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<title>Aussie Daily &#45; Australia News &#45; : Headlines</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/rss/category/headlines</link>
<description>Aussie Daily &#45; Australia News &#45; : Headlines</description>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Copyright 2026 Aussie Daily &#45; All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

<item>
<title>Colorado governor says he will grant clemency to Trump&#45;aligned election conspiracy theorist</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/colorado-governor-says-he-will-grant-clemency-to-trump-aligned-election-conspiracy-theorist</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/colorado-governor-says-he-will-grant-clemency-to-trump-aligned-election-conspiracy-theorist</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tina Peters allowed a far-right activist to access her county’s election system to help efforts to overturn the 2020 election. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Colorado, governor, says, will, grant, clemency, Trump-aligned, election, conspiracy, theorist</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Poll: Israel is dividing Republicans, too</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-israel-is-dividing-republicans-too</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-israel-is-dividing-republicans-too</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The emerging fractures carry significant implications for the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance and GOP efforts to keep together President Donald Trump’s coalition. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Poll:, Israel, dividing, Republicans, too</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cassidy’s in the fight of his political life</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/cassidys-in-the-fight-of-his-political-life</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/cassidys-in-the-fight-of-his-political-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The two-term incumbent is polling in third place in the GOP primary for his Louisiana Senate seat, as he faces a Trump-backed challenger. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cassidy’s, the, fight, his, political, life</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cassidy defiant as Trump&amp;apos;s revenge campaign closes in</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/cassidy-defiant-as-trumps-revenge-campaign-closes-in</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/cassidy-defiant-as-trumps-revenge-campaign-closes-in</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “I’m going to win today,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in an interview, brushing off Trump&#039;s efforts to oust him and MAHA&#039;s influence in the race. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cassidy, defiant, Trumps, revenge, campaign, closes</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/in-the-birthplace-of-civil-rights-movement-groups-rally-to-defend-black-political-representation</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/in-the-birthplace-of-civil-rights-movement-groups-rally-to-defend-black-political-representation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “We are not going down without a fight. We are not going down to Jim Crow maps,” said Shalela Dowdy, a plaintiff in the Alabama redistricting case. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, birthplace, Civil, Rights, Movement, groups, rally, defend, Black, political, representation</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>What to expect when you’re expecting a budget</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-a-budget</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-a-budget</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 41  
SPENDING SPECIFICS: Crucial state budget details — including aid for New York City, the structure of a surcharge on high-value second homes and the contours of major pension changes — are yet to be fully ironed out. 
Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced a &quot;general agreement&quot; for a $268 billion spending plan — but without specifics on many items. The closed-door discussions remain underway in Albany and none of the nine remaining budget bills have been printed. 
The state budget is now destined to be at least six weeks past its March 31 due date. Yet Hochul is counting on voters to appreciate her policy wins and not focus on what has been an at-times messy process. 
Hammering out these final specifics won&#039;t make or break a final deal. But the fine print will matter for how much New York plans for its massive tax-and-spend plan — impacting some 19 million people. 
Here&#039;s what&#039;s to still expect when you&#039;re expecting a budget. 
New York City aid: More help for the Big Apple is on the way from Albany. Lawmakers and Hochul are discussing additional foundation aid, potentially changing the formula for how public education spending is determined, and more cash for homeless students. At the same time, enabling legislation for pension amortization is being considered. 
Those measures are designed to help New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani close what&#039;s left of a $5.4 billion budget gap. And they come on top of the additional $1.5 billion Hochul agreed to earlier this year. 
The governor told reporters Monday morning her office has been working well with the Mamdani administration to fix the city&#039;s budget woes. 
&quot;There&#039;s quite a bit that needs to be OK&#039;d by New York state,&quot; she said. &quot;I spent last night talking to the mayor, Friday night talking to the mayor. It&#039;s been a great level of cooperation.&quot; 
Pied-à-terre structure: Lawmakers are yet to see any detailed budget language for Hochul&#039;s proposed surcharge on non-primary second residences worth $5 million and above. How that surcharge is structured — including how much it will rely on a home&#039;s assessed value — will matter for how many residences are actually captured by the tax. 
Overhauling Tier 6: Overhauling the Tier 6 pension category is a potentially costly endeavor. Hochul and lawmakers are now considering what&#039;s being called a &quot;skinny&quot; version of a plan originally pushed by unions, according to two people familiar with the talks. 
The change would lower the retirement age for teachers to 58 after 30 years of service, but it would not alter how much they contribute from their paychecks. For the rest of the public workforce, contributions of no lower than 3 percent of a worker&#039;s take-home pay is under consideration, but no change would be made to their retirement age. 
The move is expected to cost $500 million combined for the state, local governments and school districts. That&#039;s far less than the $1.5 billion proposal advanced earlier this year by the New York State AFL-CIO. 
Buffer zones: As POLITICO Pro reported earlier, lawmakers and Hochul have weighed a 50-foot protest buffer zone that would allow local officials to expand it as they see fit. Having those zones around houses of worship is largely agreed to, but working through the specifics remains a sticking point. — Nick ReismanFrom the CapitolHANTAVIRUS IN NEW YORK: Three New Yorkers were aboard a cruise ship at the center of an international hantavirus outbreak, state Health Commissioner James McDonald said in a statement this afternoon. The three passengers were sent to the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where they are expected to be subject to a 42-day monitoring period, according to McDonald. 
&quot;While the Department is working in close coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health departments to gather information, at this point it is unclear how long they will stay in Nebraska and whether, or when those individuals intend to return to New York,” McDonald said. 
“At this point, it is important to emphasize that there is no immediate risk to the public. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed,&quot; he added. 
When asked about the threat of the virus to New Yorkers, Hochul said the state health agency is working with the CDC, and she is monitoring the federal government to make sure officials have the capacity to handle any potential outbreak. 
“I want to make sure that the CDC is capable of handling something that could be larger than they are predicting, and I say that because I know that over a year ago, there were significant cuts to the CDC,” Hochul said. “We have outstanding resources here in the state of New York…so I’ve activated them to start preparing New York for worst-case scenarios and hope they do not come.” 
She noted that the state is putting together a plan to address any spread of the virus, but she does not believe it will turn into another coronavirus pandemic. She said she will begin doing briefings if it spreads beyond the three individuals flown in from the ship. — Katelyn Cordero  
GOV’S SOCIAL ACCOUNT GETS PLAUDITS: The state government’s eyebrow-raising, joke-telling, irreverent social media accounts were honored with a Webby Awards “Honoree” award last week, Hochul’s office told Playbook. 
The accounts, which go under the handle @NYGov on Instagram and X, are separate from the “Governor Hochul Press Office” account, which drew the ire of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy last week when it mocked him for his age. 
@NYGov, also known as “State of New York” on X, most recently posted messages like “it’s hole filling season” to spread the word about the state’s pothole reporting hotline on X, or &quot;UNALIVE THOSE FLYS&quot; as an Instagram PSA on the invasive spotted lantern fly. 
“I’ve always believed that government is for the people, and in order to reach people, we need to communicate like them,” said Milly Czerwinski, a digital content strategist who works in Hochul’s comms shop and runs the account. “NYGov’s oddity and authenticity has broken down the traditional bureaucratic barriers to reach millions of people. Being weird works — this award is proof of that.” — Jason BeefermanFROM CITY HALLCCR-CHI COMPLAINT: City Councilmember Chi Ossé filed a misconduct complaint today against an NYPD officer who arrested him, advancing a case that stands to drive a further wedge between the police department and Mayor Mamdani. 
The complaint, which Ossé shared with POLITICO, alleges the officer used excessive force during the April 22 arrest in Brooklyn, where the Council member and others were protesting the planned eviction of a woman who claims she’s the victim of deed theft. 
The Civilian Complaint Review Board, which investigates and prosecutes cases of police misconduct, has received Ossé’s claim and is reviewing it, a spokesperson confirmed. 
Ossé, a democratic socialist and ally of Mamdani, told POLITICO he believes the arresting officer violated his civil rights. “My rights were violated, but more importantly, my responsibility to my community and constituents demands a fact-finding,” said Ossé, who claims he suffered a concussion from being slammed to the ground. 
The NYPD previously said Ossé and three other protesters were only arrested after refusing verbal commands to stop blocking access to the property where the eviction was set to be executed. 
A spokesperson for Mamdani — who called video of Ossé’s arrest &quot;incredibly concerning” last month — said in response to the Council member’s complaint that &quot;the mayor respects the independence of the CCRB and will allow the disciplinary process to play out based on the evidence, established procedures, and the NYPD’s disciplinary matrix.&quot; 
Mamdani, a longtime NYPD critic, faces a fraught situation in responding to Ossé’s complaint. 
If he doesn’t back up his fellow democratic socialist, Mamdani is likely to anger his allies on the left. On the flipside, if he condemns the arresting officer, he risks drawing the ire of NYPD leaders, including Commissioner Jessica Tisch, as well as the department’s rank-and-file cops. 
Read more about the CCRB and Ossé from Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO. 
CASE CLOSED: Council member Vickie Paladino has reached a settlement with the City Council to resolve disciplinary charges focused on her controversial social media posts. 
The takeaway? The Council has withdrawn its disciplinary charges, and Paladino is dropping her lawsuit challenging the proceedings. 
The agreement, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, effectively dismisses the charges and cancels an ethics hearing that could have led to censure, fines or expulsion. As part of the settlement, Paladino must delete three posts cited in the case. She must also remove “Council Woman” from her personal X account display name within 48 hours of court approval to communicate to the public a clearer separation between her official posts, which are subject to some of the Council’s rules and regulations, and her personal opinions, one member familiar with the parameters of the settlement told Playbook. 
The case stemmed from a string of inflammatory posts starting in December where, in a deleted post, she called for the “expulsion of Muslims from western nations,” prompting the committee to look into her conduct. 
In February, she posted that New York was under “foreign occupation” following Mamdani’s appointment of a top immigration official. Paladino questioned whether the administration included “one single actual American” and later described a photo of Muslim sanitation workers praying as part of an “Islamic conquest.” 
The Council’s Rules and Ethics Committee had charged Paladino with disorderly conduct and violations of its anti-harassment and discrimination policy in March. 
Paladino sued to block the proceedings, arguing she was being targeted for her conservative views and that the discipline violated her First Amendment rights. 
As part of the settlement, Paladino must issue a statement saying she did not intend to make colleagues or staff feel “unwelcomed or unsafe.” Council member Sandra Ung, who chairs the ethics committee, issued her own statement Monday afternoon saying the resolution “strikes the balance” between protecting staff and lawmakers’ free speech rights. 
Both sides agreed to issue limited public statements and refrain from further comment. — Gelila NegesseFROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAILEYES ON AI: Rep. Pat Ryan is backing state Assemblymember Alex Bores to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, making him the latest member of the New York delegation to weigh in on one of the state’s most competitive primary elections. 
In making his endorsement, the Hudson Valley Democrat cited the high-profile AI fight that’s become a central theme of the race as a key reason for backing Bores. 
“He’s going to be the next member of Congress for the New York 12th District,” Ryan said at an event in Midtown with Bores today. “If you have any doubt, you don’t have to take my word for it — follow the money. Look at the incredible unprecedented amount … It’s because these tech billionaires are terrified, they’re terrified of Alex specifically.” 
The millions of dollars in spending by a pro-artificial intelligence super PAC against Bores — an alum-turned-critic of data analytics company Palantir and a sponsor of the AI safety RAISE Act in the state Legislature — has also drawn an influx of money from regulation-friendly AI and tech-affiliated groups to boost him. 
Bores’ campaign said that both he and Ryan “share a belief that the next Congress must take decisive action to regulate artificial intelligence before this transformative technology outpaces the rules meant to govern it” — a debate that continues to rage on in Washington and globally. 
Bores is viewed as one of the top contenders for the 12th District, which covers a large swath of Manhattan. He’s up against Assemblymember Micah Lasher, Kennedy scion Jack Schlossberg and anti-Trump commentator George Conway, as well as a handful of lesser-known challengers. Public polling has been sparse in the race, and internal polls from earlier this year don’t show a clear front-runner. — Madison FernandezIN OTHER NEWS— CLOCK’S TICKING: Mamdani has less than a month to fill two longstanding vacancies on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board — and the appointments could be key for his mission to make the city’s buses “fast and free.” (THE CITY) 
— NECK AND NECK: Hochul made a joint campaign appearance with Rep. Dan Goldman who’s running for reelection in New York&#039;s 10th congressional district, with a primary challenge from Mamdani-backed Brad Lander. (Gothamist) 
— SARCONE DOGGED: The top prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York is accused of misconduct, according to the watchdog organization Campaign for Accountability. (POLITICO Pro) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, expect, when, you’re, expecting, budget</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump nominates Kari Lake and Doug Mastriano to diplomatic posts</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-nominates-kari-lake-and-doug-mastriano-to-diplomatic-posts</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-nominates-kari-lake-and-doug-mastriano-to-diplomatic-posts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The two staunch allies ran failed campaigns for governor in battleground states in 2022. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, nominates, Kari, Lake, and, Doug, Mastriano, diplomatic, posts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Michigan Senate hopeful El&#45;Sayed calls himself a ‘physician’ but has little history treating patients</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/michigan-senate-hopeful-el-sayed-calls-himself-a-physician-but-has-little-history-treating-patients</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/michigan-senate-hopeful-el-sayed-calls-himself-a-physician-but-has-little-history-treating-patients</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “It’s a weird thing to hang your hat on in terms of a biographical detail if you never actually practiced medicine,” one Dem operative said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Michigan, Senate, hopeful, El-Sayed, calls, himself, ‘physician’, but, has, little, history, treating, patients</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>South Carolina Republicans tank redistricting, for now</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/south-carolina-republicans-tank-redistricting-for-now</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/south-carolina-republicans-tank-redistricting-for-now</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tuesday’s vote doesn’t mark a definitive end for efforts to redraw the state’s maps — but it does make it harder to accomplish this year. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>South, Carolina, Republicans, tank, redistricting, for, now</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Is Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ fight done?</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/is-mamdanis-tax-the-rich-fight-done</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/is-mamdanis-tax-the-rich-fight-done</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 42 
ZO, THAT’S IT? For months, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pressed the case that Albany must raise income and corporate taxes to help plug New York City’s $5.4 billion budget deficit. 
So in rolling out an executive budget today that closes the gap without his favored state-level tax hikes, Mamdani made a significant concession, showing he did not, in fact, need the increases from Albany to shore up his spending plan. 
When Playbook asked whether that means he’s throwing in the towel on his push for income and corporate tax increases, Mamdani signaled he’s content with the commitments he’s already secured. 
“I’ve been very open and honest about my vision, whether it be fast and free buses, or whether it be higher personal income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers or the most profitable corporations — this budget is a reflection of that vision in its tax on the rich,” Mamdani said. 
Mamdani was referring to the pied-à-terre tax Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislators in Albany have committed to enacting as part of this year’s badly overdue state budget. The tax, which impacts owners of secondary homes in the city worth more than $5 million, is expected to generate $500 million in new annual revenue for the municipal coffers. 
That’s a far cry from the $9 billion in fresh revenue the democratic socialist said his income and corporate tax increases would annually produce during last year’s mayoral race. 
Still, Mamdani offered nothing but praise for Hochul when asked today whether he’s a little bit disappointed that she hasn’t conceded any ground on those fronts. “I see this as a win,” he said at City Hall. “And I do want to thank Gov. Hochul for her partnership. It is a partnership that reflects a commitment to the long-term health and vitality for the city.” 
A close Mamdani supporter echoed his sentiment — but added a caveat. 
“What we heard from the mayor today signals that between the governor and New York City, the deal is done and they have reached the goals that they are going to accomplish this year,” Jasmine Gripper, director of the New York Working Families Party, told Playbook. “But nonetheless, the fight doesn’t die.” 
Gripper’s comment opens the door to 2027, when Mamdani may have a better shot at convincing Hochul to push through his preferred tax hikes. 
Locked in a reelection race against Republican Bruce Blakeman, Hochul has been consistently reluctant to support tax increases this year. As long as she’s reelected to a second full term in November, the governor may be more inclined to back tax hikes in 2027, when the pressures of a competitive reelection contest aren’t looming. 
A Hochul spokesperson declined to comment on 2027 considerations. And a spokesperson for Mamdani didn’t comment on what his 2027 plans are vis-à-vis tax priorities in Albany. 
Mamdani’s executive budget this year indicates he will be in dire need of new revenue streams from Albany next year. 
The budget gap the city faces for fiscal year 2028 stands at over $7 billion, budget documents released today show. The gap for fiscal year 2029 is even larger, topping $9 billion, according to the new projections. 
Without additional intervention from the state next year, closing such exorbitant outyear gaps could prove difficult for the young democratic socialist — unless he shifts gears to further trim spending. 
Gustavo Gordillo, a co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, made clear his group will continue pressuring Hochul to get behind higher taxes on the wealthy to stave off future municipal service cuts. 
“Closing the deficit was challenging. We did it. That’s an actual victory showing that socialists can govern,” Gordillo said. “But to deliver the full affordability agenda we will need a governor who stands with working New Yorkers instead of billionaire donors to make the rich pay what they owe.” — Chris Sommerfeldt and Joe AnutaFrom the CapitolBLAKEMAN WINS CASE ON MATCHING FUNDS: An Albany County judge has blocked an attempt from Democrats to deny GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman access to $3.5 million in campaign matching funds. 
Blakeman was booted from the program in March after the Democratic majority on the Public Campaign Finance Board concluded he never filled out a nonexistent form identifying his running mate. Justice Denise Hartman concluded today that maneuver was &quot;arbitrary and capricious.” 
“Blakeman registered his campaign and certified compliance with the Program, attended mandatory training, publicly identified their joint-ticket, and submitted certified amended filings 11 days before the filing deadline,” Hartman wrote. “Yet he received no notice that the PCFB considered the submissions deficient until after the filing deadline had lapsed.&quot; 
Democrats on the board said “an appeal is likely.” 
Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Bill Mahoney.  
UNIONS BACK PRISON REFORM: A dozen unions will soon announce their support for a pair of penal reform bills that advocates hope will be on the agenda for this year’s brief post-budget session. 
Labor organizations including 1199SEIU, District Council 37 and the New York State Nurses Association are backing the Earned Time Act, which would increase options for early release credits for participation in job training programs, and the Second Look Act, which would let inmates petition for early release after a decade. 
“New York is facing an ongoing labor shortage that is slowing economic growth and straining industries across the state,” the unions wrote in a letter to state leaders. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs remain unfilled, even as thousands of New Yorkers are locked out of the workforce due to long prison sentences and limited access to programs that would allow them to earn release.” 
Lawmakers are facing the likelihood they’ll have only two weeks to deal with post-budget issues before adjourning for the summer. But the Center for Community Alternatives’ Katie Schaffer was optimistic these measures might have some momentum, noting that state Sen. Jeremy Zellner’s decision today to cosponsor the Second Look Act means it’s now supported by a majority of his chamber. — Bill Mahoney 
STRIKING A DEAL — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road and five unions threatening to strike are only at odds over the fourth year of a three-year contract. 
The last contract expired three years ago. The unions and the MTA have already reached a deal on the retroactive pay for those years, but remain apart on the fourth year, which begins this summer, according to people familiar with the sensitive negotiations on both sides of the table. 
In public, the union’s last offer was a 5 percent pay increase, while the MTA’s was about 3 percent. 
At one point, the MTA looked for changes to work rules, which critics of the unions say are arcane and overly generous. Now, the MTA has moved on to looking for one-time lump sum payments as an alternative to salary increases in the fourth year. The advantage to the MTA is that one-time payments aren’t reoccurring, but the unions want a built-in pay increase and cite ongoing inflation. 
The unions said they are continuing to prepare for a strike and that no “contract talks” were scheduled today, though a formal bargaining session is scheduled for tomorrow. 
&quot;We are having discussions today,&quot; MTA spokesperson John McCarthy told POLITICO today. — Ry Rivard 
SEEKING A ZYN WIN: Some form of a tax on nicotine pouch products like Zyn is expected to be included in a final state budget deal. 
A coalition of private sector groups — including The Business Council of New York State — is trying to shape the details. 
The business organizations are pushing state lawmakers and Hochul to adopt a 67-cent flat, unit-based tax as an alternative to the original proposal, which would place a 75 percent wholesale tax on the products. The groups wrote in a letter to the governor and top state legislators that their proposal will still prevent those under 21 from accessing the products and curtail an illegal market. 
“It is a proven tax structure that keeps adult consumers purchasing through legal, taxed, and regulated channels, minimizes illicit trade, and preserves enforcement safeguards,” they wrote. “Importantly, it also provides stable and reliable revenue without importing the community and youth harms that accompany illegal markets.” — Nick Reisman 
GRAND JURY SUBPOENA: NYU Langone received a grand jury subpoena last week requesting six years of information on patients under 18 who received gender-affirming care and the medical staff involved, according to an online disclosure. 
Several other unnamed institutions received the subpoena, NYU Langone said in the notice. Under New York’s shield laws, local health care organizations must report subpoenas or requests for information regarding legally protected health activities to the state attorney general’s office. 
“We understand that these developments may be concerning to our patients, providers, and others,” the health system wrote in the notice. “Please know that NYU Langone takes the privacy of your protected health information very seriously and we are evaluating our response to the subpoena.” 
The subpoena by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas, which was first reported in the newsletter Erin in the Morning, indicates federal prosecutors empaneled a grand jury to weigh potential criminal charges. Federal agencies reportedly subpoenaed NYU Langone and Mount Sinai last year demanding information on care for transgender minors. 
