Midterms 2026
Texas Progressives Say Democratic Establishment Is Blowing It In the Rio Grande Valley
Locals think the party overlearned the lessons of Trump’s surprising gains — and should stay out of the way.
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:
Democrats Finally Get Around to Forcing Iran War Powers Vote
With Congress not reconvening until next week, there’s a chance the vote might come after attacks start.
Chilling Dissent
Florida Might Make Its Own Spy Squad. Muslims Think They Have a Pretty Good Idea Who’ll Be Targeted.
An Israeli spyware firm is tracking the GOP legislation, according to lobbying disclosures.
Chilling Dissent
Texas “Antifa Cell” Terror Trial Takes On Tough Questions About Guns at Protests Against ICE
After a cop got shot, Prairieland ICE protesters face terrorism charges. Will Alex Pretti’s killing sway the jury?
The War on Immigrants
Senate Dems Who Pushed Meatier ICE Reform Shy Away From Criticizing Schumer’s Softer Package
“Right now, we’ve got to get some constraints in place,” said Elizabeth Warren, who had supported stronger measures.
Controversial Warrantless Spying Law Expiring Soon and Trump Officials Are Silent On It
The Trump administration won’t say what it thinks about Section 702 of FISA, the NSA law that allow searches of Americans’ information without a warrant.
The War on Immigrants
Woody Guthrie Sang Against Dehumanizing the Immigrants Killed in a Plane Crash. ICE Is Doing It All Over Again.
The folk singer wrote the tune “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” about the same 1948 plane crash ICE is memorializing today.
Army General Tapped to Lead NSA Said He Doesn’t Know Much About the Biggest NSA Controversy
In the Senate this week, NSA pick Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd could face tough questions on “backdoor” searches about Americans.
License to Kill
Congress Votes Against Blocking Venezuela War After Stalling for Tardy GOP Rep
Rep. Wesley Hunt was busy campaigning for a Texas Senate seat, but House Speaker Mike Johnson held the vote open.
The War on Immigrants
Even Democrats Who Crafted ICE Funding Compromise Are Questioning It
Fearing primaries for abetting Trump’s crackdown, top Democrats are turning away from a deal they crafted to avoid another government shutdown.