Democrats have rolled the dice in Maine as they pursue a post-Trump future. Will it work?

It was over the moment he received the endorsement of Maine’s most famous resident: Stephen King, the master of horror, who announced on Tuesday that he voted for Graham Platner.

More than 100,000 Democrats in Maine agreed, making Platner, a marine veteran and oyster farmer, their nominee for the US Senate against Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November.

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© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

Pulte or no Pulte, renewal of Section 702 will be an uphill battle unless Republican leaders allow votes on genuine reform. 

Pulte or no Pulte, renewal of Section 702 will be an uphill battle unless Republican leaders allow votes on genuine reform. 

Marine veteran won 72% of the vote despite infidelity and abuse allegations that emerged during primary campaign

• Platner shrugs off scandals to win Maine Democratic Senate primary

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Donald Trump said Iran has taken “too long” to agree to a deal “that would have been great for them” and will now “have to pay the price”.

In a post on Truth Social early this morning, which came after the US and Iran exchanged fire on Tuesday, Trump wrote:

Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!

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© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

Lawmakers warn appointment of presidential loyalist will scuttle bipartisan agreement to renew Fisa surveillance law

Donald Trump is pushing ahead with his controversial plan to install political loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, a move that has sparked bipartisan congressional backlash and imperiled the reauthorization of a powerful surveillance law set to expire at the end of this week.

Trump’s Tuesday evening announcement came after he met earlier in the day with the House speaker, Mike Johnson, to discuss Pulte’s elevation to the role, which has prompted widespread concern over his complete lack of national security experience and the prospect that he could use the office’s spying powers to continue his campaign of targeting Trump’s perceived political enemies.

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© Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

© Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

© Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the permanent post is set to collide with the intense anger still percolating among several key Republicans over his role in creating President Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, told Congress last week that the administration is not moving forward…

President Trump’s redoubled efforts to oust the Senate parliamentarian and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act are putting new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Trump over the years and is becoming a target of criticism from the MAGA base. Thune, who isn’t up…

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the permanent post is set to collide with the intense anger still percolating among several key Republicans over his role in creating President Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, told Congress last week that the administration is not moving forward…

President Trump’s redoubled efforts to oust the Senate parliamentarian and pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act are putting new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Trump over the years and is becoming a target of criticism from the MAGA base. Thune, who isn’t up…

Plus, why Americans are clamoring for European sunscreen.

© Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times

Graham Platner’s primary victory in Maine sets up a high-stakes contest between an insurgent progressive with political baggage and a battle-tested but vulnerable Republican senator.

© Sophie Park for The New York Times

Graham Platner won the Democratic primary for Senate in Maine and quickly turned his populist message against Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent.

© Sophie Park for The New York Times

Progressive oyster farmer Graham Platner easily won the Democratic contest on Tuesday to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)  — officially teeing up one of this year’s marquee Senate races. Platner was expected to win the Democratic primary, but recent revelations over a sexting scandal and his alleged toxic conduct from several ex-girlfriends have rocked his campaign and rattled…

Progressive oyster farmer Graham Platner easily won the Democratic contest on Tuesday to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)  — officially teeing up one of this year’s marquee Senate races. Platner was expected to win the Democratic primary, but recent revelations over a sexting scandal and his alleged toxic conduct from several ex-girlfriends have rocked his campaign and rattled…

Mr. Graham, a four-term incumbent, is the favorite to win the general election in a solidly Republican state.

© Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times

Platner, whose campaign was hit by series of negative headlines, to face Susan Collins in key midterm contest

Graham Platner, a Marine veteran, oyster farmer and progressive activist, has scaled a mountain of personal controversies to win the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Maine.

His victory on Tuesday caps a remarkable rise for a candidate who has never held elected office and whose campaign was shadowed by negative headlines that might have ended a more conventional political career.

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© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

Graham Platner, a progressive oyster farmer and political newcomer whose campaign has been wrought with controversies, will face off this fall against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, Decision Desk HQ projects.  Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, was unchallenged on Tuesday, while Platner easily advanced from the Democratic primary despite questions about whether…

Graham Platner, a progressive oyster farmer and political newcomer whose campaign has been wrought with controversies, will face off this fall against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, Decision Desk HQ projects.  Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, was unchallenged on Tuesday, while Platner easily advanced from the Democratic primary despite questions about whether…

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is projected to face off against Annie Andrews in November as the pediatrician seeks to unseat the four-term incumbent in South Carolina, according to Decision Desk HQ.  Graham and Andrews, who ran against five Republicans and two Democrats, respectively, won their primaries outright on Tuesday to avoid a June 23 primary…

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is projected to face off against Annie Andrews in November as the pediatrician seeks to unseat the four-term incumbent in South Carolina, according to Decision Desk HQ.  Graham and Andrews, who ran against five Republicans and two Democrats, respectively, won their primaries outright on Tuesday to avoid a June 23 primary…