TAMFIS NIG LTDRC 8067447CAC ACTIVEFinima, Bonny Island, Rivers State
Trump has claimed he will send every citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House and Senate. He provided no details about where he would source this money from or the legality of the incentive.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us … it will be called the Trump dividend,” the president said.
In a nearly two-hour speech, Donald Trump capped off his first night remarks at the GOP midterm convention by pleading with Republicans to “pretend that I’m running”. The president centered himself in the battle to control Congress, and acknowledged that candidates are more successful when he is on the ballot. He offered an ominous outlook if Republicans fail to retain power. “If we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security. You’re going to lose your wealth. Our country is going through hell. You will be going through hell just like you did just two years ago,” Trump said.
n
The president made the stunning claim that he would send every citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House and Senate. However, he provided no details about where he would source this money from or the legality of the incentive. “It will be called the Trump dividend,” the president said. A reminder that it’s against federal law to “make or offer to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote”. It would cost over $1tn, accounting for more than 235 million adult citizens across the country.
n
Throughout his remarks, Trump also tried to campaign on behalf on Republicans in competitive midterm races. While he made fun of Ken Paxton’s clothing choices and the way he speaks, he praised the Republican nominee for US Senate in Texas as “the single greatest attorney general” in the state’s history, while also branding his opponent James Talarico as a “disaster”. He also praised Michael Whatley, who is running to keep the open Senate seat in North Carolina red, and blasted his challenger – the state’s former Democratic governor Roy Cooper – over his handling of the devastating hurricane that swept through the state in 2024.
n
Earlier, Democratic senator John Fetterman made a surprise virtual appearance at the Republican midterm convention, delivering a video address supporting Dave McCormick, a Republican senator in Pennsylvania. Fetterman, who has increasingly broken with his party since his election in 2022, said in the video that he would always reject “extremes and socialism”, repeating an oft-used Republican critique of the Democratic party’s increasingly popular left wing. “Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America,” the Pennsylvania lawmaker said in the pre-recorded message. Fetterman, for his part, insisted that he would not be switching parties in the next Congress. ““I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party-and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” he said in a statement.
n
Meanwhile, several Republicans who are facing tough races have chosen not to attend the convention in Dallas. This include Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent senator from Maine, and Dan Sullivan – the Republican senator from Alaska who is facing a tough contest against former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola. By showing up at the convention, these nominees run the risk of isolating swing voters they need to court in competitive districts and states where the administration’s policies have proven unpopular.
n”,”elementId”:”fa629a07-e37d-4fe1-9de3-f1c792f055cd”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1789010938000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.28 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789014067000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.21 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789013051000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.04 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.04″,”title”:”Here’s a recap of the first night of the GOP midterm convention”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa220928f08f45a44581e13″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In a nearly two-hour speech, Donald Trump capped off his first night remarks at the GOP midterm convention by repeating his plea to Republicans.
“,”elementId”:”6ad19361-a27c-4480-93e7-bc1963d732f5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Please pretend that I’m running,” he said. “Get out and vote on November 3rd or sooner, because in actuality, I really am running … we have to take Congress.”
“,”elementId”:”31c3bbe3-4180-47f9-9fa9-47be5d526205″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The president noted that he’ll also speak on the second and final night of the convention, but it won’t be as long.
“,”elementId”:”cbb15481-ddbe-4209-88d3-53f53e5da496″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“I’m not doing a big deal like this because I don’t have to say the same stuff twice. I gave you a lot of material,” he said. “I’m going to be just sort of getting up here and saying, good luck. We love you all.”
“,”elementId”:”c25d6511-e67c-4860-9a09-4fd140202f7a”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“aspectRatio”:”5:4″,”height”:”3598″,”width”:”4498″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/4498.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=37dbba397d419e326bc978f2e1e14bb0″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Donald Trump speaks at the Republican midterm convention on 9 September.”,”caption”:”Donald Trump speaks at the Republican midterm convention on 9 September.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789010066000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.14 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789012189000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.49 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789010697000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.24 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.24″,”title”:”Trump caps nearly two-hour speech by repeating his plea to ‘please pretend that I’m running'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa2128f8f080f2ddaddc724″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump has claimed he will send every citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House and Senate. He provided no details about where he would source this money from or the legality of the incentive.
“,”elementId”:”ab6dcb42-7458-4278-99b1-f3bbb09907ca”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us … it will be called the Trump dividend,” the president said.
“,”elementId”:”7d943bf2-ced1-4512-8bd6-cfcfc8a3a6c8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789006479000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.14 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789007037000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.23 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789006633000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.17 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.17″,”title”:”Trump claims he will send $5,000 to every citizen if Republicans hold on to control of Congress”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa20b9e8f08f45a44581d6d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump falsely claimed that there have been “zero” border crossings over the last 16 months. He also falsely claimed there were “25 million” under his predecessor Joe Biden.
“,”elementId”:”8c13aac6-ec10-4031-9891-8e4482690c0a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
While there has been a steep drop in encounters at the southern border, there have been almost 600,000 since January 2025. Meanwhile, most estimates suggest that there were about 11 million throughout the Biden administration – less than half of the number Trump has claimed.
“,”elementId”:”fae4b1a6-00a8-4955-9f81-e5e23bbb7a44″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789004702000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.45 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789005824000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.03 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789005297000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.54 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.54″,”title”:”Fact check: Trump falsely claims ‘zero’ border crossings in last 16 months”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa20a228f08518e711dda59″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump has used parts of his speech to direct Texans to vote for Ken Paxton in the US Senate race in November. The beleaguered attorney general is facing Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico in one of the most competitive contests this midterm cycle.
“,”elementId”:”39ef47df-d7d4-4388-846c-d434de638e89″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Several recent polls show Talarico leading Paxton. A reminder that no Democrat has actually won statewide office in Texas since 1994.
“,”elementId”:”72aa309f-bacd-40e7-b6c5-e7ca866be76a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Some may not like the way he dresses. I don’t. Although tonight he looked very spiffy in his blue suit, I must tell you. But they may not like the way he talks. I can see that, you know,” Trump said. “You may not like the way he looks, but here’s the news. In the history of Texas, he is the single greatest attorney general you’ve ever had, and maybe the top attorney general in the whole United States.”
“,”elementId”:”ab0e6281-2e1b-4124-b7af-fe503d64cc58″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789004322000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.38 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789004600000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”03.43 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789004601000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.43 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.43″,”title”:”Trump uses headlining speech to campaign for Ken Paxton in competitive Senate seat in Texas”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa206a88f08518e711dda3e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The president implored attendees and voters throughout the country to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” as they cast their votes in this year’s midterms.
