Time to Opine

Jon Meacham writes that American democracy reasserted itself in the midterms through its most fundamental feature: the vote on.wsj.com/4AcJmBF

With Democrats taking control of the House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) outlined his priorities for the party when asked Saturday what a speakership under his leadership would look like in the next Congress: “We need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits so we can restore affordability for millions of Americans whose premiums have skyrocketed,” Jeffries told @NikolenDC. He also pointed to reversing Medicaid cuts, ending the war in Iran and stopping President Trump’s tariffs.

🚨 EL-SAYED REFUSES TO BACK SCHUMER FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed declined to endorse Chuck Schumer for Democratic Senate leader, despite Schumer’s support for his campaign. “I do believe we need new leadership and I think people are hungry for it,” El-Sayed declared. The outspoken Israel critic signals growing divisions within the Democratic Party over its leadership and direction.

Here’s a new universal health care proposal from @rosadelauro. Love the all-payer rate setting. delauro.house.gov/media-cent…

A man was arrested for copper wire theft in St. Paul for the seventh time after briefly trying to run away from police. bit.ly/4BXL4c2

"You chose hate and Michigan chose hope," @AbdulElSayed says to his defeated Republican opponent Mike Rogers. "May we never have to see the likes of you in Michigan again."

EXCLUSIVE: A Honduran illegal alien who was arrested by ICE in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge, issued a deportation order, then ordered released from ICE detention by a Clinton-appointed federal judge on "due process" grounds has now been arrested & charged w/ raping a woman in her Minnesota home while working as a handyman after his release. Police say the rape was captured on the woman’s internal home surveillance video. Authorities in Ramsey County, MN have charged 42-year-old MARCOTULIO MELENDEZ DIAZ with felony 1st degree criminal sexual penetration w/ coercion. According to the criminal complaint, on October 11th, MELENDEZ DIAZ allegedly overpowered and repeatedly raped the female victim in her own home in Mounds View, MN against her will while working as a handyman, and the assault was captured on the woman’s internal home surveillance system video. He is in custody on $150,000 bond and will face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. ICE has placed a detainer on him. ICE sources tell FOX that MELENDEZ DIAZ was initially caught and released at the Texas border by the Biden administration in April 2024. ICE arrested him in Minnesota in January 2026 during Operation Metro Surge and transferred him to ICE detention in Texas where he initially crossed the border illegally. An immigration judge issued him a deportation order on 3/30/2026 and MELENDEZ DIAZ appealed. But on 8/7/2026, a federal judge in the Western District of Texas, Judge Orlando L. Garcia (Clinton appointee) ordered MELENDEZ DIAZ released from ICE custody and granted his habeas petition on grounds of “due process”, and MELENDEZ DIAZ made his way back to Minnesota. The Board of Immigration Appeals then rejected MELENDEZ DIAZ’s appeal on 10/9/2026 and issued him a final deportation order, and two days later, police say he raped the Minnesota woman in her home.  Frustrated ICE sources say this alleged rape would have never happened if MELENDEZ DIAZ had remained in ICE custody. I’ve reached out to Judge Garcia’s office & courtroom deputy for comment.

I think the question for people not in politics who saw both elected officials handle their change of heart is how even handedly is the press handling each moment? Why is one dignified & the other a betrayal or worse yet a mental breakdown as some have implied?

The downfall of the nation will be each side sinking to new lows telling themselves it's necessary because the other side is worse.

Barack Obama: "We've got to make sure that nobody has to worry about high healthcare premiums."

UPDATE on the story Crime Watch broke early Saturday morning. Minneapolis police said they arrested 7 suspects in the break-in at the Basilica, including three adults. The jail roster shows they were released on "no probable cause." alphanews.org/minneapolis-po…

"Democratic voters are being instructed to do exactly what Democrats lectured Republicans not to do in 2016—which is to put party over country." thefp.com/p/the-democratic-c…

Not once, in any way, as the Republicans have gotten worse, have the Democrats responded by getting any better.

A new report shows that Pres. Trump and Republicans’ health care cuts are undoing years of progress, sending costs spiraling and limiting access for Americans. The most disastrous cuts from their One Big Beautiful Bill haven’t even gone into effect yet. Congress must act to stop these Republican cuts. forbes.com/sites/maryroeloff…

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules student IDs can’t be used to vote in New Hampshire, a win for the GOP in a Senate battleground. nbcnews.com/politics/supreme…

The Knicks' assistant coaches did not receive their championship rings during Tuesday's ceremony, despite being handed ring boxes, according to league sources. Many longtime employees at Madison Square Garden will not receive rings at all, per team sources. Those employees got their hopes up in late September, when they were sent a fake championship ring offer as part of a phishing test. nyti.ms/4jB0yvR

I met a Minnesotan who paid $18,000 out of pocket for dental surgery because Medicare just doesn't cover it. Your eyes and teeth are part of your body. It's time to expand Medicare to cover vision and dental - then get to work passing Medicare for All.

WATCH: A horrified Dana Bash has to educate Dem MESEN nominee Troy Jackson on Iran and prewar oil prices

The Champagne is running dry: State revokes remaining licenses of Medicaid millionaire Arnold Kubei The "Immigrant Money" businessman who flaunted his wealth now faces a 10-year Medicaid suspension amid a suspected fraud investigation.

The presidential pardon power is out of control on both sides of the aisle, and I think it should end. There are literally people who are pardon brokers who are being paid $300,000 to get close to Trump and to buy a pardon. Ban the presidential pardon.