NYU Langone shuttered its program for transgender youth earlier this year, citing the current regulatory environment. — Maya KaufmanFROM CITY HALLTHINKING ABOUT THE UNTHINKABLE — New York City Police Commissioner Jassica Tisch told a ballroom of civic leaders this morning that the city remains a terrorist target, especially this summer, with a series of “major international events, enormous public gatherings and historic commemorations,” including the World Cup and America’s 250th birthday party. 
“New York City is not only a global hub, it is a global target,” she said during a breakfast hosted by the Association for a Better New York. 
Tisch said that “what begins overseas often finds its way here,” alluding to the war with Iran, the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and emerging warfare strategies involving drones. She also mentioned domestic threats and lone actors. 
What she didn’t go into is how a terrorist attack could scramble the political picture in New York City and affect the perception of her boss. 
&quot;An attack will always be exploited by the Mamdani derangement crowd, but I think a lot of it would depend on where it comes from,&quot; said Richard Flanagan, a professor at the College of Staten Island, who wrote a book on challenges facing mayors. 
Maki Haberfeld, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said if an attack comes from a Muslim group or individual inspired by ISIS, &quot;It will be a huge liability for him because of who he is, being the first Muslim mayor of New York City.” 
Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist and political analyst, said Mamdani would be criticized in the same ways he was during his campaign, as young and progressive. And Mamdani, unlike Rudy Giuliani, who was praised after the 9/11 attacks, hasn’t had years in public life building a reputation around law and order. The information and political environment is also different now. 
&quot;That is a big difference from 2001 to now. You didn&#039;t have the access to alternative viewpoints in the way you do now,&quot; he said. 
Right now, Flanagan sees Mamdani, in part because he kept Tisch on as head of NYPD, as balancing the law-and-order coalition and his own base, which looks for police reforms. &quot;It&#039;s a fine line and he&#039;s walking it,&quot; he said. — Ry RivardIN OTHER NEWS— DYNAMIC DUO: President Donald Trump defended Mamdani on a conservative talk radio show Tuesday, calling him a ‘nice guy,’ but he criticized his proposed second-home tax, warning it could drive the rich out of the city. (POLITICO) 
— NOT-SO-NICE SUNSET: The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents in New York City is impacting immigrant-majority neighborhoods like Sunset Park, where nearly 80% of businesses reported a decrease in sales and foot traffic. (Gothamist) 
— FEES ON NOTICE: The New York senate is pushing to pass consumer protection bills that go after deceptive business practices, including surveillance pricing and junk fees. (Spectrum News) ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mamdani’s, ‘Tax, the, Rich’, fight, done</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tennessee Republicans pass new gerrymander following Supreme Court&amp;apos;s Voting Rights Act ruling</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/tennessee-republicans-pass-new-gerrymander-following-supreme-courts-voting-rights-act-ruling</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/tennessee-republicans-pass-new-gerrymander-following-supreme-courts-voting-rights-act-ruling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The map aims to give the GOP a clean sweep of the state’s nine congressional districts by fracturing Black-majority Memphis between three districts. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://static.politico.com/86/b6/669912cc40f7bb92b7f922583b12/gun-laws-tennessee-37060.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tennessee, Republicans, pass, new, gerrymander, following, Supreme, Courts, Voting, Rights, Act, ruling</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hochul’s Mission Accomplished</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/hochuls-mission-accomplished</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/hochuls-mission-accomplished</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 37 
WHEELIN’ AND DEALIN’: Gov. Kathy Hochul claimed this morning she has a budget deal. Moments later, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters that, actually, nothing is final. 
It’s a Planet Albany pantomime that’s played out over the last several years — a governor anxious to tout what&#039;s generally been agreed to after a weeks-long impasse and an Assembly speaker who denies anything is truly finalized. 
Only this year is different. 
Heastie was noticeably more exasperated than in prior years when he told reporters this morning that the Legislature has yet to sign off on a budget agreement, contradicting the governor’s victory lap. 
“There’s no budget deal,” the Bronx Democrat said. “There’s no deal. I said to her last night I was comfortable with saying we’re close. It’s close.” 
He pledged to no longer discuss policy-related matters with Democratic lawmakers until the budget’s financial picture was in clear focus — suggesting he’s at something of a breaking point with a governor he considers an ally. 
“We’ve signed off on nothing major,” he said. “This is what’s wrong with this process.” 
Earlier in the morning, Hochul stood in the Red Room praising the “general agreement” (a chestnut that will join the pantheon of other state budget-deal upspeak like “tentative framework”). 
She ran through a list of what has been, well, generally agreed to: Protections for undocumented immigrants, changing the environmental review process in order to fast-track home building and a package of car insurance laws meant to reduce premium costs. 
Budget details tend to matter, not just to the 19 million New Yorkers who the document will impact, but to the army of advocates, lobbyists, staffers and lawmakers who have sweated the specifics for the last four months. And what’s yet to be determined is consequential. 
The pied-à-terre tax on pricey second homes?  
“We are working to come up with the right way to calculate,” Hochul said. “What you have is a rather bizarre property tax system in New York City right now.” 
Changing the Tier 6 pension, a move that may cost $1.5 billion? 
“We’ll release those numbers as soon as it’s absolutely done, but it won’t be the scale that was out there in the news,” she said. 
Why come out now with so much TBD? 
“All these financial details — as we’ve done in the past — we talk about initially the policy agreements, and this is a policy agreement we’ve accomplished, working tirelessly with the two leaders I have such respect for, Carl Heastie and Andrea Stewart-Cousins,” Hochul said. 
It’s true that this has been Hochul’s strategy in the late stages of the budget — to fete the policy wins and leave the financial stuff written in pencil. 
It’s also true that most voters aren’t following the blow-by-blow of the arcane Albany process and care far more about the results. As she runs for reelection, Hochul can show voters victories on issues like a school cellphone ban. 
But while the governor has long placed a bet on voters not minding late budgets, Republicans are eager to trot out the “D” word — dysfunction — to describe the Albany fracas. 
“We’ve gone so far away from having responsible leadership in this state and caring about what it means to have a budget on time,” Republican Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra said. “It’s May 7 — the latest budget in my time in the Legislature — and she’s out here announcing a deal that doesn’t actually exist.” — Nick ReismanFrom the CapitolWONKS WEIGH IN: As noted above, details on the state’s spending plan remain scant. But some experts are seeing good news in what’s out there. 
The fiscal hawks at the Citizens Budget Commission applauded policy measures like changes to the State Environmental Quality Review Act that were made to spur more home building, as well as the car insurance changes 
Still, the group has concerns even as the final numbers aren’t yet clear. The $268 billion topline spending figure may increase once the dust settles. 
“What we do know is that the budget is bigger, but not likely better for fiscal stability compared to the governor’s proposal,” the group said. — Nick ReismanFROM CITY HALLICE CLASH: Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting pressure from progressive leaders to enact stricter rules on how the NYPD can interact with federal immigration authorities — the latest sign of a broadening chasm between the mayor and his own supporters, our Chris Sommerfeldt reports today. 
Attention on the issue intensified Saturday when police officers blocked protesters advancing toward U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were transporting an immigrant detainee from a Brooklyn hospital. As video of the chaos went viral, accusations that Mamdani’s NYPD had coordinated with ICE in violation of local sanctuary laws quickly accumulated. The mayor has rejected that claim. 
In a letter to Mamdani, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and four other elected Democrats who endorsed the mayor’s 2025 campaign wrote that they believe the NYPD “coordinated on the ground with ICE agents” outside the hospital. And they implored him to immediately overhaul NYPD policies in response. 
“Officers arriving at a scene where federal agents are already operating cannot be left to improvise. They need a bright-line rule, communicated up and down the chain of command, that informs them when to disengage, when to step back, when to refuse a request for assistance, and how to document what they observed,” they wrote in the Wednesday letter, which was obtained by POLITICO. “The absence of such a standard, or the failure to enforce one, is how we ended up with NYPD officers visibly working alongside ICE outside a hospital.” 
Specifically, they called on Mamdani to release new rules within 30 days that “clearly outline” how NYPD officers should interact with ICE agents in the field. The rules, they wrote, should dictate when “disengagement” and “refusal of assistance” to ICE is appropriate so NYPD officers “do not aid, facilitate, or appear to facilitate civil immigration enforcement.” 
Among the letter’s other signatories was state Sen. Julia Salazar, one of the earliest supporters of Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign and a fellow democratic socialist. 
The fact that Mamdani’s elected supporters opted to call him out in such a direct way is a strong indication elements of his base are growing frustrated with his handling of public safety issues — and his perceived drift to the political center since entering City Hall. 
Read more from Chris in POLITICO Pro. 
SECOND TRY: Council Speaker Julie Menin is moving forward with a controversial bill that would boost pay for home health workers — legislation that’s also tangled up with her run for the leadership post last year. 
As POLITICO previously reported, Menin is working with Council Member Chris Marte on a measure that would outlaw 24-hour shifts for home health aides who are only paid for 13 hours. Their collaboration began to unfold after Marte dropped his own bid for the speakership last fall and threw his support behind Menin. 
The effort, however, has put the speaker in a political bind. A previous version of the bill drew opposition from major labor unions, the mayor and Hochul over concerns it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, endanger patients and deprive workers of flexibility. 
Menin, in the hopes of blunting that opposition, prepped a new version for a vote last night. The modified bill exempts home health workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement, delays the implementation for a year and allows home health workers to opt into longer shifts through the fall of 2027. 
“As part of the ongoing legislative process, the Council has updated the bill after many conversations with stakeholders,” Council spokesperson Benjamin Fang said in a statement. “We look forward to phasing out the 24-hour workday, an outdated practice that places workers under extreme physical and emotional strain.&quot; 
The changes to the bill, however, do not seem to have appeased much of the opposition that killed it the first time around. A person with knowledge of negotiations said the modified version sparked backlash this morning. The legislation still sticks the state with the cost — the reason Hochul opposed it last time around. And some of the same critics are now reiterating their opposition, putting the bill on shaky ground should Menin attempt to bring it to a vote. 
“This bill still leaves people with disabilities without care, creates legal conflicts with State Medicaid rules, lacks the funding necessary to keep from endangering the lives of people with disabilities, and risks destabilizing access to critical care for thousands of New Yorkers,” a Legal Aid Society spokesperson said in a statement. “We can and must pursue reforms that protect home care workers from exploitation without jeopardizing the health, independence, and dignity of the people who depend on these services every day.” — Joe AnutaIN OTHER NEWS— QUOTE CONTROVERSY: A recent TV ad from Anthony Constantino’s congressional campaign used a fabricated quote attributed to the Times Union. The dubiously sourced claim? “Constantino is now guaranteed to be a major entity in Congress.” (Times Union) 
— STUDENT EXODUS: Enrollment in New York City’s public schools could plunge by as many as 153,000 students over the next decade. Falling fertility rates and more charter schools are driving the downturn. (The New York Times) 
— ICE UPHEAVAL: Nigerian immigrant sues ICE after his arrest sparked chaotic protests in Brooklyn. Chidozie Wilson Okeke&#039;s lawsuit says he was “unlawfully, brutally and violently detained.” (Gothamist) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hochul’s, Mission, Accomplished</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leon Panetta on Iran, Ukraine and the new global power struggle</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/leon-panetta-on-iran-ukraine-and-the-new-global-power-struggle</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/leon-panetta-on-iran-ukraine-and-the-new-global-power-struggle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Leon Panetta on Iran, Ukraine and the new global power struggle 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leon, Panetta, Iran, Ukraine, and, the, new, global, power, struggle</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>NY Dems are primed to pull redistricting punches</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ny-dems-are-primed-to-pull-redistricting-punches</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ny-dems-are-primed-to-pull-redistricting-punches</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 38 
VOTING RIGHTS DILEMMA: With Democrats’ national redistricting calculus now in disarray over today’s court order blocking new Virginia maps, party leaders are looking to New York as a prime opportunity to keep pace with Republicans. 
But as top Democrats in the Empire State move ahead with their attempt to redraw lines in 2028, they’re also far more likely to pull their punches in the ongoing gerrymandering wars. 
The Supreme Court’s decision last week to end a key provision of the Voting Rights Act allows states to break up districts previously drawn to accommodate minority voters. Republicans in states like Alabama and Tennessee are rushing to take advantage by dissolving majority Black districts. In New York — the state where Democrats have the most to gain by drawing new lines — there’s virtually no appetite to respond in kind, underscoring a looming barrier for blue states in the redistricting fight. 
“People were walking across bridges and being mauled, and have lost their lives for these rights,” New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said of the VRA. “These laws are there because there has been a real effort to disenfranchise certain people, certainly Black people, from being able to vote. So we want to protect that.&quot; 
In the coming weeks, New York lawmakers are expected to begin the lengthy process of approving a constitutional amendment that would let them redraw congressional lines in 2028. If successful, the measure stands to turn a state with 19 Democrats and seven Republicans into one with a 22-4 or 23-3 edge. 
Such an outcome is akin to what Republicans pushed through in Texas last summer — but not as extreme as the 9-0 Republican map Tennessee lawmakers drew Thursday by eliminating a Black majority district in Memphis. 
In New York, a 26-0 map isn’t plausible. But in a deep blue state where Democrats routinely receive around 60 percent of the vote in statewide races, maps that feature tendrils extending from the Bronx and Brooklyn into the furthest regions of upstate and Long Island are possible. And such a reconfiguration would give Democrats an even greater advantage compared with maps they’ve floated in the not so distant past. 
Doing that would require eliminating districts that were protected by the VRA until last week. Those districts include the Brooklyn seat held by House Minority Hakeem Jeffries. 
“I don’t think we want to roll back protections for minority communities in New York,” said Senate Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris who’s led his conference’s redistricting efforts since 2012. 
The fact that keeping these districts intact is a core personal political belief for leaders like Stewart-Cousins — and a political third rail for everyone in the state’s Democratic Party — will likely limit how aggressively Democrats will approach redistricting. 
On Long Island, for example, Democrats might be able to draw lines in 2018 that increase the delegation from a tenuous 2-2 to a safer 3-1. But taking a swing at a 4-0 set of maps isn’t possible without destroying districts in Brooklyn and Queens. 
Read more from Bill Mahoney in POLITICO Pro here.From the CapitolCASE CLOSED: State investigators closed two probes into undisclosed conflicts of interest by SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s former CEO, David Berger, according to records reviewed by POLITICO. 
The New York State Office of the Inspector General and the state’s Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government each opened investigations into Berger upon a referral from SUNY. 
Investigators confirmed Berger had professional relationships with multiple companies that had contracts with SUNY Downstate, which he did not initially report. But investigators also discovered Berger — and potentially hundreds of other SUNY Downstate employees — hadn’t been placed on the institution’s list of people required to file financial disclosures. 
Richard Friedman, an attorney representing Berger, said his client promptly filed the necessary forms once notified of his obligations. Berger does not believe his affiliation with the companies created any conflicts of interest, Friedman added. 
Berger, who was hired in 2020, reported serving as an adviser to digital health startups Plannery, Opmed.ai, Mishe and Copient Health while he was CEO of the Brooklyn teaching hospital, according to copies of 2022 and 2023 financial disclosures. Berger also reported a consulting agreement with Murata Vios, which sells technology for remotely monitoring patients. 
“At SUNY, we expect the highest ethical conduct from senior officials, and we will always uphold that value,” SUNY spokesperson Holly Liapis said in a statement. — Maya Kaufman 
HOCHUL VERSUS TEACHERS UNIONS: The state and city’s powerful teachers unions pressed Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject a GOP-backed federal tax credit program after she signaled support for the initiative. 
States can voluntarily opt into the program, which lets taxpayers write off contributions to charitable organizations that offer scholarships for private school tuition and other expenses. Hochul’s office confirmed her support today, but insisted she wants to review the details “for poison pills that could harm New York’s education system.” 
The teachers unions contend the program will funnel billions of tax dollars away from public schools and into private schools with no oversight. 
“Vouchers — by any name — take money away from neighborhood schools and hand it to private institutions that don’t answer to the public,” New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said in a statement. “New Yorkers have rejected this approach before, and we sincerely hope that once the full details of President Trump’s voucher scheme emerge, it will be clear state leadership should reject it again.” 
Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said his union is “vehemently opposed to this optional federal voucher program.” 
Support for the program could also set up a showdown between the governor and the Democrat-led state Legislature, which is closely aligned with the teachers unions. 
State Sen. John Liu, who chairs the Senate’s New York City Education Committee, said the tax credit may appear “enticing” but warned of long-term damage to states’ ability to provide public education. 
“Many governors and legislatures around the country have recognized this tax credit for the Faustian bargain it is and have already opted out, and I sincerely hope that New York will opt out as well,” Liu said in a statement. — Madina Touré 
CARL CLARIFIES: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is dialing back his Hochul criticism today after his peevish press gaggle denying there was a state budget deal. 
“The governor and I had a really good conversation,” the Bronx Democrat told NY1. “My issue was never with her. I feel like I have an amazing relationship with the governor. My concern was more of the process. I do think we’re very close on the budget and expect we’ll get it done in short order.” 
For weeks Heastie has decried the amount of non-fiscal policy matters in the budget negotiations. Hochul on Thursday announced a “general agreement” on the spending plan without many details filled in, including specifics for pension changes, education spending and health care. — Nick ReismanFROM CITY HALLBOYLAN BACKS OUT: Lindsey Boylan, an activist who became the first woman to accuse former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct in 2020, is pulling the plug on her campaign for a Manhattan-based City Council seat. 
Boylan already lost last month’s special election for the vacant seat to Council staffer Carl Wilson. But after her defeat, she didn’t immediately say whether she would remain on the ballot for this summer’s Democratic primary for the 3rd Council District, which spans a section of Manhattan’s West Side. 
This morning, Boylan announced she will bow out from the June primary, putting Wilson on a glidepath to winning a full term. 
“After much consideration, I have decided not to run in the June 23 Democratic Primary,” Boylan said in a statement. “While I will not be running in the primary, I could not be prouder of what we built together.” 
Boylan’s loss was a blow to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who endorsed her shortly before the April 28 special election. It was also a feather in the cap for Council Speaker Julie Menin, who endorsed Wilson along with other more moderate forces in the Democratic Party. — Chris Sommerfeldt  
MAKING THE PITCH: Airbnb, a company whose primary business in New York City is all but banned, is trying to get back in the game during the World Cup. 
The company held an event today at a Bronx public school to celebrate mini soccer pitches it’s bankrolling at several schools across the region — projects meant to leave what the company called a “meaningful and lasting impact on local communities in New York and New Jersey.” 
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the city Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels attended the groundbreaking. 
A week ago, the company was at the Jamaica YMCA announcing it would provide kids with 1,000 tickets to the World Cup. 
The goodwill events come as the company’s allies are looking to reopen doors through a revived City Council bill that would make way for short-term rentals in one- and two-family homes. The company made a similar push under former Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who tried but ultimately failed to get a previous version of the bill passed last year. 
“We&#039;re committed to helping ensure the legacy of the World Cup lasts far beyond this summer and actually benefits everyday New Yorkers, like our hosts and communities they call home in the outer boroughs — not just Midtown Manhattan hotels,” Nathan Rotman, a company spokesperson, said in a statement. 
Airbnb’s appearances haven’t gone unnoticed by the company’s chief foe, the politically powerful Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which this week launched the “GOALS Coalition” aimed at, among other things, ensuring that the anti-Airbnb restrictions are enforced during the World Cup. 
Whitney Hu, a spokesperson for the coalition, said “people are tired of seeing mega-corporations use every major event as an excuse to weaken protections, exploit loopholes, and revive policies that primarily benefit corporate investors at the expense of the communities that actually live here.” — Ry Rivard 
SECOND SUIT: A prominent NYPD union is suing the city’s police oversight board for the second time in two weeks. 
The Police Benevolent Association filed a lawsuit Friday in state Supreme Court alleging the Civilian Complaint Review Board — which investigates cases of alleged police misconduct and recommends punishments to the NYPD commissioner — is mishandling officers’ records. 
Specifically, the union alleges that the CCRB is failing to follow a state law requiring notification to any member of the force whose disciplinary records are sought via a Freedom of Information Law request. 
“CCRB is so thoroughly infected with anti-police bias that it refuses to comply with even the most basic requirements of fairness and due process under the law,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said in a statement. 
The city’s Law Department declined to comment and referred Playbook to the CCRB. A representative for the board countered the PBA’s assertions. 
“The CCRB’s investigations are complete, thorough and impartial,” spokesperson Dakota Gardner said in a statement. “The Agency continually reviews all applicable laws and regulations regarding the public release of its records, including disciplinary histories of members of service, to ensure it is fully compliant.” 
The legal volley is part of a broader effort to push back against the CCRB through the courts, according to the PBA, which has often clashed with the oversight body. 
Two weeks ago, the union filed a federal lawsuit alleging the CCRB released unsubstantiated complaints against officers without redacting sensitive information. — Joe AnutaFROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAILLOYALTY: Antonio Reynoso has some thoughts on Mamdani. 
The Brooklyn borough president is one of three Democrats running in a contentious primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who has endorsed him. Mamdani, meanwhile, is backing Assemblymember Claire Valdez, a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America. 
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Editorial Board — after Reynoso relayed that the mayor suggested he shouldn’t run for Congress — he was asked what that meant to him. Reynoso, who endorsed Mamdani in the mayoral primary, replied that Mamdani doesn’t “know” him or his “history.” 
“I think I was good enough to be in citywide Spanish media for him,” Reynoso said. “I was good enough to do a commercial in all of Brooklyn for him, supporting his candidacy. I think that we were aligned because I’m a [Working Families Party] pup, I’m a kid that’s always been with the WFP. He’s seen a lot of the progressive work that I’ve done, and he knows me as Antonio, maybe that way as a politician, but he doesn’t know my history.” 
