'Democrats want to win': Platner's support reflects a changing party in the Trump era
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith came to the Senate at a very different moment for Democrats.
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she won't run for president in 2028 then backtracks hours later
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan said Thursday she has "nothing to announce" about a possible 2028 presidential bid, stepping back from her comment hours earlier that she will not run for president after leaving office later this year.
El-Sayed goes on offense as Michigan Democrats clash in Senate debate
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Democrats hoping to avoid a bruising primary in a must-win U.S. Senate race instead found themselves with a fiery and at times combative debate Thursday, as progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed repeatedly went on offense against his rivals.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she won't run for president in 2028. Then backtracks hours later
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan on Thursday said she has "nothing to announce" about a possible 2028 presidential bid, stepping back her comment from hours earlier that she will not run for president after leaving office later this year.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan says she won't run for president in 2028
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan put to rest speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid, saying Thursday that she will not join what is expected to be a crowded primary field after leaving office at the end of this year.
Michigan Democrats get a chance to make their case for the Senate and their party's future
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Democrats are hoping to hold on to an open U.S. Senate seat as the party fights to win back a majority in Washington. But they first must settle their own arguments.
Republicans once saw Michigan as ripe for a takeover, but the mood is shifting
DETROIT (AP) -- For years, Michigan Republicans had circled 2026 as their chance to regain power in the swing state where Democrats hold all statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats. Now, doubts are creeping in.
Michigan special election to decide state Senate control and give clues about fall midterms
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A special election in a small Michigan swing district on Tuesday could have outsized consequences, determining whether Democrats retain their slim majority in the state Senate for the final months of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's term.
Congress approves short-term extension of divisive US surveillance program hours before expiration
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress has approved a short-term extension of a critical surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies, staving off a Friday expiration as disputes over a longer reauthorization remain unresolved.
What one campaign rally in Michigan reveals about young voters ahead of the midterm elections
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- As students banged on desks and stomped their feet inside a packed lecture hall at the University of Michigan, someone decades older stood in the back, quietly taking in the scene.
How big of a tent do Democrats want? Hasan Piker is testing the limits in Michigan's Senate primary
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- By the time Hasan Piker takes the microphone at two campaign events in Michigan on Tuesday, the popular but controversial online streamer will have already generated plenty of noise inside the Democratic Party.
How big of a tent do Democrats want? Michigan's Senate primary is testing the limits
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- By the time Hasan Piker takes the microphone at two campaign events with a senate candidate in Michigan on Tuesday, the popular but controversial online streamer will have already generated plenty of noise inside the Democratic Party.
Schumer had a plan to win back the Senate. But some Democrats aren't on board
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats' hopes of reclaiming the U.S. Senate are colliding with a fight within their own party.
Anti-Muslim rhetoric rises among Republicans with little pushback from GOP leadership
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republicans in Congress intensified this week against the backdrop of the Iran war, with multiple lawmakers -- including one who said "Muslims don't belong in American society" -- drawing condemnation from Democrats for their remarks but little pushback from GOP leaders.
House Democrats say they're headed back to power. Their agenda is a work in progress
LEESBURG, Va. (AP) -- Gathered at a resort in suburban Virginia, House Democrats this week were acting like a party on the verge of reclaiming power as they drafted policy blueprints and spoke confidently about election victories in November.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger questions whether Americans feel the 'golden age' Trump describes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger offered a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump's depiction of the nation as being in a "golden age" during his State of the Union, arguing in her Democratic rebuttal that costs remain high for many Americans more than a year into his second term.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger rebuts Trump's claims of a thriving nation, says costs remain high
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger offered a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump's depiction of the nation as being in a "golden age" during his State of the Union, arguing in her Democratic rebuttal that costs remain high for many Americans more than a year into his second term.
Democrats bet on Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's cost-focused message to counter Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats are betting that Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's affordability-focused message, which helped her flip a Republican-held office last November, will resonate with the country when she delivers their party's response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to give Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union address
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next week, just months after resoundingly winning an office previously held by a Republican.
Trump's failed bid to elevate an Arab American ally shows cracks in his political coalition
WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Donald Trump won his comeback campaign, he credited the mayor of a small Detroit suburb with helping him make inroads with Michigan's Arab American community. As a reward, Trump nominated Amer Ghalib to serve as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait.
