Where things stand in Texas ahead of the primary
In today's issue: Texas primaries in home-stretch, Bill Clinton sets precedent, Paramount wins push to take over WBD, Pentagon's war of words against Anthropic
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Why Crockett v. Talarico Has Come Down to the Wire in Texas
You can watch this episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon above or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . You can read a transcript here . In Texas next week, Representative Jasmine Crockett and Texas state Representative James Talarico are facing off in a U.S. Senate
While No One’s Looking, Netanyahu Tightens His Grip on the West Bank
Hypocrisy, famously, is the tribute that vice pays to virtue. Put differently, hypocrites acknowledge that virtue exists and must be paid its due, at least for appearances’ sake. For decades, Israeli policy in the West Bank has served as an example. After Israel’s unplanned
Trump looms large in Texas as GOP gears up for Senate primary
President Trump is looming large over Texas as the Lone Star State’s GOP gears up for competitive primaries next week. The president is set to stop in Corpus Christi on Friday, just days after his State of the Union address and as Texas voters cast their ballots in a
Trump Is Determined to Poison His Own Voters
As Trump moves to undo decades of work—begun by Republican President Richard Nixon—to protect people and nature from toxic chemicals, two recent pro-polluter policies are especially likely to harm his own voters. Last week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency—when will they
Transcript: Why Crockett v. Talarico Is Down to the Wire in Texas
This is a lightly edited transcript of the February 26 edition of Right Now With Perry Bacon. You can watch the video here or by following this show on YouTube or Substack . Perry Bacon: So let’s start with the Democratic race, which is probably of more interest to our
The big new controversy over the Epstein files, explained
When the Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of documents relating to the convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein on Jan. 30, the sheer volume of the material was dizzying. It always seemed plausible that important elements of the release would take time
The Nationwide Revolt Against Flock Safety Cameras
Len Phillips had just finished posting a yellow sign underneath the camera when an elderly man pulled up, exited his pickup truck, and shuffled over to take a look. “A.I. camera,” the sign read. “Your movements have just been logged into a private searchable database.” The man
Some Republicans increasingly frustrated stock trading ban touted by Trump is stalled
Some House Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated with leadership for not moving the ball quickly enough on a stock trading ban, an issue that has vexed Congress for years despite repeated bipartisan calls for reform. Last month, the House Administration Committee
Louisiana's victory on Ten Commandments in classrooms tees up possible Supreme Court case
Louisiana scored a big win this week when the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a state law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms, but the fight is far from over and could be heading to the highest court in the country. In a
ICE’s Latest Bit of Despicable Trickery May Be Illegal
On Wednesday morning, Homeland Security agents entered a Columbia University dormitory and detained student Elaina Aghayeva. ICE claimed that the reason for the detention was Aghayeva’s failure to attend some classes ten years ago—an already outrageous notion—but what really
Trump Epstein Scandal Takes Brutal Turn as MAGA Slips into Tailspin
This week, The New York Times confirmed the latest revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, reporting on the missing files that appear to involve charges against Donald Trump himself. The Times is treating this as a blockbuster story, digging in hard on the details in a way
Wesley Hunt points to Vance, Scott in defending missed votes
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) on Thursday defended his missed votes in the House by pointing to Senate votes missed by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Vice President Vance when he represented Ohio. Hunt was questioned about his voting record in an appearance on "The Will Cain Show" on
US military shot down border patrol drone with laser in Texas, lawmakers say
The U.S. military shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone with a laser in Texas on Thursday, according to Democratic lawmakers, prompting the closure of airspace near the U.S.-Mexico border. Democratic Reps. Rick Larsen (Wash.), Bennie Thompson (Miss.) and Andre
Vance: 'No chance' any Iran strikes would lead to long war in Middle East
Vice President Vance on Thursday defended the U.S. potentially launching military strikes on Iran, saying there was "no chance" that it would lead to a longer war in the Middle East. Vance said in an interview with The Washington Post that the strikes would be a deterrent to
Tampa man killed in Cuban boat shootout wanted to overthrow island's government, loved ones say
The family and friends of Michel Ortega Casanova said he was one of four men killed in an armed confrontation off the Cuban Coast.
