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Articles by Seth McLaughlin

Democratic congressional candidate Claire Valdez speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally ahead of New York's primary election, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

Socialists draft an aggressive new agenda for the Democratic Party

Claire Valdez used her victory speech Tuesday night in New York's 7th Congressional District to lay down a marker: She vowed to fight to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stand firmly with the transgender community, and push to end the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

June 24, 2026
Advertisements by the American company Polymarket predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova) **FILE**

Kentucky breaks with Trump administration to rein in prediction markets

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed three lawsuits Wednesday against companies operating sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets, accusing them of offering gambling products to Kentuckians while skirting state licensing, taxes and consumer protections.

June 17, 2026
UFC heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit speaks to reporters during the UFC Freedom 250 media day, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

UFC fighter Josh Hokit pummelled in the media for disparaging Michelle Obama

What started as a celebratory post-fight interview on the White House lawn -- moments after Josh Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis, handed President Trump a gold chain, and thanked Jesus Christ -- turned abruptly surreal when he capped his victory by shouting a baseless insult about Michelle Obama.

June 15, 2026
Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Platner’s bid tests how much personal baggage Maine voters will tolerate

Graham Platner is poised to win his party's Senate nomination Tuesday in Maine despite a campaign roiled by offensive Reddit posts he wrote years ago, a chest tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, and more recent reports of unsettling behavior toward women -- a trajectory that would place him among a growing number of politicians whose personal failings have not derailed them at the ballot box.

June 8, 2026
Zach Lahn, Republican candidate for Iowa governor, speaks during a campaign event Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Newton, Iowa. (Erin Murphy/The Gazette via AP)

MAHA tops MAGA in Iowa’s GOP governor’s contest

Republican businessman Zach Lahn defeated Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa's GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, dealing a rare primary loss to President Trump after his late endorsement failed to push his chosen candidate over the finish line.

June 3, 2026