Judge blocks Trump effort to strip security clearance from attorney who represented whistleblowers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a March presidential memorandum to revoke the security clearance of prominent Washington attorney Mark Zaid, ruling that the order -- which also targeted 14 other individuals -- could not be applied to him.
Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritizes skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.
Trump critic George Conway takes steps to run for New York City congressional seat
WASHINGTON (AP) -- George Conway, a former conservative lawyer who has become one of President Donald Trump's most outspoken critics, is taking steps toward a run for Congress in an open New York City seat.
House votes to nullify Trump order and restore bargaining rights for federal workers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nearly two dozen House Republicans joined Democrats Thursday to pass a bill that would restore collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, an attempt to overturn an executive order that President Donald Trump issued earlier this year.
Redistricting forced a California GOP congressman to weigh a Texas move. He tells AP why he's not
WASHINGTON (AP) -- California Rep. Darrell Issa says he was asked by Texas colleagues to consider moving to Dallas to run for Congress after lawmakers in both states created a midterm scramble by redrawing congressional districts.
Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week
Washington (AP) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson is imploring his fellow Republicans to stop venting their frustrations in public and bring their complaints to him directly.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker worries that Trump will go to extremes to distract from Epstein files
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he's worried about how President Donald Trump might respond to the growing controversy over documents tying him to Jeffrey Epstein.
He helped deliver Arab American support for Trump. Now his path to Mideast post faces GOP opposition
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to Kuwait faces steep odds of confirmation with several Republican senators planning to oppose Amer Ghalib over past remarks they say are antisemitic.
Crypto spent millions to defeat Sherrod Brown and elect allies. It's ready for a repeat in 2026
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- At a five-star resort tucked in the mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the cryptocurrency industry was celebrating a historic start to the year on Capitol Hill. Its priorities were sailing through Congress with unusual speed and one senator did not hesitate to say why.
The GOP says it's winning the shutdown. Some fear Trump's cuts may change that
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump has embraced the federal shutdown as an "unprecedented opportunity" to slash spending and shrink government, but new rounds of targeted spending cuts from the White House aimed at Democratic states and priorities are raising concerns among Republicans that they may be at risk of ceding their political advantage.
He planned to run for Ohio governor. Now Jon Husted could be in the US Senate's toughest 2026 race
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Sen. Jon Husted looks on as Vivek Ramaswamy fires up a standing-room-only crowd in Ohio, making the case for why he should be their next governor. It's a speech Husted, just months ago, had expected to give himself.
Rep. Chip Roy, an outspoken fiscal conservative, is running for Texas attorney general
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Rep. Chip Roy, an outspoken fiscal conservative known for his willingness to challenge party leadership, announced Thursday that he is running for Texas attorney general.
Where Trump is popular, Democrats look to a new crop of candidates to help win back the House
FAIRVIEW, N.C. (AP) -- Jamie Ager has spent much of the past year rebuilding his 250-acre farm in the foothills of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene tore through the region, cutting power, destroying fences and scattering livestock.
Michigan Gov. Whitmer makes another White House visit to meet with Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the toll tariffs are taking on the auto industry and the potential effects of his tax and spending bill on Medicaid.
Trump takes an unexpected walk on the White House roof to survey new projects
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's day began typically enough, with a television interview and a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Then it took an unexpected and unusual turn when he appeared on the roof of the White House's West Wing.
Republicans declared it 'crypto' week in the House. It's not going as planned
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A trio of cryptocurrency bills that had been expected to pass the House this week stalled on Tuesday after a bloc of Republicans unexpectedly joined with Democrats to prevent the legislation from coming up for debate and votes.
Senate rejects effort to restrain Trump on Iran as GOP backs his strikes on nuclear sites
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic efforts in the Senate to prevent President Donald Trump from further escalating with Iran fell short Friday, with Republicans opposed to a resolution marking Congress' first attempt to reassert its war powers following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Senate Democrats are forcing a vote to restrain Trump on Iran but GOP support is doubtful
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats are forcing a vote Friday on a resolution that aims to prevent President Donald Trump from further escalation with Iran, marking the first attempt to assert congressional war powers after the American military strikes against the country's nuclear facilities.
Senate Republicans hold hearing on Biden's mental fitness as Democrats boycott
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nearly six months after Joe Biden left the White House, Senate Republicans are still scrutinizing his presidency, kicking off the first in what's expected to be a series of congressional hearings this year on his mental fitness in office.
