In 60 years of independence, Botswana has refuted the authoritarian development myth

The assumption that poor societies cannot afford the luxury of liberal institutions is both false and potentially fatal.

Trump’s escalating attacks on Iran pose risks at home

In today's issue: ▪ Platner drops Senate candidacy ▪ Trump’s promises at NATO summit ▪ Kentucky governor requests McConnell update ▪ ObamaCare hikes give fuel to Democrats The latest rounds of U.S. attacks on Iran are sending President Trump back into perilous territory four

Losing in Ukraine, is Putin finally down to his nukes?

Just over three years ago, we assessed that it was no longer a question of whether Russia loses in Ukraine, but only when. At that time, Ukrainian deep-strike drones were just beginning to threaten the Russian interior, and Ukraine's army was backing a cross-border raid into

Both sides signed the Iran deal, but neither could deliver

The 60-day negotiating window now beginning will test whether the gap between what was signed and what can be delivered can be bridged.

Trump’s Smithsonian Critique Is Pathetically Weak

On Wednesday, I discussed how the White House Domestic Policy Council’s Saving America’s Story report makes a number of false claims about what’s missing from the National Museum of American History. Today, I want to discuss what the report finds objectionable that’s actually

Trump's pledge to lift Turkey sanctions sets up fight with Congress, allies

President Trump is setting up a fight with Congress and regional allies over his announcement Tuesday that he will remove sanctions on Turkey and potentially welcome Ankara back into the F-35 fighter jet program, despite its possession of a Russian air defense system. Several

Surviving With Little House on the Prairie and Lord of the Flies

This spring, Mac Barnett, the award-winning children’s author of such contemporary picture-book classics as Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, dug himself a hole. In Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children , his new book-length work of literary criticism about children’s books, he

Rising Obamacare premiums fuel Democrats' affordability attacks against GOP

Obamacare premiums are poised for a double-digit increase in 2027, putting more Americans on the hook for hundreds of dollars in additional costs per month and adding fuel to Democratic attacks over affordability ahead of the midterm elections. According to preliminary

Renewed war with Iran threatens to derail congressional agenda

The faltering of President Trump’s peace deal with Iran throws a wrench into Congress’s agenda as Republican leaders’ plans to pass a defense authorization bill and an emergency supplemental defense spending package face new hurdles amid threats of new U.S. strikes on Iran.

Poll: Swing Voters Want Progressive Populism

A new report from Data for Progress spells good news for Democrats—particularly those running on a message of economic populism. DFP surveyed 447 swing voters between May 15 and June 21 and found that they favor Democrats over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot by

McConnell, Kean absences revive debate about what information lawmakers owe voters

Lawmakers’ extended and sometimes unexplained absences from Washington are raising questions about how much transparency elected officials owe the public about their health. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been in the hospital for more than three weeks, with aides providing

Graham Platner Was a Train Wreck—but Playing It Safe Is Not the Answer

The Graham Platner campaign has collapsed in spectacular fashion, with the upstart candidate suspending his run for Maine senator in a video he released Wednesday night. A woman Platner had dated accusing him of sexual assault effectively ended a candidacy that had a lot of

Bipartisan Senate duo wants to help students get federal aid for learning outside college

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) are pairing up on a new bill that would pave a way for students to use financial aid to pay for prior learning assessments, a category of tests that grant college credit for learning outside a college setting, such as in a

A Danish Journo’s Viral Takedown of Trump Caps Off Epic NATO Meltdown

At the NATO summit on Wednesday, Donald Trump lashed out wildly at, well, everyone in sight. He threatened more war with Iran. He angrily vowed to cut off all trade with Spain. He hinted again at stealing Greenland. There were many other pratfalls . Amid all this, a Danish

‘This is just the beginning’: 1 year in, there's no end in sight for Congress’ Epstein probe

No smoking guns have been found, but the Oversight Committee is likely to continue probing powerful associates of the late, convicted sex offender.

How we got here ...

Cheyenne Hunt: Democrats drew a ‘red line’ with Platner

The progressive Democratic lawyer was key to bringing forward sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).

Collins’ allies think Platner's exit makes her reelection bid tougher

Collins' team thought Platner's baggage gave her the best shot at reelection.

Secret Service advised Trump to not fly Qatari-gifted Air Force One

The Secret Service advised President Trump not to leave the NATO Summit in Turkey on the newer Qatari-gifted Air Force One, according to a Wednesday report. Sources familiar with the matter said the president flew out of Ankara on the older Air Force One model out of an

Trump on Platner rape allegations: ‘A lot of people say big falsehoods’

President Trump weighed in on the accusations against former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Wednesday, questioning whether people should believe the sexual assault allegations against the Democrat. “It's really a question of whether or not you believe the woman. A

GOP rips Platner on the way out

Top Democratic groups recommit to Maine Senate race after Platner drops out

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC had abandoned Graham Platner in the wake of POLITICO’s report of a sexual assault allegation.

Troy Jackson makes his Senate run official

The former state Senate president was an ally of Graham Platner's during his recent campaign for governor.

Trump stops to transfer from old to new AF1 in the UK on the last leg of NATO trip

President Trump stopped in the United Kingdom on Wednesday to transfer from the old Air Force 1 to the newer Qatari vessel for his last leg of the trip home from the NATO summit in Turkey. Iran warned that it has “no red lines” when it comes to its defense, leading some to

No Platner paperwork yet

Senate Majority PAC back in

Graham Platner Finally Drops Out After Campaign Filled With Red Flags

Maine’s embattled Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner dropped out of the race on Wednesday after a former partner accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021. “We believe for the movement to continue, it can’t be me and for that reason, we are suspending campaign

Scandal-plagued Graham Platner drops Maine Senate bid

Graham Platner, the oyster farmer whose populist platform took Maine by storm, dropped his Senate bid Wednesday night as controversies over his past stacked up, leaving Democrats without a nominee to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) this fall. "We're suspending campaign

Trump on Platner: ‘It’s really a question of whether you believe the woman’

These were the president’s first public comments on Graham Platner amid the fallout from POLITICO’s report of a sexual assault allegation.

