Politics, Parties, Candidates
Here's a look at documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties
Featured Stories
N.C. Democratic Party: Reminder - 14 Years Since The STOCK Act Was Signed, Michael Whatley Advocates For Policies That Benefit His Stock Portfolio
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news on April 3, 2026:
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REMINDER: 14 Years Since The STOCK Act Was Signed, Michael Whatley Advocates For Policies That Benefit His Stock Portfolio
Tomorrow marks the 14th anniversary of the STOCK Act becoming law, so here's a reminder that DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist Michael Whatley has repeatedly pushed for policies that sent his stock portfolio soaring, using his position and influence to enrich himself at the expense of North Carolinians.
* Just this week, Whatley dismissed the sacrifice
... Show Full Article
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news on April 3, 2026:
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REMINDER: 14 Years Since The STOCK Act Was Signed, Michael Whatley Advocates For Policies That Benefit His Stock Portfolio
Tomorrow marks the 14th anniversary of the STOCK Act becoming law, so here's a reminder that DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist Michael Whatley has repeatedly pushed for policies that sent his stock portfolio soaring, using his position and influence to enrich himself at the expense of North Carolinians.
* Just this week, Whatley dismissed the sacrificeof service members in Iran while his investments in Big Oil companies spiked by up to $117,000.
- Fayetteville Observer: What Michael Whatley gains from supporting Trump's Iran War
* Whatley was also "busted" for cheering on Trump's pledge to increase oil production in Venezuela and reaping up to $63,000 in a single weekend.
- Politico: Whatley's windfall
* Despite Whatley's clear conflicts of interest as a Big Oil lobbyist and DC insider running for U.S. Senate, Whatley has refused to sell his individual stocks.
- News & Observer: Roy Cooper urges Michael Whatley to sell individual stocks
"Time after time, DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist Michael Whatley has massively profited from policies he pushed for, proving the only thing he cares about is his bottom line," said NCDP Spokesperson Mallory Payne. "North Carolina families can't afford a Senator who's focused on increasing his own wealth while costs skyrocket for working families."
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Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/media/reminder-14-years-since-the-stock-act-was-signed-michael-whatley-advocates-for-policies-that-benefit-his-stock-portfolio/
N.C. Democratic Party: From MS Now - DC Insider Michael Whatley "Dismissing Affordability Concerns" & Claiming "Costs Are Coming Down"
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news on April 2, 2026:
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FROM MS NOW: DC Insider Michael Whatley "Dismissing Affordability Concerns" & Claiming "Costs Are Coming Down"
New reporting from MS NOW is highlighting how DC insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley has repeatedly "dismiss[ed] affordability concerns," claiming that inflation is down and that "costs are coming down."
Whatley's tone deaf comments couldn't be more out of touch with North Carolina families.
Read More:
MS NOW: 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senate
... Show Full Article
RALEIGH, North Carolina, April 4 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news on April 2, 2026:
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FROM MS NOW: DC Insider Michael Whatley "Dismissing Affordability Concerns" & Claiming "Costs Are Coming Down"
New reporting from MS NOW is highlighting how DC insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley has repeatedly "dismiss[ed] affordability concerns," claiming that inflation is down and that "costs are coming down."
Whatley's tone deaf comments couldn't be more out of touch with North Carolina families.
Read More:
MS NOW: 'Take one less trip to Starbucks': GOP Senatecandidates keep dismissing affordability concerns (https://www.ms.now/news/starbucks-gop-senate-candidates-dismissing-affordability-concerns)
Kevin Frey | April 1, 2026
* Across key Senate races this cycle, several Republican Senate candidates have downplayed rising costs...
* "We feel pretty good about the economy," [Whatley] told Fox News in February.
* In January, on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, Whatley said Americans had "seen inflation prices come down so dramatically since President Trump took over." And in February, appearing on the same show, he said the "North Carolina economy is getting back on its feet."
* "We are seeing right now that jobs are being created, paychecks are bigger, costs are coming down," [Whatley] said.
* Those comments could easily come back to haunt Whatley, as his Democratic opponent -- former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper -- makes affordability central to his campaign.
* As Whatley said last June, in remarks tailormade for a political attack ad, "President Trump campaigned on bringing down gasoline prices, grocery prices, and housing prices."
