race with national implications: (1) US policy toward Israel, (2) Whether Dems want their representative to align with leadership or to pressure them.

Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche is on track to get confirmed by the Senate as US Attorney General after two key Republican holdouts flip: John Cornyn and Thom Tillis.

Massive stakes tomorrow in battleground Michigan. If El-Sayed is nominated and loses this fall, the center-left will claim validation. But if El-Sayed wins the seat, it’ll fuel the segment of the party that dares to dream big about sending an unabashed progressive to the White House in 2028.

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 2d ago

New from me: 8 years ago, Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed ran for office. She won her House race on a moderate platform, he lost his gov primary on a progressive message. Tomorrow they face off in Michigan’s Senate race—in a very different landscape. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

El-Sayed's strategist on why 2026 looks different than 2018 with Democratic voters: "Trump won again."

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 2d ago

New from me: 8 years ago, Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed ran for office. She won her House race on a moderate platform, he lost his gov primary on a progressive message. Tomorrow they face off in Michigan’s Senate race—in a very different landscape. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

New from me: 8 years ago, Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed ran for office. She won her House race on a moderate platform, he lost his gov primary on a progressive message. Tomorrow they face off in Michigan’s Senate race—in a very different landscape. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Michigan’s primary reflects a Democratic base transforming in Trump 2.0: From the Politics Desk

Plus, Todd Blanche’s AG nomination is back on track ahead of a key committee vote.

nbcnews.com

"The Trump administration admitted that it terminated nearly 300 federal research grants 'solely because' the projects were connected to states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024 and had two Democratic senators in office, according to court filings." www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

Trump administration concedes it canceled research grants in blue states

The administration said 284 research grants were canceled because they were in states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024.

nbcnews.com

Ethics panel recommends censure for GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards for ‘inappropriate conduct’ www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

Ethics panel recommends censure for GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards for ‘inappropriate conduct’

The House Ethics Committee said it found “substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces.”

nbcnews.com

New: Senate leaders reach a deal to avert a shutdown before the 2026 elections The continuing resolution, or CR, keeps funds flowing on autopilot through Dec. 11. Senate begins voting on it today. Then to the House. Deadline: Sept. 30. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

Senate leaders reach a deal to avert a shutdown before the 2026 elections

The deal was struck by Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, the leaders on the Appropriations Committee. It would keep the government open until Dec. 11.

nbcnews.com

How would Michigan Senate GOP hopeful Mike Rogers vote on Trump's tariffs? “I don’t know.” Weaponization fund? “I’m not talking about any of that stuff. I don’t care. I mean, I care.” Iran war? He's heard “hardly anything” from voters. www.semafor.com/article/08/0...

Exclusive: Rogers tries for a tricky ‘change’ election

As Michigan Democrats fracture over their Senate primary, the presumptive Republican nominee hopes to run against a state government he won’t be joining.

semafor.com

John Cornyn & Thom Tillis issue a joint statement announcing they will support Todd Blanche for AG. He's now in good position to clear the Judiciary Committee tomorrow and head to the full Senate.

Senate leaders have reached a deal on a short-term government funding bill through Dec. 11. This would prevent a shutdown on Oct 1 and get through the midterms to figure out a longer-term solution. TEXT via Collins/Murray offices: www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., on @meetthepress.com: “Well, the whole thing is a multiple vehicle pile-up. Let me start with the president. The president says it was caused by vandals. I don’t know whether he really believes that, or it’s part of his political messaging, or he’s just thinking out loud.”

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 4d ago

As far as the Reflecting Pool case goes, Jeanine Pirro is required to provide facts and evidence that hold up in a court of law. Donald Trump and Doug Burgum, while offering their takes on the matter, are not. Draw your own conclusions.