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Inside the wild $25 million fight to oust top GOP Trump critic Thomas Massie The fight between Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and President Trump-backed rival Ed Gallrein is now the most expensive U.S. House primary in history — and its one of the nastiest, too.Why it matters: The race has turned into an all-out war of inflammatory accusations, savage insults and AI deepfakes.One pro-Gallrein super PAC ad features an AI-generated Massie dining and holding hands with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), accusing him of being in a throuple and cheating with The Squad on the America First movement.Pro-Massie groups have attempted to brutally undermine Gallreins MAGA credentials, labeling him woke Eddie and depicting the retired Navy SEAL in one AI-generated ad as a soldier abandoning Trump on a battlefield.Both candidates have attacked each other as being insufficiently conservative on a wide range of social issues, including diversity, equity and inclusion, transgender rights, Black Lives Matter, and immigration.By the numbers: All of this is backed up by more than $25.6 million in ad spending, according to AdImpact, which makes the fight between Massie and Gallrein the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.The record was previously broken in the 2024 election cycle when AIPAC spent a whopping $14.5 million to unseat Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who was one of Congress most vocal Israel critics, in a race that saw $25.2 million in overall ad spending.The Kentucky 4th district race could end up clearing that figure by a significant margin, with a week still to go until the May 19 primary.State of play: Massie, a doctrinaire isolationist and one of the few Republicans willing to publicly criticize Israel, is facing a similar barrage from pro-Israel groups.The Republican Jewish Coalition has spent $4 million on ads supporting Gallrein, with AIPAC super PAC United Democracy Project spending another $2.6 million, according to AdImpact.Massies increasingly public breaks with Trump have made him the target of Trump-aligned group MAGA KY, which has spent $5.6 million on top of $1.3 million from the Gallrein campaign itself.Massie, a prodigious fundraiser, has spent $5.6 million on ads from his own campaign, with the pro-Massie groups Kentucky 4th PAC and Kentucky First PAC dropping another $4.6 million and $920,000, respectively.The intrigue: As if the tone of the race wasnt incendiary enough, a new ad goes so far as to portray pro-Gallrein donor Paul Singer, who is Jewish, with an unexplained rainbow star of David in the backdrop.The minute-long ad accuses Gallrein of being bought and paid for by the LGBTQ mafia. Singer, a billionaire financier and GOP megadonor, is gay and has donated to LGBTQ+ rights causes.If Gallrein wins, the weirdos take over, the ad says, with text describing Gallreins values as freak values.Massies campaign did not respond to requests for comment on this story, nor did Singer or his hedge fund Elliott Management. The details: The ad is being run by a group called Hold The Line PAC, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact.Hold The Line PAC previously spent in support of right-wing candidates Colton Moore in Georgias 14th district and Jody Barrett in Tennessees 7th district. Both lost special elections to more mainstream GOP rivals.Hold the Line PAC is spending $235,000 in TV ads supporting Massie and opposing Gallrein, and another $50,000 on campaign text messages, according to Federal Election Commission filings.Noel Fritsch, a conservative political consultant listed as the groups treasurer, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia legislator and Jan. 6 rioter also associated with the PAC.Zoom in: The groups website says it is focused on Restoring Election Integrity & the Rule of Law by lobbying Republican lawmakers to crack down on processes such as mail-in voting.What theyre saying: Tom Massies time as a politician is coming to a close and its a shame to see him end his career this way, Gallrein advisor Tim Murtaugh said in a statement to Axios.The bottom line: Overall Massie is somewhat outgunned, with $10.7 million supporting him to $14.3 million supporting Gallrein.Its likely going to be a close race, with local GOP officials telling NOTUS they think Massie is genuinely vulnerable despite his popularity in the northeastern Kentucky district.
