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Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine. Platner won 72% of the vote, defeating the state governor, Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in April but remained on the ballot. Platner received scrutiny during the campaign for old incendiary Reddit posts, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, sexually explicit messages sent to other women early in his marriage and accusations from a former girlfriend, denied by Platner, that he was physically intimidating. Platner will face the senator Susan Collins, a Republican running for a sixth six-year term, in November. The race is seen as a must-win for Democrats to take control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.Graham Platner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primaryDemocrats rally round Platner in Maine as Trump reaffirms grip on GOP after primaries Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftEven as progressives and party leaders rally around the Maine Democrat, senators like Catherine Cortez Masto and Mark Kelly are wary.
Politics · Center LeftGraham Platner and Susan Collins handily won their party nominations in Tuesday’s primary, setting up a marquee race with unique dynamics and major implications for control of the Senate.
NBC News Politics · Center LeftGraham Platner will kick off starts his first general election at one of the lowest points of his upstart Senate campaign. There has been nonstop coverage, both in Maine and nationally, about racy text messages he sent to women who aren’t his wife, as well as his alleged callous treatment of ex-girlfriends. That drumbeat helped lead to Tuesday’s election results, in which about 20 percent of Maine Democrats essentially gave Platner a no-confidence vote by backing Governor Janet Mills, who had suspended her campaign in late April because Platner had built a substantial lead over her, despite the backing of establishment Democrats in Washington, D.C. Now, journalists are writing articles describing how the Maine Democratic Party could choose a new, scandal-free candidate if Platner can be convinced to drop out by July 13. It’s not an ideal beginning to his battle with incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has consistently overperformed in Maine elections. Democrats are nervous about Platner, and they should be. In a must-win Senate race, voters have nominated a high-risk, high-reward candidate—one whose downside seems much clearer than his upside. That said, all is not lost. Platner has a very strong chance of winning this seat. These last few weeks could end up being much ado about little. Why am I optimistic about Platner? First and foremost, all indications are that this is poised to be a very good election year for Democrats overall—the best for the party since 2018. Democrats have done very well since the start of 2025 in special elections for state legislative and congressional seats across the country, as well as the statewide races in Virginia and New Jersey. Trump’s approval ratings are terrible. As data analyst G. Elliott Morris wrote earlier this week, this election is shaping up to be one where stalwart Democratic voters turn out at higher levels than their Republican counterparts; new voters favor the Democrats; and more voters swing from Republican to Democrat than vice versa. In this environment, Democratic candidates are the favorites in toss-up states like Michigan and even more so in places that lean slightly Democratic, like Maine. In “wave” elections, as 2026 is likely to be, politicians from the president’s party often lose even if they are, like Collins, well-established figures. If you want to know what Platner’s biggest advantage is, it’s that he is a Democrat running in 2026. And despite the recent headlines, Platner is a strong candidate. Trust me on this: He is. I know that he has a tattoo of a symbol that had been associated with the Nazi police, he’s written juvenile things in Reddit posts, he has at times misstated details of his personal background, and has behaved toward women in such ways that many Maine voters probably would not want him to marry their daughter. At the same time, he has connected deeply with voters in Maine, who have crowded his events around the state. At a time when many Americans hate traditional politicians and crave outsiders, Planter perfectly fills the bill. For a party desperate to connect better with men, gun owners, people who work in blue-collar jobs, and residents of rural areas, Platner potentially appeals to all four blocs.Mills getting 20 percent of Tuesday’s vote after suspending her campaign makes Platner look weak. But the broader story of the primary is that Platner was so thoroughly defeating Mills, the twice-elected governor recruited by the national Democratic Party for this Senate seat, that she stopped running to avoid the embarrassment of a double-digit loss. That’s impressive. Perhaps Collins is essentially unbeatable. She’s successfully won reelection in 2008 and 2020, two other strong years for Democrats. Maybe Mills, given the right circumstances, might have appealed to some middle-aged and elderly women who will now vote for Collins. But it’s entirely possible that Platner expands the electorate by getting people who would never vote for Mills, Collins, or any traditional politician to back him. There is some evidence that Collins’s act of frequently claiming to be “concerned” with Trump but largely voting for his policies is wearing thin in Maine. In 2017, 67 percent of Maine voters approved of Collins, compared to 27 percent who disapproved, according to Morning Consult. But in a Morning Consult survey conducted last year, 41 percent of Maine voters approved of her, while 55 percent disapproved. That’s a massive downward spiral. Other surveys also show that more Maine residents disapprove of Collins more than those that approve of her. At a time when anti-Washington and anti-establishment sentiment is very high, being a 73-year-old who has served in the Senate since 1997 hurts politically. Collins can’t run against the status quo—she is the status quo. And politicians who seem like permanent fixtures in their states often eventually lose.