Democrats weaponize Big Beautiful Bill

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Health Care The Big Story Democrats weaponize Big Beautiful Bill Democrats in some of the most competitive races are looking to make Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” an albatross to hang on vulnerable

Maine Democrats plan nomination convention to choose Platner replacement

The convention would include roughly 600 elected delegates.

Top lawyer for military joint chiefs stepping down early, citing 'personal reasons'

The senior legal counsel to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine is stepping down nearly a year ahead of schedule — the latest top official to leave or be pushed out of the Pentagon since the start of the second Trump administration. Brig. Gen. Eric Widmar told

Maine brewery owner throws hat in ring to replace Platner

A Maine brewery owner on Wednesday threw his hat in the ring to replace Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner following accusations of rape. Dan Kleban, owner of Maine Beer Company in Freeport, published a Wednesday Substack post expressing his interest in the nomination

The Memo: Trump’s tough talk on Iran raises big question — will the US return to war?

The United States launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Wednesday, marking the second successive night of offensive action. The new strikes, which were announced in a social media post by U.S. Central Command (Centcom) shortly after 4 p.m. EDT, were far from a surprise.

Actor Patrick Dempsey pours cold water on possible Senate bid in Maine

Patrick Dempsey will not attempt to go from the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital to the real U.S. Senate. Dempsey, a native of Lewiston, Maine, who is perhaps best known for his role on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," said Tuesday he will not run for Senate in his home state, as

Lawmakers demand answers after fatal ICE shooting in Texas

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are calling for an investigation after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot a Mexican immigrant in Houston on Tuesday. An ICE spokesperson said officers with the agency had tried to conduct a vehicle stop as part of a

US strikes Iran as Trump says truce 'over'

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US strikes Iran as Trump says truce 'over' The U.S. military resumed strikes against Iran on Wednesday, aiming to further decimate its ability to

OpenAI moves ahead with new model release

{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story OpenAI to publicly release new model after delay OpenAI will release its most advanced model series, GPT 5.6, to the public Thursday after delaying the public rollout at the request of the Trump administration. © AP Photo/Alex

Republicans prepare $8 million ad campaign against possible Platner replacement

Republicans are preparing to launch an $8 million ad blitz against the candidate selected to replace Maine Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner in the wake of sexual assault allegations. In May, the super PAC Pine Tree Results spent $2 million on YouTube and television ads

Iran strikes drive oil price gains

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Iran strikes drive oil price gains The end of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is driving oil prices higher and creating uncertainty for future energy prices. © Filip Singer, Pool Photo via Associated Press On Tuesday,

Iran ceasefire's end drives up oil prices and uncertainty

The end of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is driving oil prices higher and fueling uncertainty over future energy prices. On Tuesday and again Wednesday, the U.S. said it was striking Iran in retaliation for attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump,

These products could be impacted if Trump ends trade with Spain

President Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. will cut off trade with Spain, a move that would impact billions of dollars in goods across a swath of industries if carried out. “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore by the way,” Trump

Platner, Democrats battles over his replacement

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s staffers on Wednesday accused the Democratic party of excluding grassroot supporters from determining who would replace the embattled party nominee in the November general amid allegations of sexual assault. Platner’s campaign manager,

Democratic infighting roils process to replace Platner in Maine Senate race

Maine Democrats are looking to quickly turn the page on Senate candidate Graham Platner’s imploding campaign and select a new nominee ahead of a looming Monday deadline, but escalating tension between his campaign and the state party is threatening Democrats’ hopes of salvaging

Former Wisconsin Judge Avoids Prison After Standing Up to ICE in Court

A former judge was spared a prison sentence Wednesday after being convicted for helping an immigrant evade ICE agents in her Wisconsin courtroom. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman only gave Hannah Dugan a $5,000 fine, saying, “I think this is a situation where an otherwise good

Vance targets H-1B visas as anti-fraud tour visits battleground Wisconsin

Vice President Vance made a stop in Milwaukee on Wednesday to tout the administration’s crackdown on fraud, announcing that the Labor Department has launched investigations into foreigners involved in the H-1B visa program. H-1B visas are employer-sponsored, nonimmigrant visas

Trump Secretary Says Bike Lanes Are DEI

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that his department would redirect $1.73 billion in Biden-era grants away from establishing “ DEI bike lanes ” to build roads and bridges instead. So, what exactly is a “DEI bike lane?” The Daily Wire pointed to former

Markey, Moulton look to capitalize on antiestablishment mood in Massachusetts Democratic Senate debate

The two Democrats vying for Massachusetts’s Senate seat wrestled to position themselves as the challenger in this race during a Wednesday debate, amid a growing appetite from voters across the country for antiestablishment candidates. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) launched his

U.S. Navy Commander Declared Dead as Trump Reignites Iran War

A U.S. soldier who went missing in the Arabian Sea was declared dead just as Trump reignited his war on Iran. The missing soldier was identified Tuesday as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 commanding officer Gabriel Edwards. He and three other soldiers were forced to

US military resumes Iran strikes as Trump ramps up rhetoric

The U.S. military resumed strikes against Iran on Wednesday, aiming to further decimate its ability to disrupt maritime traffic, hours after President Trump threatened to unleash a “big attack” on the country. "At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command