* "How are we doing?" Whatley asked.
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Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/media/new-from-ms-now-dc-insider-michael-whatley-dismissing-affordability-concerns-claiming-costs-are-coming-down/
Mich. Democratic Party: Breaking - Mike Rogers' Health Care Plan Includes New Out-of-Pocket Costs and High-Risks Pools That Increase Premiums
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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BREAKING: Mike Rogers' Health Care Plan Includes New Out-of-Pocket Costs and High-Risks Pools that Increase Premiums
A breaking report from Bridge Michigan reveals new details about Mike Rogers' toxic health care agenda. Audio of Rogers speaking at a recent campaign event reveals his plan includes "ending no-cost preventive care" and "recreating a form of high-risk insurance pools." Health care experts panned Rogers' plan as "so crazy," saying it would cause health care costs to skyrocket for
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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BREAKING: Mike Rogers' Health Care Plan Includes New Out-of-Pocket Costs and High-Risks Pools that Increase Premiums
A breaking report from Bridge Michigan reveals new details about Mike Rogers' toxic health care agenda. Audio of Rogers speaking at a recent campaign event reveals his plan includes "ending no-cost preventive care" and "recreating a form of high-risk insurance pools." Health care experts panned Rogers' plan as "so crazy," saying it would cause health care costs to skyrocket forpatients with pre-existing conditions and lead to more "undiagnosed chronic diseases [that] can spiral out of control and require expensive treatment."
"Mike Rogers' plan is to make health care more expensive and rip away care from Michiganders with pre-existing conditions," said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Joey Hannum. "Rogers thinks Michiganders should be forced to pay new out-of-pocket costs for basic services like blood pressure, diabetes and cancer screenings--meanwhile, he's fully on board with giving more handouts to multi-millionaires like himself. Price Hike Mike's health care plan is shameful, and Michiganders will reject it in November."
Read more:
Bridge Michigan (https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/senate-hopeful-mike-rogers-floats-copays-high-risk-pools-for-health-care/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter): Senate hopeful Mike Rogers floats copays, high-risk pools for health care
* Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers recently told supporters he is interested in ending no-cost preventive care for health insurance plans and creating "catastrophic funds" for the sickest Americans.
* "You know, if you go up and have to pay the doctor $50 for your annual physical, that's probably okay, right?" Rogers told supporters at a March 21 event in Macomb County, according to a recording reviewed by Bridge Michigan.
* Rogers was responding to a question from an attendee who asked him what could be done to lower health care costs. Rogers said he'd be releasing a full health care plan in the coming weeks that would "embrace the freedom of the free market" to start lowering prices.
* His comments on preventive care copays and creating separate insurance pools for sick patients would undo two promises of the Affordable Care Act.
* Rogers' campaign did not directly respond to requests for clarification about his remarks.
* In the event with supporters, Rogers likened free preventive care -- as guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act -- to "an auto insurance plan that would pay for your blinker's light going out." That would be a great insurance plan, but one that would cost drivers more, he explained.
* "We need to start changing the way we look at health care," Rogers said.
* A major provision of the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to provide certain preventive care services, such as blood pressure, diabetes and cancer screenings -- notably at no cost to the patient.
* Anand Parekh, chief policy officer at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, argued that if people skip preventive care because of costs, undiagnosed chronic diseases can spiral out of control and require expensive treatment.
* In his remarks, Rogers also suggested the federal government establish "catastrophic funds" to lower premiums, appearing to embrace the concept of high-risk pools while noting "the sickest part of our society ends up consuming the most" medical services.
* "So we're going to pay our premium based on what a normal life would be, not including these people who are really, really sick," Rogers said.
* He added: "We take the really sick people and put them in this fund that we all pay a little bit. The government pays, the hospital pays, Medicare would pay a little bit."
* Before the ACA, nearly three dozen states had high-risk pools for people with significant medical needs who couldn't otherwise get insurance. The ACA essentially eliminated the need for those pools by mandating insurers cover patients with pre-existing conditions.
* "This turns out to be expensive for consumers and government," said Parekh, who also served as the chief medical advisor at the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center.