The New Republic · LeftMarine veteran won 72% of the vote despite infidelity and abuse allegations that emerged during primary campaignPlatner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primaryProgressives rallied round the controversial Graham Platner after his primary victory in Maine on Tuesday, while Donald Trump again exerted his grip on the Republican party, helping to defeat a politician who had pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.Primary elections were held in four states – Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina – ahead of November’s midterms to decide control of both houses of Congress. The results offered mixed signals about the direction of the two major parties.Redemption is not just some simple or easy destination; it’s a journey. I’ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from. I’m still far from perfect. But every day I wake up and I try to be a little bit better and a little kinder than I was the day before. And if you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftThis live blog is now closed.Graham Platner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primaryTrump-backed Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson head to runoff in South Carolina GOP governor raceSign up for the Breaking News US emailThe polls have closed in Maine, and we can report that Graham Platner, the Democrat expected to win his party’s nomination for US Senate, has received at least one vote: from Stephen King, who announced on social media that he voted for the candidate.Platner’s chief competitor, Maine governor Janet Mills, had suspended her campaign citing lack of funds, but there was a late push from some out-of-state Democrats for voters to supports Mills after Platner was accused by a former romantic partner of having been physically abusive to her on two occasions between 2013 and 2015.Collins, 73, will now face off against the presumptive Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, a 41-year-old marine veteran and oysterman with no national political experience and a controversial past. Despite dredged-up racist, sexist and homophobic online posts – and a now-covered-up tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol – Platner continues to amass a rare kinetic energy that has seen hundreds of Mainers flock to town halls across the state to hear his gravelly voiced excoriation of Washington. His rise ultimately forced the state’s two-term governor, Janet Mills, to suspend her primary bid, citing dwindling financial resources.Platner’s youth and outsider profile have created a sense that Maine – a state with the oldest and whitest population in the country – may be ready for a change in political leadership. There’s a prevailing sense of “we like her, and she’s been good for Maine, but it’s time for somebody new or younger”, one former state Republican official, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the race, said of Collins. The senator’s campaign spokesperson did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment about her performance to date. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftGraham Platner’s fiery candidacy may fit the moment, but his baggage could sink Democrats' chances of taking back the Senate.
TIME · Center LeftMr. Platner, an oyster farmer running for a Senate seat on a progressive platform, has drawn a large following among Democrats in Maine. His campaign has also surfaced damaging reports about his personal history.
NYT > U.S. > Politics · Center LeftYou can watch this episode of Right Now With Perry Bacon above or by following this show on YouTube or Substack. Graham Platner won Maine’s Senate primary as expected. But the various controversies around him have Democrats deeply concerned about his general election prospects. In the latest edition of Right Now, Billy Kobin, a political reporter at the Portland Press Herald, says that voters in Maine that he has interviewed are not too concerned about the new revelations about Platner’s personal conduct. In fact, some are angry at the national and local press covering those issues. Looking forward to the general election, Kobin says that he expects Platner to continue to lean into populist rhetoric and sharp attacks on incumbent Susan Collins, whose past Democratic opponents have tended to soft-pedal their criticism of the longtime senator.
