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Hold your horses, Democrats!
On Tuesday night, House Republicans managed to hang onto a congressional seat in the Nashville suburb of Tennessee, with Matt Van Epps defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn.
The district was previously claimed by Rep. Mark Green, who won it by over 20 points in the 2024 elections. Still, there were sweats in the Republican camp leading up to this special election, considering their disappointing performance in several elections last month.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) does have a slim majority in the House and numerous challenges to juggle (see Elise Stefanik), but this win allows him to breathe a little easier, knowing his party has kept this seat secure.
As for the Democrats, it seems their ‘affordability’ message may have its limits. While it could resonate in tighter races, it hasn’t emerged as the unbeatable strategy that some may have thought. For them to take control of the House in 2026, more will likely be needed.
Key Figures and Policies Catching My Eye
Pete Hegseth: The defense secretary’s strong stance regarding drug-related activities in the Caribbean wraps up a decade-long commitment.
Michael Dell: The CEO of Dell Technologies and his wife, Susan, have generously pledged $6.25 billion to a government initiative aimed at establishing savings accounts for numerous children.
Donald Trump: Expect an important announcement from him this afternoon.
Other Topics I’m Following
Notable Russia-USA Talks Produce No Compromise on Ukraine Peace: A five-hour meeting at the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was labeled as ‘constructive’. Despite discussions centered on crucial territorial issues for Russia, no agreements were reached yet, as noted by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
ICE Plans Operations Against Somali Immigrants in Minneapolis: Trump has expressed strong anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly towards those from Somalia, aiming to escalate tensions with Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Trump Cancels Fed Chair Interviews to Focus on Final Candidate Selection: At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump revealed he has narrowed his choices for Fed chair down to one mainly focusing on his longtime economic advisor Kevin Hassett.
Other Headlines Worth Noticing
One man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges after shooting at two National Guard members close to the White House. Also, Lawrence Summers faces a lifetime ban from the American Economics Association due to his known connections with the late Jeffrey Epstein. In a separate note, Pope Leo is urging the Trump administration to refrain from any military actions against Venezuela. Meanwhile, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been released from a U.S. prison after having his 45-year drug trafficking sentence pardoned by Trump.
What I’m Reading
Get the scoop on Richard Pazdur, the top drug regulator, who is planning to leave the FDA (STAT News). Find out about a principal overruling a student council in a recent incident (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). And see how Maduro is keeping up a resolute front as Trump may be ramping up measures (Miami Herald).
A Bit About Me
I’m Damian Paletta, heading the Washington coverage for The Wall Street Journal. With 22 years of experience in reporting and editing, I’ve covered everything from the White House to Congress, and delved into national security, federal budget issues, economics, and various market crises. WSJ Politics is your daily insider look at what drives activity in D.C. Messages and feedback are always welcome at politics@wsj.com (Hi there, if you got this in your inbox, just hit reply!). This edition is brought together with the help of Alistair Dawber and Alina Heineke. Have any tips? Here’s how to contribute.
