Democratic optimism grows in battle for House
With a month remaining before the midterm elections, House Democrats are in a position where few expected them to be even just a few months ago: competitive. While the nation’s top political handicappers remain confident that Republicans will win control of the lower chamber in November, the expected margins have shrunk considerably heading into the home stretch. The shift in momentum is raising Democratic hopes that they can minimize their losses; better their odds — if they do lose the gavel — of retaking it two years from now; and make life tougher for potential Speak
Read MoreThe Memo: Biden faced with growing gulf between warring Russia, Ukraine
The Biden administration is confronting an odd paradox in Ukraine — Kyiv’s unexpected successes could be making peace less likely anytime soon. Ukrainian forces have taken back around 2,000 square miles of territory in recent weeks that had been previously seized by Russia, stunning the Kremlin. The Ukrainians went on to score a substantive and symbolic win with an explosion that partially destroyed the Kerch Strait Bridge on Saturday. But those developments have infuriated Russian President Vladimir Putin and may have contributed to pressure from Russian hard-liners to
Read MoreFive takeaways from the Ryan-Vance debate in Ohio
Ohio Senate candidates Rep. Tim Ryan (D) and J.D. Vance (R) squared off in a televised debate on Monday night that saw the two hit each other over everything from ties to Washington, China and the leaders of their respective parties. While Ryan branded Vance an “ass-kisser” to former President Trump, Vance worked to tie Ryan to President Biden. The debate comes in the final stretch of a race that has proven to be more competitive than many initially imagined. The Cook Political Report rates it as “lean Republican,” though there are signs Ryan has been closing the
Read MoreUS faces increased pressure to help Ukraine with air defense
The pressure for the United States to send Ukraine more advanced air defense systems reached a new high Monday after Russia escalated its war on the country with a barrage of deadly missile strikes. The Kremlin attacks, which targeted civilian areas that for months had enjoyed a relative calm, has produced anew the argument that the West send Ukraine more high-tech air defense weapons, including those similar to Israel’s
Read MorePartisan split highlighted in celebrations of Indigenous People's Day, Columbus Day
Lawmakers, governors and members of the Biden administration celebrated two very different holidays on Monday, with Democrats tending to favor Indigenous People's Day while Republicans mostly stuck with the older Columbus Day. Political figures took to Twitter on Monday, pushing different reasons for the day's significance. Many Democrats, including Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Sens.
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