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First Post
10 minutes ago
- First Post
New York, Michigan, Iowa...: Is Trump getting desperate to shape US midterms that are due in 2026?
Donald Trump is steering key Republicans away from statewide races to protect the GOP's narrow House majority in 2026 read more As the political calendar turns its attention toward the 2026 US midterm elections, President Donald Trump appears to be exerting increasingly overt control over Republican congressional strategy. In recent weeks, Trump has played a decisive role in shaping GOP candidacies across battleground states like New York, Michigan and Iowa. While his supporters hail this as party discipline in action, many view it as a calculated and possibly desperate attempt to prevent another electoral debacle like the 2018 House flip. The question now looms: is Trump consolidating power or compensating for vulnerability? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Keeping the House at all costs At the core of Trump's strategy is a single, obsessive goal: protecting the GOP's razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans control the chamber by only a handful of seats, a fact not lost on the president. According to reporting by NBC News, Trump has been personally intervening to dissuade vulnerable House Republicans from seeking higher office, thereby keeping reliable incumbents in place. The Associated Press quoted Trump campaign sources as saying that the move marks a departure from earlier cycles where Trump often endorsed insurgent Senate candidates without much concern for broader party dynamics. Now, the emphasis is on unity and incumbency especially in marginal districts. New York: Lawler stays put, Stefanik in waiting One of the clearest examples of this effort unfolded in New York. Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a swing district in the Hudson Valley that former vice president Kamala Harris won in 2024, recently confirmed he would not challenge Governor Kathy Hochul for the state's top job. While Lawler stressed the decision was his alone, he acknowledged that Trump had 'offered his perspective' during a private meeting. Lawler's re-election campaign was endorsed by Trump in May—an early signal that the president wanted him to stay in the House. Republican strategists see Lawler's decision as critical to retaining the seat in a high-stakes midterm. Meanwhile, this move potentially clears the gubernatorial path for Representative Elise Stefanik, a staunch Trump ally whose name was floated after her nomination to the United Nations ambassadorship was withdrawn. Stefanik has indicated she will reveal her intentions after this fall's elections. As reported by NBC News, her possible candidacy highlights Trump's willingness to elevate allies from safer districts while reinforcing GOP infrastructure where it's most needed. Michigan: Avoiding a GOP civil war Trump's influence is equally visible in Michigan, where Congressman Bill Huizenga opted out of a Senate run after meeting with the president at the White House. The Associated Press revealed that Trump's priority was keeping Huizenga in the House to secure his west Michigan seat, rated 'likely Republican' by the Cook Political Report. Huizenga's exit from the Senate race effectively clears the way for former Congressman Mike Rogers, a Trump-friendly figure who has staffed his campaign with former Trump aides. Though Trump has not yet formally endorsed Rogers, insiders expect that move soon. While Huizenga has not officially announced a re-election bid, GOP operatives suggest his decision—shaped directly by Trump—is part of a broader strategy to avoid intra-party conflict in swing states and to maximise resources toward winnable districts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iowa: Nunn bows to Trump's midterm playbook In Iowa, Representative Zach Nunn had been considering a run for governor following Governor Kim Reynolds' decision not to seek re-election. However, after a conversation with Trump, Nunn chose to remain in the House. The district he represents is a Democratic target in 2026, having been won by only four points in the last cycle. Trump's endorsement of Nunn's re-election was quick and emphatic, with sources describing the congressman as a 'team player.' According to NBC News, this move is emblematic of Trump's new playbook which is of convincing lawmakers in contested districts that the national interest of the party outweighs individual ambitions. Representative Randy Feenstra, who holds a safer seat, is now among those considering a gubernatorial run. This supports the notion that Trump is willing to let GOP members seek higher office only when their departure doesn't threaten House control. A calculated silence in the Senate Interestingly, while Trump is taking a hands-on approach with House races, he has remained relatively circumspect when it comes to open Senate contests. In states like Georgia and North Carolina, Trump has not yet waded into contentious primaries. Political observers interpret this as a deliberate contrast to his previous, often chaotic, endorsement patterns. That said, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is widely expected to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis. This could create a high-stakes showdown that may yet draw Trump's attention. For now, his priority appears to be ensuring a stable, loyal and electorally viable House majority. Trump's direct involvement has not gone unnoticed. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama told The Hill that Trump now commands more influence over the Republican Party than any president he's ever seen. Tuberville also issued a warning to dissenters, stating that GOP lawmakers who refuse to align with Trump should prepare to face primary challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, not all Republicans are falling in line. Michigan's Representative John James has chosen to run for governor, a decision that reportedly displeased Trump. During a recent event, Trump jokingly suggested that James shouldn't be allowed to run unless his House seat could be adequately filled. Such moments illustrate the limits of Trump's control—even as most GOP lawmakers seem to heed his directives. As Lawler candidly put it in a media appearance, while Trump's opinion was valuable, 'I didn't get here by doing as told.' Desperation or discipline? Democrats, unsurprisingly, interpret these moves through a lens of weakness. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries framed Trump's interventions as coercion, saying that Republicans are being 'ordered' to stay in place because of their grim electoral prospects. Still, it's hard to ignore the effectiveness of Trump's manoeuvres. He's minimising damaging primaries, bolstering vulnerable districts and testing a more disciplined version of his political machine. This could either be the product of maturity in strategy or of nervous anticipation about what's at stake if the GOP fails to hold the House again. If Trump's campaign is marked by calculation rather than chaos in 2026, it may not be desperation at all but rather a serious, if ruthless, effort to ensure that history does not repeat itself. Whether that's enough to counteract traditional midterm losses remains to be seen. What's clear is that Trump intends to leave nothing to chance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi: Hearing deferred to Aug 8
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was adjourned in the MP-MLA court due to lawyers' abstention, rescheduling the hearing for August 8. BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed the suit in 2018, alleging objectionable remarks against Amit Shah during the Karnataka elections. Gandhi, who surrendered and received bail earlier this year, recently claimed innocence, alleging a political conspiracy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The hearing in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was adjourned on Thursday in the MP-MLA court due to lawyers abstaining from court has now fixed August 8 as the next date of case dates back to 2018, when BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a defamation suit against Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader had made objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly election Santosh Kumar Pandey, appearing on behalf of Vijay Mishra, said the court was the hearing had to be deferred due to lawyers asbstaining from work due to Bar association MP-MLA court had issued a warrant against Rahul Gandhi in December February 2024, Gandhi surrendered before the court and was granted bail on two sureties of Rs 25,000 July 26, 2024, Gandhi recorded his statement in court, claiming innocence and stating that the case was part of a political conspiracy against him.
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why ED raided Anil Ambani's Reliance Group-linked 50 companies
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out extensive raids at 35 locations across India as part of a probe into alleged loan fraud involving companies of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG). Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group(File Photo/Reuters) As previously reported by Hindustan Times, citing officials familiar with the matter, the searches were conducted at premises linked to over 50 companies and 25 individuals. The raids are part of a money laundering investigation initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on two FIRs originally filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in September 2022. Yes Bank loans to Reliance firms under scrutiny The CBI cases pertain to loans extended by Yes Bank to Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd (RCFL). Both FIRs name former Yes Bank chairman Rana Kapoor. An officer from the probe agency said, 'Preliminary investigations have revealed a well-planned and thought-after scheme to divert or siphon off public money by cheating banks, shareholders, investors, and other public institutions.' He further added, 'The offence of bribing bank officials, including founder of Yes Bank [Rana Kapoor] is also under scanner." A second official involved in the investigation said ED suspects illegal diversion of around ₹3,000 crore in loans issued by Yes Bank between 2017 and 2019. 'We have also found that just before the loan was granted, the Yes Bank promoters [Kapoor] received money in their concerns. The ED is investigating this nexus of bribe and the loan,' the officer added. Another ED official highlighted 'gross violations' in loan approvals, pointing to systemic lapses in Yes Bank's internal processes. 'Credit approval memorandums (CAMs) were back-dated, investments were proposed without any due diligence or credit analysis in violation of the bank's credit policy,' the officer said. Loans routed through shell firms and group companies Investigators have uncovered evidence of loan diversions to multiple group companies and shell firms, flouting the terms of lending. The agency also identified several red flags, including: Loans to financially weak entities Absence of proper documentation Borrowers with common addresses and directors Loans disbursed on or before the application date Evergreening of loans Misrepresentation of financial data 'These findings clearly indicate a pattern of financial mismanagement and manipulation,' an officer said. The ED is also probing a sharp increase in corporate loans disbursed by RHFL, which jumped from ₹3,742.60 crore in FY 2017–18 to ₹8,670.80 crore in FY 2018–19. Apart from the CBI, several regulatory and financial institutions including the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Housing Bank, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), and Bank of Baroda have also provided inputs to the ED as part of the investigation. According to a Reuters report, shares of Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power dropped by up to 5% on Thursday following reports of ED probe. Reliance Group's statement In response, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power issued a statement: 'The media reports appear to pertain to allegations concerning transactions of Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) or Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) which are over 10 years old,' the companies said. They further added, 'RCOM is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 since over 6 years. RHFL has been fully resolved pursuant to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Similar allegations as those set out in the media reports are sub-judice and pending before the Hon'ble Securities Appellate Tribunal, as per publicly available information.' (With inputs from Neeraj Chauhan in New Delhi)
