US House Of Representatives

Second Highest Number Of Republican Congressional Retirements Since 1930, Only Surpassed In 2018!

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The Republican Party in the US House of Representatives is in crisis mode, as they are on the way to what is likely to be massive losses in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026.

THe fact that 2026 is witnessing the second highest number of Republican members of the House of Representatives choosing NOT to run for reelection, only surpassed in the past hundred years in 2018, which saw a loss of 40 House seats, is a sign of the dire straits the party faces under the unpopular policies of Donald Trump.

44 Republicans chose not to run in 2018, and now in 2026, 39 have decided not to run for reelection, or run for a Senate seat or Governorship instead.

US Senators 70 And Over: Most Ever!

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The US Senate has 16 members over 75, more than ever before in US History.

They include:

Chuck Grassley (R) Iowa—92
Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont—84
Jim Risch (R) Idaho—83
Angus King (I) Maine—82
Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut—80
Ed Markey (D) Massachusetts—79
Peter Welch (D) Vermont—78
Mazie Hirono (D) Hawaii—78
Jack Reed (D) Rhode Island—76
Elizabeth Warren (D) Massachusetts (76)
Ron Wyden (D) Oregon—76
Patty Murray (D) Washington—75
Chuck Schumer (D) New York—75
John Boozman (R) Arkansas—75
Deb Fischer (R) Nebraska—75
Jim Justice (R) West Virginia—75

Risch, Markey, and Reed are running for reelection this fall, which means they would be in their early to late 80s over the next six years term.

This list does not include the following, who are retiring at the end of this year:

Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky—84
Dick Durbin (D) Illinois—81
Jeanne Shaheen (D) New Hampshire—79

And there are four US Senators who range from age 70-75, and will be in the high 70s during their term if reelected this fall.

Susan Collins (R) Maine
John Cornyn (R) Texas
Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia
Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina

So one fifth of the US Senate (20), not counting the three Senators who are retiring, fit the definition of “senior citizens”, over the age of 70!

Nine are Republicans, nine are Democrats, and there are two Independents (Sanders and King)

Clearly, there is a dire need for a “youth movement” in the US Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives!

Analysis Of Potential Democratic Presidential Contenders In 2028, But Who Are The Likely Serious Contenders?

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We are months away from the true beginning of the 2028 Presidential race, which will be in full blossom the day after the Midterm Elections take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

However, already, there are clearcut signs of activities and planning moving ahead, with the strong likelihood that we might see an overwhelming number of Democrats announcing for President, with the number possibly as high as in the mid 20s, similar to several past Presidential campaigns.

Many contenders will not be taken seriously, but even announcing for President gains lots of publicity and attention for any future ambitions.

At this point, the following ten potential contenders for the White House on the Democratic side, would seem to be the following in no specific order:

California Governor Gavin Newsom
Illinois Governor JD Pritzker
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker
Former Vice President Kamala Harris (California)

There is speculation about a wide variety of other potential candidates.

Other seen as far less likely include:

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff
Hawaii Governor Josh Green
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock

Those from the House of Representatives mentioned, although never has a member of the lower house of Congress been nominated, with the one exception of James A. Garfield, for the Republicans in 1880, while also a candidate for the US Senate, which he won on the same day he won the White House, are:

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
California Congressman Ro Khanna

From outside government, those mentioned include

Stephen A. Smith, sports media personality
Jon Stewart, commedian and commentator
Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur and Television Personality
Rahm Emanuel, former Ambassador to Japan and Mayor of Chicago

At this point, the odds would be very great that one of the first group of ten would be the nominee.

However, within that group, “negative” factors could be that

Kamala Harris is African American, Asian American, and female

Wes Moore and Cory Booker are African American

JD Pritzker and Josh Shapiro are Jewish

Pete Buttigieg is gay

Only Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Mark Kelly, and Chris Murphy would be seen as “traditional” contenders, meaning they are white male and straight, a sad commentary on America, that one even needs to mention that being a woman, or African American, or Jewish, or gay, is outside the so called “mainstream” of American politics in the past!

If we analyzed the remaining listed potential candidates for the Democrats, it would show the following:

Female—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gretchen Whitmer, Elissa Slotkin

African American or Asian American—Raphael Warnock, Stephen A. Smith, Ro Khanna

Latino American—Ruben Gallego, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Jewish—Elissa Slotkin, Jon Ossoff, Josh Green, Jared Polis, Jon Stewart, Mark Cuban, Rahm Emanuel

Gay—Jared Polis

So in conclusion, IF these various distinguishing factors are seen as detrimental in a Presidential campaign, then the choice that is left is only:

Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Mark Kelly, Chris Murphy

Donald Trump: A Horrendous Role Model For Young Men And Women, And For America’s Reputation Internationally!

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Nearly nine years ago, this author and blogger created a title for an article about Donald Trump, after just five months in office, declaring him, that early in his first term, he was a horrendous role model for young men and women.

While this author and blogger has written a massive amount about Donald Trump since 2017, this specific title was not developed beyond the original title.