He’s not bothered, though. 
When asked if he thinks Mamdani is “disloyal,” he responded: “I think he is disloyal,” referring to the tension between Mamdani and Velázquez. “And I want to say this, not to me so much. He’s DSA, he’s loyal to the DSA. I respect that. I’m not going to be mad at that.” 
“I think it’s what he did to Nydia more so than me,” Reynoso continued. “I think he’s doing what he’s got to do for his people, and he doesn’t need to be with me, and it doesn’t bother me one bit. Even if I endorsed him, I get it. I think Nydia was asking him to sit down and come to an agreement and saying, ‘Hey, it doesn’t need to be Antonio.’” 
A Mamdani spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment. 
Mamdani had a commanding performance in the district last year, and his endorsement is seen as a huge asset to Valdez’s candidacy. So the harsh words might not land particularly well with the Mamdani fans in the primary electorate. 
City Council member Julie Won, the other Democrat vying for the seat, has also come out against Mamdani on at least one issue: Sunnyside Yard, the housing redevelopment project that Mamdani met with Trump about earlier this year. — Madison FernandezIN OTHER NEWS— SLICE OF TROUBLE: New York officials are struggling to finalize Hochul’s proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes as legal hurdles and budget infighting stall the plan. (Bloomberg) 
— KNOCK KNOCK: New York’s top utility regulator has launched a probe into debt-collection practices at major utilities, including PSEG Long Island and Con Edison, after reports of controversial remarks at a Florida conference. (Newsday) 
— OFF THE RAILS: Five unions representing 3,500 Long Island Rail Road workers say contract talks with the MTA have stalled, accusing the agency of “surface bargaining” as a potential May 16 strike looms. (New York Daily News) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. 
Correction: An item in Friday’s Playbook PM misspelled the name of Airbnb spokesperson Nathan Rotman. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, are, primed, pull, redistricting, punches</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump shakes up Kentucky Senate race with endorsement of Rep. Andy Barr</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-shakes-up-kentucky-senate-race-with-endorsement-of-rep-andy-barr</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-shakes-up-kentucky-senate-race-with-endorsement-of-rep-andy-barr</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The president reshuffled the race by asking MAGA-aligned businessperson Nate Morris to step aside. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, shakes, Kentucky, Senate, race, with, endorsement, Rep., Andy, Barr</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ohio Republicans fear former ICE official could cost them a battleground House seat</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ohio-republicans-fear-former-ice-official-could-cost-them-a-battleground-house-seat</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ohio-republicans-fear-former-ice-official-could-cost-them-a-battleground-house-seat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Madison Sheahan is facing attacks from GOP primary opponents over her tenure in the Trump administration. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ohio, Republicans, fear, former, ICE, official, could, cost, them, battleground, House, seat</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Poll: The midterms&amp;apos; new big players are pushing agendas that voters don’t fully support</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-the-midterms-new-big-players-are-pushing-agendas-that-voters-dont-fully-support</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-the-midterms-new-big-players-are-pushing-agendas-that-voters-dont-fully-support</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An April POLITICO Poll finds broad skepticism about both crypto and AI, creating a growing tension for candidates benefiting from the influx of cash. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Poll:, The, midterms, new, big, players, are, pushing, agendas, that, voters, don’t, fully, support</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>A note to our readers</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-note-to-our-readers</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-note-to-our-readers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As I begin my first week as POLITICO&#039;s Global Editor-in-Chief, I want to start by thanking you — our readers and subscribers — for the trust you place in POLITICO. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>note, our, readers</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Republicans&amp;apos; youth voter problem</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-youth-voter-problem</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-youth-voter-problem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new national poll of 1,000 young Americans finds deep discontent over the economy and signs of a base problem for Republicans. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Republicans, youth, voter, problem</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Kat and Zo’s affordability goooooaaaals</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/kat-and-zos-affordability-goooooaaaals</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/kat-and-zos-affordability-goooooaaaals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 27 
FREE KICKS: After days of headlines about exorbitant costs to get to the World Cup, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday unveiled a series of free watch parties in each borough. 
The public events are a sign that the Democrats, who appeared together at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, are trying to make the tournament affordable for fans who can’t afford to watch in person. 
“Every fan should be able to watch the greatest tournament on earth without dipping into their savings,” said Mamdani, who attended the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 
Several of the events, dotted around the city, will have daily programming, even when matches aren’t being played. 
Hochul has worried the high fares New Jersey Transit is charging to get fans to matches at MetLife Stadium will throw “cold water” on the tournament. She said that while MetLife will only fit 80,000 people, “this moment belongs to millions of New Yorkers.” 
“If you can’t get to the World Cup, the World Cup is coming to you,” she said. 
The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns because of several overlapping events, including a naval review President Donald Trump is likely to attend on July 4. 
At the press conference, Mamdani used a question about security concerns to denounce this weekend’s attempted attack at the White House Correspondents Dinner, saying there’s “no room for this kind of political violence.” 
“What we saw at the press correspondents dinner is one part of a very troubling reality across this country, which is how political violence has become part of our politics,” he said. “It is something that we are taking into consideration whenever we are planning anything in our city.” 
The World Cup events took years of planning. Hochul has also announced other events upstate. And New Jersey is rolling out events in each of its 21 counties. 
Mamdani teased further events in the city, including Department of Transportation “watch parties,” despite a moratorium on certain public events in parks that came at the request of the NYPD amid staffing concerns. — Ry RivardFrom the CapitolPIED-À-PUSH: Hochul adopted some populist rhetoric with a video released today pitching her pied-à-terre tax plan as one that impacts “billionaires and oligarchs.” 
The language is striking for a governor who has opposed broader tax hikes like raising rates on income for rich New Yorkers and large corporations. 
Yet Hochul is contending with sustained left-flank pressure to raise those taxes in the state budget, which is now nearly a month late. 
The governor’s proposal, which would apply an annual surcharge on non-primary New York City residences worth $5 million and more, is expected to generate some $500 million. The money would help close a $5.4 billion city budget gap. 
In her explainer video, Hochul asserts the surcharge would affect investors who “are not paying some of the same taxes as the people who live here year round.” It’s worth noting, though, that these owners are paying city property taxes. 
Business leaders, including the Real Estate Board of New York and the Partnership for New York City, are concerned that the tax would hinder investment in the city. — Nick Reisman 
SEE MY VEST: State Capitol security personnel have started wearing tactical vests — a move the State Police said was done as “a proactive safety measure.” 
State Police spokesperson Beau Duffy told Playbook on Monday that the introduction of ballistic vest carriers, which are designed to hold armor plates, at the Capitol complex isn’t connected to a specific incident or threat. 
The change comes as the state Capitol and surrounding state office buildings have tightened security in recent months, which includes a visible State Police presence at entrances. — Nick Reisman 
PAY DELAY PERK: A new bill would let state legislators stop paying their personal utility bills whenever there’s a late budget. 
The measure from Assemblymember Larinda Hooks would allow state workers and “elected officials” whose checks are delayed due to a delinquent spending plan to immediately stop paying their utility and internet bills. Under the legislation, they would not have to resume payments until two months after the budget is passed. 
Practically every state employee has been paid since lawmakers missed the March 31 budget deadline — that’s why members have passed seven budget extenders. 
The one exception? State legislators, who are statutorily barred from collecting checks until the oft-tardy spending plan is finalized. 
“It’s clear who the main beneficiaries of this bill are,” Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra said. “There hasn’t been a situation in recent memory where state employees had paychecks withheld as a result of a late budget.” 
Hooks’ office did not return a request for comment. 
Senate Finance Chair Tom O’Mara characterized the bill as “one of the most ridiculous ideas I’ve ever heard.” 
“These legislators that are worried about not paying their utility bill while the budget’s late should be worried about lowering peoples’ utility bills,” O’Mara said. “Everything we do around here makes them more expensive.” — Bill Mahoney 
DOH STEPS UP: As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scales back its testing for pathogens, the state Department of Health said today it’s stepping in to fill the gap. The state’s Wadsworth Center will take on testing paused by the CDC, a role it’s already been filling for 23 states that lack the resources to test pathogens. 
The state lab announced that it’s now working with the CDC on testing for viruses such as influenza, pox and rabies. The Health Department noted that a pause in testing by the CDC has created a public health risk across the country, particularly for states that don’t have the necessary resources for robust testing. The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 
“The New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center stands at the forefront of innovation, protecting the health of New Yorkers and communities far beyond the State’s borders,” State Health Commissioner James McDonald said in a statement. “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State continues to lead in disease surveillance – work that is critical to responding effectively to public health threats.” 
Read more here in POLITICO Pro from Katelyn Cordero.FROM CITY HALLBREAKING RANKS: A key member of the City Council Progressive Caucus has quietly resigned from the bloc, a departure that comes amid a wider rift between the chamber’s lefties and Council Speaker Julie Menin. 
Council Member Nantasha Williams, who serves as the body’s deputy speaker and is part of Menin’s leadership team, stepped down from the Progressive Caucus last week, a spokesperson told Playbook. The spokesperson suggested serving on the caucus is incompatible with Williams’ leadership responsibilities, given she has “shifted to supporting priorities across the full Council alongside the speaker.” 
In a statement, Williams confirmed she left “to focus on my broader leadership role in the Council.” Despite departing, she said she remains committed to the “values” of the caucus. 
“I look forward to continuing to partner with colleagues to advance shared priorities for New Yorkers,” said Williams, who has served as deputy speaker since Menin tapped her for the post in January. 
Council Members Sandy Nurse and Tiffany Cabán, the Progressive Caucus’ co-chairs, lauded Williams for her “years of service within our caucus.” 
“Her decision to step back due to the new structural expectations that come alongside her role within Council leadership is not an easy one, but it is understandable,” they said. “We will continue to advocate for budget justice and the protection of civil liberties, which are our shared priorities. We hope to do so in continued partnership with our deputy speaker.” 
Williams’ exit leaves the Progressive Caucus with 23 members, most of whom are aligned with Mamdani. That puts the caucus just shy of a majority in the 51-member Council. 
Menin, a more moderate Democrat, has increasingly embraced her role as a foil to Mamdani, clashing with him over how to address the city’s budget deficit and other policy matters. 
Given their alignment with Mamdani, Progressive Caucus members have also had more frequent clashes lately with Menin. 
A recent example: Last week, Progressive Caucus leaders praised Mamdani for vetoing a bill that would permit the NYPD to set up buffer zones outside educational facilities during protests. 
By contrast, Menin, a key supporter of the bill, condemned the veto and signaled she might try to whip votes to override Mamdani to force the legislation into law. Despite still being a Progressive Caucus member at the time, Williams voted for the school buffer zone bill when it first passed the Council in late March. 
In an X post on Friday, Cabán, the caucus co-chair, encouraged her colleagues to vote against any override attempt by Menin. 
“I trust that my colleagues will sustain this veto so that we can protect our civil liberties and work together to address the root causes of hate violence,” Cabán wrote. Menin would almost certainly need the support of a handful of Progressive Caucus members to pull off a successful override of the mayor’s veto of the protest-related bill. — Chris Sommerfeldt 
SUCCESS HEADS TO SUNSHINE STATE: New York City’s largest charter network announced Monday that it will open five elementary schools in Miami next year, marking its first expansion outside of New York. 
Success Academy will co-locate with five schools across Miami-Dade County, specifically Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, Homestead Senior High School, Miami Jackson Senior High School, North Miami Senior High School and Westland Hialeah Senior High School. 
The schools are slated to open during the 2027-28 school year, serving 1,500 students in kindergarten through first grade, according to a Success spokesperson. They will add an additional grade each year. 
“Success Academy is excited to bring our proven, high-quality educational model to Miami’s families,” Eva Moskowitz, Success founder and CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to serving these communities, partnering with parents and delivering on the promise of an exceptional education for every child.” — Madina TouréIN OTHER NEWS— ALL BETS ARE OFF: Attorney General Letitia James sued cryptocurrency exchanges that allow users to trade, joining the fight over federal and state regulations for prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. (Gothamist) 
— THAT’S NOT FAIR: The Montgomery County fair promoted a post by Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino, whose company has sponsored the fair, urging people to sign nominating petitions to get him on the ballot. (Times Union) 
— ON SECOND THOUGHT: New York City’s public school system announced it was pulling controversial plans to open an AI-focused high school and to relocate three middle schools following community backlash. (POLITICO Pro) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kat, and, Zo’s, affordability, goooooaaaals</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>A rare Mamdani&#45;Menin alliance</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-rare-mamdani-menin-alliance</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-rare-mamdani-menin-alliance</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 28 
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin have been at loggerheads over how to close New York City’s multibillion-dollar budget gap. 
Mamdani has maintained the deep deficit can only be plugged if the state raises taxes on millionaires and large corporations. Menin has countered that the gap can be addressed by trimming municipal bloat — a proposal Mamdani panned as “unrealistic” just weeks ago. 
Today brought a major deescalation: The two leaders joined forces to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to scale back a tax credit largely benefitting millionaires. Doing so would generate $1 billion in new revenue for the city, a windfall that could go a long way in helping the city balance its books, Menin and Mamdani said at a joint press conference. 
“We are standing together today, we will stand together again,” Mamdani said, appearing alongside Menin in the City Hall Rotunda. “If we were to reduce this tax credit by just a quarter, as the speaker said, we would be talking about raising nearly $1 billion in additional revenue that would be critical in our city’s ability to balance this budget.” 
Hochul, who’s still grappling with a state budget that’s now nearly a month late, immediately threw cold water on the new push from Mamdani and Menin, putting a dent in their unusual alliance. 
“It’s not happening. We’re not changing the PTET,” Hochul told reporters in Albany later in the day, using an acronym for the Pass-Through Entity Tax credit eyed for reform by Mamdani and Menin. 
In slamming the door on the proposal, Hochul is leaving Menin and Mamdani without a clear path forward on how to fill the city’s budget hole. The governor’s opposition to the tax credit push also creates an unusual new front in the negotiations on this year’s overdue state budget, with Mamdani and Menin on one side and Hochul on the other. 
The fraught dynamic comes at a politically delicate time for the Buffalo-born governor, who is gearing up for a reelection bid and will need deep blue New York City if she wants to cruise to a second full term. Being at odds with Mamdani, who draws support from a fervent left-leaning base, would complicate Hochul’s political standing with many Democratic voters. 
Mamdani and Menin made the joint plea for the tax credit changes in tandem while announcing they had agreed to push back the release of the mayor’s executive budget proposal until May 12, a deal first reported by POLITICO on Monday night. 
The executive spending plan, which forms the basis for the final stretch of negotiations before the mayor and the Council must finalize a city budget by July 1, is technically due this Friday. 
But as the state budget is now nearly a month late with its own budget, Mamdani and Menin are agreeing to delay the executive plan’s release in hopes that Albany will have its fiscal outlay in order by May 12. Without knowing how much revenue will flow to the city from the state, Mamdani and Menin both said there will be holes in the city’s spending plan that would be hard to reconcile. 
Read the full story from Chris and Nick in POLITICO. FROM CITY HALLSHELTER MOVES: A man died by suicide after he was abruptly moved out of a shelter as part of Mayor Mamdani’s plan to close the long-decaying Bellevue intake center on East 30th Street in Manhattan. 
Mamdani announced the closure plan on March 5, kicking off a weeks-long rush to clear out two East Village shelters and convert them into intake centers for homeless men and adult families requesting beds. Mamdani said the move was a proactive measure based on expert guidance, noting the Bellevue intake center’s state of “severe disrepair.” 
Advocates who work with homeless New Yorkers warned that the relocations posed serious health risks if not done in a careful and coordinated way. 
Then Steven Rosa — who was moved from an East Village shelter with on-site behavioral health services to a hotel-turned-shelter in Brownsville, Brooklyn — seemingly fell through the cracks. 
Rosa’s family told POLITICO his depression worsened after the move, and he started spending much of his time alone in his hotel room. He was found dead in early April. 
“We are saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with this individual’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for Comptroller Mark Levine’s office said in response to POLITICO’s reporting. “The deployment of care and support for vulnerable New Yorkers is extremely delicate and our office had raised concerns with the City about the effect changes may have on New Yorkers. We are seeking to better understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.&quot; 
A Department of Social Services spokesperson called Rosa’s death a “heartbreaking tragedy” but said the agency cannot comment specifically on his case due to client confidentiality. 
“We continue to build on our efforts to assess potential risk factors — which might not be evident based on self-reported information and case history available to the agency — while strengthening connections to healthcare for all clients,” DSS spokesperson Neha Sharma said in a statement. 
The new intake sites were supposed to open on May 1, but the timeline is in flux due to pending litigation. — Maya Kaufman 
HIGH STAKES: There was a woman in candy stripes on a stilt. There was Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato wearing her lucky shoes. There was Nas doing shoutouts to Resorts World during a rendition of his 1996 hit, “If I Ruled the World.” 
All of this at 9:30 this morning for a ribbon cutting at New York City’s first full-fledged casino. 
Resorts World is the first of three newly licensed casinos to have live table games as it begins a massive expansion of its existing gambling facility at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens. 
Boosters hail the economic opportunity from the coming overhaul, which would add a new resort and make the casino among the largest in the world. The company has also promised $2 billion in community benefits that local leaders have high hopes for. 
“I have to allude to the fact that we lost a 15-year-old, Jaden Pierre, in this community,” Borough President Donovan Richards said during his remarks at the ribbon cutting. “So these benefits are largely not just about benefits for this site, it’s about the lives that this site will save.” 
Resorts World was a surprise winner of a casino license following a years-long process. Proposals from Bally’s in the Bronx and billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen also were awarded licenses in December. 
Amato, who chaired a community advisory board that tested local support for the casino, began wearing a pair of shoes studded with baubles and fake diamonds during the process. She wore the same pair to the opening of the casino, which she already visits regularly. 
Other speakers, like Richards and City Council Member Ty Hankerson, made a point of saying they don’t gamble, but that they want the casino to do well. 
Former Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — who is running for lieutenant governor on Hochul’s ticket — said Resorts World first approached her about building a gaming facility at Aqueduct 15 years ago, when she was working for the NAACP. She said it took a while for the civil rights group to trust Resorts World but she now views the company as an “amazing” partner who has been held accountable to its community and its promises. 
The head of Genting — Resorts World’s Malaysian parent company — came to do the ribbon cutting. 
“Our planned expansion will bring a world-class integrated resort to this site, and when it is complete, New York will have something no other city in America can match,” Genting chair KT Kim said. 
From closer to home, Nasir Jones, the New York rapper known as Nas, wore a tuxedo to help roll the ceremonial first dice. 
Resorts World’s parent company has a history of late or overbudget projects, which even the body that recommended it received a license warned about, but it has some advantages: It’s open now, years before the two others will be. It also has pledged an enormous share of its revenue to the state. 
It also outlasted other bidders, most notably a trio of developers who wanted to put casinos in Manhattan, including Caesars’ plan to have a gaming emporium in Times Square. Ironically, one of the older slot machine rooms at Resorts World is called Time Square Casino – and it’s the only one in New York for the foreseeable future. – Ry RivardFrom the CapitolCLIMATE TANGO CONTINUES: The debate over changes to weaken New York’s 2019 climate law appears to be moving toward an end. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s latest proposal is for emissions reduction regulations by 2028 with an interim flexible target in 2040 and keeping the firm 2050 mandate. 
“It is certainly better than it was,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Tuesday. “We’re trying to work on an entire package. … It is a huge push to make sure that we do not lose ground that we should not cede while we are waiting for the promulgation” of the regulations. 
Stewart-Cousins said that rebates to help New Yorkers with high energy bills and proposals to accelerate solar investments were on the table as part of the discussions. 
Hochul’s proposal includes the controversial accounting change long sought by the governor that would essentially require less aggressive action to reduce fossil fuel use, particularly natural gas, according to four people familiar with the agreement. 
Some Democratic lawmakers remain dissatisfied with the proposal, and environmental groups like Food and Water Watch and New York Communities for Change are calling for them to vote no on any budget that includes changes to the climate law. 
“I don’t really understand why we have to compromise so much when the entire environmental advocacy community is saying that’s a bad idea,” said Democratic Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. “We passed the climate law. We don’t want to roll it back so dramatically.” 
Hochul on Tuesday declined to commit to providing estimates of how much her proposal would cost businesses and households. She’s raised concerns about the cost of abruptly implementing a cap-and-trade program to meet the near term 2030 deadline in the climate law. 
Her push to update the law would moot that target and the lawsuit over regulations to achieve it brought by environmental advocates. Hochul originally championed “cap and invest” in 2023 but has soured on the program. 
“I don’t know if there will be cap and invest,” the governor said. “If there’s cap and invest, is it capped cap and invest? Is it set at a certain number? All that is unknown right now. All I know is that to give some breathing room for New York families and business I have to have a longer runway.” 
The governor’s proposal currently under discussion would specify cap and invest would be part of the regulations due in 2028, according to the people familiar with the discussions. — Marie J. French 
HOOD IN THE HOOD: Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood pledged to be an active lieutenant governor if elected on Republican Bruce Blakeman’s ticket this fall. 
“I’m definitely not a sit-in-the-office kind of guy,” Hood said. 
There’s been a split in visions for the office in recent decades — with some candidates characterizing the role as a cheerleader for the governor, and others saying it should be an independent office. Hood falls in the former category, saying his job would be to help Blakeman succeed at lower taxes and heating costs. 
The Republican was at the Capitol as part of the NY Sheriffs’ Association lobby day, where he railed against Hochul’s plan to ban 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE, saying that “cutting off communication between agencies makes everyone less safe and reverses post-9/11 progress.” 
Like his ticket-mate, the sheriff took a tough-on-crime approach. 
