Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive journalist and former Media Matters researcher, is running in the Democratic primary for Illinois's 9th Congressional District (IL-09) to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. The primary is scheduled for March 17, 2026. As a newcomer, she's gained traction with her anti-Trump, pro-worker messaging and endorsements from figures like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), but faces a crowded field including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and state Sen. Laura Fine. Recent polls show her as a strong contender, though a significant portion of voters remain undecided. Recent Polling Overview The most recent public poll, released November 21, 2025, by Data for Progress (conducted October 29–November 3 among likely Democratic primary voters), shows Abughazaleh tied for the lead: | Candidate | Support | Undecided | |--------------------|---------|-----------| | Daniel Biss | 18% | 31% | | Kat Abughazaleh | 18% | | | Laura Fine | 10% | | | Mike Simmons | 6% | | | Bushra Amiwala | 6% | | | Hoan Huynh | 5% | | | Other | 6% | | This marks an improvement for Abughazaleh from earlier surveys. In an October 22, 2025, poll commissioned by her campaign (MDW Communications), Biss led with 18% while Abughazaleh had 15% (with ~46% name recognition, up from 36% in June). A June 2025 poll had Biss at 17% and Abughazaleh at 10%. Her rising numbers align with increased visibility from events like No Kings rallies and progressive grassroots support, though her October 23 indictment on protest-related charges at an ICE facility has polarized opinions—boosting her among liberals but drawing criticism from moderates and Republicans. No newer polls have surfaced as of December 3, 2025, but the race remains fluid with 31% undecided in the latest survey. The district is heavily Democratic, so the primary winner is the heavy favorite in the general election. Abughazaleh's campaign emphasizes fighting "far-right" influences and has collected over 5,000 petition signatures to secure ballot access, despite a recent objection challenge.

Critics warn the EPA’s approvals of new PFAS pesticides could expose more Americans to “forever chemicals” through their food.

House Vote on Resolution Condemning Socialism (November 21, 2025) On November 21, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (H.Res. 1234, introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-FL) denouncing "the horrors of socialism in all its forms" and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution highlighted historical atrocities under socialist regimes, including those led by figures like Stalin, Mao, and Castro, and was timed ahead of a White House meeting between President Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist. The vote passed 285–98, with all 199 voting Republicans in favor. Among Democrats: 86 voted "yes" (siding with Republicans), 98 voted "no", 2 voted "present" (Reps. Janelle Bynum, D-OR, and Deborah Ross, D-NC), 29 did not vote (bringing the total "refusals" to condemn socialism to 127, per some reports). This bipartisan support from moderate and centrist Democrats was seen as a strategic move to distance the party from rising socialist figures like Mamdani ahead of the 2026 midterms. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) led the Democratic "yes" votes and notably endorsed Mamdani only at the last minute during his mayoral campaign. Democrats Who Voted "Yes" (86 Total) While a full official roll call list was not immediately released in search results, reports identified the following Democrats as voting in favor (notable for their districts, Senate ambitions, or public stances). These represent a mix of moderates from competitive districts, particularly in New York, New Jersey, New England, and the Midwest: | Representative | District/State | Notes | |---------------|----------------|-------| | Hakeem Jeffries | NY-08 | House Minority Leader; endorsed Mamdani late in NYC mayoral race. | | Tom Suozzi | NY-03 | Vocal critic of "overtly socialist platforms"; advocates centrist policies. | | Chris Pappas | NH-01 | Running for U.S. Senate in 2026; from swing state. | | Haley Stevens | MI-11 | Running for U.S. Senate in 2026; moderate in battleground state. | | Angie Craig | MN-02 | Running for U.S. Senate in 2026; focuses on economic affordability. | | (14 total from NY/NJ) | Various | Includes members from competitive Northeast districts; exact names not fully detailed in reports. | The remaining ~71 "yes" votes included other Democrats from vulnerable districts (e.g., Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), many of whom face socialist primary challengers or general election risks tied to national Democratic branding. Progressive Democrats like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) voted "no," criticizing the resolution as a distraction from issues like healthcare and economic inequality. For the complete roll call, refer to the official House Clerk's records (expected to be published shortly after the vote). This event underscores ongoing intraparty tensions within Democrats over economic populism versus centrism.

YouTube video by Negative Space

Months after fighting to keep secret emails between Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, Texas officials released 1,400 pages of records. But they reveal little about the two men’s relationship or Musk’s i...

Election Systems & Software (ES&S) handles the majority of electronic voting machines in the US today. As the largest vendor, it supplies equipment—including optical scanners, ballot-marking devices, and direct-recording electronic (DRE) systems—to about 50% of US counties, covering roughly 40% of the voting-age population. This dominance is based on data from the Verified Voting Equipment Database and analyses as of late 2024 and early 2025. Other major vendors include: Dominion Voting Systems (now under Liberty Vote since October 2025): Used in about 28% of counties and 27 states, but processes fewer ballots overall than ES&S. Hart InterCivic: Serves around 13% of counties, mainly in the South and Midwest. Smaller players like Clear Ballot, MicroVote, and Unisyn make up the rest, with no single one exceeding 5%. While three vendors (ES&S, Dominion, and Hart) account for over 90% of the market, ES&S leads due to its widespread use in both small and large jurisdictions. All certified systems must meet federal standards from the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and most now include paper trails for audits.