“,”elementId”:”bda18545-2c0e-4917-a67d-17ec9c93a678″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“I’m on the ballot, just one more time,” he added. “Because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security. You’re going to lose your wealth. Our country is going through hell. You will be going through hell just like you did just two years ago.”
“,”elementId”:”ac6fdb34-c12d-4785-9173-ed2d15e43168″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789003432000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.23 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789004099000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”03.34 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789003615000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.26 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.26″,”title”:”Trump implores voters to ‘pretend that I’m on the ballot’ ahead of November midterms”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa205d48f08518e711dda39″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The president made his case clear in his opening remarks to attendees.
“,”elementId”:”7582e611-246b-4792-ab06-25606075bce3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Your vote will decide whether our country stumbles at the starting gate of the next 250 years or surges forward and never ever looks back,” he said. “Hand America’s future to the radical left Democrats, and our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet. It will be a tragedy. Vote Republican and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come. There’ll be nothing like it.”
“,”elementId”:”a65b6d3c-7d5d-42d1-9ca7-a7235d3a763f”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789003220000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.20 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789003311000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”03.21 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789003311000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.21 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.21″,”title”:”Trump: ‘Vote Republican and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa204658f08518e711dda2d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump walked on stage at the American Airlines Center in Dallas with a live performance from Lee Greenwood singing God Bless the USA – Trump’s mainstay anthem that plays at all of his campaign and presidential events.
“,”elementId”:”23b23c86-206b-4696-9d6e-21ac0b79c0db”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Welcome to the first ever midterm convention of any party,” the president said. “Took a little imagination to think of it, but we thought of it.”
“,”elementId”:”36a71368-0de5-4c0c-bb5e-42e320275e5b”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1789002853000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”03.14 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789003097000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”03.18 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1789002999000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.16 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.16″,”title”:”Trump speaks at GOP midterm convention in Dallas”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1f3c18f08f45a44581cd5″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Reporting from Dallas
“,”elementId”:”43fe9142-b416-48cc-abc1-bc895a6232f8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Mike Lawler, the vulnerable Republican congressman running for reelection in New York, has defended his decision to attend the midterm convention.
“,”elementId”:”dce96ec8-4797-4e48-a510-676f79fef9e6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As we reported earlier, numerous Republicans running in swing districts have stayed away from the event, wary of being associated with Trump, but Lawler is among those due to speak here on Wednesday.
“,”elementId”:”859cd766-aa6b-4864-8f84-2a54908fc11c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Speaking to reporters outside the convention hall, Lawler was why he decided to appear at the Trump-heavy event, when others have stayed away. “Well, he’s the president of the United States, and whether people want to say yay or nay, the fact is he’s the president. Two, this is an opportunity to talk about what we’ve actually done, and my speech is going to focus on what I’ve delivered for my district, and in fact, standing up to the president to do it,” Lawler said.
“,”elementId”:”cb07c253-fc29-4858-925c-70a31c82b8f7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Lawler represents New York’s 17th district, which Kamala Harris won, narrowly, in 2024, and the Cook report rates the race as a “toss up” between Lawler and Cait Conley, his Democratic opponent. He claimed he has “loudly and vocally pushed back” against Trump on issues including funding to Ukraine, adding: “I have the ability to deal with the president, just screaming and yelling and saying ‘I hate Donald Trump’ gets you there. What does that deliver for your constituents? Nothing.”
“,”elementId”:”339a5e1f-9164-402e-a04b-6ee8af0dfd18″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Members of Congress reportedly had to pay $25,000 to attend the convention, but Lawler said he hadn’t stumped up that amount.
“,”elementId”:”9962b08c-41cf-4dc4-816c-5ce063e88dba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“I didn’t pay anything other than a plane ticket and a hotel room,” he said.
“,”elementId”:”928e64df-bfdc-4bd4-994f-04ebf1ba1070″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788998593000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.03 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789001850000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.57 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788998692000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.04 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.04″,”title”:”New York congressman defends attending convention as some Republicans in swing districts steer clear”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Adam Gabbatt”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2015/8/21/1440144767556/Adam-Gabbatt.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=81895d465d79add63c46a548c9f1df77″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/06/Adam-Gabbatt,-R.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8c5b31f2183252cb733b6f47ddfeef45″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1e9298f08f45a44581ca9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Senator John Fetterman’s video message, ahead of Senator Dave McCormick’s speech in Dallas, has just aired.
“,”elementId”:”98589ba9-71e4-42f0-8755-871f1deb397c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In the video, Fetterman is seen standing outside the Mon Valley Works – a processing plant operated by US Steel in Pittsburgh.
“,”elementId”:”3cc2731f-61a9-4d25-bfe3-c4aa0ae3a233″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America,” the Pennsylvania lawmaker, who has increasingly broken with his party since he was elected in 2022, said in the pre-recorded message. “I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania.”
“,”elementId”:”202c0967-2fd6-49fa-b118-c9ebcbdbeaf5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In the stunning display of support for a Republican colleague in the Senate, Fetterman called McCormick his “great friend”, and said that he will work with him and Donald Trump “to fight and defend the steel way of life”.
“,”elementId”:”2baa54c5-42f1-4440-8c01-a1f75ce27556″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788995881000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”01.18 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788997176000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”01.39 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788996444000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”01.27 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”01.27″,”title”:”Fetterman says he is always going to reject ‘extremes and socialism’ in surprise video message praising Republican colleague at GOP convention”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1de388f08f45a44581c6a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
John Fetterman – the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania who has found himself increasingly estranged from his party – is set to issue a video message praising Donald Trump at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, according to a report from Axios.
“,”elementId”:”83dc58e0-9b20-4ee0-9965-a4fc8762b46e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The first-term lawmaker – who has cast several votes bucking Democrats – will be in the video that will play ahead of his colleague Senator Dave McCormick’s appearance on stage. Fetterman will thank Trump for his work in helping the US steel industry.
“,”elementId”:”90607dde-1956-440e-bede-4101fa417beb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Citing unnamed sources, Axios reports that Fetterman isn’t expected to announce that he’s switching parties, but he is going to distance himself from the left flank of the Democratic party. McCormick helped arrange Fetterman’s appearance, according to one of Axios’ sources with knowledge of the situation.
“,”elementId”:”0c6aaad5-ee3d-487e-8ef4-c0e19de35fa0″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“aspectRatio”:”5:4″,”height”:”3300″,”width”:”4124″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/4124.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d73cb1c20dfa1eed229a884fafcfc007″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”John Fetterman speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at the Capitol on 29 July.”,”caption”:”John Fetterman speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at the Capitol on 29 July.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Allison Robbert/AP”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Fetterman was the sole Democrat to vote no on several war powers resolutions to curb the Trump administration’s military action in Iran. Earlier this year, he voted to confirm Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, and last year Fetterman routinely joined Republicans on key votes to keep the government open – while Senate Democrats withheld support for key appopriations bills to protest expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.