“There are tons of false allegations against police,” he said when asked about a Hochul-backed plan to let New Yorkers sue ICE agents who infringe on their rights. “That’s what I’ve seen the most of in my career, are lies.” 
Hood also downplayed the uproar over the recent killings of Renee Good — saying she was using her vehicle as “a deadly instrument” — and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. 
“Yeah, you’re fighting with a police officer with a loaded firearm on you and that weapon is discovered – that’s bad things,” he said of Pretti. — Bill Mahoney 
RFK JR. BEWARE: The state Assembly is pushing back against federal policy changes to vaccine recommendations with a package of six bills that would strengthen the state’s laws surrounding immunization. 
Lawmaker says the package of bills is aimed at countering efforts by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to roll back immunization recommendations issued by the federal government. 
The package includes legislation that would allow the state Department of Health to recommend vaccine schedules for New Yorkers using longstanding medical standards and taking into consideration recommendations from the American Academy of Family Physicians, a private professional association not beholden to recommendations made at the federal level. The state previously relied on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a federal panel responsible for making vaccine recommendations that Kennedy attempted to overhaul in an effort to install his allies before a judge blocked the appointees. 
“Vaccines are foundational to public health and have long been a trusted and effective bulwark against harmful and deadly diseases, especially for our most vulnerable populations,” Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement. “New York will stand on the side of proven science as attacks on lifesaving immunizations continue from the federal administration place our residents at risk. This legislation puts the health and well-being of New Yorkers first and ensures that these vital resources remain accessible for our communities.” 
The package also includes legislation that would require college students to be immunized for Hepatitis B, a bill that would set immunization mandates for children attending summer camps and a bill that would require health insurance coverage for vaccines without cost-sharing. 
An additional measure was passed that would create liability protections for health care providers administering vaccines that follow state and local guidance, a protection that could become key if providers’ actions are alleged to contradict federal guidance. — Katelyn Cordero 
CAR WARS: Hochul wants to address how car insurance companies set rates for premiums — potentially a key provision that would help resolve a major sticking point in the ongoing state budget talks. 
&quot;Yes, we are looking closely at how insurance companies set their rates and what criteria they use,&quot; Hochul told reporters Tuesday. &quot;So there&#039;s two sides of the equation. One is I want to make sure that some of the drivers of why we have such high insurance premiums in the state are addressed, but also the insurance companies, we&#039;re taking a close look at their practices as well. &quot; 
POLITICO reported Monday that Hochul and state lawmakers have discussed addressing so-called flex increases that car insurance companies use to raise premiums. 
Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Nick Reisman here. IN OTHER NEWS— NEVER THE SAME: Timothy Brown, the man police beat in a Brooklyn liquor store, which went viral on social media, is suing New York City for $100 million in damages, saying he will never recover from the incident. (Gothamist) 
— NEW PROTOCOLS: The New York Police Department has stalled or rejected policy changes recommended by the Department of Investigations regarding its controversial gang-database, which critics argue is used to target Black and Hispanic youth. (THE CITY) 
— GETTING PERSONAL: Citadel CEO Ken Griffin will meet with Hochul to discuss New York City’s direction following a quarrel with Mamdani after the mayor announced a proposed new tax on pricey second-homes in front of the billionaire&#039;s Manhattan penthouse. (Bloomberg) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>rare, Mamdani-Menin, alliance</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mills drops out of Maine Senate race, setting up Platner to face Collins</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mills-drops-out-of-maine-senate-race-setting-up-platner-to-face-collins</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mills-drops-out-of-maine-senate-race-setting-up-platner-to-face-collins</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The shocking move shakes up one of the year’s most important Senate races and is a blow to Chuck Schumer. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://static.politico.com/2e/06/ce448d214b45b6d194b46975593c/mills-platner-55-edit.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mills, drops, out, Maine, Senate, race, setting, Platner, face, Collins</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Louisiana suspends House primaries after Supreme Court redistricting ruling</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/louisiana-suspends-house-primaries-after-supreme-court-redistricting-ruling</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/louisiana-suspends-house-primaries-after-supreme-court-redistricting-ruling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ GOP Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order Thursday delaying the elections until July 15 at the earliest — though the state’s Senate primary is unaffected. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Louisiana, suspends, House, primaries, after, Supreme, Court, redistricting, ruling</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hochul’s Dear Tom letter</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/hochuls-dear-tom-letter</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/hochuls-dear-tom-letter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Gov. Kathy Hochul wants assurances from President Donald Trump’s administration that a very specific federal immigration officer isn’t operating in New York. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hochul’s, Dear, Tom, letter</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Tammy Haddad on Barbra Streisand, Trump and DC’s A&#45;List weekend</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/tammy-haddad-on-barbra-streisand-trump-and-dcs-a-list-weekend</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/tammy-haddad-on-barbra-streisand-trump-and-dcs-a-list-weekend</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tammy Haddad on Barbra Streisand, Trump and DC’s A-List weekend 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tammy, Haddad, Barbra, Streisand, Trump, and, DC’s, A-List, weekend</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>From Iran to Paris weather: Alleged prediction market violations start stacking up</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/from-iran-to-paris-weather-alleged-prediction-market-violations-start-stacking-up</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/from-iran-to-paris-weather-alleged-prediction-market-violations-start-stacking-up</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fault lines over who is in charge of regulation are already emerging, with several frontline Democrats leading the charge on reining in the companies. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, Iran, Paris, weather:, Alleged, prediction, market, violations, start, stacking</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Dirk Kempthorne, former Idaho governor and U.S. Interior secretary, dies at 74</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dirk-kempthorne-former-idaho-governor-and-us-interior-secretary-dies-at-74</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dirk-kempthorne-former-idaho-governor-and-us-interior-secretary-dies-at-74</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Republican was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dirk, Kempthorne, former, Idaho, governor, and, U.S., Interior, secretary, dies</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘Come and make the ask’: Talarico faces a test with Black voters in Texas</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/come-and-make-the-ask-talarico-faces-a-test-with-black-voters-in-texas</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/come-and-make-the-ask-talarico-faces-a-test-with-black-voters-in-texas</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democrats’ hopes of taking Texas ride on the state’s nearly 3 million Black voters, many of whom supported Jasmine Crockett in the primary. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Come, and, make, the, ask’:, Talarico, faces, test, with, Black, voters, Texas</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Dems brace for a close finish on Virginia redistricting effort</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-brace-for-a-close-finish-on-virginia-redistricting-effort</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-brace-for-a-close-finish-on-virginia-redistricting-effort</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If approved, the redistricting effort could deliver Democrats a 10-1 seat advantage in Virginia, a net pickup of as many as four House seats. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, brace, for, close, finish, Virginia, redistricting, effort</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump’s pick to replace Stefanik</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-pick-to-replace-stefanik</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-pick-to-replace-stefanik</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 21 
TRUMP FOR CONSTANTINO: Republican House candidate Anthony Constantino’s campaign to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik is a textbook example of how aligning with the MAGA extended universe pays off. 
President Donald Trump today endorsed Constantino, the brash and hard-edged CEO of Sticker Mule, over Assemblymember Robert Smullen. 
Trump’s nod for the businessperson is a microcosm of a decade of Republican politics. Smullen has lined up institutional support from the state GOP, county chairs and his fellow elected officials in Albany. 
But none of that matters to Trump, who won his own insurgent primary a decade ago by bucking the Republican establishment. 
Now the president is backing Constantino, who has assembled his own slate of endorsees far more suited to Trump’s temperament. That includes Rudy Giuliani, who backed Constantino after the candidate, according to his telling, wrote a “beautiful two-page letter” to the former New York City mayor. 
Constantino has also enlisted Trump confidant and political operative Roger Stone. 
Those ties were not lost on the president when he posted on Truth Social this afternoon. “Anthony is strongly supported by many of the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in our Movement, including Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone!” he wrote. 
Then of course, there’s the large “Vote for Trump” sign Constantino erected atop a building that can be seen from Interstate 90. 
That kind of tangible loyalty — which withstood a legal challenge by local Democrats — also played well with the president. 
“Anthony has been such a Great Supporter that he actually put up a somewhat ‘controversial’ sign, against strong opposition, in my honor,” Trump posted. “The sign is still there!” 
For his part, Smullen — whose support from numerous county chairs doesn’t quite equate to the large pro-Trump signage visible from I-90 — was publicly unconcerned by the president weighing in on the primary. 
“A consultant got to the president, somebody who is being paid by my opponent,” he told our Bill Mahoney. “And I think the president’s made a mistake here.” 
Still, it’s hard not to view this development as anything but a massive blow for Smullen, running to succeed an ardently pro-MAGA House lawmaker in a district that the president won three times. 
The endorsement also highlights the strange position the state GOP finds itself in. The party took the unusual step of backing Smullen in the race amid deep concerns from party leaders over Constantino’s temperament. 
New York Republicans are preparing for a future without Stefanik as its leader and top fundraiser with national standing. The North Country House lawmaker was in line to become Trump’s United Nations ambassador, only to have the nod yanked amid a messy selection process to pick her successor. Hard feelings from Stefanik’s team following the scuttled special election to replace her have lingered as a result. 
One GOP official chortled at the situation, which also comes after Stefanik bowed out of the race for governor following Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s entrance. 
“They knifed Elise in the special and then they got crushed by Roger Stone,” said the person, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. “It is just the beginning of Elise’s allies including the president settling the score as Elise is in the midst of her successful book tour!” 
For Constantino’s part, the endorsement is another step in what had initially seemed like a long-shot bid. 
&quot;I had a great talk with President Trump and am honored to receive his endorsement,” he said in a statement. “He noted every primary candidate he endorses wins so I look forward to winning the general election and making everyone who supported me very proud once I am in Congress.”FROM CITY HALLCC YOU IN COURT: A prominent police union filed a federal lawsuit against the Civilian Complaint Review Board today, alleging the oversight body is tarnishing officers’ reputations by releasing unredacted — and unsubstantiated — complaints against cops. 
Beginning in October, the suit from the New York City Police Benevolent Association alleges, the CCRB began responding to Freedom of Information Law requests about three types of allegations against officers — sexual misconduct, racial bias and offering false statements — by releasing unredacted complaints that are then subsequently uploaded to a public database. Because CCRB does not redact identifying information, the police union argued, the accused officers’ reputations, safety, and employment prospects are unduly damaged. 
“CCRB’s under-the-table collusion with anti-police activists to smear cops with false complaints is not only unfair and unconstitutional — it is a calculated effort to end proactive enforcement and drive cops away from the job,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said. 
The PBA argued the complaint board is aware of how damaging the allegations can be to cops. The CCRB publishes a redacted version of the complaints on its own website. 
The city’s Law Department declined to comment. And a CCRB spokesperson defended the agency but noted its ability to comment was limited by the suit. 
“The CCRB’s investigations are complete, thorough and impartial,” spokesperson Dakota Gardner said in a statement. “The Agency continually reviews all applicable laws and regulations regarding the public release of its records, including disciplinary histories of members of service, to ensure it is fully compliant.” — Joe Anuta 
CHARTERING A NEW COURSE?: Mamdani said at an unrelated press conference that his administration is weighing its options regarding the future of former Mayor Eric Adams’ Charter Revision Commission, which convened publicly for the first time Monday. 
“We are reviewing all of the options that we have when it comes to this previously set up charter review,” Mamdani said at the press conference in Brooklyn. 
Pressed on what those options might entail, the mayor added little clarity aside from noting with a laugh that “more and more are being presented by the day.” 
The commission’s meeting focused on procedural steps, including selecting acting chair Gilford Monrose, as reported in today&#039;s Playbook. 
Created on Adams’ final day in office, the commission is tasked with crafting ballot proposals, including one to establish an open primary election system. This shift could complicate reelection prospects for Mamdani by opening the Democratic primary electorate up to a larger, more moderate-leaning pool of voters. 
Mamdani — who has previously criticized the body as undemocratic — has several avenues to blunt its work. Charter experts say one option for the mayor’s office would be installing a chair who could stall proceedings. 
Randy Mastro, the former first deputy mayor under Adams who’s now advising the commission pro bono, told Playbook yesterday he has received no assurances from the Mamdani administration about its plans. A person familiar with the matter said Mastro has also discussed the commission with Mamdani’s corporation counsel, Steve Banks. 
Still, Mastro downplayed the influence of any single appointee amid the possibility of a Mamdani-selected chair helming the commission. 
“I welcome anyone who wants to participate in a constructive process to improve our local democracy,” Mastro said. — Gelila NegesseFROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAILPRIMARY COLORS: Former state Assemblymember Taylor Darling ended her primary bid against battleground Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen earlier this week. 
“Unfortunately, the technicalities of the current system make it challenging for community focused campaigns to fully participate in the Democratic process,” Darling wrote on social media. “While I respect the rules, it is clear that these barriers need to be addressed if we want a system where all voices, especially those from our communities, are heard and valued.” 
Any primary challenger is poised to have an uphill climb against the incumbent Gillen, who has more than $3 million on hand. Darling, who entered the race after Gillen voted in support of funding for the Department of Homeland Security, raised just $24,000 last quarter and had $15,000 in the bank. Progressive organizer Kiana Bierria-Anderson is also in the race, though she said her petitions to get on the ballot are being challenged. — Madison FernandezIN OTHER NEWS— WATCHDOG BARKS: Citizens Budget Commission urges lawmakers to limit government spending and hold off on tax hikes as new report shows tens of thousands of New Yorkers are leaving the city. (Gothamist) 
— POLLUTERS PAY: Republicans in Congress are aiming to end New York’s climate law that requires fossil fuel companies to pay for weather-related damages. (Newsday) 
— THAT STINKS: As state-funded daycare expands in New York, new education mandates regarding potty training and diaper changes for young students have left schools scrambling to create new policies. (New York Post) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump’s, pick, replace, Stefanik</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Virginia voters give Dems big win in the gerrymandering wars</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-voters-give-dems-big-win-in-the-gerrymandering-wars</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-voters-give-dems-big-win-in-the-gerrymandering-wars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The new map could wipe out Republicans&#039; gains so far in the race President Donald Trump kicked off last summer in Texas. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Virginia, voters, give, Dems, big, win, the, gerrymandering, wars</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘The GOP should’ve done more’: Virginia Republicans point fingers after gerrymandering loss</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-gop-shouldve-done-more-virginia-republicans-point-fingers-after-gerrymandering-loss</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-gop-shouldve-done-more-virginia-republicans-point-fingers-after-gerrymandering-loss</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ They are frustrated the party didn’t spend extensively and are putting pressure on Florida to give them back an edge. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, GOP, should’ve, done, more’:, Virginia, Republicans, point, fingers, after, gerrymandering, loss</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Grindr is on the political rise</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/grindr-is-on-the-political-rise</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/grindr-is-on-the-political-rise</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The LGBTQ+ dating app has expanded its political presence since Donald Trump’s return to office as it seeks to flex its influence muscles on a range of policy priorities. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Grindr, the, political, rise</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Why Steve Hilton thinks he can turn California red</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/why-steve-hilton-thinks-he-can-turn-california-red</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/why-steve-hilton-thinks-he-can-turn-california-red</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Why Steve Hilton thinks he can turn California red 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, Steve, Hilton, thinks, can, turn, California, red</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Poll: Trump’s immigration message changed. Voters&amp;apos; opinions have not.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-trumps-immigration-message-changed-voters-opinions-have-not</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-trumps-immigration-message-changed-voters-opinions-have-not</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new POLITICO poll finds half of Americans — including one quarter of Trump’s 2024 voters — said his mass deportations campaign is too aggressive. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Poll:, Trump’s, immigration, message, changed., Voters, opinions, have, not.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Forced out of the military — and into the redistricting wars</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/forced-out-of-the-military-and-into-the-redistricting-wars</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/forced-out-of-the-military-and-into-the-redistricting-wars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bree Fram&#039;s long-shot campaign may hinge on Virginia&#039;s redistricting referendum, which could decide whether the trans veteran rocket scientist booted out of the military under Trump stands any chance of winning. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Forced, out, the, military, —, and, into, the, redistricting, wars</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘A trend that can’t be ignored’: Dems have made up ground in nearly every election since Trump took office</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-trend-that-cant-be-ignored-dems-have-made-up-ground-in-nearly-every-election-since-trump-took-office</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-trend-that-cant-be-ignored-dems-have-made-up-ground-in-nearly-every-election-since-trump-took-office</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ POLITICO’s analysis shows a clear trend in red and blue districts alike. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘A, trend, that, can’t, ignored’:, Dems, have, made, ground, nearly, every, election, since, Trump, took, office</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘It would be catastrophic’: A Supreme Court decision could upend Alaska’s crucial Senate race</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/it-would-be-catastrophic-a-supreme-court-decision-could-upend-alaskas-crucial-senate-race</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/it-would-be-catastrophic-a-supreme-court-decision-could-upend-alaskas-crucial-senate-race</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Supreme Court decision could bar late-arriving mail ballots and potentially disenfranchise thousands of Alaskan voters in a race that could determine Senate control. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘It, would, catastrophic’:, Supreme, Court, decision, could, upend, Alaska’s, crucial, Senate, race</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘Just get in and stir sh&#45;t up’ — Lawler as chaos agent</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/just-get-in-and-stir-sh-t-up-lawler-as-chaos-agent</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/just-get-in-and-stir-sh-t-up-lawler-as-chaos-agent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 13 
OPERATIVES GONNA OPERATE: Republican Rep. Mike Lawler isn’t facing a primary challenge for his seat — but he’s got his hands full with the one across the aisle anyway. 
The GOP member of Congress spent the last few days meddling in the crowded Democratic primary for his seat — sending covert text messages that some say were designed to look like they’re from Democrats and deploying his campaign manager to challenge the signatures of a lefty Democratic candidate. 
In the meantime, Lawler — who also serves as the Rockland County Republican Chair — held a rally Sunday to launch his own campaign. 
“This is him. This is his deviousness,” Putnam County Democratic Chair Jennifer Colamonico said of Lawler’s strategy. “Just get in and stir shit up.” 
Last week, a blast text message reached dozens of Democratic voters in NY-17 highlighting how one Democrat in the race was allegedly attacking the other by challenging their signatures to get on the ballot. 
“Kathleen Kahng, a Conley campaign surrogate and former Putnam County legislative candidate, filed objections to the petitions of two Democrats competing in the June primary,” the message read, referencing Army vet Cait Conley, who is running for Lawler’s seat as a Democrat. “Not a concerned voter. A Conley insider. This isn’t democracy. It’s field-clearing.” 
The text — which was sent out on the night of the Democratic debate in the district — included a picture of Conley and Kahng and the words “DC INSIDER KICKING LOCAL CANDIDATES OFF BALLOT.” 
It didn’t say who it was from, but when recipients texted back “help,” a second text popped up: “Mike Lawler: For help, reach out to mike@lawlerforcongress.com. To opt-out, reply STOP.” 
Lawler’s campaign declined to comment on the blast text. But it’s his latest barrage into the competitive Democratic primary as he’s likely looking at tougher odds at reelection than in 2024, after the Cook Political Report moved its rating of the district from “Leans Republican” to “toss-up.” 
Lawler, a former campaign manager, lobbyist and political strategy firm founder, has long been recognized by Republicans and Democrats alike for his shrewd political abilities and tireless campaigning. Two years ago, he was one of the only House Republicans to win reelection in a district that voted for Kamala Harris for president by less than a one-point margin. 
In that election, he was also accused by the Working Families Party of being the mastermind who encouraged a “ghost candidate” to run on the lefty third-party’s ballot line. The candidate — who was almost never seen in public — was running in an apparent attempt to siphon votes from former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones. Last year, on Lawler’s home turf, a similar strategy appears to have played out in races for town council. 
This year, no mysterious candidates will be on the ballot for Congress in NY-17 from the Working Families Party, filings show. However, board of elections filings show Lawler’s campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, filed preliminary paperwork to contest Democratic Rep. Effie Phillips-Staley’s ballot access signatures. 
“Lawler is wasting everyone’s time with frivolous political games that will go nowhere,” Phillips-Staley spokesperson John Tomlin said in a statement. “Clearly Effie’s momentum is making him nervous and he’s terrified to face her in November.” 
Riccardi responded in a statement saying that Phillips-Staley’s signatures were “rife with fraud and errors” but did not identify what those errors were. Team Lawler plans to file a “specific objection” by tomorrow, which will reveal more details. 
He also said that Lawler “will be happy to face whoever survives this clown show in November.&quot; 
“Democrats whining about our campaign defining our opponents are the same ones trying to rig their own primary,” Riccardi said. “We&#039;re not hiding anything.” 
In the meantime, Lawler’s mass text about Democrats filing preliminary challenges to other candidates’ petitions appears to have successfully struck a nerve. 
When Playbook reached out to Putnam County Democratic Vice Chair Kathleen Kahng — the person who objected to Democratic candidate Mike Sacks and John Cappello’s petitions — she referred Colamonico, the Putnam County chair, back to us for comment. 
Colamonico told us her party won’t follow through with its initial objections to the two Democratic candidates’ petitions and dismissed the move as “regular order committee business, that&#039;s all.” 
Conley’s campaign refused to answer questions about whether Kahng was acting on their behalf to challenge her opponents’ petitions. And Suzanne Berger, the Westchester Democratic chair, told Playbook she and the other Democratic county chairs talked to each other about “doing our due diligence” in advance of Colamonico making the challenge. 
“The more candidates there are in a race, the less ability there is to focus on the candidates that are more likely to win the primary,” Berger said. 
Sacks, whose petitions were challenged, didn’t like that. 