* Returning to high-risk pool policies would be "just so crazy," said Fendrick, telling Bridge the pools are among a series of ideas "that have been floated around conceptually for decades, but never had the policy or political chops behind" them.
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/breaking-mike-rogers-health-care-plan-includes-new-out-of-pocket-costs-and-high-risks-pools-that-increase-premiums/
ICYMI: Mike Rogers is Surrounding Himself With Extremists
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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ICYMI: Mike Rogers is Surrounding Himself with Extremists
Following recent reporting about how multi-millionaire Mike Rogers' newly-announced campaign outreach team includes members who "complained about women in politics" and defended a group chat "filled with praise for Hitler, gas chamber jokes, racial slurs, and rape comments," a reminder that Rogers has stacked his campaign with extremists:
* Mike Rogers' super PAC is bankrolled by an "ardent Christian nationalist" with
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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ICYMI: Mike Rogers is Surrounding Himself with Extremists
Following recent reporting about how multi-millionaire Mike Rogers' newly-announced campaign outreach team includes members who "complained about women in politics" and defended a group chat "filled with praise for Hitler, gas chamber jokes, racial slurs, and rape comments," a reminder that Rogers has stacked his campaign with extremists:
* Mike Rogers' super PAC is bankrolled by an "ardent Christian nationalist" withties to far-right antisemites: Rogers' super PAC received $5 million from Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn, who said "only Christians should hold leadership positions" and whose political network includes "white supremacists and antisemites" like Nick Fuentes.
* Mike Rogers has refused to speak out after one of his senior campaign leaders admitted to dismissing victims' allegations of childhood sexual abuse: Pastor Tim Cross, a senior leader on Rogers' faith coalition team, has a "connection to a Midland church where three elders have been convicted of sex crimes involving children" and recently admitted he "did not believe the victims" when they came forward.
* Mike Rogers has embraced baseless election denialism: Rogers was caught at campaign events falsely claiming that "a single van carrying ballots in Detroit 'swung' his 2024 race" and has since "surround[ed] himself with election deniers" who "repeatedly questioned the results of the 2020 election" and have received federal pardons from Trump for their alleged roles in the "false electors" scheme to overturn Michigan's 2020 electoral votes.
* Mike Rogers' campaign has "downplayed the extreme positions" of its faith coalition leadership team, who have "openly opposed gay marriage and LGBTQ+ rights," supported forced conversion therapy on minors, called LGBTQ+ people an "abomination," and described LGBTQ+ rights as a "godless, demonic, satanic and wicked agenda of the devil."
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/icymi-mike-rogers-is-surrounding-himself-with-extremists/
ICYMI: Bill Huizenga Caught Touring Castle on European Vacation During Government Shutdown
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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ICYMI: Bill Huizenga Caught Touring Castle on European Vacation During Government Shutdown
Reporting this week from Michigan Advance and TMZ caught Bill Huizenga jetting off to Europe to tour a Scottish castle.
Huizenga's international trip comes as Michiganders are paying surging prices at the pump. Meanwhile, Huizenga rejected a bipartisan bill to ensure TSA workers get paid during the ongoing shutdown.
"Bill Huizenga is touring European castles while Michigan families struggle
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 4 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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ICYMI: Bill Huizenga Caught Touring Castle on European Vacation During Government Shutdown
Reporting this week from Michigan Advance and TMZ caught Bill Huizenga jetting off to Europe to tour a Scottish castle.
Huizenga's international trip comes as Michiganders are paying surging prices at the pump. Meanwhile, Huizenga rejected a bipartisan bill to ensure TSA workers get paid during the ongoing shutdown.
"Bill Huizenga is touring European castles while Michigan families strugglewith the skyrocketing cost of gas, groceries, health care and more thanks to his billionaires-first agenda," said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sara Isaacson. "Huizenga cares more about bumping elbows with his DC allies on an international getaway than paying TSA agents or lifting a finger to get things done for Southwest Michigan."
Read more below:
Michigan Advance (https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/huizengas-office-confirms-scotland-delegation-visit-during-partial-shutdown/): Huizenga's office confirms Scotland delegation visit during partial shutdown
* Official congressional delegations to other nations are typically cancelled even during partial government shutdowns, much like the one the federal government is facing due to its inability to fund the Department of Homeland Security -- but that didn't stop the Republican Main Street Caucus from flying to Scotland.
