INTERNACIONAL
GOP rising star helped topple Trump-backed incumbent. Now he’s caught leadership’s eye
It’s June 2026 and the summer’s intense heat is slowly creeping across the East Coast. In Florida, a different kind of heat is threatening to burn Republicans — a firestorm of political backlash that could at best force the GOP to spend millions more in the midterms, and at worst cost the party what should be a safely red House seat.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., was one of the first to sound the alarm publicly about embattled Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., and the scandals that could have sandbagged his re-election chances. It’s an unusually bold move for a first-term congressman, particularly when all of the House GOP leadership and the White House were still publicly backing Mills.
But Haridopolos’ plan was well-executed — and with the help of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., Mills went down as one of only four Republican incumbents to lose a primary in the 2026 midterm cycle. Republican election watchers saw the loss with some relief, privately feeling better about their chances with former journalist Ryan Elijah, who Haridopolos recruited to run, against Democratic former NASA official Bale Dalton.
And Haridopolos was there with Elijah both figuratively and literally. The former local news anchor said he was «right there in the front row» during the primary debate.
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«Not only was he there, he was kind of like the spin room. He did a lot of the media interviews, and that was huge for us,» Elijah told Digital.
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Haridopolos told Digital, «I recognized that Cory Mills was absolutely going to lose a general election against a solid Democrat candidate. And so I went to the leadership and, of course, the president’s team and said, look, we need to find a way for Mills to step aside.»
«Unfortunately, Mr. Mills was not willing to step aside. And so I let the leadership and the president know that I’d be helping someone else in the primary,» he continued. «It was not the easiest thing to do, taking on a colleague. But … this is a team sport and all of us need to work together.»
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«Team sport» is an analogy that the Florida Republican has used frequently, and one that he’s used to try and define his tenure in the House.
It’s paid off for him so far, with Haridopolos having forged close relationships with both House GOP leaders and his peers.
«He’s a trusted ally and somebody you can count on. He delivers. You never have to worry about where he’s going to be,» House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who has known Haridopolos for roughly two decades, told Digital.
The two politicos first forged a relationship in their respective state houses. When Haridopolos said he would launch a campaign for Congress, Scalise said he told him, «I want to be your first check … I want to support you.»
And in his short time so far, he’s already been entrusted to lead a House panel. Haridopolos is chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s space subcommittee, a fitting position for someone whose district is home to the Kennedy Space Center despite his junior status.
The Florida freshman said space has long been a passion of his, dating back to his efforts as a state lawmaker to bring the shuttle program back to his backyard.
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«So many people were concerned that we’d go back to the post-Apollo days, which are very detrimental to the economy of Central Florida. And so at that time, Rick Scott was governor … We decided that we needed to not just rely on NASA but start pushing for public-private partnerships,» Haridopolos said.
The U.S. has seen an unprecedented resurgence of success in space in the last two years, partly propelled by the public-private partnerships that Haridopolos is pushing. NASA completed its historic Artemis II mission just this year, sending four astronauts around the moon and back in the first such mission in decades.
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«I’m really confident that in two years we’ll be landing back on the moon,» Haridopolos said.
That’s also due in no small part to the federal government investing in the new space race, after the Trump administration initially proposed a roughly 24% cut to NASA’s budget in May 2025.
Haridopolos, seeing space as another frontier for national security, was alarmed. He told Digital at the time that he would seek a «constructive conversation with the White House» about a higher figure.
«I’m not sure what that number will be in the end, but in my conversations with the president about space, he’s absolutely committed to it,» he said in May 2025.
Eventually, President Donald Trump signed into law a spending bill that included $24.4 billion for NASA — rather than the initial $18.8 billion proposal — and approved an additional $9.9 billion in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told Digital that Haridopolos «understands that so much of America’s future in space runs through Florida and Kennedy Space Center.»
«He is serious about the mission, willing to engage on the hard issues, and always focused on how we can move the ball forward,» Isaacman said.
Before his political career began, Haridopolos was a history professor at what is now Eastern Florida State College. He was born to an American mother and Greek immigrant father, and is currently married to Stephanie Haridopolos — a physician by profession who has spent the last several months as acting surgeon general.
But despite his accomplishments and connections, Haridopolos’ name is not one that has garnered headlines in the way that more bombastic House Republicans have in their public defiance of GOP leaders or criticism of Trump.
That’s because he prefers to settle disputes behind closed doors, a hallmark of politics that has largely been abandoned in an age where attention is seen as political currency.
«When you hear members of Congress saying, like, ‘Oh, I want you to get me on TV,’ it’s usually like, ‘Uh-oh, someone’s about to do something crazy here to get on TV.’ He was like … I’m going to earn my spot on there legitimately by being a good, reliable messenger for the party,» a Republican aide familiar with Haridopolos’ operation told Digital.