“I find that deeply anti-Democratic,” Sacks said. “It goes further to the deep dissatisfaction that everyday Democratic voters have here with our party leadership. — Jason BeefermanFrom the CapitolSHED A TIER: The labor-led drive to overhaul the Tier 6 pension category is steamrolling through the state Capitol — with few officials disagreeing with powerful unions seeking to lower the retirement age and reduce employee contributions. 
It’s a disheartening development for Republican Assemblymember Michael Fitzpatrick, a Long Island lawmaker who is perhaps the most vocal and rare opponent to changing the pension. 
“You now, in a sense, have a professional Legislature,” Fitzpatrick said in an interview. “That’s right where the unions want us. You’re asking the legislators to vote against their own financial best interest. So who is going to say no to the alphabet soup of unions when, if I lose, I’m out of the pension system.” 
Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Nick Reisman. 
TRAVELING SEPARATELY: New York lawmakers passed a third temporary stopgap spending bill Monday afternoon as deadlock sets in over Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to overhaul the state’s car insurance laws. 
The state budget is now more than two weeks late as the governor and Democratic-led Legislature remain at odds over a host of issues, including her push to weaken a 2019 climate law and opposition to raising taxes. 
But the Hochul-backed car insurance proposals have emerged as a major sticking point — with lawmakers beginning to publicly grumble that the governor is not willing to negotiate on the subject. 
“It’s a one-way street on the auto insurance issue,” Senate Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris said. 
Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Bill Mahoney and Nick Reisman.FROM CITY HALLMAMDANI AND ZUCMAN&#039;S TAX DAY: The deadline to file income taxes is Wednesday, and to commemorate the occasion, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, top French economist Gabriel Zucman and Nobel prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz will host a joint conference on “confronting global inequality&quot; at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York. 
Mamdani and Zucman are both advocating for a 2 percent tax on the ultra-rich, but with some major differences. While Mamdani is calling for a 2 percent tax increase on New Yorkers earning more $1 million per year, Zucman wants rich households to pay at least 2 percent of the value of all their assets in taxes every year. 
In 2024, during the Brazilian G20 presidency, Zucman pitched a global version of his tax, targeting the world’s billionaires. A national version of the “Zucman tax” dominated the French political debate last year, but it has not been implemented. Zucman, though, remains confident that sooner or later his dream will come true. Mamdani, Zucman and Stiglitz are expected to also spell out their ideas in a joint op-ed. — Giorgio Leali and Anthony Lattier 
PRIDE FLAG FLIES: The Trump administration is agreeing to fly a pride flag at Stonewall National Monument in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village after civil rights groups sued the federal government following the flag’s sudden removal in February. 
“We fought the Trump administration — and we won,” Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement. “The Trump administration has blinked and backed down from its contemptuous attempt to erase American history.” 
Earlier this year, the Trump administration quietly removed the flag after it issued a memo mandating that “only the U.S. Flag, flags of the [Department of the Interior], and the POW/MIA flag will be flown” by the National Park Service. Groups like The Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation and EQNY Fund Inc. sued to say the flag’s removal was an “arbitrary and capricious action.” 
Today’s agreement settles that suit. — Jason BeefermanIN OTHER NEWS— MISS DIRECTION: Council Member Farrah Louis directed $450,000 to BHRAGS Home Care, a Brooklyn nonprofit currently under a federal corruption investigation. (Gothamist) 
— PARK, MEET PLAZA: Mamdani is proposing to shut down a hazardous roadway at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza in the hopes of restoring the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch as a direct gateway to Prospect Park. (The New York Times) 
— TOUGH CROWD: Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faced a hostile audience at his latest town hall in Putnam County, where residents pressed him on his support of the Trump administration and the ongoing war in Iran. (Lohud) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Just, get, and, stir, sh-t, up’, —, Lawler, chaos, agent</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A dozen battleground Dems send Swalwell’s campaign donations to charity</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-dozen-battleground-dems-send-swalwells-campaign-donations-to-charity</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-dozen-battleground-dems-send-swalwells-campaign-donations-to-charity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Candidates in key House and Senate races are distancing themselves from his money and endorsement as the fallout over the misconduct allegations against him continues. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>dozen, battleground, Dems, send, Swalwell’s, campaign, donations, charity</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Gov. Brian Kemp’s big tent pitch for a fractured Republican Party</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/gov-brian-kemps-big-tent-pitch-for-a-fractured-republican-party</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/gov-brian-kemps-big-tent-pitch-for-a-fractured-republican-party</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Gov. Brian Kemp’s big tent pitch for a fractured Republican Party 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Gov., Brian, Kemp’s, big, tent, pitch, for, fractured, Republican, Party</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Albany’s influence wars</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/albanys-influence-wars</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/albanys-influence-wars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 14 
STONES AND GLASS STATEHOUSES: Gov. Kathy Hochul has raked in almost $200,000 in campaign contributions from insurance companies as she pushes for a proposal she argues would help save both their policyholders — as well as those same companies — lots of money. 
But while reaping that campaign cash, Hochul has also attacked members of the Legislature for taking their own political contributions — and she is now arguing their political positions are tainted by those dollars in a way hers are not. 
“I&#039;m proud of what we&#039;re doing,” Hochul told reporters today at an unrelated event in the Capital Region. “Money has no influence in what we&#039;re doing.” 
One of the sticking points holding up the now two-weeks-late-and-counting state budget is Hochul’s push to limit who can sue for damages when they’re in an auto accident. Right now, even if the accident is your fault, you can still reap a reward. Limiting who can receive damages would save insurers money, and, in theory, cut monthly insurance rates for New York’s millions of drivers, Hochul argues. 
But members of the Legislature — who often receive political donations from the state’s trial lawyers, which represent plaintiffs in personal injury suits — say they’re skeptical the push would equate to any real savings for New Yorkers, and they worry it would prevent injured people from receiving the money they deserve in court. 
On Monday, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris made waves in the Capitol when he blamed Hochul for acting like an obstructionist in state budget negotiations. 
“It takes three parties to agree, and the person who proposed the budget seems less than willing to appreciate that,” Gianaris said on the Senate floor. He later told reporters Hochul’s negotiating strategy is “a one-way street” when it comes to auto insurance reforms. 
A few hours later, Hochul’s spokesperson Kara Cumoletti fired back: “If Sen. Gianaris is interested in making progress, he should urge his colleagues to support the governor’s efforts to lower auto insurance rates, rather than defending a broken system that benefits trial lawyers — one of the top donors to the Senate Campaign Committee he controls.” 
Ouch. 
Despite her spokesperson insinuating that those looking for Gianaris’ motivations need only follow the money, Hochul insisted her political contributions have nothing to do with her stances, which are driven by a tireless fight for affordability. 
“I was responding to criticism that is trying to infer that we are the roadblocks; that we’re not trying to cooperate,” Hochul said today, explaining Cumoletti’s statement. 
Since 2021, Hochul has received $194,250 from auto insurance companies and insurance industry associations, per public records. The state Democratic Party, which Hochul controls, also raked in $70,250 from those same groups between 2024 and 2025. 
“If interests are aligned, then those interests are also aligned with the interests of every single New Yorker who wants to see their rates go down,” Hochul said when asked about those donations. “I don’t think the trial lawyers’ interests are aligned with New Yorkers.” 
The New York State Trial Lawyers Association President Andrew Finkelstein responded in a statement accusing Hochul of getting “into bed with the insurance industry.” 
“NYSTLA will fight both in the courthouse and out to keep the doors of justice open to everyone, not just the wealthy few,” Finkelstein said. “Albany is right to pull back the covers and expose who this plan really serves.” — Jason BeefermanFrom the CapitolNO CONCERNS OVER RETIREMENTS: Hochul brushed off any concerns caused by a rash of legislators who have announced their retirements after filing paperwork to get on the ballot, effectively letting them choose their own successors in some cases. 
“The process is what it is,” Hochul said. “The vast, vast majority of the time, the system is such that candidates plan to run, they plan to stay, they petition to get on the ballot, and, again, if something unforeseen happens, there is a mechanism that’s in place, the committee on vacancies, that allows that person to be filled. I’m not concluding there’s something sinister about a process that has been in place for a long time.” 
Republican state Sen. Jack Martins bowed out of a battleground Nassau County district over the weekend. He previously denied rumors he might retire — but announced his plans to do so after submitting petitions that let area party leaders select Assemblymember Jake Blumencranz to run in his stead. 
In the Cortland area, Assemblymember Jeff Gallahan pointed to health concerns when announcing his retirement. He’s giving his spot on the Republican line to Mark Benjamin, the community relations director for a landfill. 
And Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced her retirement last week. Her spot on the ballot will go to Buffalo Common Council Member Leah Halton-Pope, and the party will avoid the primary that likely would’ve occurred had Peoples-Stokes announced her plans earlier. 
“I think Crystal Peoples-Stokes was planning to stay longer,” Hochul said. “I don’t know if this is some sort of conspiracy to do something untoward. She’s following the laws, and this is how it is. It’s actually pretty rare. It doesn’t happen with great regularity.” — Bill Mahoney 
HOCHUL DEFENDS POPE: Hochul said President Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV are “abhorrent” in emotional comments to reporters today. 
“The pope is a man of peace,” said Hochul, a Catholic. “He has a right to speak out and wise leaders would be right to listen to him.” 
On Sunday, Trump, following a veiled critique from Leo that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” wrote on Truth Social that “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” Later that day, the president posted a picture that depicted himself as Jesus, an image he deleted the following morning. 
Hochul told reporters that “Jesus would be rather shocked at what’s happening these days.” 
“The Pope deserves more respect and for someone to release an image that equates the president of the United States with Jesus — or anyone with Jesus — is just reprehensible to, hopefully, everybody,” she said. — Jason BeefermanFROM CITY HALLBREAD AND ROSES: The mayor unveiled new details about five city-run grocery stores he plans open by the end of his term — a key campaign promise that has kindled strong feelings from opponents. 
The stores will sit on city-owned land, absolving them of paying market-rate rent and property taxes. In exchange, the yet-to-be selected private operators will be contractually required to offer several staples like bread and eggs at a fixed price below the New York City average. 
How far below, though, the administration still has not determined. 
“What I can tell you is that when New Yorkers come to city-run grocery stores, they will see a clear price differential when it comes to those essentials,” Mamdani said at La Marqueta, the site of a $30 million grocery store set to open in 2029. 
Unlike the East Harlem location, other city-run stores will not be built from the ground up, meaning they will open earlier. The first is set to welcome shoppers next year, for example. 
While the mayor is planning just five stores, the concept of government grocers has sparked heated backlash from the mayor’s more moderate detractors. John Catsimatidis, owner of the supermarket chain Gristedes, threatened to close all of his stores if Mamdani won, a pledge he walked back after the democratic socialist’s November victory. — Joe Anuta 
BUSINESS AS USUAL: New York City Council Member Farah Louis returned to work Tuesday after federal investigators raided her home and her sister’s amid a federal probe on bribery and fraud allegations. 
Louis, who has not been charged, appeared at a scheduled Zoning and Franchises subcommittee meeting, which she chairs. 
As part of the investigation that led to the indictment, prosecutors have questioned whether Louis and her sister, Debbie Esther Louis, accepted kickbacks in exchange for steering city funds to shelter provider BRAHGS Home Care, according to a search warrant. 
Louis directed more than $450,000 in city funds over five years to the nonprofit, according to city documents reviewed by Gothamist. 
Louis left the building shortly after the hearing concluded and did not take questions. — Gelila Negesse FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAILD’ESPOSIT-NO: Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito will not be making a comeback bid for Congress against Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen in a battleground Long Island district. 
D’Esposito, who is currently inspector general in the U.S. Labor Department, signaled his interest in returning to Congress earlier this year — though it was unclear if he would quit his job in the Trump administration to do so. 
Last month at a House subcommittee hearing, he skirted questions about his congressional aspirations, and the politically powerful Nassau County Republican Committee backed John DeGrace, a former Valley Stream mayor, as its nominee. DeGrace declined the nomination last week, leaving the possibility of a D’Esposito return on the table. 
But D’Esposito ruled it out in a statement Tuesday, the final day for local Republicans to choose a replacement candidate. He expressed his personal support for Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, whom he called a “dear friend.” 
“I will continue serving as the 9th Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor, working with our team nationwide to root out fraud and put those who steal from Americans behind bars,” D’Esposito said in the statement. “It is an honor to serve in President Trump’s administration and on the Anti-Fraud Task Force led by Vice President JD Vance.” 
Read more from Madison Fernandez in POLITICO Pro. 
TRUMP BOOSTS BLAKEMAN: The president emphasized his support for Republican Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman shortly after an appearance on Fox Business that was ridiculed by Hochul’s campaign. 
“Bruce Blakeman, the highly respected and very popular Nassau County Executive, who is running for Governor, is surging in the New York State Polls,” Trump wrote, after Blakeman appeared on Fox Business. “He is one of the best politicians in the U.S. Watch him work his magic!!!” 
About 30 minutes before Trump’s post, Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo and her partner pressed Blakeman on the following: 
“I’m not seeing a lot of you, where have you been Bruce?” 
“I don’t see enough of you. I need to start seeing you more on social media.” 
“How are you going to get New Yorkers out to actually vote for you, Bruce?” 
Hochul’s campaign mocked the appearance for Blakeman as “humiliating.” 
For his part, Blakeman responded to Bartiromo by saying New Yorkers are sick of the high cost of living in New York. 
New Yorkers “want a new governor, a governor that puts them first, cares about them, will cut their utility bills in half, will lower taxes, create job prosperity and create safer neighborhoods,” Blakeman said. “I have the experience, the ability and policies that people want.” — Jason BeefermanIN OTHER NEWS— MATCH DAY: Train tickets to MetLife Stadium from New York City are projected to cost more than $100 during World Cup games — despite regular prices of $12.90. (The New York Times) 
— INDEPENDENT: Scotia Mayor David Bucciferro rejected Republican backing for his incumbent bid with Scotia-Glenville GOP Chairman David Lindsay announcing plans to run a candidate against Bucciferro. (Times Union) 
— RISK TOLERANCE: Wall Street firms continue hiring and expanding in New York City at record levels, even as Mamdani advances a tax-the-rich agenda that some predicted would drive companies out of the city. (THE CITY) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Albany’s, influence, wars</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Harris gives her clearest signal she is mounting a 2028 presidential bid</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/harris-gives-her-clearest-signal-she-is-mounting-a-2028-presidential-bid</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/harris-gives-her-clearest-signal-she-is-mounting-a-2028-presidential-bid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ She has toyed with the idea before, but her comments Friday took on a new meaning in front of an audience full of Black power brokers. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Harris, gives, her, clearest, signal, she, mounting, 2028, presidential, bid</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV condemns war, rejects claims of divine backing</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-war-rejects-claims-of-divine-backing</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-war-rejects-claims-of-divine-backing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Pope is pushing back against rhetoric used by U.S. leaders to frame the Iran war as divinely sanctioned. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, condemns, war, rejects, claims, divine, backing</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Inside the DNC’s Middle East (not) working group</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/inside-the-dncs-middle-east-not-working-group</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/inside-the-dncs-middle-east-not-working-group</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Democratic National Committee set up a task force to tackle the Middle East. Seven months later, the working group still has work to do. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Inside, the, DNC’s, Middle, East, not, working, group</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Mamdani&amp;apos;s 100th day</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mamdanis-100th-day</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mamdanis-100th-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mayor Zohran Mamdani crisscrossed the city on his 100th day in office, relishing a milestone in a mayoralty that for much of last year seemed like an impossibility. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mamdanis, 100th, day</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Is Hochul the unlikely hero of Adams’ world indictments?</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/is-hochul-the-unlikely-hero-of-adams-world-indictments</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/is-hochul-the-unlikely-hero-of-adams-world-indictments</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Gov. Kathy Hochul has spent the last four months beating the auto-insurance affordability drum and fighting the trial lawyers and unconvinced lawmakers who stand in her way. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hochul, the, unlikely, hero, Adams’, world, indictments</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>April</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/april</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/april</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Political cartoons from the desk of Matt Wuerker ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>April</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wes Moore criticizes Trump for talking about Medicare cuts</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/wes-moore-criticizes-trump-for-talking-about-medicare-cuts</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/wes-moore-criticizes-trump-for-talking-about-medicare-cuts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;We don&#039;t want to be fighting foreign wars while you&#039;re taking away our health care,&quot; Maryland&#039;s governor said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wes, Moore, criticizes, Trump, for, talking, about, Medicare, cuts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mamdani’s investigation nominee faces questions on independence</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mamdanis-investigation-nominee-faces-questions-on-independence</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mamdanis-investigation-nominee-faces-questions-on-independence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ During his campaign, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had a historic number of volunteers who canvassed on his behalf. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mamdani’s, investigation, nominee, faces, questions, independence</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dems hit the airwaves over Iran</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-hit-the-airwaves-over-iran</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-hit-the-airwaves-over-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ VoteVets Action Fund’s $250,000 ad campaign targeting vulnerable GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden represents an escalation in Democrats’ efforts to hammer Republicans over the war. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, hit, the, airwaves, over, Iran</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump’s MAGA allies have a new plan for mass deportations. It could splinter the coalition.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-maga-allies-have-a-new-plan-for-mass-deportations-it-could-splinter-the-coalition</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-maga-allies-have-a-new-plan-for-mass-deportations-it-could-splinter-the-coalition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Surpassing 1 million deportations this year hinges on worksite enforcement — which would enrage farm and construction groups (and possibly voters). ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump’s, MAGA, allies, have, new, plan, for, mass, deportations., could, splinter, the, coalition.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Georgia&amp;apos;s GOP Senate primary is a mess. Republicans are blaming each other.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/georgias-gop-senate-primary-is-a-mess-republicans-are-blaming-each-other</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/georgias-gop-senate-primary-is-a-mess-republicans-are-blaming-each-other</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Their infighting is complicating the party&#039;s chances of defeating Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Georgias, GOP, Senate, primary, mess., Republicans, are, blaming, each, other.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;What the hell did he just say?&amp;apos; GOP Iran worries build after Trump speech.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/what-the-hell-did-he-just-say-gop-iran-worries-build-after-trump-speech</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/what-the-hell-did-he-just-say-gop-iran-worries-build-after-trump-speech</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Republicans wanted a clear message on the war from Trump. Instead, some feel like they got the runaround. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, the, hell, did, just, say, GOP, Iran, worries, build, after, Trump, speech.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The POLITICO Poll &#45; 2026 March</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-2026-march</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-2026-march</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The poll asked respondents about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAHA and the politics of both. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, POLITICO, Poll, 2026, March</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>DHS confirms that Lewandowski left the department along with Noem</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-confirms-that-lewandowski-left-the-department-along-with-noem</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-confirms-that-lewandowski-left-the-department-along-with-noem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Still unexplained is why he accompanied the former secretary to Guyana. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>DHS, confirms, that, Lewandowski, left, the, department, along, with, Noem</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘He’s lied about everything’: Iran war puts Trump on shaky ground with young MAGA men</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/hes-lied-about-everything-iran-war-puts-trump-on-shaky-ground-with-young-maga-men</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/hes-lied-about-everything-iran-war-puts-trump-on-shaky-ground-with-young-maga-men</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Their frustrations and anger with the conflict were on full display at CPAC this week. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘He’s, lied, about, everything’:, Iran, war, puts, Trump, shaky, ground, with, young, MAGA, men</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why some Democrats want to shut off Hasan Piker’s ‘megaphone’</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/why-some-democrats-want-to-shut-off-hasan-pikers-megaphone</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/why-some-democrats-want-to-shut-off-hasan-pikers-megaphone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The popular streamer’s rise as a Democratic influencer coincides with the party’s long search for a path out of the wilderness. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, some, Democrats, want, shut, off, Hasan, Piker’s, ‘megaphone’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A month into Iran, the GOP’s political reality sinks in</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-month-into-iran-the-gops-political-reality-sinks-in</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-month-into-iran-the-gops-political-reality-sinks-in</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Republicans in battleground states are largely sticking by the president&#039;s war — but they’re finding it harder to brush off the consequences. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>month, into, Iran, the, GOP’s, political, reality, sinks</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cori Bush wants her seat back — and a rematch over AIPAC</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/cori-bush-wants-her-seat-back-and-a-rematch-over-aipac</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/cori-bush-wants-her-seat-back-and-a-rematch-over-aipac</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ She is back on the campaign trail after a 2024 multimillion-dollar campaign by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee unseated her. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cori, Bush, wants, her, seat, back, —, and, rematch, over, AIPAC</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>They once called him a ‘goose&#45;stepping extremist.’ They’re now sitting out his comeback bid.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/they-once-called-him-a-goose-stepping-extremist-theyre-now-sitting-out-his-comeback-bid</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/they-once-called-him-a-goose-stepping-extremist-theyre-now-sitting-out-his-comeback-bid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Brandon Herrera, the GOP nominee in Texas’ 23rd congressional district, won’t get help from pro-Israel and GOP Jewish groups. But they aren’t backing his Democratic opponent, either. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>They, once, called, him, ‘goose-stepping, extremist.’, They’re, now, sitting, out, his, comeback, bid.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>2028 Dem hopefuls scramble for distance from AIPAC</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/2028-dem-hopefuls-scramble-for-distance-from-aipac</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/2028-dem-hopefuls-scramble-for-distance-from-aipac</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democrats eyeing White House bids are distancing themselves from the powerful pro-Israel group amid slumping support for Israel within the party’s base. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>2028, Dem, hopefuls, scramble, for, distance, from, AIPAC</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Newsom: We could lose the country in 2028</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/newsom-we-could-lose-the-country-in-2028</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/newsom-we-could-lose-the-country-in-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Newsom: We could lose the country in 2028  
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Newsom:, could, lose, the, country, 2028</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump&#45;endorsed North Carolina state Senate leader loses by 23 votes</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-endorsed-north-carolina-state-senate-leader-loses-by-23-votes</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-endorsed-north-carolina-state-senate-leader-loses-by-23-votes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Phil Berger conceded the race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump-endorsed, North, Carolina, state, Senate, leader, loses, votes</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions of dollars in commissions from DHS ad campaign</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/political-operatives-with-trump-ties-raked-in-millions-of-dollars-in-commissions-from-dhs-ad-campaign</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/political-operatives-with-trump-ties-raked-in-millions-of-dollars-in-commissions-from-dhs-ad-campaign</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The ads became a sore spot within the White House over Kristi Noem. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Political, operatives, with, Trump, ties, raked, millions, dollars, commissions, from, DHS, campaign</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Ruben Gallego wants to make Democrats fun again</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ruben-gallego-wants-to-make-democrats-fun-again</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ruben-gallego-wants-to-make-democrats-fun-again</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ruben Gallego wants to make Democrats fun again 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ruben, Gallego, wants, make, Democrats, fun, again</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pete Buttigieg’s 2026 project</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/pete-buttigiegs-2026-project</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/pete-buttigiegs-2026-project</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former Transportation secretary and onetime presidential candidate is traveling the country for the midterms. The road may lead him beyond. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pete, Buttigieg’s, 2026, project</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>&amp;apos;I’m super&#45;Republican, but you got my vote&amp;apos;: The Democratic deer hunter setting his sights on flipping Iowa</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/im-super-republican-but-you-got-my-vote-the-democratic-deer-hunter-setting-his-sights-on-flipping-iowa</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/im-super-republican-but-you-got-my-vote-the-democratic-deer-hunter-setting-his-sights-on-flipping-iowa</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democrats are desperate to find locally authentic candidates after 2024. They think people like Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand might help. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>I’m, super-Republican, but, you, got, vote:, The, Democratic, deer, hunter, setting, his, sights, flipping, Iowa</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>2028 Dem veteran? Uncle Sam wants you.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/2028-dem-veteran-uncle-sam-wants-you</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/2028-dem-veteran-uncle-sam-wants-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a year after many Democrats pined for a metaphorical fighter, the party is now wondering whether it needs a more literal fighter. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>2028, Dem, veteran, Uncle, Sam, wants, you.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘We’re going to have a problem’: Republicans want Trump to move on from 2020</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/were-going-to-have-a-problem-republicans-want-trump-to-move-on-from-2020</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/were-going-to-have-a-problem-republicans-want-trump-to-move-on-from-2020</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Facing a difficult midterm landscape, there&#039;s a growing view in the GOP that revisiting election grievances risks distracting from the issues that matter most. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘We’re, going, have, problem’:, Republicans, want, Trump, move, from, 2020</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Hochul promotes her agenda with state&#45;funded ad campaign</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/hochul-promotes-her-agenda-with-state-funded-ad-campaign</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/hochul-promotes-her-agenda-with-state-funded-ad-campaign</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ HOCHUL’S AD CAMPAIGN: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office is using taxpayer money to fund an advertising blitz promoting her agenda, brushing up against a ban on governors appearing in promotional material. 