“,”elementId”:”f9371976-b617-4837-88cb-e17ea1bcdf5b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
According to a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll in August, 74% of Democrats in Pennsylvania had a favorable opinion of Fetterman in 2024 – two years after he won his Senate election – that has now fallen to 22%.
“,”elementId”:”9244c99d-3d87-41d4-843b-f85714baba3c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Meanwhile, only 25 % of Pennsylvania Repbublicans viewed Fetterman favorably in 2024. That number has shot up to 73%.
“,”elementId”:”7c0ba966-53d4-4e73-99d9-c7fd51bd5756″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Despite not confirming whether he would seek a second term in office, Fetterman recently said that he has no intention to switch parties. He has, however, issued a caveat – he would consider leaving the Democratic caucus if it became the “anti-Israel party”.
“,”elementId”:”0664c915-5eec-4919-8b7c-030016841459″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Fetterman has emerged as one of Israel’s most prominent advocates among Senate Democrats, even as others in the party back away from their traditional support for the country amid accusations that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government committed genocide in Gaza.
“,”elementId”:”fe7939bf-e483-4fb3-9085-eeea11fe6609″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788993080000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”00.31 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788994347000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”00.52 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788994027000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”00.47 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”00.47″,”title”:”Fetterman set to issue video message praising Trump at GOP midterm convention – report”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1daa98f08518e711dd91c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A person briefed on the situation told the press pool traveling with Donald Trump that members of the US air force, which operates Air Force One, “accidentally triggered” the emergency inflatable slide that deployed before the president’s takeoff to Dallas. Trump is set to deliver the keynote speech at the GOP midterm convention.
“,”elementId”:”1c20351c-ae9d-40c6-bce3-9f55ce97622f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
However, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, claimed that the slide was “checked out to make sure everything works perfectly”.
“,”elementId”:”6ee3c16f-063d-4ea2-b39d-73cb0eab6848″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788992169000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”00.16 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788992546000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”00.22 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788992547000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”00.22 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”00.22″,”title”:”Deployed emergency slide on Air Force One was ‘accidentally triggered’ ahead of Trump takeoff for Dallas”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1d9498f08f45a44581c53″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Opponents of congressional redistricting in Missouri appealed to the US supreme court on Wednesday after a federal panel let stand a ruling allowing the state to use a new map backed by Donald Trump in November’s midterms.
“,”elementId”:”943473b4-2b7b-4a58-ba6e-aa661b02db59″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The map’s challengers, including a group opposed to the Republican-drawn map called People Not Politicians, made the request in an emergency filing, moving swiftly after Stephen Clark, a St Louis-based chief US district judge, issued his decision on Tuesday.
“,”elementId”:”e97e1319-d16c-4fec-af28-7e046195ce2f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Clashing rulings had plunged Missouri’s congressional elections into uncertainty, less than two months out from the crucial midterms that will decide which party controls a closely divided congress – and will impact the fate of Trump’s agenda for the rest of his term.
“,”elementId”:”9c19a961-6ee9-44c4-9e64-a950ce642992″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“aspectRatio”:”5:4″,”height”:”2688″,”width”:”3360″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/3360.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9d976605c66fc4633f57ba342c515119″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”People opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. on 2 September.”,”caption”:”People opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. on 2 September.”,”credit”:”Photograph: David A Lieb/AP”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
First, the conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh had denied an emergency request from Missouri officials to use a congressional map in November that was redrawn with Trump’s support to give the GOP an edge in the midterms. That decision effectively allowed a Missouri supreme court ruling to revert back to the 2022 map to stand.
“,”elementId”:”3212675e-4dcb-4a8e-aaa9-06dc7fde362a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Not long after, a ruling by Clark, who was appointed by Trump, issued a contradictory decision, temporarily preventing the state from using its old congressional maps in the November elections. The temporary restraining order, or TRO, ordered Missouri to use the newly drawn districts that favor Republicans, which the state used in its August primary elections.
“,”elementId”:”36eec534-2297-4798-9711-24c1ff383956″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Clark’s order was then swiftly appealed to the eighth US circuit court of appeals.
“,”elementId”:”c37394c4-41b1-417b-a53c-812a7969a81a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Missouri’s Trump-backed voting maps approved by federal panel challenged in supreme court”,”elementId”:”185aec95-0cc7-4853-b37a-8ca4e29c90ca”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/09/missouri-redistricting-map-appeal”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788991817000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”00.10 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788992122000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”00.15 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788991948000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”00.12 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”00.12″,”title”:”Missouri’s Trump-backed voting maps approved by federal panel challenged in supreme court”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Lucy Campbell”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1cd2c8f080f2ddaddc522″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
While there are dozens of Republican lawmakers and candidates who are facing tough races in November at the convention in Dallas over the next two days, there are several who have chosen not to attend the event that has been hastily thrown together at the behest of Donald Trump.
“,”elementId”:”88bdcf73-4e78-4852-b353-adb8ba6661bf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
This includes Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent senator from Maine, who is contending with a deluge of anti-Trump animus in her purple state ahead of her re-election race. Her campaign has told various outlets that she would be constituents back in Maine during the convention.
“,”elementId”:”9c870245-50fb-4ba1-a650-b5cdb7b05765″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Similarly, Dan Sullivan – the Republican senator from Alaska who is facing a tough contest against former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola – is opting to skip the event. Sullivan has spent Wednesday on the trail in Alaska, posting videos and photos from various campaign stops. This comes after the US president said last week that he would travel to the state to campaign on behalf of Sullivan ahead of the general election.
“,”elementId”:”9bc03323-f4c8-4737-bea6-d49ee3454f27″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Meanwhile, Tom Barrett, a Michigan representative, and Tom Tiffany, the congressman and Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, are some of the House members – seen as vulnerable in their respective races – who will also not attend the GOP convention in Dallas.
“,”elementId”:”c1393749-c0e5-47cb-9b7f-54896f873146″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If these nominees show up in Dallas, they could run the risk of isolating swing voters they need to court.
“,”elementId”:”64f24f60-1d77-4ede-b9ff-ea75b1ad34b5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Earlier, Trump snapped at an ABC News reporter who asked about the absences.
“,”elementId”:”8e5453d2-4c0b-454e-b32b-7c6f8fda7ddf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“We have room for the ones that have a close race, if they’re slightly behind or slightly ahead or tied,” the president said. “But we don’t have room for people that are 35 points up and don’t need to be there … Every politician that we’ve wanted to be there is there.”
