Sen. Adam Schiff says he'll wait to learn more about allegations against Maine Democrat Graham Platner as party divisions grow over his Senate bid.
Donald Trump's decision to hand the nation's intelligence apparatus to his housing regulator landed with a thud Tuesday — including among members of his own party.Conservative commentator Erick Erickson, founder of RedState, didn't mince words about the pick. "Bill Pulte is one of the worst members of the President's team and has convinced Trump to do more stupid stuff than anyone else in the past year," Erickson wrote on X.That sentiment has been building on Capitol Hill for months. "I think he's a nut," one House Republican told Politico last September. "The guy's just a little too big for his britches," added a second GOP lawmaker on the House Financial Services Committee.Trump announced Tuesday on Truth Social that William J. Pulte — director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — would serve as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Pulte will keep all three roles simultaneously.The 38-year-old grandson of homebuilding magnate William J. Pulte has no prior intelligence or national security experience. Since taking over the FHFA in 2025, he has sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department alleging mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — all Trump political foes. The Government Accountability Office opened an investigation into whether he abused his authority in doing so.Reactions beyond the right were withering. "[Pulte] has been at the forefront of using his government position to investigate the president's political enemies," Jewish Insider reporter Jacob Rubashkin wrote on X. "Now he'll head up the nation's intelligence apparatus."Stan Soloway, a former deputy undersecretary of defense, put it plainly: "Does Trump know that building a strong intel infrastructure is not about buildings?"Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman noted the obvious: Pulte "has never served in an intelligence role." Politico congressional reporter Kyle Cheney called the dual-hatting arrangement perhaps "the weirdest part" — treating the DNI job as part-time.
Sen. Fetterman breaks with Democrats over scandal-plagued candidate Graham Platner, citing explicit texts, Nazi iconography and offensive online posts.
People may debate whether Graham Platner or Ken Paxton is more unfit to serve in the United States Senate. But the answers will mostly depend on one’s partisan preferences. For a few folks, their own particular detestation of certain vices might be material. You may think that Paxton is worse because many of the allegations…
Bernie Sanders stands by Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, saying he will "certainly not" be reconsidering his endorsement, reports said.
'People have the impression that I withdrew or dropped out, but I simply suspended active campaigning'
Other progressive members of Congress who endorsed Platner, the leading Democratic candidate for the Senate in Maine, are also coming to his defense.
Democrats have been caught in the bind Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sought to avoid when he backed Gov. Janet Mills over Graham Platner in the Maine Senate race.Why it matters: Democrats must now support an untested and largely unvetted outsider as he faces intense media scrutiny over his relationship with women in a must-win race.⏰ Maine's Democratic primary to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November is in eight days.🔄 Zoom in: Practically, it might be feasible to swap out candidates. Politically, it will be close to impossible."I've heard some of my colleagues' concerns about what we've read in the papers," Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who backed Mills, told Axios. "But at the end of the day, we've got to win.""We know that at this point this man can still win the race, and as long as he continues, I think we'll all be there," Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said.✈️ Driving the news: Platner will have an opportunity to address senators' concerns during a meeting with Senate Democrats tomorrow afternoon, followed by two fundraisers, as Axios scooped today."I'll know more after tomorrow's briefing on that," Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said. "But clearly, campaigns and candidates have to be fully transparent as things come out.""He has to answer those questions directly and forthrightly. They're fair questions," Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. "It's going to be on him to answer them, and it's going to be up to the voters of Maine to decide."⚡️ The intrigue: Some of Mills' political allies have encouraged her to reactivate her campaign, according to people familiar with the matter. So far, she has demurred.But she fueled speculation today that she could rejoin the race, telling the Portland (Maine) Press Herald: "People have the impression that I 'withdrew' or 'dropped out,' but I simply suspended active campaigning. I am still on the ballot."🪓 Between the lines: Democrats do have a break-glass option if more damaging revelations emerge.Maine law allows a party to replace its nominee if the primary winner withdraws by the second Monday in July, which is July 13. The replacement would be selected at a party convention rather than through another primary.✅ The bottom line: Progressive senators who backed Platner in their proxy battle with Schumer aren't abandoning him."I think it's important for us to focus on the issues facing working families a little bit more than Graham Platner's marriage," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said."Susan Collins has a history of supporting Donald Trump," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters. "Graham Platner is showing the courage and determination to take that on. I believe that's what the people of Maine care most about."