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Russell Payne

Russell Payne

Salon

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Big cannabis has cozied up to the GOP

The hemp, marijuana and alcohol industries are all vying for the president’s attention

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Salon

Russell Payne

Trump is still soaking up GOP campaign cash. What will he do with it?

The president's $400 million war chest looms over the GOP’s midterm efforts

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Russell Payne

Trump admin seeks to strike Epstein connections from record

The Trump admin employs an extreme stalling tactic in suit concerning potential Epstein-related Trump interviews

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Russell Payne

Postmark changes could cause midterm election chaos

A seemingly minor change could have huge ripple effects for rural and military voters

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Russell Payne

As Iran war escalates, U.S. is fighting from a weakened position

From weapon stockpiles to diplomatic options, the U.S. is operating from a place that has few levers left

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Russell Payne

Pro-science PAC backs El-Sayed

314 Action, which has been criticized for ties to pro-Israel lobbying in the past, shows a shake-up in Michigan

21.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Her brother was convicted of terrorism over a protest he didn’t even attend

Daniel Sanchez-Estrada was given 30 years in a case critics say is chilling free speech

20.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Maine progressives hold edge in race to replace Graham Platner

County delegate elections may prove more important than any debate at the July 25 convention

18.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

At Delaney Hall, the struggle persists after cameras left

Volunteers say conditions have worsened at the New Jersey detention facility since the hunger strike ended

17.07.2026 6

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Russell Payne

ICE involved in fatal shooting in Maine, lawmaker says

The Biddeford shooting comes just a week after a Texas man was killed by ICE officers

13.07.2026 9

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Russell Payne

Trump’s FCC pressure on “The View” could backfire

Leaning on liberal media sets a precedent conservative media can’t abide

10.07.2026 7

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Russell Payne

Anti-lobbyist Republican benefited from lobbyists for years

Joe Mitchell, an Iowa Republican, campaigns against lobbyists, only after his trade org spent $75,000 on them

09.07.2026 7

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Russell Payne

The progressive “Squad” is about to get a lot bigger in Congress

With recent primary victories, progressives will wield unprecedented power in Congress

08.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Trump’s weekend war approach to Iran might never end

Last weekend's burst of violence might be a preview of a long-term low-boil war with Iran

06.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Prairieland sentences brings war on terror home

Protesters at ICE's Prairieland facility recieved far harsher sentences than anyone from Jan. 6's violent mob

03.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Socialist sweep comes to Colorado

Left-wing Democrats may be creating a powerful position of leverage for themselves in the House

01.07.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Delaney Hall is reshaping how ICE runs its detention centers

Detainees ended a hunger and labor strike shortly after ICE updated its detention standards

29.06.2026 9

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Russell Payne

New York is already exporting Mamdani-style politics

Some of the institutions behind Tuesday’s progressive surge are already supporting candidates around the country

26.06.2026 9

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Russell Payne

Socialist sweep reveals New York City’s rising power centers

New Yorkers supported the leftmost candidates at nearly every opportunity on Tuesday

24.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Trump’s crackdown on ICE protesters already shows signs of backfiring

A move aimed at stifling political dissent has already spurred protesters into action in Minneapolis

23.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

How “freeze the rent” really works

Even with Mamdani in the mayor's office, tenants aren’t taking a rent freeze for granted

13.06.2026 30

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Russell Payne

GOP candidate pushed to award a donor with a government contract

Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina is hoping his record in South Texas will carry him to Congress

11.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Trump has locked in high gas prices for summer — and maybe longer

Even if the war ends now, it will take months for prices to come down

10.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

The Democratic Party is pushing for more conservative voices — with mixed success

One of the DCCC’s favored candidates was a Republican as recently as 2018

05.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Noem faces new legal trouble over jet use

Noem’s use of government jets and use of a government Flickr account are facing new scrutiny

04.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Inside NYC’s overlooked primary