“,”elementId”:”572ca7d6-a045-4cd0-86fa-f46fc50315b9″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788988716000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”23.18 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1789013411000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.10 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788990403000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”23.46 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”23.46″,”title”:”Several Republicans in competitive races stay away from GOP midterm convention”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1aff58f080f2ddaddc411″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Joe Gruters, the Republican National Committee (RNC) chair, has kicked of the GOP midterm convention. Expected to be full of party pageantry, Gruters said the two-day event in Dallas would be about “defying history”.
“,”elementId”:”f048484c-7f6c-47d7-9d43-8df63ca1dab1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Wielding a super-sized gavel, Gruters said that Republicans didn’t come to the American Airlines Center to “to talk about winning. We came here to do it.”
“,”elementId”:”6b5b0b53-0ac4-42a6-af6b-4a514918fea5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“This isn’t just another convention; this is history in the making,” Gruters added.
“,”elementId”:”26773c34-8ca0-45a0-90ab-ac9251211230″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The RNC chair also flagged that tonight’s programming will include everyday Americans and several GOP candidates in midterm races this November.
“,”elementId”:”970eda6b-27c5-49fc-acae-2bbf2b36d124″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A reminder that both nights of the convention will end with speeches from Donald Trump.
“,”elementId”:”e35be9ce-18d9-4921-a49b-c0602b662909″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“aspectRatio”:”5:4″,”height”:”3479″,”width”:”4348″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/4348.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=cb601cc5b4f0354d3f51999445f29bab”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Joe Gruters speaks on the first day of the 2026 Republican national convention at the American Airlines Center, on 9 September 2026 in Dallas, Texas.”,”caption”:”Joe Gruters speaks on the first day of the 2026 Republican national convention at the American Airlines Center, on 9 September 2026 in Dallas, Texas.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788981237000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”21.13 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788986422000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”22.40 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788985108000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”22.18 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”22.18″,”title”:”RNC chair Joe Gruters kicks off midterm convention: ‘This is history in the making'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1bcd08f080f2ddaddc485″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
An unconventional GOP midterm convention is set to kick off in Dallas. Pulled together at Donald Trump’s request, the two-day event will feature remarks from the president himself, along with several members of his cabinet and his top Republican allies in Congress. The convention is meant to rally the party as it seeks to hold on to its narrow margins in Congress. But it’s also left some Republicans uneasy, as they seek to distance their own campaigns from a president whose actions – including a seemingly directionless conflict with Iran – they fear have alienated some voters.
n
Trump, en route to Texas, teased a possible pardon for his former fixer. After being held up by what appeared to be an inspection of the inflatable emergency slide on his Qatari-gifted Air Force One replacement, Trump suggested he might be open to pardoning his one-time lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen once testified against Trump in his Manhattan criminal trial, which ended in Trump’s conviction, but has since sought to get back into the president’s favor.
n
Speaking in Texas, JB Pritzker accused Trump of trying to rig the vote. As Republicans geared up to sell the American people on President Trump’s first term, Pritzker, the Illinois governor joined Texas Democrats in speaking out against them. A potential presidential contender in 2028, Pritzker accused Trump of trying to rig the election to avoid having to win on an unpopular platform.
n
Rhode Island’s Democratic governor faces steep odds in Wednesday’s primary. Voters are going to the polls today for Rhode Island’s primary election. Daniel McKee, the state’s governor, faces tough odds in a primary rematch with Helena Foulkes, whom he narrowly beat in 2022. McKee has faced criticism for drawn-out repairs on a vital bridge in Providence.
n
Trump gave massive cash gifts to close White House aides, including Natalie Harp. Circling back to Trump, financial disclosures released by his administration reveal that he showered his White House aides with tens of thousands of dollars as apparent holiday gifts. Those included a $45,000 payment to Natalie Harp, the executive assistant whose constant presence at Trump’s side has attracted scorn from his opponents. The Washington Post first reported the payments late on Tuesday.
n
“,”elementId”:”c537cbe9-0858-4975-87ba-2189ffc1cce5″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1788984528000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”22.08 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788985103000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”22.18 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788984566000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”22.09 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”22.09″,”title”:”Here’s where things stand today”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1aca48f080f2ddaddc3eb”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump on Wednesday said he was open to pardoning Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer who once testified against him in court before again seeking his favor in his second term.
“,”elementId”:”574b3cb3-5e81-440b-be7f-5e22b3e539d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“If everything is checking out, it’s something I would consider,” Trump said of a possible pardon for Cohen. He was asked about the subject on the tarmac before departing to the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.
“,”elementId”:”3b9b3678-60cd-4a74-8d82-45845456ca62″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It might seem like ages ago, so in case you forgot, Cohen testified in Trump’s 2024 criminal trial in Manhattan that the then-former President had directed him to illegally misclassify hush money payments to a porn star as legal fees. Trump’s conviction on 34 counts in that case could’ve landed him in prison, if not for his 2024 presidential election victory.
“,”elementId”:”ca931a01-1b6a-4255-b38f-96df36af2b5d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump’s remarks on the tarmac come a week after he took to social media to claim that Cohen had fully recanted his testimony against him. In actuality, Cohen has so far stopped short of such a step, saying only that he felt pressured by the prosecution in Trump’s cases without disputing the accuracy of his testimony.
“,”elementId”:”1f3a0657-f788-409e-b3cc-da4d8523e159″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Over the course of a decade, Cohen has traced a winding path from the President’s former fixer, to a key witness in legal proceedings against him, before finding his way back into Trump’s good graces in his second term. Along the way, he served a three-year prison sentence in connection with the hush money payments he later said he made at Trump’s behest, along with other offenses.
“,”elementId”:”3ef4290c-f717-4d35-b387-73612dc7d9bf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“What they did to Michael Cohen was a disgrace,” Trump continued on the tarmac. “They forced him to say things that he didn’t want to say, and that he didn’t believe. And I appreciate that at least he came out, although late, he came out and rectified the situation.”
“,”elementId”:”1c2154b7-1250-4bfd-8522-719b354de782″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788980388000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.59 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788983478000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.51 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788980903000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.08 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.08″,”title”:”Trump signals openness to pardoning Michael Cohen, his former fixer”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1a6f78f08518e711dd73c”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump boarded a flight to Dallas for the GOP’s midterm convention, after being delayed as an emergency slide on his Qatari-gifted replacement for Air Force One was unfurled on the tarmac.
“,”elementId”:”b7384cbf-58e2-4178-a39b-5556911f1af1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Crew members pictured on live news feeds inspected the slide while Trump waited aboard Marine One. After being stuck on Marine One for about 20 minutes, the president boarded the jet as crews continued to look at the inflatable slide.
“,”elementId”:”472af7fd-eb5c-421a-8e94-280e0183a36a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The president, speaking briefly to reporters before boarding the plane, said that crews were performing a safety check on the slide, but that there was no real danger.
