Politics and views in the United States

Maine labor leader to replace Platner, Trump endorses Graham’s sister for his Senate seat, and money from the makers of hazardous pesticides becomes an Iowa political liability.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

People in this country deserve to have health care.

We deserve to have people in government that are not giving tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy in this country on the backs of health care.

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has effectively secured the Democratic nomination for Senate.

More than two-thirds of the delegates at county-level meetings pledged their support to the logger and labor leader over the weekend.

He's a close ally of veteran and oysterman Graham Plattner, who dropped out following a rape accusation.

Jackson is likely to run a similar progressive campaign when facing five-term incumbent Republican Susan Collins.

Newly named South Carolina Senator Darlene Graham-Nordone is considering running for her late brother Lindsey's seat.

Graham-Nordone was praised by South Carolina's other Republican Senator, Tim Scott, who asked, quote, Why not her?

President Donald Trump has also endorsed her.

Polluted water and extremely high cancer rates are a touchy political issue in Iowa, where farmers use a lot of pesticides.

Federal data shows that Republican Congressman Zach Nunn has taken big donations from agrochemical companies, and he has supported their efforts to get legal immunity from cancer lawsuits.

He says they're part of a broad coalition backing his work on the House Agriculture Committee.

But Sam Bernhardt, with Food and Water Action, doesn't buy that.

Representative Nunn has put his corporate donors ahead of the interests of Iowa working families when it comes to the issue of pesticides and protecting Iowans from pesticides.

Nunn's district, encompassing Des Moines and south of town, is considered a toss-up, and his Democratic opponent is raising a lot of money.

Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is pouring more than $3 million into a coordinated campaign to win four congressional races in both chambers of the legislature.

Analysts say success could burnish Shapiro's reputation as a battleground leader if he enters the presidential race.

Next month, Maryland lawmakers will take up 2028 redistricting in a special legislative session.

A judge has ruled its districts must be compact, contiguous, and mindful of external boundaries.

Democratic lawmakers want to nullify that ruling with a constitutional amendment that makes partisan gerrymandering less vulnerable to legal challenges.

Joanne Antoine with Common Cause Maryland says that's the trend since the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, but by itself that's not enough justification.

Marylanders should be the ones to decide whether or not we want to amend our constitution to allow us to explore mid-decade redistricting next session.

So I think that it is a better route.

My hope is that this is a process that allows for public participation.

Maryland Republican lawmakers argue such redistricting would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands and silence the voices of conservative Eastern Shore voters.

The New York Times says FBI agents have been told not to investigate charges of violence and assault against ICE.

The White House denies the report.

In Miami, U.S. Marshals arrested brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, right-wing social media influencers who promote male dominance, misogyny, and wealth.

The UK is seeking their extradition on rape and sex trafficking charges.

I'm Zamone Perez for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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