* Among those pictured was Michigan's U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland Township.
* Huizenga's spokesman Brian Patrick told Michigan Advance that the congressman was indeed in Scotland...
READ IN TMZ (https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/01/taxpayers-sponsor-congress-scotland-vacation/):
[View image in the link at bottom.]
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/icymi-bill-huizenga-caught-touring-castle-on-european-vacation-during-government-shutdown/
DNC: Trump's FY 2027 Budget - War and the Wealthy First, Working Families Last
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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Trump's FY 2027 Budget: War and the Wealthy First, Working Families Last
Donald Trump submitted his annual budget proposal to Congress today, in which he requested $1.5 trillion in military spending while slashing critical programs that help everyday Americans, small businesses, and farmers. Trump's proposed $445 billion increase in military spending could instead pay for a year of health care for nearly 56 million Americans, a year of child care for 32 million children, or school
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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Trump's FY 2027 Budget: War and the Wealthy First, Working Families Last
Donald Trump submitted his annual budget proposal to Congress today, in which he requested $1.5 trillion in military spending while slashing critical programs that help everyday Americans, small businesses, and farmers. Trump's proposed $445 billion increase in military spending could instead pay for a year of health care for nearly 56 million Americans, a year of child care for 32 million children, or schoollunch for 30 million children throughout their entire K-12 education.
Trump wants Americans to pay for his deadly and costly war of choice in Iran -- which has already claimed the lives of 13 U.S. servicemembers and injured over 350. Trump's war is driving up prices -- yet just this week Trump admitted, "We can't take care of daycare. We're a big country. We have fifty states, we have all these other people, we're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care."
In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"Donald Trump and JD Vance campaigned as an 'America First' ticket, but their budget shows where their priorities really are: billionaires first, working families last. Americans are already struggling to make ends meet in Trump's economy, and rather than make it easier to put food on the table, pay rent, or afford doctor's visits, Trump wants to make taxpayers pay for his war with Iran. Americans want housing, health care, and affordable energy bills, not more bombs. Families are sick of seeing their needs on the backburner while Trump caters to his own interests and secures massive tax handouts for his rich friends."
Here are some of the most harmful elements of Trump's budget:
Economy:
* Trump's budget calls for eliminating programs that help everyday Americans with high costs, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides assistance for energy costs to low-income households.
* Trump's budget calls for eliminating housing affordability programs, including those in the bipartisan Senate housing bill that Trump initially said he would sign into law.
* Trump's budget seeks to eliminate programs that support small businesses, including cutting the Commerce Department agency that promotes minority-owned businesses, as well as the Rural Business Service by $82 million.
Education:
* Trump is continuing his efforts to shut down the Department of Education by cutting billions from K-12 programs and millions from minority-serving institutions.
Farmers:
* Trump's budget calls for cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from programs that provide assistance to support school meals and child nutrition.
Environment:
* Trump's budget proposes a 52% cut to the EPA -- the lowest level since the 1980s -- including cutting funding to reduce pollution, which causes asthma and other harmful diseases.
Homeland Security:
* Amid the ongoing DHS shutdown, in which Trump and Republicans refuse to fund key agencies like TSA and FEMA, Trump is calling for a $52 million cut to TSA and for privatizing the agency.
* Trump is similarly calling for $1.3 billion in cuts to FEMA grants.
* Meanwhile, Trump is calling for $10 billion in additional funding for ICE with no reforms and no strings attached.
* Trump's budget seeks to cut grant funding for the Office on Violence Against Women, which his administration called "duplicative and unnecessary."
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/trumps-fy-2027-budget-war-and-the-wealthy-first-working-families-last/
DNC: In the States - From Gas to Groceries to Health Care, Americans are Paying the Cost of Trump's Toxic Agenda and War of Choice in Iran
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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IN THE STATES: From Gas to Groceries to Health Care, Americans are Paying the Cost of Trump's Toxic Agenda and War of Choice in Iran
Yesterday marked one year since Donald Trump declared April 2 "Liberation Day" and rolled out at least 10% tariffs on nearly all countries. Trump promised American families that his tariffs would help lower costs and usher in a "golden age," but instead, one year later, working families are struggling under skyrocketing costs, high inflation, a dismal
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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IN THE STATES: From Gas to Groceries to Health Care, Americans are Paying the Cost of Trump's Toxic Agenda and War of Choice in Iran
Yesterday marked one year since Donald Trump declared April 2 "Liberation Day" and rolled out at least 10% tariffs on nearly all countries. Trump promised American families that his tariffs would help lower costs and usher in a "golden age," but instead, one year later, working families are struggling under skyrocketing costs, high inflation, a dismaljob market, and a decaying economy.
