Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
From slave roots to Senate race: Allen West bets on Wesley Hunt’s Cinderella story
If you're looking for a Cinderella story in the Texas GOP Senate race, retired Lt. Col. Allen West thinks former Apache helicopter pilot Wesley Hunt might just be it. Published February 19, 2026
Pro-life group warns Republicans: Ditch abortion pill fight and pay at the polls
A leading pro-life group is warning Republicans that they could pay a political price in the midterms if the administration doesn't get tougher on abortion pills sent through the mail. Published February 19, 2026
John Cornyn warns GOP of ‘Election Day massacre’ if Ken Paxton wins Senate primary
Sen. John Cornyn said Tuesday that "character is on the ballot" in his reelection race -- and he warned that if Attorney General Ken Paxton knocks him out in the Texas GOP primary, Republicans could be in for a rough November. Published February 17, 2026
Democratic Senate candidate caught in FCC clash after CBS pulls his interview on Colbert show
The Trump administration's crackdown on political bias in broadcast television has spilled into the Texas Senate race. Published February 17, 2026
Susan Collins embraces SAVE America Act as GOP bets voter ID law is winner with electorate
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and other GOP incumbents in tough reelection races this year are leaning into the SAVE America Act, a voter ID bill that's widely popular in the polls but continues to face strong resistance from Democratic lawmakers. Published February 16, 2026
Cornyn opponent Paxton says Washington Republicans wasting time, money trying to rescue incumbent
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Washington Republicans are wasting their time and resources trying to throw Sen. John Cornyn a lifeline in the state's hotly contested GOP primary. Published February 15, 2026
Massie says Trump wants him out for targeting the ‘Epstein class’
Rep. Thomas Massie says President Trump wants him pushed out of Congress because he's trying to expose what he calls the "Epstein class." Published February 15, 2026
No end in sight for partial shutdown as Democrats stick with demands for stricter DHS oversight
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Sunday that the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security will continue until Republicans agree to "common-sense" changes to federal immigration enforcement. Published February 15, 2026
Britt says Democrats are putting illegal immigrants before American citizens in DHS standoff
Sen. Katie Britt said Sunday that Democrats are "dragging their feet" in the fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that their political maneuvering is making the country less safe. Published February 15, 2026
Race, electability collide in Democrat battle to break 30-year losing streak
The Democratic primary between state Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Jasmine Crockett has turned into a tense, at times racially charged argument over who can win a U.S. Senate seat in deep-red Texas, a diverse state where Democrats haven't won statewide in more than 30 years. Published February 12, 2026
Maine Sen. Susan Collins balances uneasy affiliation with Trump in quest for sixth term
The reelection prospects of Sen. Susan Collins of Maine could hinge on how well she walks a political tightrope of distancing herself from President Trump while reminding voters of the legislative accomplishments and federal dollars she has brought back to the state on his watch. Published February 10, 2026
Sen. Susan Collins launches reelection bid in ‘toss-up’ Maine Senate race
Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday she's running for a sixth term representing Maine, pitching herself as an independent problem-solver who wants to push back against the partisan fighting in Washington. Published February 10, 2026
Left-wing upset brewing in New Jersey after pro-Israel push against establishment Democrat
The left wing of the Democratic Party is on the verge of a win in the race to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, and, oddly enough, it may have the pro-Israel lobby to thank. Published February 9, 2026
Cornyn trails Paxton in Texas Senate GOP primary; Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic race
Sen. John Cornyn's reelection bid is looking shaky in Texas. Published February 9, 2026
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Democrats have ‘oligation’ to consider new congressional map
Gov. Wes Moore says the Maryland state Senate has an "obligation to vote" on legislation to redraw the state's congressional map -- a move Democrats hope will help them flip a seat in the midterm elections. Published February 8, 2026
Massie calls for commerce secretary to resign after new Epstein revelations
Rep. Thomas Massie says Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should step down after newly released files revealed he had more contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than he previously acknowledged. Published February 8, 2026
Trump calls Hess a ‘real loser’ after U.S. Olympic skier airs ambivalence representing nation
President Trump is not a fan of U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess, casting him as anti-American. Published February 8, 2026
Election law about citizenship needed, GOP says, but Democrats sound alarm over access to ballot
Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee says the national fight over election-law changes really comes down to one issue: requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Published February 8, 2026
Ball is in the GOP’s court on DHS funding standoff, House minority leader says
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he's not confident Congress will strike a deal to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded and it's up to Republicans to break the stalemate. Published February 8, 2026
Virginia Democrats go all in on tax hikes after campaigning on affordability
Virginia Republicans are questioning whether their Democratic counterparts have a case of political amnesia after rolling out a long list of proposed tax increases that threaten to undercut Gov. Abigail Spanberger's affordability message. Published February 5, 2026