axios · 9 days ago
Johnson to address Senate Republicans amid escalating tensions House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will seek to heal growing friction with his Senate counterparts in remarks emphasizing unity during Senate Republicans weekly lunch Tuesday, Axios has learned.Why it matters: House and Senate Republicans have spent months clashing over virtually every major priority, despite their control of Congress and the White House.The disputes have ranged from ICE and Border Patrol funding, to the SAVE Act and a long-term extension of FISA. Johnson is expected to emphasize the need for open lines of communication as Republicans gear up for reconciliation packages 2.0 and 3.0. It will mark Johnsons first appearance at a Senate GOP lunch this year.U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran will also join Tuesdays lunch as the Senate considers funding for presidential security and the need for security enhancements for the new ballroom, two sources told AxiosThe big picture: House conservatives increasingly view the Senate as the main obstacle, while Senate Republicans deride what they characterize as unrealistic demands from House members. The dynamic has fueled repeated standoffs among congressional Republicans.I hate the Senate, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told Axios late last month amid FISA disagreements. There are like two and a half good senators.Catch up quick: The House passed the Senates DHS funding legislation just before they left for recess, a bill Johnson had previously called a joke.House conservatives revolted over the Senates two-track strategy, which funded DHS while postponing additional ICE and Border Patrol money to reconciliation.Several House Republicans privately and publicly said the move deepened mistrust of Senate Republicans.Johnson and Thune openly clashed over the strategy last month after Johnson said he wanted to make changes. Whats next: Republicans now face a high-stakes push to pass a second reconciliation package with border funding by President Trumps self-imposed June 1 deadline.Last week, Senate Republicans moved to include $1 billion in security funding for Trumps ballroom but the move has already hit resistance among some moderates.It will be a politically tricky vote that Democrats are eager to frame as an affordability contrast.Another flashpoint: Republicans still have no clear path to a long-term Section 702 FISA extension.Congress has already approved two short-term extensions of the warrantless surveillance program without resolving major disputes.The House passed a three-year extension paired with a ban on a Federal Reserve-backed digital currency, which Senate Republicans oppose.Conservatives are continuing to push for warrant requirements and insist the crypto provision remain attached.And theres the SAVE Act: House Republicans have blasted Senate Republicans for months for refusing to get rid of the filibuster to advance the GOPs signature election bill.Editors note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
axios · 9 days ago
ECDC: Further cases of hantavirus are possible in the coming weeks The European Commission: According to the latest assessment by the World Health Organisation, the risk to the general European population associated with hantavirus is currently considered to be low
eunews.it · 9 days ago
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 17-23 includes Derek Hough and Naomi Campbell Celebrities having birthdays during the week of May 17-23 include Dancing With the Stars veteran Derek Hough, musician Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and country singer George Strait
independent · 9 days ago
Ex-NBA player, Fab Five member Jalen Rose is a fixture at the school that bears his name in Detroit Jalen Rose regularly visits the high school he founded in Detroit, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
independent · 9 days ago
Key swing states must-win Senate race is now a mud-slinging showdown over ICE, Israel and dark money Three candidates brawl over corporate money and Israels influence as a seat that could swing control of the US Senate hangs in the balance, reports John Bowden
independent · 9 days ago
Fan festivals, Panini, tickets: What are FIFA World Cup fans talking about? From collectible shirts to broadcasting issues, heres what global football fans are discussing before World Cup 2026.
aljazeera · 9 days ago
Senate Democrats to fight Republicans $1bn funding plan for Trumps ballroom Chuck Schumer accuses GOP of asking working families to pay the price while Trump pockets the perks in letterUS politics live – latest updatesChuck Schumer, the US Senates top Democrat, has vowed to oppose a Republican plan to spend $1bn on security improvements for the ballroom Donald Trump is seeking to build on the White Houses former East Wing.The money is set to be included in a measure Republicans plan to pass that would allocate about $70bn to the federal agencies leading Trumps mass deportation campaign, with the intention of keeping them operational through the remainder of the presidents term. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
The Guardian view on World Cup ticket prices: $33,000? Youre having a laugh … | Editorial Fifas embrace of dynamic pricing and resale markets has led to sky-high costs and a speculative free-for-all, betraying the spirit of the beautiful gameIn What Money Cant Buy, his 2012 critique of a world where everything is for sale, Michael Sandel laments what he calls the skyboxification of American life. Price gouging and profiteering, Mr Sandel notes, can exclude millions from communal experiences that should unite people, rather than divide them according to the size of their wallets. That is not good for democracy, nor is it a satisfying way to live.Ahead of the mens World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next month, millions of football fans would readily agree with the Harvard philosopher. Gianni Infantino, the president of the sports global governing body, Fifa, has predicted that this summers tournament will be the greatest and most inclusive … ever. But the lead-up has been overshadowed by a ticketing strategy that is almost surreally indifferent to the battered traditions of the peoples game. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
Youre right to feel suspicious: Wordle is the TV spinoff the world does not need The game already feels like a relic – so I suspect the TV gameshow will be very annoying indeed. But perhaps this is what newspapers need to stay afloatAnyone who has watched television knows that late-night talkshow hosts have a habit of pulling entertainment formats from the barest of inspirations. James Corden got Carpool Karaoke from the act of singing songs in the car. Jimmy Fallon got Lip Sync Battle from the act of mouthing along to songs in the mirror. And now Fallon has struck again. Hes making a Wordle gameshow. Its based on Wordle, that puzzle you used to do while sitting on the toilet.Fallons production company, Electric Hot Dog, has acquired the rights to Wordle and will turn it into a show where teams compete to solve puzzles for cash. The show will film in Manchester, England, this summer and debut on NBC next year. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
My obsession with Elvis is almost like a drug: EMIN shoots the breeze on love for king of pop There are some interviews where you sit down, ask the questions, and leave with the quotes you need. And then there are the conversations that feel more like moments. Meeting EMIN at Sea Breeze felt like the latter.
euronews · 9 days ago
From Messi to Mbappé: Argentinas World Cup sticker obsession returns Thousands of football fans in Buenos Aires are gathering in parks and public squares to swap World Cup stickers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
euronews · 9 days ago