In Queens, Chuck Park’s campaign is betting that a robust ground game can overcome a well-funded incumbent

04.06.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Ebola shows how Trump’s health policies are going global — and coming home

Politicized public health agencies also make it harder to hold officials accountable

30.05.2026 30

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Russell Payne

A battle over dark money is brewing in Hawaii and Montana

Organizers see political and legal battles ahead for a novel solution to America’s campaign finance fiasco

28.05.2026 20

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Russell Payne

For some veterans, the Iran war has a silver lining

The widespread opposition and mobilization against the Iran war offers hope

25.05.2026 10

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Russell Payne

The DNC autopsy won’t address Democrats’ platform problem

Focused on messaging and ad spend, the autopsy ignores Democrats' real problem: their platform

22.05.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Texas GOP civil war gives Democrats an opening

Both potential GOP candidates have torn each other down, and are now equally competitive in the general election

20.05.2026 30

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Russell Payne

Supreme Court’s voting rights decision could erase Black representation across the ballot

Local elections are where the Callais decision could be felt most

16.05.2026 30

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Russell Payne

Massie’s primary isn’t really a test of Trump’s power

A Massie victory, Republican strategists say, would speak more to the district than to Trump’s influence

14.05.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Gerrymandering can’t fix the GOP’s voter problem

Legal wins won’t matter if Republicans can’t get people to vote for them

12.05.2026 10

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Russell Payne

Trump’s $1.5 trillion military budget may be a solution in search of a problem

Trump's proposed military spending surge could come at the cost of future healthcare funding

08.05.2026 30

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Russell Payne

Surprise, “Democrats for Rob Coalition” chaired by GOP elected

A frontline GOP representative is courting Democrats for PA Rep. Rob Bresnahan

06.05.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Trump is bleeding his 2024 voters, but not fast enough for the midterms

Once confined to commentary, dissatisfaction with Trump is breaking containment among GOP voters

04.05.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Trump’s ballroom ploy might work, security experts say

The incident at the WHCD might help Trump get his ballroom built, but it’s not the quick security fix he’s selling

01.05.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act in “Jim Crow 2.0” ruling

Justices kept the law on the books but drained it of the power to actually protect voters

30.04.2026 30

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Russell Payne

Centrism is losing popularity, new data shows. Will Democrats listen?

Across the Sun Belt, an economic populist message is outpolling conventional centrism

29.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne

The Iran war is about to hit small businesses — and your wallet

As diesel and fertilizer costs soar, farms and truckers warn consumers will soon feel the pain

24.04.2026 50

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Russell Payne

What AOC really told RFK Jr.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was pictured Tuesday, grilling the secretary on increased Medicare Advantage spending

23.04.2026 30

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Russell Payne

Why is Trump wooing psychedelics? It’s really about Iran

Critics say that the order will only shave a few months off of FDA approval, but it made Joe Rogan happy

22.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Trump’s looming downballot disaster

Trump's unpopularity is putting Republican dominance in state legislatures at risk

21.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne

DeSantis’ national security power grab

Florida Republicans bet Sharia law fearmongering can distract from constitutional violations

17.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Tax refunds are up. Americans still paid higher taxes

Even though tax refunds are up this year, Americans paid higher prices due to tariffs all year, and that money isn’

15.04.2026 40

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Russell Payne

ICE is recruiting cops to track down kids

New documents reveal ICE is paying local law enforcement to supply information on unaccompanied minors

10.04.2026 40

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Russell Payne

AI is raising the stakes in the government surveillance debate

Up for renewal on April 20, FISA Section 702 has long been criticized as a backdoor for spying on Americans

06.04.2026 10

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Russell Payne

“We love Pam”: Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi

Bondi’s controversial tenure included overseeing the Epstein files release and deadly immigration crackdowns

02.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne

Not just ICE: Do we need DHS?

In it’s 24 year history DHS has failed to make Americans safer and has become increasingly politicized

02.04.2026 20

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Russell Payne