Democrats are drawing closer to the crypto industry despite Trump divisions
WASHINGTON (AP) -- As President Donald Trump builds a crypto empire -- including hosting a private dinner with top investors at his golf club -- Democrats have united in condemning what they call blatant corruption from the White House.
Detroit Democrats are once again looking to unseat one of their own in Congress
HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Detroit Democrats are once again trying to restore Black representation to the city by unseating an incumbent, as the party more broadly battles publicly over whether challenging their own is the right path forward.
Trump will hold a rally in Michigan next week to mark his first 100 days in office
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- President Donald Trump will mark his first 100 days in office next week with a rally in Michigan, his first since returning to the White House earlier this year.
GOP ex-Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox joins governors race to replace Gretchen Whitmer
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on Tuesday entered the 2026 governor's race, adding to a growing field of Republicans vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox joins crowded Republican governor's race
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox on Tuesday entered the 2026 governor's race, adding to a growing field of Republicans vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
After loss to Slotkin, Michigan Republican Mike Rogers launches another Senate bid
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is launching another Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, following a narrow loss to Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin last year in a hotly contested open race.
Republican Mike Rogers launches another Senate bid in Michigan after narrow loss in 2024
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is launching another Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, following a narrow loss to Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin last year in a hotly contested open race.
Democrats flood competitive Michigan district as GOP incumbent seeks governor's office
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan congressman's decision to run for governor has opened up one of the nation's most competitive House seats, leaving Republicans scrambling to replace one of their top performers in the state and giving Democrats a sudden opportunity to gain a seat in the closely divided Congress.
Trump offers rare praise for Michigan Gov. Whitmer as she appears with him in Oval Office
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a potential 2028 White House candidate, stood awkwardly in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump signed executive orders and assailed his political opponents on Wednesday, not long after she delivered a speech nearby that offered soft criticism of him but emphasized shared priorities.
Michigan Democratic Gov. Whitmer partly backs tariffs before again meeting with Trump
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered a speech emphasizing points of agreement with President Donald Trump on economic policy, just hours before their scheduled meeting -- a reflection of the high-profile Democrat's more diplomatic approach toward the president as her party ramps up its attacks on him.
Michigan Democratic Gov. Whitmer strays from her party in moving closer to Trump
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered a speech emphasizing points of agreement with President Donald Trump on economic policy, just hours before their scheduled meeting -- a reflection of the high-profile Democrat's more diplomatic approach toward the president as her party ramps up its attacks on him.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker tries to chart a path for national Democrats to counter Trump
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sits at a table surrounded by University of Illinois researchers who will soon be out of work, their lab set to lose its federal funding and close next month. One researcher, saying she feels betrayed by the government, turns to thank Pritzker.
Voters flood town halls with fears of Social Security cuts, putting heat on GOP over Musk and DOGE
One after another, callers on a telephone town hall with U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga pressed the Michigan Republican about possible cuts to Social Security. Among them was a retired teacher and coach from West Michigan who said he and his wife, both with disabilities, have struggled to access their benefits.
Pete Buttigieg won't seek US Senate seat in Michigan, leaving door wide open for 2028 run
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party's next presidential nominee.
Pete Buttigieg will announce he won't seek US Senate seat in Michigan, source says
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is set to announce that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party's next presidential nominee.
Pete Buttigieg to announce he won't seek U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, source says
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) -- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is set to announce that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party's next presidential nominee.
Garlin Gilchrist announces Democratic bid to become Michigan's first Black governor
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat from Detroit who is Michigan's first Black lieutenant governor, announced he's jumping into the crowded 2026 race for governor on Tuesday.
Republican lawmakers hold telephone town halls as protesters demand more
HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Protesters demanding an in-person town hall from their western Michigan GOP congressman chanted loudly Friday as honking drivers signaled support, disrupting the usual calm of a conservative family vacation town.
Elissa Slotkin assails Trump's early actions, offers Democrats a way to fight back
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- First-term Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin accused President Donald Trump of driving up costs while pushing for an "unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends" in Tuesday night's Democratic response to his first joint congressional address of his second term.
Elissa Slotkin warns of potential recession as Democrats respond to Trump's speech
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- First-term Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin accused President Donald Trump of driving up costs while pushing for an "unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends" in Tuesday night's Democratic response to his first joint congressional address of his second term.
First-term Michigan senator assails Trump's policies in Democratic response
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Democratic response to President Donald Trump'sjoint congressional address Tuesday was delivered by a first-term Michigan senator who built an extensive national security background before entering politics less than a decade ago.