The aide said that could pose a challenge in times when television networks were looking for dramatic tales of discord, but that his communication skills still got him a «high volume» of press.
That aide said they also witnessed Haridopolos turn down media interviews that did not fit his schedule, but offer to help fellow House Republicans secure that spot instead.
«He was just finding ways to help out leadership, but also just his fellow members, especially his fellow freshman members,» the aide said.
Haridopolos told Digital of the chaos that’s become a regular facet of Republicans’ majority, «One of my goals is to tell those folks who always stand [in front of cameras] after we finish the session, you know, what we need to do more is spend time in the caucus having these knock-down, drag-outs. Not through the press, but as a family, and come out there unified. I think it’s the best way to solve problems.»
He’s also been known to offer help on the fundraising side — as Scalise put it, «He raises a lot of money.»
The political maneuvering has raised questions for some about where Haridopolos sees his future and what he’s looking to get out of the relationships he is building in a largely transactional world.
«He knows how to work with people and how to advance what he wants,» the Republican aide said. «I could see him in senior leadership … and sooner than people expect.»
Scalise said, «Mike has a bright future, because he’s a natural leader.»
But Haridopolos has insisted that his efforts are all dedicated to the greater good of the Republican Party.
«A lot of people have asked me if I’m going to pursue a leadership position after the elections this year. I’m absolutely not going to pursue one of those leadership positions,» he said. «There’s people who have been in Congress for three, four, or five terms who I think have really put that effort in.»
He named members like fellow freshman Rep. Brian Jack, R-Ga., Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind.
«If I’m focused on the team, I think great things could happen in the future,» Haridopolos said.
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Para numerosos nicaragüenses en el exilio, la posibilidad de regresar a Nicaragua responde a motivos familiares, personales, laborales o administrativos. Los casos conocidos muestran que las condiciones de ingreso pueden variar y que, para algunas personas, el retorno ha estado acompañado por requisitos, controles posteriores o procesos judiciales.
En ese contexto, Cristóbal Giovanny López, conocido en TikTok como “Tropigamer”, y el abogado Harry Valle expresaron públicamente su interés en volver. Ambos plantearon su disposición a aceptar las condiciones que definan las autoridades, mientras sus pedidos reabrieron el debate sobre las experiencias de quienes salieron al exilio, fueron desterrados o encontraron impedimentos para regresar.
López salió de Nicaragua en septiembre de 2024 junto con otros 134 presos políticos que fueron trasladados a Guatemala. Más adelante llegó a Estados Unidos con apoyo de Naciones Unidas y, a inicios de octubre, anunció que quería regresar a Managua y registrar su llegada al aeropuerto. Tras ese anuncio circularon versiones sobre un posible “perdón” negociado por personas próximas al oficialismo, aunque no se confirmó de algún acuerdo, Según Diario La Prensa.
Valle, penalista de Matagalpa e identificado como militante sandinista, se exilió en 2026 después de conocer que existía una orden de captura en su contra. Desde TikTok solicitó que las autoridades revisaran también su caso si se estudiaba la situación de López, afirmó que no había cometido delitos y señaló que sus intervenciones correspondían a opiniones emitidas como abogado.
Los relatos de retornados describen requisitos y controles posteriores
El periodista exiliado Emiliano Chamorro relató el caso de una integrante de una congregación religiosa que viajó a Estados Unidos por dos semanas en 2022. Cuando preparaba su regreso, supo que no podría ingresar a Nicaragua por vía aérea, por lo que decidió trasladarse a Honduras y acudir a una frontera terrestre para solicitar autorización.
Según el relato, la mujer pidió a policías y militares que le permitieran entrar, ofreció disculpas por cualquier expresión que hubiera podido ofender a Daniel Ortega y Rosario Murillo, firmó documentos, respondió interrogatorios y entregó sus maletas y pertenencias. Luego de varias horas de espera, recibió permiso para cruzar hacia Nicaragua.
El ingreso estuvo acompañado por condiciones: debía acudir cada semana a firmar en una estación de Policía de su localidad, apartarse de su congregación religiosa y mantener una conducta reservada. Después de volver, cambió de teléfono, borró sus redes sociales, dejó de participar en actividades religiosas y redujo el contacto con sus amistades; Chamorro resumió que “se volvió anónima y distante”.
El Colectivo de Derechos Humanos Nicaragua Nunca Más reunió en Costa Rica testimonios de personas retornadas bajo exigencias similares. A mitad de 2026, la organización tenía relatos de cerca de 200 personas de 13 departamentos que debían presentarse en estaciones policiales, y algunas de ellas tenían que hacerlo a diario.
