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Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Julia Ioffe, Marianna Sotomayor, John Heilemann, & Abby Livingston
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Sunday through Thursday
Puck’s daily political newsletter from Washington—featuring Leigh Ann Caldwell, Peter Hamby, Marianna Sotomayor, Julia Ioffe, John Heilemann, and Abby Livingston—on what’s really happening in this town, from the White House to the Pentagon to Capitol Hill, K Street, the campaign trail, and beyond.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Peter Hamby
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April 7, 2026
Democrats Can Use YouTube, Too
The Democratic outside group Priorities USA is hoping to “take back the internet” by meeting young, politically checked-out swing voters where they are: guzzling sports clips on YouTube and commenting on video game streams. They’re starting with Ohio—and looking to ’28.
Peter Hamby
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April 2, 2026
Trump’s Katrina
The president has defied political gravity so many times that he’s often assumed to be invincible. But Trump’s Iran war is inescapable, his approval rating is plummeting—and his rambling White House address exposed that he’s less powerful than ever.
Peter Hamby
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March 24, 2026
The Democrats’ Trans Trap
Republicans are gleefully seizing on James Talarico’s “six sexes” comments while Trump warns darkly that Democrats want “transgender for everybody.” New polling suggests how the party can defuse the G.O.P.’s “they/them” playbook before it trips them up again in November.
Peter Hamby
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March 17, 2026
Weapons of Mass Deception
Trump’s war in Iran is unpopular with the public, but exclusive new polling, produced in partnership with Echelon Insights, reveals that Americans find some rationales more convincing than others—and that MAGA remains mostly behind Trump, even if almost nobody likes Pete Hegseth.
Peter Hamby
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March 10, 2026
“This Ain’t No Game, Bro”: Gen Z Crashes Out Over Trump’s Iran War
An innovative new survey, conducted this week, finds that young men are overwhelmingly opposed to Trump attacking Iran, frustrated that the government is ignoring their economic needs, and terrified that the “no new wars” candidate will send them off to die overseas.
Peter Hamby & Abby Livingston
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March 3, 2026
Tuesday Night Lights
Everything you need to know about the Republican and Democratic Senate primaries in Texas, pitting incumbent John Cornyn against scandal-plagued attorney Ken Paxton, and spitfire Rep. Jasmine Crockett against the Bible-slinging progressive James Talarico.
Peter Hamby
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March 2, 2026
Gavin on J.D.’s Dark Side, Clavicular & The Real Trump
The popular California governor and early presidential frontrunner opens up about the crisis of masculinity facing young boys, his personal relationship with Trump, California’s original sin, and why he’s scared of J.D. Vance.
Peter Hamby
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February 24, 2026
Trump’s Pre-SOTU Red Alert
As the White House gears up for tonight’s State of the Union, exclusive new polling demonstrates the uphill battle for Republicans: Most voters haven’t heard about what should be some of their most popular policies. And Trump’s nonstop blabbermouthing risks drowning them all out.
Peter Hamby
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February 17, 2026
Dems’ Fightin’ Words
Democrats still can’t do much of anything until they reclaim at least one chamber of Congress, but they’re finally figuring out how to speak about Trump without losing the plot. Fresh polling from Blueprint Research measures which messaging is actually landing with voters.
Peter Hamby
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February 10, 2026
California Love
California is the epicenter of Democrats’ nationwide intraparty reckoning. Races up and down the ballot—including to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom—will reveal whether voters want a fixer or a fighter headed into 2028.