“,”elementId”:”00db218b-f865-497c-8f1d-d8e3b418082f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“They want to make sure everything works perfectly,” he said.
“,”elementId”:”a3097b55-d76c-4845-b687-f6a0abd0a23b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Crews appeared to cart away the emergency slide just before the jet took off.
“,”elementId”:”d2c4b32d-54fd-4294-9928-b1d5d1043af1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The jet, an unusual gift from Qatar meant to serve as a temporary replacement for Air Force One, has experienced significant security vulnerabilities, which led to it being temporarily removed from service for upgrades. In July, those vulnerabilities prompted Trump’s security team to smuggle him to a different plane aboard a catering truck before flying him out of Turkey. It’s unclear what exact upgrades were made to the jet since then, or when.
“,”elementId”:”74d4356b-b2c8-48a1-a676-3106c9958845″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Asked he was sure the jet was now safe to fly, Trump responded: “Yeah, I am, or I wouldn’t be on it.”
“,”elementId”:”52d12333-8a7e-4293-9341-2caf7c8e13e3″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788978935000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.35 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788981937000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.25 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788979121000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.38 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.38″,”title”:”Emergency slide deployed on Qatari Air Force One delays Trump en route to Dallas”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa193a58f080f2ddaddc2ff”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A Republican candidate for a key congressional district in Texas has come under scrutiny over a series of derogatory comments made about women in his social media posts and videos.
“,”elementId”:”d48e0bac-2d5c-4b0b-bc2c-95d34e08dbee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Brandon Herrera, who is the GOP candidate for Texas’s 23rd congressional district, has made a string of insults while fashioning a rightwing online persona as the “AK Guy”, and hosts a YouTube channel with more than 4 million subscribers that tests and reviews firearms.
“,”elementId”:”f5c4b94a-c383-4979-8980-adf253065fdc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The comments, first reported by CNN, include Herrera taking aim at people he opposes politically, and women. In a 2023 video, he said that a gun range dummy’s empty head was “full of mush – much like the average Austin feminist”, and in a separate 2024 video, he likened the weight of “angry blue-haired” feminists to that of orca whales and elephants.
“,”elementId”:”20a78fe3-9c51-4bd8-850e-5288a2e5bb6b”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“aspectRatio”:”5:4″,”height”:”4188″,”width”:”5235″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/5235.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=58e7009c4fe6f1a3327c429aa059314f”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Man speaking on stage into microphone”,”caption”:”Brandon Herrera at a campaign event in Uvalde, Texas, on 25 February.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Brenda Bazán for the Washington Post for Getty Images”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In 2020, Herrera filmed himself firing a gun at bottles of ranch dressing and, after they exploded, rubbing the condiment on to himself and declaring that this would “make me irresistible to the fat bitches”. While discussing the merits of a car on X in 2023, Herrera opined that “4 doors means more whores”.
“,”elementId”:”77487387-8397-45de-b6cd-423f9dd041da”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Other groups have also been the focus of Herrera’s online content. In 2020, while firing a gun at a ham, Herrera said that while purchasing a ham for target practice was expensive, it was “still cheaper than a homeless person”.
“,”elementId”:”118db45c-279b-4b99-9661-7f2f6a54e9aa”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
This isn’t the first time that Herrera has come under scrutiny. In 2024, during a run for Congress, Herrera said: “I am not, nor have I never [sic] been, a neo-Nazi” after describing a Nazi-era gun as “the original ghetto blaster”. The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned him at the time as “a goose-stepping extremist”.
“,”elementId”:”00dd1dab-b733-422b-8d78-42a121506329″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Herrera said that all these comments were jokes, and took aim at his opponent in this November’s midterm election, Democrat Katy Padilla Stout. “It’s disappointing that CNN would allow someone to allege that jokes about feminism lead to violence when Stout is fighting to return children to the parent convicted of abusing them,” Herrera said in a statement to CNN, referring to a case in which Stout was appointed as a defense attorney for a father seeking to restore parental rights after a domestic abuse allegation.
“,”elementId”:”79aebd70-c638-4f74-a1bf-1d10e6d212e4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Asked to comment on his previous statements made online, Herrera said via his campaign that it was “disappointing” that “alleged journalists” would “ignore” the Stout case. He did not reference his own past statements.
“,”elementId”:”af378810-7803-4941-9cfe-a457a1b8faed”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The past comments could add to Republicans’ challenge of holding on to the US House of Representatives seat. Herrera is attempting to replace Tony Gonzales, a Republican lawmaker who resigned in April amid a House ethics committee investigation into his relationship with a former aide.
“,”elementId”:”6f048146-cc6b-4a42-b334-5da3822f3059″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
While Democrats have not prevailed in this district since 2015, the party has recently added it to its target list and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has sent funding to Stout, a former teacher and attorney, in what is expected to be a strong year for Democrats amid rising voter dissatisfaction with Donald Trump.
“,”elementId”:”f09ed89d-32a7-4be0-a40d-9451d946a527″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Texas Republican in race for key House seat under fire for derogatory comments”,”elementId”:”1ffcae10-1ef7-490e-bbef-c129143cb358″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/09/texas-brandon-herrera-republican-house”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788973990000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.13 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788974367000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.19 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788974138000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.15 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.15″,”title”:”Texas Republican in race for key House seat under fire for derogatory comments”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Oliver Milman”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2014/9/30/1412084830432/Oliver-Milman.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc9d7205ee13422323669d8ba9443463″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Oliver-Milman,-L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=851c9c9b1357655e93f43b2ec335f721″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa186e78f080f2ddaddc234″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
JB Pritzker has taken the microphone a few more times for the Democrats in Texas, fielding questions from reporters. He’s accused Republicans stumping for Trump of “bootlicking”, and alleged that Trump’s efforts to enact restriction on mail-in voting amount to a promise to end fair elections in the future.
“,”elementId”:”4293d769-be8b-4806-84d2-432ec268ffa3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“If Democrats don’t win, if they don’t win in this election, we may not have other elections,” Pritzker said. “Or certainly we’re going to have future elections, every single one of which will be rigged.”
“,”elementId”:”c338cc57-35a9-4171-a33f-0c4bf3824248″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Pritzker leveled a similar allegation earlier in the press conference. Republicans, he said, are seeking other ways to win the midterms to compensate for waning voter support for President Trump and his policies.
“,”elementId”:”03117723-e543-4b0a-9ed0-f48a627ebdef”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Republicans know that they can’t win on the merits of their unpopular policies, so they’re working to rig the 2026 election,”
“,”elementId”:”1342578e-46e6-4cad-bf87-ec68285cc8d9″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788970727000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.18 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788972873000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.54 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788971132000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.25 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.25″,”title”:”Democrats accuse Republicans of ‘working to rig’ midterms”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa17e498f08f45a445818a6″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Democrats are holding a press conference in Texas ahead of the GOP’s Dallas-based midterm convention.