The New Republic · LeftPlatner, whose campaign was hit by series of negative headlines, to face Susan Collins in key midterm contest Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has scaled a mountain of personal controversies to win the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine.Victory on Tuesday caps a remarkable rise for a candidate who has never held elected office and whose campaign was shadowed by negative headlines that might have ended a more conventional political career. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftPresident Donald Trump said he loves inflation.A new report released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that America’s annual inflation rate had reached its highest levels in three years. Later, in the Oval Office, a reporter asked Trump whether the new inflation numbers concerned him. The president presented his own pathetic spin. “No, I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation,” Trump said. Sorry, what?Reporter: Are you concerned, Mr. President, about the latest inflation number which came out this morning?Trump: No, I love it. I love the inflation. pic.twitter.com/vktX6C9lbk— Acyn (@Acyn) June 10, 2026As Americans are struggling to afford gas, food, electricity, and medical care, Trump suggested that the high prices would be good for “after the war.” “You know, we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it. You know who doesn’t know about it? Iran until right now,” Trump said. “We took out, the other night, 22 ships, late at night with no lights because they don’t have any radar because we blasted the crap out of it.”Trump indicated that clandestine oil flows were why crude prices were below $100 per barrel. But if that was ever really a secret, Iran certainly knew about it—because Trump had posted about it earlier in the day.Trump has made it clear he cares more about oil companies than average Americans, who aren’t likely to buy the president’s sudden pivot after he’s spent the last few years railing against inflation.
The New Republic · LeftGraham Platner, a scandal-plagued Marine combat veteran, won Maine's Democratic Senate primary Tuesday in a race that's seen as the party's best Senate pickup opportunity in November. Why it matters: Many Democratic strategists and elected officials worry that Platner has too much baggage to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — and that his candidacy will doom the party's chances of retaking the Senate in the 2026 midterms.Controversies that have swirled around his campaign include a Nazi-linked tattoo that he's since covered up, allegations that he sent sexual text messages to women outside of his marriage, and contentious social media posts.Driving the news: But the drip-drip-drip of negative news stories about Platner — even in the final weeks of the race — didn't stop him from capturing his party's nomination.The AP called the election in favor of Platner about an hour and a half after polls closed Tuesday.He faced only nominal competition: Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a top party recruit, suspended her campaign a little over a month ago as he pulled far ahead in polling and fundraising.Zoom in: Platner's rise suggests that the Democratic Party may be entering a new era, in which its rank-and-file voters have a higher tolerance for personal scandal after watching President Trump shatter political norms.Platner, a progressive with no prior experience running for political office, has attracted large crowds in Maine and gone viral on social media while promising to "topple the oligarchy."Even as many Democratic insiders fret about his chances, left-wing supporters such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and California Rep. Ro Khanna have stood by him.Some traditional Democrats have thrown him a life raft, too. "Graham Platner is gonna win because he has connected with Mainers on what they really care about: How this country can work for them, not just the wealthy," Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) wrote on X this week.What's next: Other Democrats are still holding out hope that Platner will succumb to pressure and drop out of the race so that he can be replaced with what they see as a more electable candidate on the November ballot. But he has repeatedly said he has no interest in doing so.Republicans are already off to the races, with a pro-Collins super PAC airing ads slamming Platner's old posts on Reddit, including those in which he criticized police officers and said rural white Americans "actually are" stupid and racist. Platner has disavowed the comments.The bottom line: Both parties view Maine as one of the cycle's most consequential battlegrounds.To flip the Senate, Democrats likely need to win the state. The party faces a challenging Senate map this year, with other competitive contests focused in purple and red states like North Carolina, Ohio and Iowa.Conversely, Collins is the only Senate Republican up for reelection this year in a state that supported Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
Oysterman and marine veteran favored to win Democratic primary amid a string of controversiesUS politics live – latest updatesVoters are headed to the polls on Tuesday for primary elections that include a crucial Senate race involving the scandal-haunted Graham Platner.In Maine, Platner is favored to win the Democratic primary after his main opponent, former governor Janet Mills, suspended her campaign. The incumbent senator, Susan Collins, remains safely at the top of the Republican ticket – just slightly behind newcomer Platner’s lead in polling. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftUS president says crew members are ‘safe and uninjured’ after attack near strait of Hormuz early on TuesdayMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has blamed Iran for downing a US army helicopter near the strait of Hormuz, warning that the United States would be forced to respond to the attack.The US army Apache helicopter gunship crashed off the coast of Oman early on Tuesday, according to US Central Command. The two crew members were later rescued in an unprecedented operation using an unmanned drone boat, the military said. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftU.S. Central Command said the incident was under investigation. The pilot and gunner were safely rescued.
