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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Beto O'Rourke talks Democratic strategy ahead of 2026 midterms
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke has not shied away from politics despite three failed runs for office. The former U.S. Senate, presidential and gubernatorial Democratic candidate has spent most of his year racing around the state, holding town halls to discuss what issues matter most to voters. Now, he is also looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections. In an interview, O'Rourke confirmed that a meeting took place between himself and top Texas Democrats U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), State Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas). He said the meeting was to look ahead to the midterms and decide which Democratic candidates should run for which offices. 'We don't lack Democrats who can run powerful, strong statewide races. My concern is making sure that everyone is in the right position,' O'Rourke said. 'If you have everybody clustered in a Senate primary, for example, well then, who's going to run for governor, lieutenant governor, Attorney General?' Currently, only a few Democrats have declared candidacy for statewide office — State Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) announced she would run for lieutenant governor earlier this year. NASA Astronaut Terry Virts also announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, and East Texas Farmer Bobby Cole is running for governor. But the rest of the Texas Democratic bench has remained in place despite rumors surrounding their potential candidacies. The eventual Democratic nominee in the Senate race may get a more favorable matchup should Attorney General Ken Paxton defeat Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary. A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas found Paxton's approval rating at just 29 percent, with only 11 percent approving strongly. Other hypothetical polling has shown Allred leading Paxton but trailing Cornyn. Should Allred choose to run again, he would enter the race with a history of strong performances. He defeated incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Waco) in the 2018 race for Texas' 32nd congressional district before running against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. While he lost by 8.5 points, he significantly overperformed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the state, especially among Hispanic voters in the Rio Grande Valley. At just 36, Talarico has been seen as a young rising star in the Democratic Party. Before the lines were redrawn, he represented a swing district north of Austin in the Texas House and won a few close races. Castro, like O'Rourke, was also a candidate for president in 2020, and serves as a U.S. Representative in Texas' 20th congressional district, based in San Antonio. O'Rourke's town halls suggest he may be pursuing statewide office in 2026, but he was not ready to announce anything just yet, staying focused on what he can do in this moment. 'If it makes sense to be a candidate … then I will. My only guiding principle, my north star, is what can I do now for this country in its moment of truth,' O'Rourke said. 'If that includes being a candidate at some point, I'm open to that.' His town halls are not just in big Democratic areas, but also in smaller, more Republican cities around the state, including places like Midland, Tyler and Beaumont. His message focuses on policies that may affect Texans, including increasing Medicaid access, keeping THC products legal, raising the minimum wage above $7.25 per hour and protecting abortion access for women. Asked if a Democrat taking back a state or federal office in Texas was more important, O'Rourke seemed to suggest the U.S. Senate race was top of mind as a way to counter the Trump administration. 'It's tough not to say that we need to do it all at the federal level. I really do think it's existential,' O'Rourke said. 'This idea of self-government–it might really perish from the planet unless we stand up to take it back. And that means winning that seat in the Senate.' A Democrat has not won statewide in Texas since 1994, but O'Rourke has come the closest of anyone since. He lost the 2018 U.S. Senate race to Sen. Ted Cruz by roughly 2.5 points before failing to seek the Democratic nomination for president and losing the 2022 governor's race to Gov. Greg Abbott by nearly 11 points. Still, O'Rourke said Texas is misunderstood as a state, and a Democrat can win if they campaign on the issues that matter the most to Texans. 'The national media and the country at large have written us off as this red conservative state,' O'Rourke said. 'It is up to Democrats, even though the playing field is tilted against us, to go out there and seize that power by meeting with voters, by listening to them, by reflecting their values in the campaigns that we run.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Atlantic
an hour ago
- Politics
- Atlantic
The Anniversary That Democrats Would Be Wise to Forget