“,”elementId”:”651195d3-a530-4a44-a53e-b383a26cdd47″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, was just speaking to the assembled reporters. He lambasted the Trump administration for, in his words, launching a war on Iran that worsened inflation, for trying to undermine voting rights, and for engaging in corruption and self-dealing – lines of attack we can expect to hear frequently through the midterms.
“,”elementId”:”f42003c6-645a-44a3-959c-5d342e963f9a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Republicans are lying, and they’re corrupt,” Pritzker said.
“,”elementId”:”935e70e7-66d0-43ea-8103-02d6be330749″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
He continued: “I’m done pretending that these self-dealing, racist, misogynist grifters are an aberration of the Republican party. They are the mainstream of the Republican party now.”
“,”elementId”:”8b1dab3d-763a-4584-a7dd-8150276e99a7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Pritzker, a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, notably faced off with Trump when the President sent a legion of ICE agents – and later the national guard – to target to the city in a mass deportation operation in 2025.
“,”elementId”:”6d41fd68-ee82-4bf1-a349-8a963f227dba”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788968521000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”17.42 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788972237000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.43 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788968952000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.49 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.49″,”title”:”Illinois governor attacks Republican party as ‘self-dealing, racist, misogynist grifters'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa178bb8f080f2ddaddc18a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Republicans are descending on Dallas today to prepare for an unconventional midterm convention, convened at Donald Trump’s request, to try to rally the party ahead of a testy midterm election. The US president himself is slated to take the stage twice during the convention’s two-day run, as well as JD Vance, top congressional Republicans and several members of Trump’s cabinet.
“,”elementId”:”36d5020d-979e-4b88-a6fd-846b999432b7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The convention’s first night will kick off at 3pm, local time. Among the speakers on deck are Steve Scalise, the House majority leader; Mehmet Oz, the television personality turned head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton; and Scott Bessent, Trump’s treasury secretary. Expect plenty of breaks in between for music and hype videos.
“,”elementId”:”08ac8d77-8b30-432c-9b17-51f4e3084d8e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
All of it will build up to Trump’s keynote address, scheduled for after 8pm.
“,”elementId”:”ba5c00b3-b501-4fd2-9e1e-f28d3917da51″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”5489″,”width”:”8233″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://www.tamfitronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/localimages/8233.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=013967bc21b4ed7136fb87abca4204a9″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”A red carpet leads a stage with a stars and stripes backdrop, flanked by signs naming the different state delegations present at the convention”,”caption”:”The interior of the American Airlines Center on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788967099000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”17.18 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788969362000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.56 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788968302000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.38 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.38″,”title”:”What to expect at tonight’s GOP convention in Dallas”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa16c2b8f08f45a445817a9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Nebraska’s Republican governor, a staunch conservative who has backed Trump’s mass deportation campaign, has employed undocumented immigrants in his massive pork production business, a report published by the Flatwater Free Press and the New York Times found.
“,”elementId”:”b4b8ed02-21e1-4c6a-91fb-db9b1926578f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The governor, Jim Pillen, rose to prominence as the founder of Pillen Family Farms, now one of the country’s biggest pork producers. He won Nebraska’s governorship in 2022, and more recently he has embraced and aided Trump’s deportation crackdown.
“,”elementId”:”f4657d1e-c07e-4333-aee8-f8d6515a94c8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
But according to the Times and Flatwater Free Press’ reporting, at least 20 hog farms under Pillen Family Farms relied on labor from the same undocumented workers Trump is pushing to deport en masse.
“,”elementId”:”f978208d-aeef-4aac-bb63-b4eda7cc4e9f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Pillen has echoed Trump’s rhetoric on immigration as he runs for re-election, facing off against Democratic nominee Lynne Walz.
“,”elementId”:”e2e8f8f2-2530-481b-aa91-01cc3d4275c1″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788963883000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.24 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788965784000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”16.56 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788964973000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.42 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.42″,”title”:”Nebraska’s governor, a backer of Trump’s immigration crackdown, employed undocumented immigrants, report finds”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1529a8f08f45a44581659″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As the US and Iran again trade fire in the Middle East, the global benchmark for oil prices has surged back past $100 a barrel.
“,”elementId”:”195d34c0-6f29-4b84-af06-45fba185a426″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The increase in Brent crude, which now stands at $100.6, comes as the US and Iran step up their attacks on oil tanker ships in and around the Persian Gulf. American authorities said they took out five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday in retaliation for attacks on a US naval vessel. Iran, in turn, launched a missile barrage targeting a US base in Jordan as well as several oil tankers.
“,”elementId”:”190891ba-9979-416b-99cc-0cfd326ac2e5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Crude oil is the primary component in gasoline and diesel fuel, and as crude oil prices rise, so do the costs American drivers pay at the pump.
“,”elementId”:”b9169778-b436-4090-8c54-3ef7777dafbd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Surging gas prices downstream of the US and Israeli campaign against Iran have rankled voters, and loom over Republicans’ efforts to retain control of Congress through the midterms. Trump campaigned heavily on bringing down prices – and gas prices in particular – ahead of his 2024 election.
“,”elementId”:”646a6903-0887-4658-9fbb-6d6c432329ce”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788957338000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.35 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788959361000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.09 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788958543000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.55 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.55″,”title”:”Global oil prices creep past $100 for first time since July”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa14c368f08f45a4458160d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It would be the first time in nearly a decade that an incumbent governor has been ousted in a party primary.
“,”elementId”:”babe1417-cd85-49a1-9315-838f740fa49e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Dan McKee, Rhode Island’s Democratic governor, stands to lose his seat as voters head to the polls today in the state’s primary elections. McKee has been trailing in the polls for weeks against Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive who he narrowly bested to win the party’s nomination in 2022.
“,”elementId”:”7f32c3e6-a6ff-4e38-884b-cc5a3041db53″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
This contest, however, isn’t the kind of progressive vs. establishment showdown that has turned heads in other Democratic primary races this year.
“,”elementId”:”012efdf6-cab6-4060-99b9-428f4cd119d6″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Rather, McKee’s problems stem, in large part, from his handling of repair work on Providence’s Washington Bridge, a major east-west traffic artery. Foulkes has criticized McKee for bungling those repairs, which have dragged on longer than originally planned.
“,”elementId”:”1f353c7e-df01-4339-8cf4-8bcdef7f337c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788955702000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.08 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788957190000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.33 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788956740000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.25 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.25″,”title”:”Rhode Island’s Democratic governor faces steep odds in Wednesday’s primary election”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa14a218f0875cf9fa4089e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
German chancellor Friedrich Merz cancelled a planned phone call with US president Donald Trump on Wednesday, hours after Trump publicly celebrated a regional election win by Germany’s far-right AfD party.
