Russell Payne

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Aftyn Behn’s rise challenges Tennessee’s GOP establishment - Salon.com Tennessee’s 7th District race is challenging assumptions about how Democrats win red states

What was once a long-shot bid to flip a R+22 district in TN has turned into a tight race, with progressive Aftyn Behn, within two points of her GOP opponent, telling me that she can feel the "Republican eye of Sauron breathing down my neck."
www.salon.com/2025/12/01/a...

YouTube video by Salon Sorry, Fox News: People don’t care about Charlie Kirk

Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!

My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.

We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.

youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...

The fight for the Epstein files isn’t over - Salon.com share.google/onTn2CgTaD7h...

A mock-up of a Salon article displayed over a background of Ruwa Romman supporters holding campaign signs. The article preview shows Ruwa Romman speaking at a podium with a “No Kings” sign, wearing a hijab and blazer. The headline reads: “Ruwa Romman’s case for economic populism in Georgia.”

A quote graphic from Salon placed over a photo of five young volunteers wearing “Team Ruwa for Georgia” shirts, standing together and smiling. The quote discusses affordability and the importance of naming the culprits behind rising prices.

Georgia needs a leader who will be honest about who is the cause of the challenges we face and who can mobilize a movement to deliver results.

Thanks to @rpaynereport.bsky.social at Salon for highlighting why this race matters and why change is overdue.

Opinion | Zohran Mamdani drops the mask The mayor-elect divides New Yorkers into two groups: the oppressed and their oppressors.

Sloppy editorials like this are just a small reason why billionaire controlled media is a major problem. They must not think very highly of their readers
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

One campaign promise New Yorkers will be watching for actually comes from Andrew Cuomo. Will he, or won't he, leave NYC as he promised to do if Zohran wins.

New York voters are already skeptical that Democrats have the will to learn lessons from Mamdani's success. In response to the win, Bernie Sanders said that it was time to face a hard truth: "Chuck Schumer and the Democratic establishment are losing relevance."

Mamdani wins: How a democratic socialist toppled the Empire State machine - Salon.com The biggest turnout in a mayoral election in 30 years was a victory for Democrats

It’s safe to say that Cuomo did not wrap up this bizarre and embarrassing coda to his political career with grace.

www.salon.com/2025/11/04/m...

At the same time, many members of the business and real estate worlds who could've helped stand up an anti-Zohran campaign either decided to call it quits after the primary or were swayed by Mamdani's campaign.

The story is about what didn't happen as much as what did. In the wake of the primary, a combined effort never materialized. While different groups did emerge, there was no clear leader or overarching plan.

Panic in the Hamptons: The fight to stop Zohran Mamdani Behind closed doors, wealthy donors plotted to stop a movement reshaping New York politics — and exposed their deepest fears.

Read the inside story of how the movement to stop Zohran Mamdani fell apart:
www.salon.com/2025/10/30/p...

Fox hangs an article attacking the Bills off of quote from random tweets

Anti-trans activists pray SCOTUS upholds "conversion therapy" - Salon.com Opponents of transgender rights hope they will benefit when the Supreme Court rules on conversion-therapy bans

Anti-trans activists are hoping that the Supreme Court will make a u-turn on their Skrmetti decision and disallow Colorado from banning conversion therapy in medical settings. If successful, medical regulation as we know it will be over in the United States
www.salon.com/2025/10/02/a...

Watchdog pushes for release of Jack Smith's Trump report - Salon.com The public has still not seen special counsel Jack Smith's full report on Trump's handling of classified documents

Nearly a year after the case was dismissed, Aileen Cannon is still helping Trump keep Jack Smith's full report from the public
www.salon.com/2025/09/30/w...

Fox News, however, welcomed her on the network, with Jesse Watters hailing her as an "expert" and an "undercover investigative journalist." Fox didn't reply to a request for comment.

She also wrote in far-right provocateur and podcaster Nick Fuentes for president:
archive.ph/teD7d

She has repeatedly espoused Holocaust revisionism and has publicly embraced fascism, saying things like “Hitler went to heaven. I do not apologize.”

Fox News "expert" says Hitler went to heaven - Salon.com Karlyn Borysenko, a self-described fascist, is gaining influence — and getting liberals fired

Meet Fox News' latest "expert" on the left.
www.salon.com/2025/09/23/f...

Lindsey Graham's challenger says Democrats can't give up on red states - Salon.com Annie Andrews, a pediatrician challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham, told Salon "it's always worth" challenging the GOP

Annie Andrews, who is challenging Lindsey Graham, explains the importance of Democrats putting up a fight in red states: www.salon.com/2025/09/17/l...

The SBA declined to say whether it was typical for politically connected businesses like Barnett Crossbows to receive special attention from high-level officials concerning tariffs.

The SBA responded, telling me "it’s unclear why Salon is shocked to learn that the SBA is helping small businesses access capital and onshore domestic production."

Emails suggest that a Trump-friendly business is getting special treatment from the government Emails show a Trump official intervening to help a Florida business owner who has been pictured with the president.

Senior officials at Trump's SBA and USTR are working behind the scenes to help MAGA-friendly businesses owned by Trump donors:
www.salon.com/2025/09/18/e...

"Liar!": Republican heckled at first town hall in 8 years - Salon.com Rep. Doug LaMalfa was repeatedly heckled by constituents while holding his first town halls in nearly a decade

And, it's catching up with Republicans in their home states
www.salon.com/2025/08/12/l...

Trump's Tariffs and 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Face More Opposition Than Support as His Job Rating Slips Six months into his term, far more say President Trump is making the way the federal government works worse than making it better.

A survey from earlier this month found that most Americans who had an opinion on the bill held a negative view of it.

www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...

The GOP delayed the implementation of large parts of their budget bill in the hopes of avoiding political consequences in the midterms but it's not working.

Republicans thought they could escape the Big Beautiful Bill. It's not working - Salon.com Republicans delayed many of the worst cuts until after the 2026 midterms — but the voters aren't fooled

Republicans can't outrun their own agenda
www.salon.com/2025/08/28/r...

In 2018, Dems had a generic ballot advantage of about 7 points in polling.

www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other...

2026 Generic Congressional Vote | RealClearPolling 2026 Generic Congressional Vote | RealClearPolling

Dems have been struggling to open up a gap in the generic ballot since February.
www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...

Democrats lead the U.S. House generic ballot by 8; voters back fair maps and oppose Trump's tariffs Results from the August Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll

New Strength In Numbers poll shows Dems up 8 points in generic ballot. They had been trailing behind previous blue wave midterms in the past. If this holds, it could mean we're in for something more like 2018 than 2022 in terms of midterms.

www.gelliottmorris.com/p/democrats-...