Yesterday marked one year since Joe Biden's debate meltdown against Donald Trump. Happy anniversary to those who observe such things, or are triggered by such things. Please celebrate responsibly. For Democrats, the debacle was a harsh awakening and the start of an ongoing spiral. Prior to that night, they could hold on to the delusion that the party might somehow eke out one last victory from Biden's degraded capacity and ward off another four-year assault from Donald Trump. But that all exploded into the gruesome reality of June 27, 2024. Every interested viewer that night remembers where they were, their various feelings (depending on their perspectives) of revulsion, grief, glee, or disbelief. I was watching at home, thinking for some reason that Biden might exceed his humble expectations. He had managed to do this periodically on big stages during his presidency—including the feisty State of the Union address he'd turned in a few months earlier. But by the time Biden walked to his podium in Atlanta, it was clear that was not happening. Something was off. The elderly president looked visibly stiffer than usual, like he was wrapped in cardboard. As co-moderator Jake Tapper of CNN unfurled his opening question—about rising grocery and home prices—Biden's eyes bugged out, as if he was stunned. His face was a drab gray color. I remember thinking there was something wrong with my TV, until the texts started rolling in. A friend observed that Biden looked 'mummified' on the stage. 'Is he sick?' my wife asked as she entered the room. Not a great start. And this was before Biden had even said a word. Then he spoke—or tried to. Biden's voice didn't really work at first. It was raspy; he kept stopping, starting, dry-coughing. After a few sentences, everything was worse. 'Oh my god,' came another text, which was representative of the early returns. 'My mother told me she's crying,' read another. (This person's mother is evidently not a Trump supporter.) My wife left the room. Mark Leibovich: Where is Barack Obama? Now here we are a year later. Democrats have been battered by events since. First among them was Trump's victory in November, in which traditional Democratic constituencies such as Black, Hispanic, and young voters defected to the GOP in large numbers. This was followed by the onslaught of Trump's second administration. Democrats keep getting described (or describing themselves) as being 'in the wilderness,' though at this point 'the wilderness' might be a generous description; it at least offers peace and quiet—as opposed to, say, your average Democratic National Committee meeting in 2025. Or, for that matter, the aftermath of this week's Democratic primary in the New York City mayor's race. Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist state assemblyman from Queens, became an instant It Boy with his upset of scandal-soiled former Governor Andrew Cuomo. As happens with many progressive sensations these days, Mamdani's victory was immediately polarizing. New York Democrats seem split over the result: On one side are lukewarm establishment titans such as Senate and House Minority Leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries; on the other are progressive demigods such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. The usual Democratic divides revealed themselves: insurgent versus establishment, socialist-adjacent versus moderate, young versus old (except for Bernie, the ageless octogenarian forever big with the kids). The deeply unpopular incumbent, Eric Adams, who was elected as a Democrat in 2021, is running for reelection as an independent; despite getting trounced in the primary, Cuomo plans to stay in the race—running on something called the 'Fight and Deliver' ballot line. Mamdani is the clear favorite to prevail in November. But no one knows anything for sure, except that everything feels like a muddled mess, which has pretty much been the Democrats' default posture since the Abomination in Atlanta a year ago. The party's grass roots are showing genuine energy these days. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez drew five-figure crowds at their 'Fighting Oligarchy' rallies this spring. The nationwide 'No Kings' protests two weekends ago were indicative of a galvanized protest movement eager to be led. Yet these signs of Trump resistance are mostly happening separate from the Democratic apparatus. As my colleague David Graham recently wrote, the 'No Kings' spectacles were themselves, paradoxically, a sign of how rudderless the party now finds itself. With a few exceptions, the Democratic leadership ranks have been largely AWOL. They toggle and flail between quiet paralysis and loud frustration, especially with one another. Mark Leibovich: The week that changed everything for Gavin Newsom Democrats have spent an inordinate amount of time and energy relitigating Biden's tenure in the White House—whether he was fit to be there and how frail he had become. The phrase cognitive decline still comes up a lot, for obvious reasons, none of them fun or especially constructive. The 2024 campaign has also come in for a spirited rehash —especially among factions of Biden world, the Kamala Harris–Tim Walz campaign, and the various PACs and outside groups ostensibly designed to support them. Republicans have of course relished every chance to revisit Biden's deterioration. The media have hammered this theme as well, most notably Tapper and his co-author, Alex Thompson of Axios, whose blockbuster autopsy, Original Sin, has been at or near the top of The New York Times ' nonfiction best-seller list for several weeks. The surest way for Democrats to move on would be to jump straight to the future: Look to 2028, as quickly as possible. Presidential campaigns at their best can be forward-looking, wide-open, and aspirational. Yes, local elections—and certainly the 2026 midterms—are important, and maybe even promising for the party. But not as important as picking a new national leader, something the Democrats have not really done since Barack Obama was first elected in 2008. Among the many tragedies of Biden's last act was that he delayed his party, indefinitely, from anointing its next generation. Trump himself might not be on the ballot in 2028, but he's still giving his opposition plenty to run against. So Democrats might as well take the show national and start now, if for no other reason than to escape from fractures of the present and circular nightmares of the recent past. Which began, more or less, on June 27 of last year. When Democrats stop dwelling on that disaster and what followed, that might signal that they're finally getting somewhere.