* In Arizona: AZ Family: One year after Trump's 'Liberation Day,' Arizona lost thousands of jobs
* In Minnesota: Minnesota Star Tribune: A year in, Trump's tariffs take toll on Minnesota companies
* In Michigan: Michigan Advance : A year after 'Liberation Day,' Michigan Dems rail on the harms of Trump's tariffs on the state
* In Kentucky: Louisville Courier Journal: One year later, impact of Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs linger in KY
* In Georgia: WJCL 22: Savannah residents, businesses reflect on impact of Trump tariffs one year later
Yesterday, the DNC filed a lawsuit alongside the DSCC, DCCC, DGA, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer challenging Donald Trump's illegal executive order that attacks Americans' right to vote by mail. This executive order is yet another blatantly unconstitutional attempt by Trump and Republicans to interfere in fair and free elections, but Democrats aren't backing down. We are taking action to protect every American's right to vote and ensure their voices are heard.
* Nationwide: CBS News: DNC and top Democratic leaders sue Trump over mail-in voting executive order
* Nationwide: Democracy Docket: Democrats sue to block Trump's 'unlawful' order targeting mail-in voting
* Nationwide: Politico: Democrats sue Trump administration over mail-in-voting order
* Nationwide: Associated Press: Democrats sue to block Trump's executive order targeting mail ballots
* Nationwide: Reuters: Democrats ask judge to block Trump order tightening mail-in voting
* Nationwide: Washington Post: Democrats, voter rights groups file lawsuits on Trump order on mail ballots
As Donald Trump's deadly and costly war in Iran continues to drag on, House Republicans are looking to make even deeper cuts to Medicaid to foot the bill. Just last year, Trump and Republicans passed their Big Ugly Bill that enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in history, leaving millions of Americans uninsured and putting hundreds of hospitals at risk of closure. Now, Republicans want to make this health care crisis even worse.
* Nationwide: Axios: GOP weighs health care cuts to pay for Iran war
* Nationwide: NBC News: Medicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report finds
* In Florida: Florida Phoenix: Medicaid cuts could add pressure to already-stressed psychiatric units
* In Nebraska: Associated Press: Concerns over a Nebraska hospital show how a $50B rural health fund is coming up short
* In Nebraska: Nebraska Examiner: Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act darkens outlook for government-backed clinics
Meanwhile, Americans across the country are paying a premium at the pump as Donald Trump's unpopular war of choice with Iran spikes gas prices. As the national average gas price hits $4 a gallon the first time since 2022, everyday Americans and small businesses are struggling to make ends meet amid rising costs -- with no relief in sight.
* Nationwide: New York Times: As Gas Prices Approach $4 a Gallon, Americans Rethink Vacations
* Nationwide: CNN: Fuel vs food: These Americans are cutting back to afford higher gas prices
* Nationwide: CNN: 'I'm done': Rideshare drivers on the brink of quitting over higher gas prices
* In Florida: First Coast News: Gas prices surge, driving up costs for Jacksonville businesses: 'It can't just keep going up'
* In Massachusetts: CBS Boston: Massachusetts drivers frustrated by rising gas prices: "I had to get a second job"
* In North Carolina: ABC 11: Gas price surge strains farmers, drivers across NC
* In Pennsylvania: WHYY: 'Ridiculous, absurd': Philadelphia-area gas prices top $4 a gallon for the first time in 4 years
* In Pennsylvania: CBS Philadelphia: Rising gas prices "hitting the bottom line" of this Pennsylvania trucking company
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/in-the-states-from-gas-to-groceries-to-health-care-americans-are-paying-the-cost-of-trumps-toxic-agenda-and-war-of-choice-in-iran/