State law prohibits elected officials from appearing in ads paid for with state funds. 
Hochul doesn’t directly appear in any of the ads. Instead, they encourage people to visit a state-run website where she’s prominently featured talking about wanting to cut red tape to build affordable housing. 
“They’re skirting the very intent of what that law was meant to do, and that’s using taxpayer dollars to promote the image or likeness of the governor,” Republican Assemblymember Matt Slater said. “It’s clearly something that needs to be looked into so we can figure out what consequences she should be facing if she is in fact violating the law.” 
The ads have appeared over the past week on Facebook, YouTube, and at least one billboard. The governor’s office said a FOIL request would be required to see the full scope. 
One example is a YouTube commercial that simply states “Let Them Build” and directs people to the state’s website. The Executive Chamber has spent between $10,000 and $15,000 on that ad — one of 21 to air on YouTube or Google over the past week. The ad has been viewed one million times. 
&quot;The state routinely engages in awareness and education campaigns on critical policy priorities and this campaign was designed in compliance with all ethics laws,” said Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman. 
Reinvent Albany’s Rachael Fauss said that if the 20-year-old law had been written today, “it probably would take into consideration” campaigns like this. 
“From a technical perspective, she may not be violating the law,” she said. “But I think the spirit of the law is to not have the governor’s likeness be promoted through the use of taxpayer funds. That was the intent of it. Unfortunately, this is an area where the law hasn’t kept up with the way people consume media and ads these days.” 
The ban on advertising came about after former Gov. George Pataki ran state-funded commercials during an election year in which he encouraged people to register in a new healthcare program. Ethics reforms passed as part of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s inaugural agenda included language prohibiting the practice. 
Hochul isn’t the first elected official to brush up against the intent of the law in recent months. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s likeness has appeared on WiFi kiosks, a practice that’s permitted since the city is given the screentime for free. And Mamdani, unlike Hochul, isn’t up for reelection anytime soon. 
“She’s got plenty of campaign funds that she could be using to pay for these things,” Slater said. “What she’s doing right now is spending taxpayer money to enhance her image when she’s on the ballot this year.” — Bill MahoneyFROM THE CAPITOLPRICING POLITICS: Democratic state Attorney General Letitia James is throwing her support behind a bill meant to crack down on retailers’ use of algorithmic pricing. 
James was in Albany this morning to back legislation meant to halt the practice, which uses a consumer’s personal data to set individually tailored prices. 
The bill, backed by Assemblymember Michaelle Solages and Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, is part of a broader push being made by elected officials to address peoples’ pocketbook concerns. 
“This online pricing model hits hardest where it hurts the most — food, medicine, diapers and other essentials,” James said at a news conference. “We all have all been focused on the issue of affordability across this state.” — Nick ReismanFROM CITY HALLEVIDENCE HUNT: The former NYPD sergeant accusing former mayoral aide Tim Pearson of sexual harassment wants to get her hands on the evidence that prompted the Mamdani administration to stop paying for Pearson’s legal bills. 
In 2024, the former sergeant, Roxanne Ludemann, sued Pearson, a confidant and top adviser to former Mayor Eric Adams, accusing him of sexually harassing her at work and then professionally retaliating against her when she rejected his overtures. 
Thanks to an unusual arrangement greenlit by Adams’ Law Department, Pearson received taxpayer-funded private lawyers to defend him against Ludemann’s suit. But Mamdani’s corporation counsel, Steve Banks, announced last week that he had rescinded Pearson’s arrangement, citing unspecified “new evidence” that warranted terminating it. 
In a court filing late Friday, John Scola, an attorney representing Ludemann, demanded that the Law Department provide his client with access to the evidence in question, arguing it’s relevant to her ongoing case. 
“Produce all documents, records, evidence, reports, memoranda, and materials of any kind that constitute, refer to, or relate to the ‘new evidence’ relied upon, reviewed, considered, or referenced by corp counsel in making its determination to decline or withdraw representation of Defendant Timothy Pearson in this matter,” Scola wrote in the filing. 
Also last week, Banks terminated a similar arrangement that allowed Jeffrey Maddrey, an Adams ally and former NYPD chief of department, to receive taxpayer-funded attorneys in the Pearson matter, too. Maddrey is accused by Ludemann of helping Pearson retaliate against her. 
Scola’s filing demanded access to the information that prompted Banks to slash Maddrey’s arrangement as well. 
Pearson and Maddrey, who resigned from city government in late 2024 after being ensnared in unrelated corruption investigations, have denied any wrongdoing. 
A Law Department spokesperson did not comment when asked today about Scola’s demand. 
New York City taxpayers have already paid more than $620,000 to cover Pearson’s legal tab alone. — Chris SommerfeldtFINANCE SHUFFLE: Mamdani is zeroing in on a pick to run the Department of Finance, a normally under-the-radar agency that has taken on new prominence amid the mayor’s push to raise property taxes. 
Mamdani’s administration is in talks to hire Richard Lee for the job, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions who were granted anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter. 
Lee currently serves as director of the City Council’s Division of Finance. That means his move to Mamdani’s finance department would leave Council Speaker Julie Menin without her top budget adviser amid increasingly tense negotiations over the city’s $127 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. 
The Council is conducting budget oversight hearings throughout the month to better ascertain how city agencies are planning to operate amid a precarious fiscal situation. The city is facing a projected multi-billion dollar deficit over the next fiscal year, and Mamdani’s administration is relying on cash reserves, optimistic revenue projections and an increase in property taxes to bridge that gap and balance the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. 
Increasing levies on property owners would require approval from the Council, and Menin has dismissed the idea as a nonstarter. She has argued the city needs to look for other ways to cut costs beforehand. The mayor, by contrast, says drastic steps like property levy hikes can be avoided if Albany gives the city the authority to raise local taxes on millionaires and corporations — proposals Menin has declined to support. 
Lee, should he ultimately join Mamdani’s administration, would be working for the finance department as it tabulates a key variable — the assessed value of property in New York City — which helps determine how much revenue the city collects from owners each year. 
Read the story from Joe Anuta and Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO Pro. AROUND NEW YORK— MACHIAVELLIAN MAMDANI: The mayor forced his political will on fellow lefty lawmakers, including by squashing Tiffany Cabán’s congressional prospects and threatening Chi Ossé. (The New York Times) 
— ADAMS OFFICIAL UNDER PROBE: The former commissioner of the city’s probation department under Mayor Eric Adams is being investigated by the Manhattan district attorney. (Gothamist) 
— MAYOR DINES WITH KNICKS: Mamdani broke his Saturday Ramadan fast with Senegalese Knicks player Mo Diawara. (GQ) 
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hochul, promotes, her, agenda, with, state-funded, campaign</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>AIPAC makes a $22M gamble in Illinois</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/aipac-makes-a-22m-gamble-in-illinois</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/aipac-makes-a-22m-gamble-in-illinois</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The group has taken a sharp tactical shift in several House races as it weathers Democrats’ souring views of Israel — and of AIPAC itself. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>AIPAC, makes, 22M, gamble, Illinois</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>5 things to watch in Tuesday’s Illinois primaries</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/5-things-to-watch-in-tuesdays-illinois-primaries</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/5-things-to-watch-in-tuesdays-illinois-primaries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tensions over AIPAC’s influence in the Democratic Party, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s fundraising power and generational fights will be in the spotlight. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>things, watch, Tuesday’s, Illinois, primaries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats are trouncing Republicans in state elections since Trump took office</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-trouncing-republicans-in-state-elections-since-trump-took-office</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-trouncing-republicans-in-state-elections-since-trump-took-office</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Voter turnout in state elections over the last 14 months has Republicans concerned as the midterms approach. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, are, trouncing, Republicans, state, elections, since, Trump, took, office</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How a top DC strategist courted Jeffrey Epstein</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-a-top-dc-strategist-courted-jeffrey-epstein</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-a-top-dc-strategist-courted-jeffrey-epstein</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Crisis communications consultant Juleanna Glover corresponded with the late sex offender during a 15-month period shortly before his death in 2019. She says it was all in service of tanking Trump. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, top, strategist, courted, Jeffrey, Epstein</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>There&amp;apos;s a new wedge issue playing out in Senate Dem primaries</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/theres-a-new-wedge-issue-playing-out-in-senate-dem-primaries</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/theres-a-new-wedge-issue-playing-out-in-senate-dem-primaries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Candidates in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota are locked in largely symbolic debates over taking corporate PAC money. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Theres, new, wedge, issue, playing, out, Senate, Dem, primaries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Can Democrats actually flip this red Kentucky district?</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/can-democrats-actually-flip-this-red-kentucky-district</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/can-democrats-actually-flip-this-red-kentucky-district</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ With Mitch McConnell retiring and Andy Barr opting to run for the upper chamber, a rare open House seat is now in play. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Can, Democrats, actually, flip, this, red, Kentucky, district</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat ‘The AKGuy’</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Brandon Herrera’s controversial online presence and hardline politics could open another opportunity for House Democrats in a deep-red district. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Gonzales, out, Texas, and, Dems, see, chance, beat, ‘The, AKGuy’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The rural Democrats who say their party has affordability all wrong</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-rural-democrats-who-say-their-party-has-affordability-all-wrong</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-rural-democrats-who-say-their-party-has-affordability-all-wrong</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two Democrats running long-shot campaigns in rural regions against GOP incumbents say their party isn&#039;t hitting the mark to address cost-of-living concerns. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, rural, Democrats, who, say, their, party, has, affordability, all, wrong</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The next races where Latino voters will be decisive</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-next-races-where-latino-voters-will-be-decisive</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-next-races-where-latino-voters-will-be-decisive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ From Colorado to Arizona to Nebraska, Democrats are watching the record Latino turnout numbers and making these voters a top target for their campaigns. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, next, races, where, Latino, voters, will, decisive</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jesse Jackson Jr. turns to AI to amplify Rush endorsement</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/jesse-jackson-jr-turns-to-ai-to-amplify-rush-endorsement</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/jesse-jackson-jr-turns-to-ai-to-amplify-rush-endorsement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The spot restores the voice of the longtime former Chicago congressman — just as AI super PACs get involved in the race. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jesse, Jackson, Jr., turns, amplify, Rush, endorsement</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump is delaying Texas Senate endorsement to pressure GOP senators on SAVE America Act</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-is-delaying-texas-senate-endorsement-to-pressure-gop-senators-on-save-america-act</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-is-delaying-texas-senate-endorsement-to-pressure-gop-senators-on-save-america-act</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are vying for a nod from Trump ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, delaying, Texas, Senate, endorsement, pressure, GOP, senators, SAVE, America, Act</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Texas Latinos turned out in massive numbers for Democrats</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/texas-latinos-turned-out-in-massive-numbers-for-democrats</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/texas-latinos-turned-out-in-massive-numbers-for-democrats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In multiple Latino-majority counties, more people cast Democratic votes on Tuesday than voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Texas, Latinos, turned, out, massive, numbers, for, Democrats</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Nervous Republicans rally behind Cornyn as they wait on Trump’s Texas pick</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/nervous-republicans-rally-behind-cornyn-as-they-wait-on-trumps-texas-pick</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/nervous-republicans-rally-behind-cornyn-as-they-wait-on-trumps-texas-pick</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ John Cornyn and his allies are trying to turn a surprising lead over firebrand Ken Paxton into a decisive presidential nod. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nervous, Republicans, rally, behind, Cornyn, they, wait, Trump’s, Texas, pick</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘This L is on her’: Black lawmakers and strategists dump on Crockett</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/this-l-is-on-her-black-lawmakers-and-strategists-dump-on-crockett</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/this-l-is-on-her-black-lawmakers-and-strategists-dump-on-crockett</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “She has been and has felt like a woman on an island,” says one operative. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘This, her’:, Black, lawmakers, and, strategists, dump, Crockett</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;Good riddance&amp;apos;: Dems cheer Noem’s ouster — and call for more departures</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/good-riddance-dems-cheer-noems-ouster-and-call-for-more-departures</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/good-riddance-dems-cheer-noems-ouster-and-call-for-more-departures</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democratic lawmakers said Stephen Miller and Pam Bondi should be next after President Donald Trump announced Kristi Noem would be stepping aside as DHS secretary. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Good, riddance:, Dems, cheer, Noem’s, ouster, —, and, call, for, more, departures</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Republican group attacks Thomas Massie for his opposition to Iran war</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/republican-group-attacks-thomas-massie-for-his-opposition-to-iran-war</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/republican-group-attacks-thomas-massie-for-his-opposition-to-iran-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An ad supporting the lawmaker’s rival aired hours after the House rejected a War Powers resolution. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Republican, group, attacks, Thomas, Massie, for, his, opposition, Iran, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kamala Harris backs Jasmine Crockett in bitter Texas Democratic Senate primary</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/kamala-harris-backs-jasmine-crockett-in-bitter-texas-democratic-senate-primary</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/kamala-harris-backs-jasmine-crockett-in-bitter-texas-democratic-senate-primary</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former vice president recorded a robocall to boost Crockett over James Talarico. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kamala, Harris, backs, Jasmine, Crockett, bitter, Texas, Democratic, Senate, primary</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Let him think he won&amp;apos;: Inside Minnesota Dems&amp;apos; effort to fend off Trump&amp;apos;s immigration surge</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/let-him-think-he-won-inside-minnesota-dems-effort-to-fend-off-trumps-immigration-surge</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/let-him-think-he-won-inside-minnesota-dems-effort-to-fend-off-trumps-immigration-surge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Attorney General Keith Ellison shared previously unreported details with POLITICO about the agonizing seven-week immigration crackdown that left two Americans dead. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Let, him, think, won:, Inside, Minnesota, Dems, effort, fend, off, Trumps, immigration, surge</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats split over response to Trump’s Iran strikes</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-split-over-response-to-trumps-iran-strikes</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-split-over-response-to-trumps-iran-strikes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The breaks between the party’s peace and interventionist wings are ones Democrats will have to contend with ahead of the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, split, over, response, Trump’s, Iran, strikes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Many of Trump’s own voters didn’t want to attack Iran. Now he has to win them over.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/many-of-trumps-own-voters-didnt-want-to-attack-iran-now-he-has-to-win-them-over</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/many-of-trumps-own-voters-didnt-want-to-attack-iran-now-he-has-to-win-them-over</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Trump is navigating an evolving issue where support within his coalition — at least before the strikes — was real but not overwhelming. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Many, Trump’s, own, voters, didn’t, want, attack, Iran., Now, has, win, them, over.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Strikes at Iran could reshape primary election dynamics</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/strikes-at-iran-could-reshape-primary-election-dynamics</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/strikes-at-iran-could-reshape-primary-election-dynamics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democratic candidates face new litmus tests as AIPAC money and U.S. intervention dominate primary races. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Strikes, Iran, could, reshape, primary, election, dynamics</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Nicki Minaj’s social media propped up by thousands of bots, analysis finds</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/nicki-minajs-social-media-propped-up-by-thousands-of-bots-analysis-finds</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/nicki-minajs-social-media-propped-up-by-thousands-of-bots-analysis-finds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An analysis shared with POLITICO reveals the rap sensation’s advocacy for conservative causes has been amplified by an army of bots and coordinated activity. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nicki, Minaj’s, social, media, propped, thousands, bots, analysis, finds</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dems refuse to make 2024 mistakes in the wake of tariff ruling</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-refuse-to-make-2024-mistakes-in-the-wake-of-tariff-ruling</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-refuse-to-make-2024-mistakes-in-the-wake-of-tariff-ruling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The party is betting that a strong economic message will resonate better than emphasizing that the president is violating the law with his trade agenda. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, refuse, make, 2024, mistakes, the, wake, tariff, ruling</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘A really really big decision’: The court cases looming over the midterms</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-really-really-big-decision-the-court-cases-looming-over-the-midterms</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-really-really-big-decision-the-court-cases-looming-over-the-midterms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ High-stakes legal cases that could determine the majority loom in nearly a dozen states, with just months to go until the November election. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘A, really, really, big, decision’:, The, court, cases, looming, over, the, midterms</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Abigail Spanberger gave Democrats’ response to Trump. But she didn’t have the stage to herself.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/abigail-spanberger-gave-democrats-response-to-trump-but-she-didnt-have-the-stage-to-herself</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/abigail-spanberger-gave-democrats-response-to-trump-but-she-didnt-have-the-stage-to-herself</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democratic groups staging counterprogramming events offered a snapshot of a party divided over how best to approach the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Abigail, Spanberger, gave, Democrats’, response, Trump., But, she, didn’t, have, the, stage, herself.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>DHS official promises election officials that ICE will not be at polling places</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-official-promises-election-officials-that-ice-will-not-be-at-polling-places</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-official-promises-election-officials-that-ice-will-not-be-at-polling-places</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Any suggestion that ICE is going to be present at polling places is simply disinformation,” said Heather Honey, a DHS official focused on elections. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>DHS, official, promises, election, officials, that, ICE, will, not, polling, places</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ohio’s GOP governor sidesteps defending Kristi Noem</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ohios-gop-governor-sidesteps-defending-kristi-noem</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ohios-gop-governor-sidesteps-defending-kristi-noem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mike DeWine did, however, say he supported billionaire Les Wexner despite his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ohio’s, GOP, governor, sidesteps, defending, Kristi, Noem</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bowser requests Trump’s help on Potomac sewage spill</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/bowser-requests-trumps-help-on-potomac-sewage-spill</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/bowser-requests-trumps-help-on-potomac-sewage-spill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The request from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser comes days after the president blamed the spill on Democrats and said local officials should call and ask for help “politely.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bowser, requests, Trump’s, help, Potomac, sewage, spill</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-nations-cartoonists-on-the-week-in-politics</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-nations-cartoonists-on-the-week-in-politics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here&#039;s an offering of the best of this week&#039;s crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, nation’s, cartoonists, the, week, politics</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Top German soccer team cancels trip to Minneapolis, citing Trump immigration crackdown</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/top-german-soccer-team-cancels-trip-to-minneapolis-citing-trump-immigration-crackdown</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/top-german-soccer-team-cancels-trip-to-minneapolis-citing-trump-immigration-crackdown</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Werder Bremen, one of the founding members of the Bundesliga, said playing in the city “does not fit with our values” in light of two federal law enforcement shootings last month. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, German, soccer, team, cancels, trip, Minneapolis, citing, Trump, immigration, crackdown</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Republicans quietly celebrate the demise of tariffs. That relief might not last.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-quietly-celebrate-the-demise-of-tariffs-that-relief-might-not-last</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-quietly-celebrate-the-demise-of-tariffs-that-relief-might-not-last</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Many in the GOP, especially those in battleground states, are happy to see the blanket tariffs go in a heated election year. Trump has already pledged to bring them back. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Republicans, quietly, celebrate, the, demise, tariffs., That, relief, might, not, last.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fetterman on ICE, Israel and identifying as a Democrat | The Conversation</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/fetterman-on-ice-israel-and-identifying-as-a-democrat-the-conversation</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/fetterman-on-ice-israel-and-identifying-as-a-democrat-the-conversation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fetterman on ICE, Israel and identifying as a Democrat | The Conversation 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fetterman, ICE, Israel, and, identifying, Democrat, The, Conversation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Shapiro grows his donor network ahead of 2028</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/shapiro-grows-his-donor-network-ahead-of-2028</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/shapiro-grows-his-donor-network-ahead-of-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Pennsylvania governor is using his book tour and his reelection bid as a way to expand his donor list. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Shapiro, grows, his, donor, network, ahead, 2028</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>In South Texas, the GOP immigration hard line is now political kryptonite</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/in-south-texas-the-gop-immigration-hard-line-is-now-political-kryptonite</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/in-south-texas-the-gop-immigration-hard-line-is-now-political-kryptonite</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Texas Republicans bet on continuing to win over Latino voters. Then Trump began his aggressive deportation campaign. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>South, Texas, the, GOP, immigration, hard, line, now, political, kryptonite</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>DHS watchdog warns shutdown could imperil immigration enforcement oversight</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-watchdog-warns-shutdown-could-imperil-immigration-enforcement-oversight</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dhs-watchdog-warns-shutdown-could-imperil-immigration-enforcement-oversight</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The lapse in funding is forcing the department’s inspector general to suspend the majority of its audits and probes. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>DHS, watchdog, warns, shutdown, could, imperil, immigration, enforcement, oversight</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Maryland Democrats are thwarting Wes Moore’s political ambitions</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-maryland-democrats-are-thwarting-wes-moores-political-ambitions</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-maryland-democrats-are-thwarting-wes-moores-political-ambitions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The operations of his political tentacles are weak,&quot; says one Democratic strategist. &quot;His inside political network is weak.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Maryland, Democrats, are, thwarting, Wes, Moore’s, political, ambitions</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The POLITICO Poll &#45; 2026 February &#45; U.S. Alliance</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-2026-february-us-alliance</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-2026-february-us-alliance</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The POLITICO Poll, conducted Feb. 6-Feb. 9, surveying respondents&#039; views of the United States as a partner and ally on the global stage. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, POLITICO, Poll, 2026, February, U.S., Alliance</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats are cashing in after DOJ failure to indict them</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-cashing-in-after-doj-failure-to-indict-them</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-cashing-in-after-doj-failure-to-indict-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Trump wanted to take six Democrats down for telling servicemembers to ignore illegal orders. He might’ve made them more influential instead. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, are, cashing, after, DOJ, failure, indict, them</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A tech group is launching a new effort to keep Democrats from falling behind on AI</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-tech-group-is-launching-a-new-effort-to-keep-democrats-from-falling-behind-on-ai</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-tech-group-is-launching-a-new-effort-to-keep-democrats-from-falling-behind-on-ai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tech for Campaigns plans to partner with Democratic groups to test what works. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>tech, group, launching, new, effort, keep, Democrats, from, falling, behind</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Virginia’s top court might decide Democrats’ gerrymandering fate</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-virginias-top-court-might-decide-democrats-gerrymandering-fate</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-virginias-top-court-might-decide-democrats-gerrymandering-fate</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The state Supreme Court is likely to determine the fate of redistricting in Virginia. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Virginia’s, top, court, might, decide, Democrats’, gerrymandering, fate</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump continues to lash out at ‘RINO’ GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-continues-to-lash-out-at-rino-gop-gov-kevin-stitt</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-continues-to-lash-out-at-rino-gop-gov-kevin-stitt</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Oklahoma governor has found himself in a protracted dispute with the president over an upcoming event at the White House. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, continues, lash, out, ‘RINO’, GOP, Gov., Kevin, Stitt</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘It’s pissing people off’: Centrist Democrats are livid with AIPAC after primary fiasco</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/its-pissing-people-off-centrist-democrats-are-livid-with-aipac-after-primary-fiasco</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/its-pissing-people-off-centrist-democrats-are-livid-with-aipac-after-primary-fiasco</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AIPAC spent $2 million attacking moderate-leaning Tom Malinowski in a House special election — and may have handed the race to progressive Analilia Mejia. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘It’s, pissing, people, off’:, Centrist, Democrats, are, livid, with, AIPAC, after, primary, fiasco</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-epstein-scandal-is-taking-down-europes-political-class-in-the-us-theyre-getting-a-pass</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-epstein-scandal-is-taking-down-europes-political-class-in-the-us-theyre-getting-a-pass</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As Europe moves to address its shame, it’s highlighting the comparative lack of accountability in the U.S. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Epstein, scandal, taking, down, Europe’s, political, class., the, US, they’re, getting, pass.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A MAGA push to erase a Dem House seat is triggering accusations of fraud and violence in Utah</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-maga-push-to-erase-a-dem-house-seat-is-triggering-accusations-of-fraud-and-violence-in-utah</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-maga-push-to-erase-a-dem-house-seat-is-triggering-accusations-of-fraud-and-violence-in-utah</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Assault allegations, potential fraud and a roster of Trumpworld supporters are rocking the Beehive State. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>MAGA, push, erase, Dem, House, seat, triggering, accusations, fraud, and, violence, Utah</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bad Bunny created a cultural phenomenon. Can he spark a political one?</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/bad-bunny-created-a-cultural-phenomenon-can-he-spark-a-political-one</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/bad-bunny-created-a-cultural-phenomenon-can-he-spark-a-political-one</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Puerto Rican superstar’s music has brought Latinos together. Democrats are jealous. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bad, Bunny, created, cultural, phenomenon., Can, spark, political, one</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Inside Trump’s critical minerals push | Energy Pod</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/inside-trumps-critical-minerals-push-energy-pod</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/inside-trumps-critical-minerals-push-energy-pod</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Inside Trump’s critical minerals push | Energy Pod 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Inside, Trump’s, critical, minerals, push, Energy, Pod</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Choppier seas await Mamdani&#45;backed candidates after Diana Moreno&amp;apos;s landslide win</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/choppier-seas-await-mamdani-backed-candidates-after-diana-morenos-landslide-win</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/choppier-seas-await-mamdani-backed-candidates-after-diana-morenos-landslide-win</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A pair of June congressional primaries Mamdani has endorsed in are expected to be far more competitive than Moreno’s race. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Choppier, seas, await, Mamdani-backed, candidates, after, Diana, Morenos, landslide, win</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Shapiro needs big policy wins for a 2028 run. He’s gunning for a Democratic trifecta to achieve them.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/shapiro-needs-big-policy-wins-for-a-2028-run-hes-gunning-for-a-democratic-trifecta-to-achieve-them</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/shapiro-needs-big-policy-wins-for-a-2028-run-hes-gunning-for-a-democratic-trifecta-to-achieve-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Pennsylvania governor is mounting an aggressive down-ballot push this year alongside his reelection bid. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Shapiro, needs, big, policy, wins, for, 2028, run., He’s, gunning, for, Democratic, trifecta, achieve, them.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>February</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/february</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/february</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Politico cartoons from the desk of Matt Wuerker ]]></description>
<enclosure url="" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>February</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Virginia Supreme Court will hear redistricting challenge</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-supreme-court-will-hear-redistricting-challenge</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-supreme-court-will-hear-redistricting-challenge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The state&#039;s High Court will decide if Virginia Democrats&#039; gerrymander push can move forward. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Virginia, Supreme, Court, will, hear, redistricting, challenge</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Janet Mills’ first TV ad hits ICE</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/janet-mills-first-tv-ad-hits-ice</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/janet-mills-first-tv-ad-hits-ice</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The ad uses footage of the Maine governor criticizing the agency in a speech this week. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Janet, Mills’, first, hits, ICE</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘A pretext to rig the election’: Democrats scramble to block ICE crackdowns near polling sites</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-pretext-to-rig-the-election-democrats-scramble-to-block-ice-crackdowns-near-polling-sites</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-pretext-to-rig-the-election-democrats-scramble-to-block-ice-crackdowns-near-polling-sites</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Election officials are preparing for the possibility of immigration enforcement activity at or near polling sites in November. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘A, pretext, rig, the, election’:, Democrats, scramble, block, ICE, crackdowns, near, polling, sites</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Houston runoff sets up next Democratic generational fight</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/houston-runoff-sets-up-next-democratic-generational-fight</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/houston-runoff-sets-up-next-democratic-generational-fight</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Saturday’s oddly timed runoff is occurring after months of delays. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Houston, runoff, sets, next, Democratic, generational, fight</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ICE halted its surge in Maine. The state might not be quick to forget.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ice-halted-its-surge-in-maine-the-state-might-not-be-quick-to-forget</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ice-halted-its-surge-in-maine-the-state-might-not-be-quick-to-forget</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sen. Susan Collins’ announcement of ICE’s drawdown relieved some of the pressure in the blue state. But Democrats still say it’s not enough. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ICE, halted, its, surge, Maine., The, state, might, not, quick, forget.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;There’s something bigger going on&amp;apos;: State election chiefs rebuff Trump bid to seize voter rolls</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/theres-something-bigger-going-on-state-election-chiefs-rebuff-trump-bid-to-seize-voter-rolls</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/theres-something-bigger-going-on-state-election-chiefs-rebuff-trump-bid-to-seize-voter-rolls</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Roughly two dozen states have rejected the Trump administration’s request, prompting an unprecedented legal clash between the Justice Department and state election officials. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>There’s, something, bigger, going, on:, State, election, chiefs, rebuff, Trump, bid, seize, voter, rolls</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Klobuchar delays governor campaign launch as Border Patrol killing upends Minnesota</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/klobuchar-delays-governor-campaign-launch-as-border-patrol-killing-upends-minnesota</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/klobuchar-delays-governor-campaign-launch-as-border-patrol-killing-upends-minnesota</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Before Alex Pretti’s death, Sen. Amy Klobuchar had planned to launch her gubernatorial campaign Monday, two people tell POLITICO. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Klobuchar, delays, governor, campaign, launch, Border, Patrol, killing, upends, Minnesota</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How a Democratic heavyweight is using AI in the midterms</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-a-democratic-heavyweight-is-using-ai-in-the-midterms</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-a-democratic-heavyweight-is-using-ai-in-the-midterms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ American Bridge 21st Century is publishing its research for everyone to see ahead of the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Democratic, heavyweight, using, the, midterms</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Philip Glass pulls new symphony from Kennedy Center</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/philip-glass-pulls-new-symphony-from-kennedy-center</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/philip-glass-pulls-new-symphony-from-kennedy-center</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ He joins a growing list of artists who have canceled performances at the beleaguered institution this year. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Philip, Glass, pulls, new, symphony, from, Kennedy, Center</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Virginia state court blocks Democrats’ redistricting push</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-state-court-blocks-democrats-redistricting-push</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-state-court-blocks-democrats-redistricting-push</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The ruling is a major setback for Democrats’ efforts to redraw the lines in the state. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Virginia, state, court, blocks, Democrats’, redistricting, push</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Janet Mills: Maine ‘will not be intimidated’ amid ongoing ICE surge</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/janet-mills-maine-will-not-be-intimidated-amid-ongoing-ice-surge</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/janet-mills-maine-will-not-be-intimidated-amid-ongoing-ice-surge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Maine governor delivered her annual address as immigrant enforcement surges in the state and she gears up for a Senate run. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Janet, Mills:, Maine, ‘will, not, intimidated’, amid, ongoing, ICE, surge</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Brain the size of a walnut’: Bessent goes off on Newsom</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/brain-the-size-of-a-walnut-bessent-goes-off-on-newsom</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/brain-the-size-of-a-walnut-bessent-goes-off-on-newsom</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Treasury Secretary pushed back the California governor’s criticisms of the Trump administration. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Brain, the, size, walnut’:, Bessent, goes, off, Newsom</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>These Gen&#45;Z Trump voters don’t want JD Vance in 2028</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/these-gen-z-trump-voters-dont-want-jd-vance-in-2028</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/these-gen-z-trump-voters-dont-want-jd-vance-in-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A recent focus group of 18- to 24-year-old Trump voters suggests weaknesses for Vance among young Republicans. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>These, Gen-Z, Trump, voters, don’t, want, Vance, 2028</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mark Kelly’s money bomb</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mark-kellys-money-bomb</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mark-kellys-money-bomb</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Arizona senator&#039;s moves thus far have positioned him to be a key fundraiser in 2026 and offer him a platform to build out a 2028 base. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mark, Kelly’s, money, bomb</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>RNC takes steps toward a 2026 GOP midterm convention</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/rnc-takes-steps-toward-a-2026-gop-midterm-convention</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/rnc-takes-steps-toward-a-2026-gop-midterm-convention</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Republican National Committee voted Friday to allow for an off-cycle national convention this summer. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>RNC, takes, steps, toward, 2026, GOP, midterm, convention</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The states fighting to be at the front of Democrats’ 2028 presidential primary</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-states-fighting-to-be-at-the-front-of-democrats-2028-presidential-primary</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-states-fighting-to-be-at-the-front-of-democrats-2028-presidential-primary</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ States have until Friday to apply to be an early primary contest in 2028. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, states, fighting, the, front, Democrats’, 2028, presidential, primary</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Scott Adams, whose comic strip ‘Dilbert’ ridiculed white&#45;collar office life, dies at 68</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/scott-adams-whose-comic-strip-dilbert-ridiculed-white-collar-office-life-dies-at-68</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/scott-adams-whose-comic-strip-dilbert-ridiculed-white-collar-office-life-dies-at-68</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ His first ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the death on a livestream posted on Adams’ social media accounts. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scott, Adams, whose, comic, strip, ‘Dilbert’, ridiculed, white-collar, office, life, dies</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Virginia Democrats look to decimate GOP seats in redistricting effort</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-democrats-look-to-decimate-gop-seats-in-redistricting-effort</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/virginia-democrats-look-to-decimate-gop-seats-in-redistricting-effort</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ But some Democrats warn that the effort may be more difficult than it looks. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Virginia, Democrats, look, decimate, GOP, seats, redistricting, effort</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Latino voters powered Trump’s comeback. Now they’re turning on his economy.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/latino-voters-powered-trumps-comeback-now-theyre-turning-on-his-economy</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/latino-voters-powered-trumps-comeback-now-theyre-turning-on-his-economy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hispanic small business owners are souring on the Trump economy, a warning sign to Republicans ahead of this year’s midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Latino, voters, powered, Trump’s, comeback., Now, they’re, turning, his, economy.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bill Cassidy raises $1.65 million for reelection fight</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/bill-cassidy-raises-165-million-for-reelection-fight</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/bill-cassidy-raises-165-million-for-reelection-fight</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sen. Bill Cassidy raised $1.65 million in the latest fundraising quarter and has $11 million in cash on hand, his team told POLITICO, as he seeks to ward off a right-wing primary challenge. 
The Louisiana Republican is facing several primary challengers on the right fueled by his past criticism of President Donald Trump. Cassidy voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack against the Capitol, a stance that angered the GOP base in Louisiana. 
Cassidy has consistently posted slightly higher fundraising numbers than his opponents, John Fleming, the state treasurer and a former congressman, and state Sen. Blake Miguez, but has a significantly larger war chest. Cassidy has raised more than $17 million this cycle to date. Fleming and Miguez haven’t released their latest numbers; they had just over $2 million and $2.5 million in the bank respectively as of the end of September. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) has also flirted with a bid, though sources told POLITICO she is not expected to run; she had $2.3 million in the bank as of the end of September. 
The senator will have some help. A pair of super PACs supporting Cassidy’s reelection will show they had $5 million in cash on hand at the end of 2025 and received an additional $2 million in the first two weeks of January, according to a person close to those efforts. The PACs expect to spend between $13 million and $15 million on his behalf. 
Cassidy is one of a trio of GOP senators facing tough reelection fights where Trump is declining to endorse a candidate, along with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Maine Sen. Susan Collins. 