NYT > U.S. > Politics · Center Left
President Donald Trump's administration is moving to respond after Iran downed a U.S. Army Apache helicopter, with the official X account for the U.S. Central Command proclaiming that they "began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction," as "a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression."But the use of the word "proportional" infuriated a number of right-wing war hawks who believe the U.S. shouldn't just settle for "proportional" — and they made themselves heard loud and clear on social media."As President Trump once said, if you take an ounce of American blood, he will take a gallon of yours," wrote former George W. Bush White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. "If they shoot down one helicopter, the response should not be 'proportional'. It should be so overwhelming that they never shoot at another American helicopter again.""'Defensive strikes,' but not a 'response.' Weak [expletive]," wrote Jennifer Sloan Rachmuth, a former Republican campaign manager in North Carolina who was once arrested for following around a woman in Palestinian headdress."Proportional is unacceptable. We need to finish them!" wrote right-wing commentator Marc Thiessen."Hopefully we used a proportional nuke," wrote podcaster Matt Tardio."'Proportional.' Overwhelming response preferred," wrote NewsNation's Katie Pavlich.
Raw Story · Far LeftPresident Trump went to the New York Knicks game while two U.S. soldiers were missing after Iran shot down their helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.According to the timeline released by the U.S. CENTCOM, Iran downed two pilots operating a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter around 5:33 p.m. E.T. Trump was on his own helicopter on the way to Manhattan to share a VIP box in Madison Square Garden with his billionaire friend James Dolan at 7:02 p.m. The pilots weren’t rescued till nearly 30 minutes later. One would think that the president would be made aware of a successful attack on a U.S. helicopter shortly after it happened, which would mean Trump found it more important to be at a Knicks game than to worry about the search for missing Americans.Trump did seem to know about the attack after the Knicks game ended, telling media that the pilots were “fine” and that a report would be out the next day.Even if he somehow wasn’t aware before he flew to the Knicks game, that poses bigger questions, like: Who is calling the shots if not the commander in chief?“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted Tuesday afternoon, implying he was unaware of the attack for over 12 hours. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The New Republic · LeftLos Angeles was never the hellscape Spencer Pratt claimed it was. But he's found a way to make a divided city even more so.
News and Politics - Slate Magazine · LeftPolls for Maine’s primary elections close at 8pm ET as it appears voters may be sticking with Platner despite string of controversiesSign up for the Breaking News US emailVice-president JD Vance has added a chicken coop to his residence at the US Naval Observatory, the Daily Wire reports, along with a dozen baby chicks whose new henhouse is designed to look like the Victorian home where the second family lives.The coop was built without taxpayer money, a person familiar with the project told the Associated Press. The residence hosted a family event over the weekend where local 4-H students taught other kids about the newly installed coup, the person said. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center Left
President Donald Trump threatened a military response to the downing of a U.S. Army helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.The two crew members were rescued in the first-ever sea drone operation conducted by the U.S. military, and the president blamed the crash on an attack by Iran."I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump posted Tuesday afternoon on Truth Social. "There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"CENTCOM has previously stated the U.S. Army AH-64 Apache went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters and that the cause of the incident remained under investigation.A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to hold Tuesday despite the two countries trading military strikes Sunday and Monday, and Israel has continued its parallel strikes against Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Raw Story · Far LeftProgressive challenger to face incumbent mayor in November as former reality star Pratt trails behindNithya Raman, a progressive Los Angeles city council member, has advanced to the November runoff for LA mayor, edging out former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt for the chance to face incumbent mayor Karen Bass.Pratt, who decided to run for mayor after his Pacific Palisades home burned down in the 2025 wildfires, held a lead over Raman for days. But as ballot processing from last week’s election continued, the city councillor pulled ahead. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftKnicks host Spurs with 2-0 lead in best-of-seven seriesDonald Trump given hostile reception at NBA finalsHow New York Knicks finals fever reached Rikers IslandReach out to Bryan on Bluesky or by emailSpurs 19-9 Knicks, 6.49, 1st quarterFinally, it’s time for basketball. The Spurs rattle off the first seven points behind a couple of Wembayana dunks and a Vassell three, doing their best to take the steam out of a deafening atmosphere. Hart answers with a three-pointer, but another Wembanyama lay-up and a Castle three makes it 14-5 to San Antonio. The Spurs have made six of their first eight shots while New York look quite scattered on the defensive end. Play continues well past the first TV timeout and by the time of the first whistle, San Antonio lead by 10. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftPresident attends Spurs v Knicks game at MSGKnicks aiming to win first title since 1973Live updates from Game 3 of the NBA finalsDonald Trump was loudly booed when he was shown on the video screens at Madison Square Garden on Monday night before Game 3 of the NBA finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.Trump was shown on the jumbotron while the Star-Spangled Banner was being sung before the game, and jeers and boos broke out around the arena. The president was shown for a little over eight seconds and held a salute the whole time with a smile on his face. A few seconds later, the video board showed Knicks players in line and the boos turned to cheers. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian · Center LeftRepublican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are headed to the California governor's race in November, according to the Associated Press.The big picture: With 91% of the vote counted as of Tuesday evening: Hilton has 25% of the vote and Becerra 27.9%.The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, face off in November.Context: It took a week of vote counting for the winners to emerge, fueling a familiar ritual where early Republican leads slowly vanish. After a strong showing on Election Night, Hilton's lead slowly diminished, but he still held on to a second-place spot.The delay is in part because mail ballots postmarked by Election Day are still counted.Friction point: The race to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom has been a bumpy one.There were 61 total candidates on the ballot, and initially eight top Democrats running for the seat.Then in April, a Democrat front-m-runner, Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual misconduct, which he denies.Fellow Democrat Betty Yee dropped out shortly after.Even before Swalwell's exit, political commentators were noting the lack of excitement in the race, especially in the Democratic field."The fact that there aren't any rising stars is indicative of a party that has not had for a generation competitive disagreements and healthy dialogue about who it is, and so that's atrophied," Republican strategist Mike Madrid told Axios in April.The losers: The other candidates not advancing include billionaire businessman Tom Steyer, Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco.What's next: The following months will see the Republican Hilton attempt to overcome the odds in California, where nearly half of registered voters are Democrats.Hilton, a Fox News host, has outspoken opinions on several big issues.He told Axios last month that he would use state law enforcement to clear illegal homeless encampments, allow offshore drilling on California's coast and move to a flat 7.5% tax rate to keep and attract businesses.Becerra didn't respond to Axios' questions.
Axios · Center LeftPresident Donald Trump was once again humiliated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war they started in Iran continued to spiral out of control. After Iran launched a salvo of missile strikes against Israel Sunday, its first attack since the April 8 ceasefire, Trump insisted that he still maintained control of the situation. The U.S. president told Axios that he would instruct Netanyahu to refrain from hitting back against Iran. “I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one,” Trump said.The president separately told the Financial Times that Israel would have to accept any deal that he made with Iran. “I call all the shots. Netanyahu doesn’t call the shots,” he insisted.Just a few hours later, however, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of strikes against Iran anyway. As Netanyahu continued to do whatever he wanted, Trump quickly crumbled from “I call all the shots” to Please stop shooting!“Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting.’ President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote on Truth Social early Monday morning. An hour later, Trump spun a new narrative: “Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE! Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly,” he wrote on Truth Social. Iran said Monday that it would suspend its attacks on Israel but would resume them if Israeli strikes continued against Lebanon—which seems likely. A senior Israeli official said that Israel had halted the strikes against Iran at Trump’s request. It’s clear, however, that Trump was either unable or unwilling to stop Netanyahu from retaliating in the first place.