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Minimum Wage To Change in 15 States, Cities on July 1: Here's Where
Hundreds of thousands of workers across the U.S. are set to get a pay bump starting July 1, as minimum wage increases take effect in more than a dozen states, cities, and counties. According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), more than 800,000 workers in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. alone will see their baseline pay go up next month. Another dozen local jurisdictions-mostly in California-will also implement increases. The pay hikes come as the federal minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009. With the cost of living continuing to rise, many states and cities have raised their own minimums through legislation, ballot measures or inflation adjustments. In Alaska, the minimum wage will rise by $1.09 to $13.00 an hour, an increase approved by voters through a ballot measure. EPI calculates the boost will affect 19,400 workers-about 6.3 percent of Alaska's workforce-and add an average of $925 per year to their paychecks. Washington, D.C. will raise its minimum by 45 cents to $17.95 an hour due to an automatic inflation adjustment, impacting an estimated 62,200 workers, or 7.5 percent of the city's workforce. The average worker there will earn about $727 more per year. In Oregon, about 801,700 workers-roughly 9.4 percent of the state's workforce-will see their minimum wage climb 35 cents to $15.05 an hour, also tied to inflation. That's an average annual increase of $420 per worker. Beyond those statewide and D.C. changes, minimum wages will increase in 12 cities and counties next month. That includes 10 cities and counties in California, with increases ranging from 45 to 59 cents an hour. New hourly rates will range from about $17.46 in Alameda to nearly $20 in Emeryville-one of the highest local minimum wages in the country. Cities including Berkeley and San Francisco will see their wages climb to $19.18 an hour, while workers in Los Angeles and surrounding areas will earn just under $18. Outside California, Chicago, Illinois, will boost its minimum wage by 40 cents, bringing it to $16.60 an hour. And in Maryland, Montgomery County will increase its minimum wage by 50 cents to $17.65 an hour. The EPI estimates that about 58 percent of workers benefiting from the July 1 hikes are women, while Black and Hispanic workers will also disproportionately gain. "These minimum wage increases will put more money in workers' pockets, helping many of them and their families make ends meet," EPI state economic analyst Sebastian Martinez Hickey said. "The average increase in annual wages for a full-time, year-round worker resulting from these minimum wage hikes ranges from $420 in Oregon to $925 in Alaska." Calls to raise the federal wage persist. This month, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri and Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont introduced a bipartisan bill to lift the federal minimum to $15 per hour-more than double the current rate. Starting July 1, employers will have to ensure they review the changes made in different cities to minimum wage rates and pay their employees accordingly. Related Articles Joe Rogan Trashes US Minimum Wage: 'Disgusting'California Cities To See Minimum Wage Change on July 1Donald Trump Weighs In on Plan To Increase Minimum WageLos Angeles Votes for $30 Minimum Wage 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I'm not comfortable': ICE arrests causing fear for Cornelius residents
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Fear exists for many around the state after at least five local asylum seekers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Portland Immigration Courthouse. In Washington County, leaders address the effects on their community outside the Centro Cultural Community Center in Cornelius. 'ICE has no place in our neighborhoods,' said Cornelius City Councilor Angeles Godinez. More than half of the city of Cornelius's population is Hispanic or Latino according to the city's The city says the fear of ICE raids has a ripple effect in the community. 'As public officials, we are legally and morally obligated to protect the rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration status,' Godinez said. Local leaders say people in their community tell them they're afraid to attend public events, go to work or even call 911 during emergencies. 'When people are afraid of their own government, they stop calling the police. They stop going to the doctor. They disappear from public life,' said Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai. Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez says his family knows all too well the stress ICE can cause. 'When my dad immigrated to the United States, he came here without papers,' Gonzalez said. He said a few years ago his father became a US citizen. But they fear for the rest of the community. 'For many folks that have an experience like me, we know that our existence and our families, their right to belong, is being questioned and that's something I'm not comfortable with,' Gonzalez said. City, county and community leaders said they are working with the local police to ensure the community's safety. 'The police have been briefed. And also we have many committees and including some people here at Centro that have been working with police and on various different commissions,' Godinez said. Oregon is classified as a sanctuary state, meaning its law enforcement will not work with ICE. That's something President Donald Trump has openly criticized, claiming their policies of not enforcing immigration law put the safety of American citizens in jeopardy. 'And let me be clear, city officials in Cornelius will not be agents of ICE. We are not here to divide families. We are here to serve them,' Gonzalez said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Unpacking claims video shows over 500 construction workers detained by ICE in Texas