Cassidy’s Senate GOP colleagues are backing his reelection. On Thursday, Majority Leader John Thune will host a fundraiser for Cassidy in Baton Rouge that’s expected to bring in $600,000. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bill, Cassidy, raises, 1.65, million, for, reelection, fight</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Talarico leads Crockett in Texas Senate primary, according to new poll</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/talarico-leads-crockett-in-texas-senate-primary-according-to-new-poll</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/talarico-leads-crockett-in-texas-senate-primary-according-to-new-poll</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An Emerson College poll finds state Rep. James Talarico with a 9-point lead in the Democratic primary and Sen. John Cornyn neck and neck with Attorney General Ken Paxton on the GOP side. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Talarico, leads, Crockett, Texas, Senate, primary, according, new, poll</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘The party has done an abysmal job’: Israel tensions threaten Dems’ midterm plans</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-party-has-done-an-abysmal-job-israel-tensions-threaten-dems-midterm-plans</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-party-has-done-an-abysmal-job-israel-tensions-threaten-dems-midterm-plans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ From New York to Michigan, left-leaning challengers are taking on pro-Israel incumbents ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, party, has, done, abysmal, job’:, Israel, tensions, threaten, Dems’, midterm, plans</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The POLITICO Poll &#45; December 2025</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-december-2025</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-politico-poll-december-2025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ December 2025 POLITICO Poll results on economy, tariffs, taxes, energy, and more ]]></description>
<enclosure url="" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, POLITICO, Poll, December, 2025</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Republicans need Susan Collins to win reelection. Trump keeps going after her.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-need-susan-collins-to-win-reelection-trump-keeps-going-after-her</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/republicans-need-susan-collins-to-win-reelection-trump-keeps-going-after-her</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Maine senator has consistently won reelection in a blue state thanks to support from independents and some Democrats. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Republicans, need, Susan, Collins, win, reelection., Trump, keeps, going, after, her.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>GOP talk of Rubio 2028 heats up in wake of Venezuela op</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/gop-talk-of-rubio-2028-heats-up-in-wake-of-venezuela-op</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/gop-talk-of-rubio-2028-heats-up-in-wake-of-venezuela-op</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The secretary of State has signaled he may not run for president in 2028, but he’s changed his mind on such matters before. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>GOP, talk, Rubio, 2028, heats, wake, Venezuela</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confronts a rising populist tide</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-confronts-a-rising-populist-tide</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-confronts-a-rising-populist-tide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Democratic governor is navigating a political world dominated by Trump and Mamdani as she runs for reelection. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, York, Gov., Kathy, Hochul, confronts, rising, populist, tide</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tim Walz drops out of Minnesota governor’s race, Klobuchar considers jumping in</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/tim-walz-drops-out-of-minnesota-governors-race-klobuchar-considers-jumping-in</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/tim-walz-drops-out-of-minnesota-governors-race-klobuchar-considers-jumping-in</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former vice presidential nominee announced his decision on Monday. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tim, Walz, drops, out, Minnesota, governor’s, race, Klobuchar, considers, jumping</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dems use Venezuela to hammer affordability issues at home</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-use-venezuela-to-hammer-affordability-issues-at-home</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-use-venezuela-to-hammer-affordability-issues-at-home</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The party is showing a rare moment of unity following the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, use, Venezuela, hammer, affordability, issues, home</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>George Conway enters crowded NYC Democratic House primary with singular focus — Trump</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/george-conway-enters-crowded-nyc-democratic-house-primary-with-singular-focus-trump</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/george-conway-enters-crowded-nyc-democratic-house-primary-with-singular-focus-trump</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The former Republican is calling for the president&#039;s impeachment over his actions in Venezuela. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>George, Conway, enters, crowded, NYC, Democratic, House, primary, with, singular, focus, —, Trump</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>House Majority PAC raises record sum ahead of midterms</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/house-majority-pac-raises-record-sum-ahead-of-midterms</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/house-majority-pac-raises-record-sum-ahead-of-midterms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ House Majority PAC and its affiliated nonprofit, House Majority Forward, brought in $121 million ahead of the 2026 midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>House, Majority, PAC, raises, record, sum, ahead, midterms</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats spy rare opening in rural America</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-spy-rare-opening-in-rural-america</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-spy-rare-opening-in-rural-america</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump&#039;s unpopular tariff and health care decisions have created an opportunity for the Democratic Party to court a GOP-loyal bloc. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, spy, rare, opening, rural, America</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump’s super PAC enters the midterms with $300 million in the bank</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-super-pac-enters-the-midterms-with-300-million-in-the-bank</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trumps-super-pac-enters-the-midterms-with-300-million-in-the-bank</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ MAGA Inc. reported raking in over $100 million in the second half of the year, adding to Trump’s substantial war chest heading into the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump’s, super, PAC, enters, the, midterms, with, 300, million, the, bank</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘An illegal war’: Democratic 2028ers scold Trump on Venezuela</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/an-illegal-war-democratic-2028ers-scold-trump-on-venezuela</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/an-illegal-war-democratic-2028ers-scold-trump-on-venezuela</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Most would-be Democratic White House hopefuls piled on the president — while his possible Republican successors quickly voiced their support. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘An, illegal, war’:, Democratic, 2028ers, scold, Trump, Venezuela</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hageman launches bid for Wyoming Senate seat</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/hageman-launches-bid-for-wyoming-senate-seat</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/hageman-launches-bid-for-wyoming-senate-seat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The two-term representative and strong Trump supporter announced her campaign on Tuesday. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hageman, launches, bid, for, Wyoming, Senate, seat</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From the field to the ballot: Athletes crowd GOP tickets ahead of 2026</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/from-the-field-to-the-ballot-athletes-crowd-gop-tickets-ahead-of-2026</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/from-the-field-to-the-ballot-athletes-crowd-gop-tickets-ahead-of-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Former athletes and coaches are coming off the bench to run for office as political outsiders. So far, that strategy has produced mixed results. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, the, field, the, ballot:, Athletes, crowd, GOP, tickets, ahead, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The nation’s cartoonists look back on the year that was.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-nations-cartoonists-look-back-on-the-year-that-was</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-nations-cartoonists-look-back-on-the-year-that-was</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here&#039;s a look back on the past year through the eyes of the cartoonists. Edited by Matt Wuerker. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, nation’s, cartoonists, look, back, the, year, that, was.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Donald Trump and Mike Lindell are targeting Tim Walz. Some Republicans are worried that could backfire.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/donald-trump-and-mike-lindell-are-targeting-tim-walz-some-republicans-are-worried-that-could-backfire</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/donald-trump-and-mike-lindell-are-targeting-tim-walz-some-republicans-are-worried-that-could-backfire</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tim Walz wants a third term. Donald Trump and Mike Lindell want to beat him. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Donald, Trump, and, Mike, Lindell, are, targeting, Tim, Walz., Some, Republicans, are, worried, that, could, backfire.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The top 5 interview moments of 2025 | The Conversation</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-top-5-interview-moments-of-2025-the-conversation</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-top-5-interview-moments-of-2025-the-conversation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The top 5 interview moments of 2025 | The Conversation 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, top, interview, moments, 2025, The, Conversation</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vance tries to weather the MAGA storm at Turning Point</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/vance-tries-to-weather-the-maga-storm-at-turning-point</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/vance-tries-to-weather-the-maga-storm-at-turning-point</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The weekend-long gathering has been enveloped in intraparty fighting. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vance, tries, weather, the, MAGA, storm, Turning, Point</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Democrats are united in bashing GOP on Obamacare. Medicare for All could reopen a rift.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-united-in-bashing-gop-on-obamacare-medicare-for-all-could-reopen-a-rift</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-are-united-in-bashing-gop-on-obamacare-medicare-for-all-could-reopen-a-rift</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The single-payer health care system is again becoming a rallying cry for progressives in the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, are, united, bashing, GOP, Obamacare., Medicare, for, All, could, reopen, rift.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ segment on notorious El Salvador prison</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/cbs-pulls-60-minutes-segment-on-notorious-el-salvador-prison</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/cbs-pulls-60-minutes-segment-on-notorious-el-salvador-prison</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The decision, made by editor in chief Bari Weiss, was condemned as &quot;political&quot; by lead correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>CBS, pulls, ‘60, Minutes’, segment, notorious, Salvador, prison</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump critic George Conway files to run for NY House seat</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-critic-george-conway-files-to-run-for-ny-house-seat</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-critic-george-conway-files-to-run-for-ny-house-seat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Conway, a sharp critic of President Donald Trump, has filed to run as a Democrat. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, critic, George, Conway, files, run, for, House, seat</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>More than a dozen staffers leave Heritage to join Pence&#45;led nonprofit</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/more-than-a-dozen-staffers-leave-heritage-to-join-pence-led-nonprofit</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/more-than-a-dozen-staffers-leave-heritage-to-join-pence-led-nonprofit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s the latest in a string of departures from the embattled organization. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>More, than, dozen, staffers, leave, Heritage, join, Pence-led, nonprofit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ramaswamy calls on conservatives to reject Groypers</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/ramaswamy-calls-on-conservatives-to-reject-groypers</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/ramaswamy-calls-on-conservatives-to-reject-groypers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a New York Times op-ed, the former GOP presidential candidate said Nick Fuentes and his supporters have “no place in the conservative movement.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ramaswamy, calls, conservatives, reject, Groypers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Poll: The economy is fueling political anger in 5 major countries</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-the-economy-is-fueling-political-anger-in-5-major-countries</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-the-economy-is-fueling-political-anger-in-5-major-countries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The international poll illustrates the uphill battle many leaders face in trying to contain the intertwined economic and political backlash. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Poll:, The, economy, fueling, political, anger, major, countries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pramila Jayapal pushes Medicare for All polling</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/pramila-jayapal-pushes-medicare-for-all-polling</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/pramila-jayapal-pushes-medicare-for-all-polling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Washington Democrat plans to brief her House Democratic colleagues on the findings in early 2026. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pramila, Jayapal, pushes, Medicare, for, All, polling</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democratic National Committee blocks release of its 2024 election autopsy</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democratic-national-committee-blocks-release-of-its-2024-election-autopsy</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democratic-national-committee-blocks-release-of-its-2024-election-autopsy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Despite a pledge from DNC Chair Ken Martin to release the post-election report, the committee announced Thursday it would not share it publicly. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democratic, National, Committee, blocks, release, its, 2024, election, autopsy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Four&#45;term North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, a leader in education reform, dies at 88</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/four-term-north-carolina-gov-jim-hunt-a-leader-in-education-reform-dies-at-88</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/four-term-north-carolina-gov-jim-hunt-a-leader-in-education-reform-dies-at-88</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hunt&#039;s career, including an unprecedented 16 years in the governor&#039;s office, provided a prototype for the modern “education governor.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Four-term, North, Carolina, Gov., Jim, Hunt, leader, education, reform, dies</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bill Gates on vaccine hesitancy, AI and global health | The Conversation</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/bill-gates-on-vaccine-hesitancy-ai-and-global-health-the-conversation</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/bill-gates-on-vaccine-hesitancy-ai-and-global-health-the-conversation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bill Gates on vaccine hesitancy, AI and global health | The Conversation 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bill, Gates, vaccine, hesitancy, and, global, health, The, Conversation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>GOP health care chaos spills into battleground midterm races</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/gop-health-care-chaos-spills-into-battleground-midterm-races</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/gop-health-care-chaos-spills-into-battleground-midterm-races</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Republican Senate candidates aren’t on the same page about extending Obamacare subsidies, reflecting a broader tension that is creeping into House and Senate races. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>GOP, health, care, chaos, spills, into, battleground, midterm, races</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indiana GOP’s Trump rebuke could lead to temporary redistricting detente</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-gops-trump-rebuke-could-lead-to-temporary-redistricting-detente</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-gops-trump-rebuke-could-lead-to-temporary-redistricting-detente</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It doesn’t mean the redistricting wars are over. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, GOP’s, Trump, rebuke, could, lead, temporary, redistricting, detente</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats gather in California feeling sunny once again</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-gather-in-california-feeling-sunny-once-again</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-gather-in-california-feeling-sunny-once-again</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At the Democratic National Committee’s winter meetings in L.A., party leaders are feeling good for the first time in a year. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, gather, California, feeling, sunny, once, again</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Poll: Trump&amp;apos;s own voters begin blaming him for affordability crisis</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-trumps-own-voters-begin-blaming-him-for-affordability-crisis</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/poll-trumps-own-voters-begin-blaming-him-for-affordability-crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Americans continue to say affordability is out of control, and they place the responsibility on Trump, The POLITICO Poll found. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Poll:, Trumps, own, voters, begin, blaming, him, for, affordability, crisis</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Constitutional hardball’: National gerrymander battle turns the heat up in Missouri</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/constitutional-hardball-national-gerrymander-battle-turns-the-heat-up-in-missouri</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/constitutional-hardball-national-gerrymander-battle-turns-the-heat-up-in-missouri</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Allies of both parties are pouring money into the fight over a referendum to bring the state’s new congressional maps in front of voters. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Constitutional, hardball’:, National, gerrymander, battle, turns, the, heat, Missouri</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Economy &amp;amp;amp; Education: U.S. trade rep. Greer and teacher&amp;apos;s union head Weingarten | The Conversation</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/economy-education-us-trade-rep-greer-and-teachers-union-head-weingarten-the-conversation</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/economy-education-us-trade-rep-greer-and-teachers-union-head-weingarten-the-conversation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Economy &amp; Education: U.S. trade rep. Greer and teacher&#039;s union head Weingarten | The Conversation 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Economy, &amp;amp, Education:, U.S., trade, rep., Greer, and, teachers, union, head, Weingarten, The, Conversation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A MAGA World Cup? | The Playbook Podcast</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/a-maga-world-cup-the-playbook-podcast</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/a-maga-world-cup-the-playbook-podcast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A MAGA World Cup? | The Playbook Podcast 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>MAGA, World, Cup, The, Playbook, Podcast</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats’ path back to power is littered with primaries</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-path-back-to-power-is-littered-with-primaries</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/democrats-path-back-to-power-is-littered-with-primaries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Democrats face over a dozen contested primaries across the country exposing deep divisions in their ranks ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats’, path, back, power, littered, with, primaries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indiana House releases draft congressional map that could net Republicans 2 seats</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-house-releases-draft-congressional-map-that-could-net-republicans-2-seats</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-house-releases-draft-congressional-map-that-could-net-republicans-2-seats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The proposed map still faces a number of obstacles in order to pass. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, House, releases, draft, congressional, map, that, could, net, Republicans, seats</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Top Mace adviser leaves her campaign, citing loyalty to Trump</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/top-mace-adviser-leaves-her-campaign-citing-loyalty-to-trump</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/top-mace-adviser-leaves-her-campaign-citing-loyalty-to-trump</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Austin McCubbin, a longtime GOP operative, announced his resignation in a pointed post on X on Monday. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, Mace, adviser, leaves, her, campaign, citing, loyalty, Trump</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Democrat who refuses to gerrymander</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-democrat-who-refuses-to-gerrymander</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-democrat-who-refuses-to-gerrymander</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ His party is on a cross-country redistricting win streak. But Maryland’s Senate president isn’t ready to go along. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Democrat, who, refuses, gerrymander</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mandela Barnes jumps into crowded race for Wisconsin governor</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mandela-barnes-jumps-into-crowded-race-for-wisconsin-governor</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mandela-barnes-jumps-into-crowded-race-for-wisconsin-governor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ He’s not expected to clear the Democratic primary field. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mandela, Barnes, jumps, into, crowded, race, for, Wisconsin, governor</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Trump targeting these Democrats could backfire</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-trump-targeting-these-democrats-could-backfire</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-trump-targeting-these-democrats-could-backfire</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The administration’s attacks have elevated the six moderate lawmakers who cut an anti-Trump video urging troops to disobey illegal orders. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Trump, targeting, these, Democrats, could, backfire</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mike Johnson set to huddle with Indiana Republicans amid redistricting fight</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/mike-johnson-set-to-huddle-with-indiana-republicans-amid-redistricting-fight</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/mike-johnson-set-to-huddle-with-indiana-republicans-amid-redistricting-fight</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The meeting is an escalation of the speaker&#039;s involvement. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mike, Johnson, set, huddle, with, Indiana, Republicans, amid, redistricting, fight</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Trump&amp;apos;s base could break</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-trumps-base-could-break</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-trumps-base-could-break</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A significant portion of 2024 Trump voters — more than a third — do not consider themselves to be MAGA Republicans, according to The POLITICO Poll. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Trumps, base, could, break</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on transforming the armed forces</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/army-secretary-dan-driscoll-on-transforming-the-armed-forces</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/army-secretary-dan-driscoll-on-transforming-the-armed-forces</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Driscoll detailed what technological and institutional reforms are necessary to bring the Army into a new era of warfare. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Army, Secretary, Dan, Driscoll, transforming, the, armed, forces</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>RFK Jr.’s breakaway political party has plans for the midterms</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/rfk-jrs-breakaway-political-party-has-plans-for-the-midterms</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/rfk-jrs-breakaway-political-party-has-plans-for-the-midterms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Former staffers and supporters of Kennedy’s presidential campaign are quietly rebuilding the political party he formed last year with an eye toward the next election. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
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<title>House Democratic super PAC drops $1 million on Tennessee special election</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/house-democratic-super-pac-drops-1-million-on-tennessee-special-election</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/house-democratic-super-pac-drops-1-million-on-tennessee-special-election</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ House Majority PAC is wading into a deep-red special election, signaling Democrats’ continued optimism about their recent overperformance. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>House, Democratic, super, PAC, drops, million, Tennessee, special, election</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>What Trump’s Mamdani praise — and MTG’s ouster — says about MAGA’s future</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/what-trumps-mamdani-praise-and-mtgs-ouster-says-about-magas-future</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/what-trumps-mamdani-praise-and-mtgs-ouster-says-about-magas-future</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A whirlwind Friday is the freshest reminder that the MAGA movement has always been defined more by id than ideology. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, Trump’s, Mamdani, praise, —, and, MTG’s, ouster, —, says, about, MAGA’s, future</media:keywords>
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<title>‘Is the price of doing this worth it?’: North Carolina Republicans worry about Trump immigration raids</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/is-the-price-of-doing-this-worth-it-north-carolina-republicans-worry-about-trump-immigration-raids</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/is-the-price-of-doing-this-worth-it-north-carolina-republicans-worry-about-trump-immigration-raids</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The concerns surrounding Trump’s immigration clampdown in the Tar Heel state speak to a tension at the center of the president’s immigration agenda. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Is, the, price, doing, this, worth, it’:, North, Carolina, Republicans, worry, about, Trump, immigration, raids</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>In blow to Trump, federal judges block new Texas congressional map</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/in-blow-to-trump-federal-judges-block-new-texas-congressional-map</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/in-blow-to-trump-federal-judges-block-new-texas-congressional-map</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The decision is a massive blow in the White House’s push to redistrict across the country. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>blow, Trump, federal, judges, block, new, Texas, congressional, map</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Dems look to capitalize on Trump&amp;apos;s weakening with Latinos</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-look-to-capitalize-on-trumps-weakening-with-latinos</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/dems-look-to-capitalize-on-trumps-weakening-with-latinos</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Democratic group argues that Latinos are souring on Trump — but the party can’t just focus on anti-Trump messaging. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dems, look, capitalize, Trumps, weakening, with, Latinos</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>&amp;apos;Our most important battle’: Obama privately urges freshman Dems to fight cynicism</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/our-most-important-battle-obama-privately-urges-freshman-dems-to-fight-cynicism</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/our-most-important-battle-obama-privately-urges-freshman-dems-to-fight-cynicism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “I get feeling worn out, tired, and embattled,&quot; the former president said to more than 30 lawmakers. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Our, most, important, battle’:, Obama, privately, urges, freshman, Dems, fight, cynicism</media:keywords>
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<title>Two decades later, Cornel West’s critique of Larry Summers hits differently</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/two-decades-later-cornel-wests-critique-of-larry-summers-hits-differently</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/two-decades-later-cornel-wests-critique-of-larry-summers-hits-differently</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ After his public feud with the former Harvard president, West sees irony in Summers’ downfall. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Two, decades, later, Cornel, West’s, critique, Larry, Summers, hits, differently</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cash&#45;strapped DNC takes on $15 million in loans</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/cash-strapped-dnc-takes-on-15-million-in-loans</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/cash-strapped-dnc-takes-on-15-million-in-loans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A major political committee taking out this large of a loan so far removed from a major election is unusual. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cash-strapped, DNC, takes, 15, million, loans</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Seth Moulton on the Epstein emails, Venezuela and the shutdown</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/seth-moulton-on-the-epstein-emails-venezuela-and-the-shutdown</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/seth-moulton-on-the-epstein-emails-venezuela-and-the-shutdown</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Just hours before voting on the shutdown bill, the Massachusetts congressman expressed his frustration with the Senate Democrats who decided to fold. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Seth, Moulton, the, Epstein, emails, Venezuela, and, the, shutdown</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Nevada Dems, GOP battle over ‘no&#45;tax&#45;on&#45;tips’</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/nevada-dems-gop-battle-over-no-tax-on-tips</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/nevada-dems-gop-battle-over-no-tax-on-tips</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ GOP candidates are wagering the tax deduction will be a winner with working-class voters, while their Democratic opponents try to flip the script. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nevada, Dems, GOP, battle, over, ‘no-tax-on-tips’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to win back disillusioned voters | The Playbook Podcast</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/how-to-win-back-disillusioned-voters-the-playbook-podcast</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/how-to-win-back-disillusioned-voters-the-playbook-podcast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ How to win back disillusioned voters | The Playbook Podcast 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, win, back, disillusioned, voters, The, Playbook, Podcast</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Indiana redistricting push likely dead despite White House pressure</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-redistricting-push-likely-dead-despite-white-house-pressure</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/indiana-redistricting-push-likely-dead-despite-white-house-pressure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, redistricting, push, likely, dead, despite, White, House, pressure</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump breaks with ‘wacky’ Marjorie Taylor Greene</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-breaks-with-wacky-marjorie-taylor-greene</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-breaks-with-wacky-marjorie-taylor-greene</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ His criticism is a notable fissure in the MAGA coalition. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, breaks, with, ‘wacky’, Marjorie, Taylor, Greene</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump built a surprising voter coalition. One key piece just cracked.</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-built-a-surprising-voter-coalition-one-key-piece-just-cracked</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/trump-built-a-surprising-voter-coalition-one-key-piece-just-cracked</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Republicans could not recreate the president&#039;s coalition in last week&#039;s off-year elections. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, built, surprising, voter, coalition., One, key, piece, just, cracked.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Maine Democrat drops Senate bid for battleground House run</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/maine-democrat-drops-senate-bid-for-battleground-house-run</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/maine-democrat-drops-senate-bid-for-battleground-house-run</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Maine Democrat Jordan Wood is dropping out of the Senate race to instead run for the newly vacant 2nd congressional district, he said in an interview this week, teeing up a fight to maintain Democratic control of the battleground seat. 
Wood had pressed ahead in Maine’s Senate race, even as the primary rapidly evolved into a two-person race between Graham Platner and Gov. Janet Mills. But after Rep. Jared Golden’s (D-Maine) unexpected retirement from Congress, Wood said the high stakes race in northern Maine poses a more dire contest for Democrats to prove they can maintain their power. 
“‘What do we do in this moment of crisis for our country and our state in democracy?’ That is what called me into the Senate race,” Wood said in an interview. “With Jared not running, it leaves open one of the most competitive House races in the entire country, and so I’m stepping up to take that on, because I believe we must.” 
Republicans have clamored to regain control of the increasingly red district — which President Donald Trump won by 10 points in 2024 — and celebrated Golden’s withdrawal as a slam dunk for the GOP. 
But Wood says he thinks Democrats are poised to maintain their control, pointing to the party’s wins in last week’s elections where voters rejected a proposed voter identification law and green lighted a red flag gun law. 
“What I hear from voters across the state is an anger and a frustration at a broken politics, and less directed at a single person but a political establishment,” he said. “Voters are really looking for candidates that are putting forward a vision of the future that they can believe in and that is addressing the biggest issues that they face in life.” 
Wood declined to endorse in the Senate race following his withdrawal but said he’d “support whoever the Democratic nominee is.” 
Wood — who said he currently lives about 20 miles outside of the district but grew up in the area — said he and his husband are in the process of moving within the district’s boundaries. He noted that he held town halls in all 11 counties of the 2nd District during his Senate run and heard directly from many would-be constituents. 
He argued his campaign reached voters not by focusing on Trump but instead speaking to the “failure” of representatives across the aisle in addressing affordability and the cost of living — issues he says are “not all just Donald Trump’s fault.” 
Wood will bring fundraising heft to the race. He’s raked in more than $3 million since launching his Senate campaign in late April — roughly half of which came in the last quarter — though that includes a $250,000 loan, according to his filings with the Federal Election Commission. He started the final three months of the year with $920,000 in his campaign coffers, which he can now roll over to his House campaign. 
On the Republican side, two-term former Gov. Paul LePage had raised roughly $916,000 through the end of September and started the final three months of the year with $716,000 in cash on hand. 
Wood joins former Golden primary challenger Matt Dunlap, the state auditor, who pledged to stay in the race after Golden’s exit. 
Woods&#039; entrance is unlikely to end the DCCC’s ongoing search for a candidate, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. 
Wood said that he had “been in communication” with the DCCC and “let them know our plans” but declined to provide details on the conversations. 
Another potential entrant into the race is current gubernatorial candidate and former state Senate President Troy Jackson, who last week left the door open to a run. 
“I&#039;m really flattered by everyone reaching out and I get why,” Jackson said in a statement. “I&#039;ve won multiple times in a district that voted for Trump by talking directly to rural working class voters from across the political spectrum about how to make Maine more affordable for them.” 
One other name to watch: Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, who was once mulling a Senate bid. A Francis ally told the Bangor Daily News last week that he was considering a run in ME-02. 
A version of this article first appeared in POLITICO Pro’s Morning Score. Want to receive the newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro.You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Maine, Democrat, drops, Senate, bid, for, battleground, House, run</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Protesters and UN security clash at climate summit in Brazil</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/protesters-and-un-security-clash-at-climate-summit-in-brazil</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/protesters-and-un-security-clash-at-climate-summit-in-brazil</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Protesters and UN security clash at climate summit in Brazil 
lead image ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Protesters, and, security, clash, climate, summit, Brazil</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Rahm Emanuel, considering White House bid, urges Dems to move center on crime</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/rahm-emanuel-considering-white-house-bid-urges-dems-to-move-center-on-crime</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/rahm-emanuel-considering-white-house-bid-urges-dems-to-move-center-on-crime</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Emanuel is laying out a public safety strategy as his party grapples with how to approach crime in the midterms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Moderated by Tomas Kauer</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rahm, Emanuel, considering, White, House, bid, urges, Dems, move, center, crime</media:keywords>
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<title>The 9 most shocking revelations in the Epstein docs</title>
<link>https://aussiedaily.net/the-9-most-shocking-revelations-in-the-epstein-docs</link>
<guid>https://aussiedaily.net/the-9-most-shocking-revelations-in-the-epstein-docs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The emails, released by the House Oversight Committee, include exchanges with dozens of prominent individuals spanning over a decade. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
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