But now, after the events and comments of Donald Trump this past week, on top of a multitude of outrageous, despicable statements by Donald Trump over the long haul, it is clearly time to develop this article.

Just in the past week, Donald Trump has uttered the following:

Revealed the terrible health diagnosis of Florida Congressman Neal Dunn, who has a supposed terminal heart condition, with Trump stating that Dunn would be dead by June, shocking even Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, sitting next to him, by so making public what was not appropriate to utter. And all that Donald Trump cares about is that Neal Dunn will make every effort to be there and vote, at a time when the House of Representatives Republican majority is the least in 90 years!

Revealed publicly that his White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles has breast cancer, rather than letting her decide what if anything about her condition should be reported. But again, his comment is that Wiles will work full time while undergoing treatment, with it being clear that is more important to him than the idea that Wiles should take time off while undergoing chemotherapy.

Shamelessly, in front of the Japanese Prime Minister, joked about Pearl Harbor, leading to a shocked face, comparing it to his surprise attack on Iran, without any consultation with Congress, and ignoring the fact that post World War II Japan has been a loyal ally for 80 years. And Trump has done great damage to our relationship with our NATO and other allies, alienating them with his protective tariffs and ugly rhetoric and criticism.

Celebrated the death on Truth Social of former FBI Head Robert Mueller, a great public servant as FBI head and heroic military hero in Vietnam, who sacrificed to lead the investigation into Russian collusion in the Presidential Election of 2016.

What kind of human being acts this way, but this is common and typical of Donald Trump, who will stand for all time as the most despicable, immoral, unethical excuse for a human being of any President of the United States.

For the past five decades since the downfall of Richard Nixon, considered the most criminal and lawless President in American history, it was assumed no future President would be worse.

But as the saying goes, Donald Trump makes Richard Nixon look like a “Choir Boy” by comparison!

America is going through a nightmare scenario, and the goal is to work to survive the end of Donald Trump and “Trumpism” over the next three years, and restore American Democracy and the Rule of Law, after the tremendous harm and damage perpetrated by Trump and his corrupt sycophantic Cabinet, the worst in American history!

C SPAN Celebrating 47 Years Of Exceptional Coverage Of American Government And Politics!

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C SPAN is celebrating its 47th Anniversary, having been started on March 19, 1979, covering American politics and government in a non partisan way, unmatched by any other news media source.

The public service began through its founder, executive Chairman, and now retired CEO Brian Lamb, and co-CEO Susan Swain, to provide the American people gavel to gavel coverage of Congress, but also of the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and major news events and gatherings, along with coverage of British, Australian, and Canadian government events.

Major news events in domestic and foreign affairs, all balanced without any clear bias, including election campaigns and national Presidential conventions, and Supreme Court case arguments, are also offered.

The cable television industry formed C SPAN as a nonprofit public service, and operates independently, as a non biased presentation of public affairs.

It offers gavel to gavel coverage of both houses of Congress, with the US House of Representatives on C SPAN One, and the US Senate on C SPAN Two, and also has American History lectures and specials on American History on C SPAN Three.

Washington Journal allows citizens to call in with their views and questions on public affairs, and Book Notes covers lectures and interviews with authors on non fiction topics.

C SPAN began full time operations in September 1982, and Senate coverage on C SPAN Two in June 1986, and C SPAN Three in January 2001.

Brian Lamb spent many years interviewing non fiction authors on Booknotes, including this author, scholar, and blogger on his book, “Assassinations, Threats, and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama” in the Fall of 2015, and he was a gracious interviewer.

Overall, it is estimated about 40 percent of Americans watch C SPAN in any calendar year, and it is a significant service in promoting knowledge of public affairs.

Islamophobes In Republican Party Need To Be Condemned By Own Party Leadership!

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The Republican Party under President Donald Trump has become, sadly, a party of massive racism, nativism, and Islamophobia.

No major political party should promote such hateful causes, and for one to say it is alright to be any of these, needs to be repudiated by party leaders, particularly Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

Among those in the Republican Party in Congress who are notable regarding their incendiary Islamophobia are:

Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, running to be Governor of his state

Florida Congressman Randy Fine

Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles

Texas Congressman Brandon Gill

Texas Congressman Keith Self

Texas Congressman Chip Roy

The New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has come under vicious attack, because he is a Muslim, as has the Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi.

Also, in the House of Representatives, there has been vicious attacks over time against Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, because of their Muslim faith and criticisms of Israel.

And former Minnesota Congressman and presently Attorney General Keith Ellison has also had regular threats due to his faith.

A total of 42 Muslim Americans have been elected to office in the off year elections of 2025, over a total of nine states, including

New York
Virginia
Michigan
New Jersey
Washington
Maryland
Ohio
North Carolina
Pennsylvania

There are about 4.3 million people in the country who are Muslim, about 1.3 percent of the nation’s population.

While there certainly is a problem of Islamic terrorism, that does not mean that there should be discrimination and threats against Muslims who run for and serve in public office.

MAGA Republicans And Other Republicans Growing In Opposing Iran War!