De acuerdo con los testimonios recogidos por el colectivo, quienes lograban regresar también podían necesitar permiso para salir de su municipio. Algunas personas fueron fotografiadas durante sus visitas a las delegaciones y reportaron seguimientos al salir de sus viviendas o al volver a ellas.
Algunas personas afirmaron que pagaron para obtener autorización de ingreso
Desde 2024, nicaragüenses que viajaron al exterior por razones personales o laborales encontraron impedimentos cuando intentaron volver. En algunos casos, recibieron la notificación por correo electrónico de la aerolínea y, en otros, durante el proceso de prechequeo, sin una explicación pública sobre el motivo de la medida.
En abril de 2026, Diario La Prensa publicó testimonios de personas que aseguraron haber pagado montos de dinero para recibir permiso de ingreso. El diario también informó sobre cartas de perdón, documentos de compromiso para reportar actividades económicas y solicitudes de incorporación a actividades del Frente Sandinista.
La publicación reconstruyó seis casos en 2025, con relatos de empresarios, trabajadores de empresas privadas y comerciantes que habían salido por viajes de negocios. Los montos mencionados fueron de USD 2,500 a USD 10,000, según los testimonios citados.
Joshwell Martínez, presidente de la Asociación Intercultural de Derechos Humanos, ASIDEHU, señaló que su organización documenta este tipo de mecanismo desde 2018. Según indicó, los casos continuaban en 2026 y los cobros para ciudadanos comunes oscilaban entre USD 2,000 y USD 10,000, mientras que las sumas podían ser mayores en situaciones vinculadas a empresarios.
ASIDEHU tuvo conocimiento de al menos dos personas que depositaron USD 2,000 cada una en una cuenta del Ministerio del Interior. Martínez sostuvo que el pago de esos montos o la firma de una carta no garantizaban condiciones estables para quienes retornaban, porque la autorización podía quedar sujeta a decisiones posteriores.
Algunos retornos fueron seguidos por detenciones
Kevin Josué Martínez Alemán salió hacia Costa Rica el 31 de diciembre de 2022, cuando tenía 17 años, luego de recibir amenazas de policías. El joven había sido monaguillo del sacerdote Manuel Salvador García, quien había sido encarcelado y acusado de forma falsa, según el material aportado.
En septiembre de 2023, familiares de Martínez Alemán recibieron de la Policía sandinista el mensaje de que podía volver. El joven regresó a Diriomo, en Granada, para visitar a su familia, pero el 21 de septiembre fue detenido en su casa.
Personas allegadas señalaron que, durante la detención, recibió presiones para acusar a otras personas y brindar información sobre refugiados nicaragüenses en Costa Rica. Días después recuperó la libertad, regresó a Costa Rica y no dio más detalles públicamente por temor a posibles consecuencias para sus familiares.
Juan Carlos Baquedano había estado 11 meses detenido tras las protestas de 2018 y, después de recuperar la libertad en 2019, se exilió en México. Cuando regresó en agosto de 2023 para resolver un trámite personal, fue arrestado otra vez en su vivienda y permaneció detenido durante más de un año.
En septiembre de 2024, Baquedano fue enviado a Guatemala y perdió la nacionalidad nicaragüense. Amnistía Internacional informó que quedó sin acceso a sus bienes ni a su pensión de jubilación y que presentaba secuelas de torturas.
El activista Yaser Morazán volvió a Nicaragua en abril de 2021, después de vivir en Costa Rica y Estados Unidos. Según article 66, antes de ingresar había cerrado sus redes sociales y se había alejado de la actividad política, pero fue detenido en febrero de 2025 y desde entonces no se difundieron nuevos datos públicos sobre su situación.
Las organizaciones registraron procesos por delitos comunes
Naciones Unidas documentó en 2019 el caso de Ulises Rivas, quien volvió a Nicaragua después de exiliarse en 2018. Tras su captura, la Fiscalía lo acusó de robo y lesiones, lo condenó y años después fue desterrado junto a otros presos políticos.
El Colectivo de Derechos Humanos Nicaragua Nunca Más considera que algunos retornados son procesados por delitos comunes en vez de enfrentar acusaciones vinculadas de manera explícita con su activismo o sus posturas políticas. La organización interpreta que este tipo de procesos da una apariencia de legalidad a medidas de persecución.
Jeffrey Isaac Jarquín, conocido como “el Nene”, fue deportado desde Estados Unidos el 1 de octubre de 2026. Había estado preso en La Modelo entre 2018 y 2019, salió luego del país y solicitó asilo; al aterrizar en Managua, fue trasladado nuevamente a esa cárcel, donde antes había denunciado torturas.
El dirigente indígena Brooklyn Rivera viajó a Nueva York en abril de 2023 para asistir al Foro Permanente de la ONU para las Cuestiones Indígenas. El 24 de abril no pudo abordar el vuelo de regreso y, a finales de mayo, anunció que había ingresado a Nicaragua por la Mosquitia, el territorio miskito que comparte frontera con Honduras.