Denver mayor bans federal immigration agents from city property
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) on Thursday announced that federal immigration agents are banned from city property while also mandating Denver law enforcement to protect protesters. Johnston issued the ban via an executive order. The order mandates that Denver police and
ICE, Maryland sheriffs slam new state law prohibiting cooperation agreements
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Maryland sheriffs on Thursday slammed a new state law that bars cooperation agreements between federal immigration officers and local authorities. ICE accused Maryland lawmakers of allowing Americans to become "hurt or, worse,
Trump administration enacts 6-month moratorium on Minnesota Medicaid payments
Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story Trump administration enacts 6-month moratorium on Minnesota Medicaid payments Vice President Vance and top health official Mehmet Oz announced a 6-month “moratorium” on Medicaid payments to
Hillary Clinton criticizes UFO, Pizzagate questions from GOP during Epstein deposition
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday criticized questions she said she got from House Republicans about UFOs and the "Pizzagate" conspiracy during her deposition as part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's investigation into convicted sex
Anthropic, Pentagon talks at standstill
{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Pentagon draws scrutiny with Anthropic threats, Defense Production Act The Pentagon is threatening to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) against Anthropic amid a dispute over the company’s restrictions on its AI tools, in a move
‘You'll have to ask my husband:’ House Republicans say Hillary Clinton punted questions on Epstein
The former secretary of State testified for roughly six hours, paving the way for Friday’s scheduled grilling of former President Bill Clinton.
At least 2 aboard boat in Cuba firefight were US citizens: Official
At least two individuals on the boat involved in a shooting with Cuban forces on Wednesday were U.S. citizens, with one dead and the other injured, a U.S. official told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation on Thursday. A third person on the U.S.-registered boat was on a U.S.
Paramount wins bid to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery after Netflix bows out
Netflix on Thursday said it would not match a bid from Paramount seeking to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery, the sprawling media empire that includes legacy brands in news and entertainment like CNN and HBO. News of the streamer bowing out of its deal with Warner Bros.
Anthropic says 'virtually no progress' on Pentagon AI talks as deadline looms
Anthropic said Thursday that “virtually no progress” had been made in the company’s talks with the Pentagon over the terms of use for its AI models ahead of a Friday afternoon deadline. The Department of Defense (DOD) delivered its last and final offer to the company on
Childhood obesity hits record: CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday revealed that childhood and teen obesity rates in the U.S. have reached record highs in recent years. The first report details how the CDC's researchers found that 40.3 percent of adults 20 and older were found
Wyden presses DEA for answers on secret Epstein investigation
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday pressed Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole for answers on an investigation into possible drug trafficking and suspicious financial transactions involving the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wyden sent a letter to
House Democrats assemble outside Washington in search of a midterm agenda
“We can't be just anti-Trump,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell.