Claim: A video shared on social media claimed that over 500 construction workers being detained by ICE agents at Texas job sites in late June 2025. Rating: In late June 2025, a 10-second video circulated online purportedly showing a mass detention of construction workers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents gained traction on social media. For example, on June 25, 2025, one Instagram post (archived), which accumulated over 449,000 views as of this writing, stated: "BREAKING: Over 500+ construction workers — mostly Hispanic — have been detained by federal agents in Texas while simply showing up to work. Workers are reportedly being rounded up at job sites and taken to holding camps. This all happened in just the last 48 hours." (occupydemocrats/Instagram) Snopes readers contacted us about the claim, with one reader emailing to ask whether the "video of construction workers detained by ICE" was "accurate or not." The video accompanying the post showed a large number of workers gathered in what appeared to be a temporary tent structure at a construction site. A caption embedded in the video asked: "so, if all these construction workers are detained by ICE, who's doing the construction?" The same video had been circulating on other social media platforms including TikTok (archived) and Threads (archived). However, Snopes' investigation found that while the video appeared to be authentic footage of a construction site gathering, it was miscaptioned and did not show an ICE detention operation in late June 2025. Snopes has not yet been able to confirm who filmed the footage, but there was no evidence the clip was the product of artificial intelligence (AI) software or other digital manipulation. The same video had been circulating on Instagram prior to the June 25 claim. For example, one Instagram account posted (archived) the identical footage on June 8, 2025, with a Spanish-language caption that translated to "Here are the workers detained by ICE." (usalatinnews/Instagram) That earlier post received over 531,000 views, predating the recent posts by more than two weeks and indicating that the video was not tied to any verified enforcement action within the past 48 hours, as recently claimed. Snopes found no publicly available evidence supporting the claim that a mass ICE raid involving more than 500 workers took place in Texas during the time period described in the post. While ICE has carried out workplace enforcement actions at construction sites in recent months, the largest confirmed (archived) operation occurred in Tallahassee, Florida, where "100+" workers were arrested on May 29, 2025, according to the agency. In Texas, the largest publicly documented (archived) construction-site raid involved 25 arrests at job sites in South Padre Island and Brownsville on June 4. We reached out to ICE to ask whether its agents had conducted any operation involving the detention of 500 or more construction workers in Texas during late June 2025. An ICE spokesperson responded directly to Snopes via email: "The video is not related to any activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." Based on visual clues in the video—such as safety signage, worker attire, and the industrial scale of the operation—the footage may have been recorded at the Port Arthur LNG construction site in Texas. This liquefied natural gas export terminal, being built by Bechtel Construction Service for Sempra Infrastructure, regularly holds large safety meetings and worker gatherings that could account for the scene shown. Photos shared on Facebook by both Bechtel (archived) and Sempra (archived) show similar large tented structures used for events and meetings at the Port Arthur LNG site as well as the exact same safety signage, supporting the likelihood that the video was filmed there. Snopes reached out to Sempra Infrastructure and Bechtel to confirm whether the video was filmed at the Port Arthur LNG site and whether any immigration enforcement actions took place at or near the site during the relevant period. As of this writing, neither company has responded to our inquiry. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "ICE arrests more than 100 illegal aliens during targeted enforcement operation in Tallahassee." ICE News Releases, Accessed June 26, 2025. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "ICE Rio Grande Valley conducts worksite enforcement operation resulting in 25 arrests." ICE News Releases, Accessed June 26, 2025. Bechtel Corporation. "Sempra Infrastructure announces EPC contract with Bechtel for Port Arthur LNG Phase 2." Bechtel Press Releases, Accessed June 26, 2025.