“,”elementId”:”f8402b4b-4cac-4f38-a2f7-6d75469f5197″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A spokesman for Merz declined to give a reason for the cancellation, but noted in response to questions from journalists that it was not due to scheduling conflicts.
“,”elementId”:”d152483f-4948-4a25-b6f7-951176f0bc02″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, hailed the “really big night” for the AfD.
“,”elementId”:”eadbc2ff-3eed-481f-944a-b85bc24431ba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly,” Trump wrote on Tuesday night Washington time.
“,”elementId”:”cf0cdc25-e061-4d8f-8a9d-a96896fd2464″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Merz’s spokesman did not directly respond to Trump’s comments, but noted that the chancellor had frequently objected “in general terms” to “interfering in or commenting on the domestic political situation, particularly regarding elections”.
“,”elementId”:”07bac58c-28c7-4186-8f2e-51eecb837399″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788955169000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”13.59 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788955205000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.00 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788955205000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.00 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.00″,”title”:”Germany’s Merz cancels White House call after Trump hails far-right win”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa1371d8f088a3fa7f6c483″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump gave sizable holiday gifts to four White House aides, according to new financial disclosures released by the administration, including $45,000 to executive assistant Natalie Harp.
“,”elementId”:”eb1e2ef3-3820-4c3f-9b30-e0d73e537088″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris also received $45,000, while director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta received a $20,000 gift.
“,”elementId”:”440723a2-814b-4ebf-8671-f94a9955605d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The gifts were noted in the staffers’ annual financial disclosure forms that were published by the administration last week. Harp, Martin and Harris make $150,000 annually and Nauta is paid $175,000 a year, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress.
“,”elementId”:”8f633eb2-83f2-4b5b-baac-42a85833e817″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A White House official told the Associated Press that Trump “has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector.”
“,”elementId”:”f4e02843-cdd6-4cfd-9bf2-4c3403fc40d2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The official did not say if any other staffers were given similar gifts from the president, but added that the cash gifts were not related to the “individuals’ official government duties, and therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.”
“,”elementId”:”a3dfdb31-de74-4e9c-ba2f-5d71036ccd7e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The disclosures of the gifts were first reported earlier on Tuesday by The Washington Post.
“,”elementId”:”9f55d44a-1f68-464e-a964-dcd27d8e99db”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Trump gave $45,000 to Natalie Harp and other White House aides as holiday gifts”,”elementId”:”bdc96b8b-4755-4745-8fcc-eef83aa96cfe”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/09/trump-gift-45000-natalie-harp-white-house-aides”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788950301000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.38 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788950851000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.47 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788950851000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.47 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.47″,”title”:”Trump gave $45,000 to Natalie Harp and other White House aides as holiday gifts”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”},{“id”:”6aa123dc8f088a3fa7f6c37a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.
“,”elementId”:”5cefc25b-1bda-4f23-aedc-87ecd8871363″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump is due to address Republicans tonight at the party’s first ever national convention ahead of the crucial midterm elections, with the GOP hoping to energize voters as it fights to hold its narrow congressional majorities.
“,”elementId”:”0c31612b-c17c-4ae6-8da1-2f0cd63bb8ce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The two-day gathering takes place in Dallas, marking a break from the longstanding tradition of holding national conventions only during presidential election years.
“,”elementId”:”f93e9259-b5f8-421f-bce0-267fd0190ce9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“It has never been done before, and will be a truly Historic Event,” Trump said in July while announcing the convention, promising the convention would feature “Great Entertainment”.
“,”elementId”:”b6f9ecf9-db50-4448-9308-b086cb2076f2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump first floated the idea for a convention last year, arguing that it would provide an opportunity to showcase his administration’s achievements since he returned to the White House in 2024.
“,”elementId”:”c2125db4-a879-4c73-97a4-b372a3d6cc91″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
More than 100 House members and candidates are expected, with over 50 speakers or presentations scheduled each night.
“,”elementId”:”b2cd7ed3-aaa3-4bd4-9410-7a0a194731f2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump delivers this evening’s keynote speech and returns for Thursday’s finale after his vice-president, JD Vance, speaks. Cabinet members, congressional leaders and candidates in closely watched House and Senate races are also on the program.
“,”elementId”:”17461137-3df5-459d-86d5-f404dde29627″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Republicans plan to highlight tax cuts, immigration enforcement, manufacturing and prescription drug prices, while depicting Democrats as dangerously far to the left.
“,”elementId”:”e1e25a5f-8d75-470a-a7ad-85b340b83dcb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In other developments:
“,”elementId”:”e10b34f1-59ea-4f56-a0ce-cbc28bf6d640″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Clashing court rulings plunged Missouri’s congressional elections into uncertainty. The US supreme court decided not to intervene to reinstate a Donald Trump-backed US House map, upholding a ruling from the state’s highest state court that prevented the use of the map in the November elections. But shortly after, a federal judge temporarily barred the state from using its old congressional maps in November.
n
The US military destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after a US navy warship was targeted with ballistic missiles. Iran had targeted the warship twice over two days, US Central Command said.
n
The US will ban Canadian dairy products, motorcycles and most alcoholic beverages. The move marked an escalation in the ongoing trade war between the North American countries, and comes just after Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on $20bn in US goods.
n
Congressman Chris Pappas beat back progressive challenger Karishma Manzur in the New Hampshire Democratic primary for US Senate. Former senator John E Sununu, who is backed by Trump, won the state’s Republican Senate primary.
n
Lonnie G Bunch III announced he is stepping down as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution after seven years in the role amid Donald Trump’s unprecedented crackdown on the world’s largest museum complex’s autonomy.
n
“,”elementId”:”6a69c582-2220-4bf2-bdde-c5e406d27ffc”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1788949972000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.32 CEST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1788963297000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”16.14 CEST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1788949972000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.32 CEST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.32″,”title”:”Republicans put Trump center stage for convention in US midterms gamble”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Sep 2026 06.04 CEST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 9 Sep 2026 12.32 CEST”}],”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”renderingTarget”:”Web”,”serverTime”:1789021785974}”>
Key events
In a nearly two-hour speech, Donald Trump capped off his first night remarks at the GOP midterm convention by pleading with Republicans to “pretend that I’m running”. The president centered himself in the battle to control Congress, and acknowledged that candidates are more successful when he is on the ballot. He offered an ominous outlook if Republicans fail to retain power. “If we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security. You’re going to lose your wealth. Our country is going through hell. You will be going through hell just like you did just two years ago,” Trump said.
