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    US midterms: what are they and why do presidents dread them? – explainer

    The US midterms may not be as much of a spectacle as the presidential elections, but they are just as important and can completely change not just the course of a presidential term, but federal legislation for years to come. The Guardian unpacks how these elections work, what the results mean and how they affect American life Continue reading… More

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    Why are the Democratic Socialists of America so successful? | Akin Olla

    There’s an unsung reason for the organization’s success even as other leftwing groups face a bumpy roadA lot has been written recently in an effort to understand the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and how we’ve risen to such prominence in a short time.It is clear that we reflect a growing disillusionment with the Democratic party, and a further radicalization of the American population. But many leftwing social movement organizations, such as Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March, have risen in the last decade or so, and many groups, from MoveOn to the Sunrise Movement, have attempted to absorb large numbers of people, influence the Democratic party and enter the public consciousness with lower levels of success. Continue reading… More

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    Skepticism mires Trump’s Iowa steel plant project: ‘Promises are not the same as jobs’

    The project has sparked doubts over whether the plant will be built and delivered as promised, given Trump’s recordDonald Trump has long sought to portray himself as a man of steel, from the White House photoshopping Trump to look like Superman, to enacting tariffs on steel and approving the sale of US Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel with a ”golden” share given to the US government.Most recently, the Trump administration announced plans to construct the largest steel plant in the US, a $15bn plant in Lee county, Iowa, to be built by India-based Mesabi Metallics. Continue reading… More

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    Democrats now favored in key midterm races that could give them control of US Senate, new projections find – as it happened

    This live blog is now closed.Sign up for Breaking News US emailTwo media giants, Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, have completed their $110bn merger, creating a new entertainment powerhouse, Skydance.The deal, fiercely contested by several state attorneys general over potential antitrust concerns, formally closed on Tuesday. Continue reading… More

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    ‘Not exactly his favorite senator’: Susan Collins distances herself from Trump in Maine debate

    Republican challenged by Democrat Troy Jackson in critical Senate race says she opposes Iran war and Canada tariffsSusan Collins, the Republican senator for Maine, pointedly distanced herself from Donald Trump in a televised debate with Democratic challenger Troy Jackson on Tuesday, as she sought to present an image of independence in a state that has voted against Trump three times.Proclaiming herself as not the US president’s “favorite senator”, Collins made the highly unusual boast for a Republican that she had voted with Joe Biden, a Democrat, more than 90% of the time when he was president. She also emphasized her differences with her fellow Republicans, saying she voted against her own party more than any other senator. Continue reading… More

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    Trump announces $6.6bn defense shipyard owned by top Republican donor’s firm

    Baltimore project to be partly funded by US government but owned by defense firm Anduril, founded by Palmer LuckeyDonald Trump on Tuesday announced the opening of a new $6.6bn shipbuilding factory in Baltimore, partly funded by the US government but owned by Anduril Industries, a politically connected defense company.Trump’s appearance at a currently unused shipyard in Sparrows Point is a boost to Anduril, whose founder, Palmer Luckey, is a major GOP campaign fundraiser. Luckey has hosted campaign fundraisers for at least 20 Republican politicians, including Trump, the Guardian reported in August. He has given $5.9m to Republican causes since 2017. Continue reading… More

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    Trump says he is weighing suspension of federal gas tax

    President floats idea as voter anger over rising costs threatens Republican hopes in November midtermsDonald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was considering suspending the federal gasoline tax, a sign the president is noticing voter anger over fuel costs a month before the midterm elections.“We’re thinking about that,” Trump said when asked whether the tax should be suspended. Continue reading… More

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    Disney accuses Trump officials of ‘blatant violations’ of constitution amid FCC battle

    Lawyers tell judge ABC being unfairly targeted as US regulator seeks review of network’s local TV station licensesLawyers for Disney accused the Trump administration of “blatant violations of the US constitution” and censorship on Tuesday in the first court hearing over the Federal Communications Commission’s early review of the media giant’s eight local television station licenses.District judge Loren AliKhan seemed unswayed by government arguments that the order to force Disney’s ABC to apply years early to renew local television station licenses was tied to an investigation into parent company Disney’s hiring practices. Continue reading… More