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In just 2 weeks, Donald Trump has managed to turn prominent MAGA Republicans and other Republicans against his Iran War.

The list is growing:

Tucker Carlson
Steve Bannon
Megyn Kelly
Joe Rogan
Ann Coulter
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Nick Fuentes
Thomas Massie
Erik Prince
Rand Paul

and counting!

And Democrats have won overwhelmingly in special elections and off year elections in the 14 months Donald Trump has been President in his second term.

With the split in his party, which is growing, and overwhelming Democratic opposition, with the one exception of Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania at this point, the Republicans are on the road to a massive defeat in both houses of Congress, particularly if the Iran War continues.

The financial costs of the war, along with the effects on gasoline and oil prices, and the loss of troops and the injuries suffered by our troops, which are escalating, are all negatives for Donald Trump and his party!

No wonder Donald Trump is trying to fix the midterm elections by forcing the passage of the proposed SAVE Act, which would disenfranchise millions of Americans, an action which must be prevented!

Each state is supposed to run its own elections, without interference by the federal government and it cannot be allowed that the situation is fixed to distort reality!

Republican Majority In House Of Representatives Disintegrating!

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California–Kevin Kiley
Texas–Wesley Hunt
Texas–Dan Crenshaw
Texas–Tony Gonzalez
South Carolina–Nancy Mace

All of the above Republican members of the House of Representatives, except possibly Kiley, will be leaving at the end of 2026,

as Hunt lost the Senate primary;

Crenshaw lost his House primary;

Gonzalez, in a runoff race for his seat announced he would not run for reelection, due to his sex scandal with an aide who later committed suicide;

and Mace running for the South Carolina gubernatorial nomination.

Kiley has declared himself an Independent, although he will continue to caucus with Republicans for the remainder of his term this year, and with the strong likelihood that he will lose his seat due to California redistricting.

If these members are not present often for the remainder of this session, Speaker Mike Johnson could lose control of the majority, and the possibility of Hakeem Jeffries and the Democrats gaining control, is growing!

Emergence Of Anti Iran War MAGA Republicans Could Affect Midterm Elections Of 2026, And Presidential Election Of 2028!

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Now that the United States is in Week Two of the Iran War, and with the son of the late Ayatollah being annointed his successor, it seems clear that America is on the road to a long, massive, expensive, disastrous intervention in the Middle East, without any certainty of success, similar to the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.

And opposition is starting to emerge, from many so called MAGA Republicans, against the military intervention, some of it openly, and some of it behind the scenes.

Openly critical individuals this early include:

Tucker Carlson
Steve Bannon
Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Congresswoman from Georgia
Thomas Massie, Congressman from Kentucky
Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky

Behind the scenes, based on past views about military intervention, and support of “isolationism” expressed, would include the following:

Vice President JD Vance
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard

The latter two are being very quiet at this point, but their past record of viewpoints clashes with what Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and apparently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio are promoting.

So there could be a battle brewing for the future of the Republican Party, based on what happens in the midterms, and as the Republican Party starts to look at its future direction.

It is hard to imagine Vance openly breaking with his party and his “boss”, the President of the United States, but it is perceived by many that had Vice President Kamala Harris expressed more differences with her “boss”, Joe Biden, possibly, the result in the Presidential Election of 2024 might have been different.

If Vance was to “break” with Trump, he still would be Vice President, but it would encourage Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, and others to challenge him for the Presidential nomination in 2028.

Of course, IF Vance became President by succession, and therefore, would be a sitting President, it would be much more difficult for a rebellion by MAGA Republicans to succeed against him.

Most certainly, the future of the Republican Party with the upcoming Presidential Election of 2028, is very much a fluid situation, and very difficult to project what will occur down the road!

Victory Of James Talarico An Inspiring Moment For Democrats!

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The major victory of Texas State Representative James Talarico over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the US Senate primary is an inspiring moment for Democrats.

Talarico comes across as an exciting, dynamic young man, who has a real shot at winning the Texas Senate race in November, which would make him the first elected Senate Democrat from Texas since Lloyd Bentsen won a fourth term in 1988, and the first in his specific Senate seat since Lyndon B. Johnson became Vice President under John F. Kennedy in 1961.

A likely runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton is in the offing, after each won a bit more than 40 percent of the primary vote, with Donald Trump expected to endorse Cornyn, but Paxton expected to defy Trump and continue to run for the next round in late May.

If that is what occurs,it will certainly help Talarico with his inspiring “true” compassionate Christian message, along with his charisma and youth at age 37 later this year, against the “Old” alternatives, with Cornyn 74 (twice the age of Talarico) and Paxton being 63, and burdened by scandals and controversy, but favored by MAGA Republican loyalists over Cornyn.

One senses that Talarico has momentum, and a real chance to be the next Senator from Texas in 2027, and if he accomplishes that, one can expect he would be heard from down the road in a future Presidential campaign, such as 2036, when he would be 47, with ten years in the US Senate, and not having a Senate race, as he would in 2032!