Midterms 2026
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Wants to Save Crypto — But Trump Windfall Is a Political Obstacle
Centrist Democrats in the Senate criticize Trump’s newfound billions, while working to boost the industry that enabled his grift.
Matt Sledge
Matt Sledge is a political reporter. He has written previously for the Houston Landing, Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, and HuffPost.
Contacts:
- sledge@theintercept.com
- @sledge.41 on Signal
Posts:
Chilling Dissent
How Local Cops Are Running With Trump's NSPM-7 Attacks on Antifa
Local authorities accused the same legal assistance group targeted by Joseph McCarthy a half century ago of being part of a vast antifa conspiracy.
Israel’s Lebanon Blitz
Congressional Dems Shift to Overwhelmingly Oppose Involvement in Israel’s War on Lebanon
Democratic leaders did not formally whip for Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s bill, but they spoke in favor of it on the House floor.
Chilling Dissent
Prairieland Defendant Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Moving a Box of Antifascist Zines
Anti-ICE activists received lengthy prison terms — including a 100-year sentence — in the first major trial of the NSPM-7 era.
Midterms 2026
Trump-Loving Crypto Super PAC Finally Backs a Democrat: Ritchie Torres
Torres, the only Democrat boosted by cash from the conservative Fellowship PAC, has no serious competition in his House race.
Senate Democrats Aren’t Happy About Trump’s Spy Law Ultimatum
Before Trump paused Jay Clayton’s nomination, Democrats thought they were on a “glide path” to renewing FISA. Now the president wants to tie domestic surveillance to voter suppression.
Are Jeffries and Schumer Getting Ready to Greenlight Domestic Spy Power for Trump?
Democrats balked at handing Bill Pulte spy powers. Will they stay strong against Trump’s new pick for intel chief?
Unmasking ICE
ICE Should Show It Hasn’t Been “Infiltrated by Violent Extremists,” Senator Urges
Spurred by The Intercept's reporting, Sheldon Whitehouse calls out DHS for recruiting materials celebrated by white nationalists.
Hakeem Jeffries Finally Finds a Spine: Dem Leaders Rallied Against Extending Domestic Spy Law
Advocates welcomed centrist Democrats switching sides but warned against extending the spy law with or without Bill Pulte as spy chief.
Momentum Builds to Rein In Domestic Spying Law — Whether or Not Bill Pulte Survives as Intel Chief
“I have been doing this a while,” Sen. Ron Wyden told The Intercept. “And I’ve never had this kind of bipartisan support.”