More than 32M watched Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address
More than 32 million people tuned in to watch President Trump's annual State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 32.6 million figure is down from the 36 million who watched the president's first address to Congress of his second term
Dem analysis: OBBA created billions in fossil subsidies
{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Dem analysis: OBBA created billions in fossil subsidies Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act subsidizes fossil fuels by an average of $3.5 billion each year, according to a new report from Senate Budget
Paxton's daughter defends him against Cornyn's attacks
The daughter of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is coming to her father’s defense amid political ad attacks targeting his U.S. Senate campaign. Paxton is running to unseat Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and will face off against the senator and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) in
GOP senators warn Justice Department to release all Epstein files mentioning Trump
Republican senators are putting pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department to release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that mention President Trump’s name, warning the issue won’t go away until there is full transparency. GOP
Mamdani touts productive meeting with Trump on housing
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday touted his “productive” meeting with President Trump at the White House, during which the mayor said they discussed the prospect of building more housing in their shared hometown. “I had a productive meeting with President Trump
As strikes loom, Democrats to force vote to limit Trump’s war powers in Iran
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story As strikes loom, Democrats to force vote to limit Trump’s war powers in Iran House Democrats will force a vote next week to curb President Trump’s
Warner Bros. Discovery: Paramount's hostile bid 'superior' to Netflix offer
Warner Bros. Discovery, the sprawling entertainment company that owns major media brands like HBO and CNN, said Thursday it now favors a bid made by Paramount to buy the company's key assets over a previous agreement with streamer Netflix. The company's board, "following
Power plant pollution rose last year, green group analysis finds
U.S. power plant pollution rose last year, according to a green group’s analysis of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. Emissions of sulfur dioxide increased by 18 percent in 2025, according to an analysis of the EPA data by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an
US threatens to cut off Swiss bank from financial system over alleged Iran, Russia ties
The Treasury Department on Thursday threatened to cut off MBaer Merchant Bank AG’s access to U.S. financial institutions over the Swiss bank’s alleged ties to sanctioned Iranian and Russian actors. The Treasury Department accused MBaer and its employees of enabling corruption
Trump DOJ to Investigate Itself Over Epstein Files Release
The Department of Justice has announced that it will investigate itself for failing to disclose documents containing allegations against President Donald Trump as part of the files on Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on X Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Justice announced
Columbia student released from ICE custody hours after arrest
Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva was released by immigration enforcement Thursday afternoon after she was detained at a school residential building early in the morning. Aghayeva said in an Instagram post she is on her way home and in “complete shock” over the
Noem: DHS shutdown is affecting World Cup, America 250 preparations
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said the ongoing shutdown of her department is affecting preparations for the 2026 World Cup and the celebration of 250 years of the United States. In a post Thursday on social platform X, Noem said the Federal
Texas grand jury rejects indictments in fatal shooting of US citizen by immigration agents
A Texas grand jury on Wednesday rejected indictments regarding a fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents that left a U.S. citizen dead last year. The grand jury's decision follows the death of Joshua Orta, who was with Ruben Ray Martinez when he was shot and killed
Pentagon draws scrutiny with Anthropic threats, Defense Production Act
The Pentagon is threatening to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) against Anthropic amid a dispute over the company’s restrictions on its AI tools, in a move that many experts say is an unusual use of the measure. The Department of Defense (DOD) warned Anthropic on Tuesday
EPA firing 22 environmental justice staffers, union says
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to fire 22 more of its staffers, a union representing agency employees said Thursday. Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 238, which represents EPA staff, said that the agency
MAGA Is Furious Lauren Boebert Derailed Hillary’s Epstein Deposition
Lauren Boebert successfully pissed everybody off during Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition Thursday. Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee to share what she knew about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking empire (Clinton insisted she knew nothing). But
Platner deletes social media post promoting far-right figure Stew Peters
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing backlash after amplifying a post made by far-right figure Stew Peters. “War with Iran is the only thing republicans and democrats have both given a standing ovation for. Let that sink in,” Peters, who has been deemed a conspiracy
Kansas invalidates more than 1,000 transgender residents' driver's licenses, birth certificates
A Kansas law invalidating the driver’s licenses and birth certificates of transgender residents who changed their gender on the documents took effect Thursday. The legislation, Senate Bill 244, requires all Kansans to identify with the same gender as their birth sex on official
A Private Prison Falsified Death Records. ICE Gave Them More Money.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement discovered that GEO Group, the country’s largest private prison company, had falsified the death records of an inmate—but that didn’t stop the federal agency from throwing even more money at them, according to The Intercept . On December 6,
Top Oversight panel Democrat calls for Trump to testify in Epstein probe
Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on Thursday called for President Trump to testify under oath before the committee as part of its investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He did so as the
Florida Republican on Cuba killing 4 on speedboat: 'We need the regime to go'
Florida Republicans are repeating calls for regime change in Cuba in the wake of the Cuban coast guard killing four people and detaining others who were in a Florida-registered motorboat that Havana said crossed into Cuban territorial waters. The deadly confrontation adds