The New Republic · LeftThe U.S. President also claimed Monday morning that "final negotiations on ‘peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way."
TIME · Center LeftNithya Raman pulled into second place in the race to see who will face Mayor Karen Bass in November. There are more votes to be counted.
NYT > U.S. > Politics · Center LeftThe oysterman maintains a strong base of support, but his scandals have left a bad taste with some Democratic and independent voters.
Politics · Center LeftPresident Trump’s immigration czar, Tom Homan, is pledging a rapid surge of immigration agents in New York City.Homan told Fox News Monday that he is reviewing plans to rapidly increase ICE activity in the city, deploying “more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen,” claiming that he promised New York Governor Kathy Hochul to boost ICE’s presence in New York if the state passed any bills preventing local and state law enforcement from cooperating with federal agencies in New York’s jails. Hochul signed such a bill last month.“I made her a promise: You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen in New York City, and it’s coming,” Homan said. “I just reviewed an operational plan.”🚨 Border Czar Tom Homan Drops Truth on NYC & ICE Facility Protests- Most violent protesters attacking officers and damaging property at the detention facility are paid, out-of-state agitators from places like Portland and Minnesota, not local peaceful demonstrators.- Homan… pic.twitter.com/hw4aS39k0R— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) June 8, 2026Homan and other Trump administration officials have threatened ICE surges in major cities across the country, especially when cities and states pass laws restricting or barring cooperation with ICE. In late 2025 to early 2026, a major ICE escalation was attempted with Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, which caused a massive backlash among local residents and resulted in the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Victor Manuel Diaz. There are about 20,000 ICE agents, though this figure includes many who work in administrative capacities. The population of New York City is over eight million, and letting ICE agents loose won’t go over well with residents. Hochul told reporters Monday that Trump promised her, in a meeting with other state governors, that one of the lessons of Operation Metro Surge was that “we’re not going where we’re not welcome.” “And he looked over at me, as the governor of the state of New York at this meeting, and he says, ‘For example, I will not go to New York unless Kathy asks.’ And I said, ‘I’m not asking, so we’re good,’” Hochul said, pointing out the failures of Minneapolis and suggesting Republicans would pay a heavy political price in the state for an ICE surge.Hochul says Trump promised her that ICE wouldn’t be headed to New York, contradicting what his border czar, Tom Homan, threatened recently. pic.twitter.com/rGkbSgkYTu— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) June 8, 2026New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is on reasonably good terms with Trump, referenced the impending soccer World Cup in his rebuke to Homan.“We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities—especially at this moment. As the world comes to our city, we will stand proudly with our immigrant neighbors and reject these attacks for what they are: an attempt to divide us,” Mamdani posted on X. That doesn’t bode well for ICE agents in New York City, who would meet even more resistance than they did in Minneapolis.
In four minutes on Wednesday morning, Donald Trump promised to bomb Iran and wished for world peace.At 11:50, gathered in the Oval Office for the signing of a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, President Donald Trump turned to reporters with a warning about Iran. "We hit them hard yesterday, and we're gonna hit them again hard today — in case you miss it, in case you don't turn on your television set," he said.Four minutes later, a reporter asked what Trump wished for himself ahead of his 80th birthday."Peace for the world," he said.The day's strikes follow the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night. Both crew members were rescued by an unmanned drone boat — the first such operation in U.S. military history.Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday that the U.S. "must, of necessity, respond to this attack." By 5 p.m., CENTCOM had launched strikes on Iranian air defense and radar sites near the Strait — "a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression," it said. Iran hit back within hours, targeting U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.Trump also declined Wednesday to rule out hitting civilian infrastructure. Asked about power plants and bridges, he replied: "I'm not gonna say that to you, but I could do that."He blamed Tehran for the collapse of peace talks, accusing Iran of running out the clock on a deal he called "fully negotiated.""They keep playing us for suckers," Trump said. "They dealt with some very stupid presidents."The war began February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and government sites. It has now surpassed 100 days.
Raw Story · Far Left