The president made the stunning claim that he would send every citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House and Senate. However, he provided no details about where he would source this money from or the legality of the incentive. “It will be called the Trump dividend,” the president said. A reminder that it’s against federal law to “make or offer to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote”. It would cost over $1tn, accounting for more than 235 million adult citizens across the country.
Throughout his remarks, Trump also tried to campaign on behalf on Republicans in competitive midterm races. While he made fun of Ken Paxton’s clothing choices and the way he speaks, he praised the Republican nominee for US Senate in Texas as “the single greatest attorney general” in the state’s history, while also branding his opponent James Talarico as a “disaster”. He also praised Michael Whatley, who is running to keep the open Senate seat in North Carolina red, and blasted his challenger – the state’s former Democratic governor Roy Cooper – over his handling of the devastating hurricane that swept through the state in 2024.
Earlier, Democratic senator John Fetterman made a surprise virtual appearance at the Republican midterm convention, delivering a video address supporting Dave McCormick, a Republican senator in Pennsylvania. Fetterman, who has increasingly broken with his party since his election in 2022, said in the video that he would always reject “extremes and socialism”, repeating an oft-used Republican critique of the Democratic party’s increasingly popular left wing. “Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America,” the Pennsylvania lawmaker said in the pre-recorded message. Fetterman, for his part, insisted that he would not be switching parties in the next Congress. ““I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party-and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, several Republicans who are facing tough races have chosen not to attend the convention in Dallas. This include Susan Collins, the five-term incumbent senator from Maine, and Dan Sullivan – the Republican senator from Alaska who is facing a tough contest against former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola. By showing up at the convention, these nominees run the risk of isolating swing voters they need to court in competitive districts and states where the administration’s policies have proven unpopular.
In a nearly two-hour speech, Donald Trump capped off his first night remarks at the GOP midterm convention by repeating his plea to Republicans.
“Please pretend that I’m running,” he said. “Get out and vote on November 3rd or sooner, because in actuality, I really am running … we have to take Congress.”
The president noted that he’ll also speak on the second and final night of the convention, but it won’t be as long.
“I’m not doing a big deal like this because I don’t have to say the same stuff twice. I gave you a lot of material,” he said. “I’m going to be just sort of getting up here and saying, good luck. We love you all.”
Also in his speech, Trump referenced the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk – which happened a year ago on Thursday. Erika, Kirk’s widow who is now leading his organization, Turning Point USA, was in the audience.
Those at the American Airlines Center gave Erika a standing ovation, while Trump chided people who “cheered” Kirk’s death. “The mask came off the radical left,” the president said.
As we’ve previously reported, by November of 2025, a Reuters investigation estimated that 600 people had been terminated, disciplined, investigated, suspended or otherwise admonished for their Kirk posts, likening the reaction to an ideological purge.
The so-called “Trump dividend” would cost more than $1tn – accounting for more than 235 million US adult citizens.
The president has given shout outs to several Republicans running for Senate in a number of competitive races throughout his speech.
He boosted Michael Whatley – the former RNC chair who is the GOP nominee for Senate in North Carolina.
Whatley is facing Roy Cooper – the state’s former governor – as they vie for the open seat that the incumbent senator, Thom Tillis, is vacating.
Trump took aim at Cooper’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene – the devastating storm that killed at least 107 people and caused nearly $60bn in damage.
“[Cooper] did nothing to help. He was a disaster during that very traumatic time,” the president said.
However, as my colleague Chris Stein has reported, when Trump visited the state shortly after returning to office, he said Whatley would be “in charge of making sure everything goes well” with the recovery. That’s led to Whatley being known in the state’s press as the “recovery czar”, a title the Republican’s campaign said he was never given, but which Cooper has wielded to argue that his opponent is the one letting North Carolinians down.
Trump defended the war in Iran during his speech today, and appeared to downplay concerns about the price of gas – now more than a dollar higher per gallon than this time last year.
“Let me ask you one question: Can Iran have a nuclear weapon? Absolutely not,” he said.
The economic ramifications of the conflict, including record-high inflation, have had an impact on voters. Poll after poll shows a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s decision to go to war.
Earlier, the president spoke about his prized White House ballroom. The supreme court recently allowed construction to continue after several legal challenges.
Again, Trump claimed that this is a “tax free” project. “I’m giving you a ballroom free of charge,” the president insisted. But the Guardian previously reported that the administration quietly redirected $352m in federal funds designated for the Secret Service toward the ballroom project, despite repeated promises by Trump that the construction would be financed by private donations.
The funds were drawn from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s signature tax legislation passed last summer on Republican-only votes. The law stipulates the money may only be spent on Secret Service personnel, training facilities, technology and related costs, not construction.
A reminder that Congress explicitly refused to provide $1bn in funds for the “East Wing Modernization Project” in June.
It’s unclear on what legal grounds the president can offer a cash incentive to vote for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. It is against federal law to “make or offer to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote”.
Trump has claimed he will send every citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the US House and Senate. He provided no details about where he would source this money from or the legality of the incentive.
“So if the Republicans win, you win with us … it will be called the Trump dividend,” the president said.
Trump went on to claim Democrats are opposing his sweeping legislation that requires voter ID in order to cast a ballot, as well as proof of citizenship in order to register, “because they want to cheat”.
“You have to admit they’re really good at this stuff, they come up with more excuses,” the president said. Democrats and a small number of Republicans have said their concerns about the stalled bill – known as the Save America act – are that it would actually make it harder for eligible voters from casting a ballot.
Trump went on to praise top House Republican Mike Johnson – who he branded as the “greatest speaker” in history, and Senate majority leader John Thune.
Thune’s name, however, was met with boos. Trump came to the top senator’s defense. “John is working hard. He’s got great opposition,” the president said.
As Trump continues his rechristening streak, he repeated his suggestion to rename the strait of Hormuz as the “Trump strait”, which was met with cheers across the arena.
This comes after Trump signed executive orders to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
Donald Trump falsely claimed that there have been “zero” border crossings over the last 16 months. He also falsely claimed there were “25 million” under his predecessor Joe Biden.
While there has been a steep drop in encounters at the southern border, there have been almost 600,000 since January 2025. Meanwhile, most estimates suggest that there were about 11 million throughout the Biden administration – less than half of the number Trump has claimed.
,
Originally reported by theguardian.com. Adapted for our readers.
Keep reading
Breaking News
Press freedom groups sound the alarm: ‘The White House can’t be allowed to decide which journalists are able to cover the president’ Statements continue…
Breaking News
Trump claims he told Fed chair Kevin Warsh to vote with the rest of the board for rate hike Speaking to reporters on his…
Breaking News
Supreme court rebuffs Missouri’s push to use redrawn congressional map in November The US supreme court will not suspend a ruling from Missouri’s highest…
TAMFIS NIG LTD
Electrical and instrumentation engineering, bid preparation and consulting, IT and software.