La Policía lo detuvo en su vivienda de Bilwi el 29 de septiembre de 2023. Durante 14 meses, sus familiares no recibieron información sobre su situación, ni tuvieron acceso a visitas o abogados, hasta que el Gobierno informó el 20 de noviembre de 2024, durante un examen ante Naciones Unidas, que se encontraba bajo custodia y enfrentaba acusaciones de traición a la patria, menoscabo a la integridad nacional y conspiración.
El 27 de mayo de 2026 se difundieron imágenes de Rivera hospitalizado en Managua, conectado a un respirador y con signos de malnutrición. Murió tres días después, a los 73 años, tras más de 970 días de detención y desaparición forzada; el Ministerio de Salud atribuyó el fallecimiento a complicaciones de una bacteria asociada al covid-19.
Los motivos familiares influyen en algunas decisiones de retorno
La ambientalista Salvadora Morales, desterrada en 2025, contó que evaluó entrar a Nicaragua desde Costa Rica o Honduras sin usar pasos regulares. Según relató, imaginó una vida de bajo perfil, alejada de las redes sociales y de la actividad pública, pero activistas de derechos humanos le advirtieron de los riesgos que podría enfrentar si era identificada y decidió permanecer en el país donde vive exiliada.
El periodista Houston Castillo regresó a Nicaragua en agosto de 2022 para asistir al funeral de su madre. Exiliado en Costa Rica desde 2021, cruzó por un punto ciego de Peñas Blancas durante la madrugada, llegó a su comunidad, participó en el sepelio y volvió hacia Costa Rica ese mismo día.
“Tenía miedo de que me apresaran”, recordó Castillo sobre el viaje. Más tarde, le informaron que patrullas policiales llegaron a la comunidad para preguntar por él poco después de su salida.
Las organizaciones plantean la necesidad de mayores garantías
José Denis Cruz, coordinador general de la Asociación Centroamericana para la Democracia y el Desarrollo, ACDD, sostuvo que toda persona nicaragüense tiene derecho a regresar al país. A su juicio, ese derecho no debería depender de retractaciones públicas, pedidos de perdón o acuerdos individuales con las autoridades.
Cruz afirmó que no observa condiciones para un retorno seguro y con garantías para quienes fueron perseguidos, desterrados u obligados a exiliarse. También indicó que algunos regresos parecen estar vinculados a compromisos de autocensura o a limitaciones para ejercer libertades, una situación que describió como una forma de control.
La Fundación por la Libertad de Expresión y Democracia, FLED, informó el 13 de octubre que al menos tres periodistas que habían regresado a Nicaragua durante los meses previos salieron nuevamente del país. Según el informe, esas personas recibieron amenazas, persecución y advertencias que alcanzaron a sus familiares.
La organización también registró propuestas dirigidas a periodistas en el exilio. Esas ofertas incluían facilidades para volver y apoyo económico, a cambio de dejar de informar sobre Nicaragua y abstenerse de difundir críticas en redes sociales.
Cruz señaló que cada decisión de retorno está marcada por circunstancias particulares. Añadió que mayores garantías requerirían medidas de no represalia, libertad de expresión, restitución de derechos, instituciones independientes y respeto por las libertades fundamentales.
Daniel Ortega,Rosario Murillo,Nicaragua,exilio,familia,migración
INTERNACIONAL
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado makes surprise return home after nearly a year abroad
María Corina Machado warns Americans of the dangers of socialism
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado joins Rachel Campos-Duffy in Panama to warn Americans about the dangers of socialism ahead of the midterms. Machado shares a direct message to President Donald Trump, praising his leadership and stating that capturing Maduro would be his legacy. She also criticizes Delcy Rodriguez over the response to devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made returned to her home country on Sunday after nearly a year abroad, re-entering a political landscape transformed by the U.S. ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
«I’m here. With you all,» Machado wrote on social media, announcing her return for the first time since December. Her homecoming comes as Venezuela remains under the leadership of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration, with no presidential election scheduled.
President Donald Trump, asked about Machado’s return by reporters in Port Huron, Michigan, said he was unaware of the development but expressed hope for her safety.
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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado arrives at a church after returning to the country following nearly a year abroad, in Lara, Venezuela, Oct. 25, 2026. (Vente Venezuela Press/Handout via REUTERS)
«I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman,» Trump said. «She gave me her Nobel Prize. So how can I say anything else? And I hope she’s safe. She’s a very nice woman. But we’re doing really well in Venezuela.»
Machado presented the Nobel Peace Prize she won to President Trump last week. (White House handout via Reuters)
Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her peaceful opposition to Maduro’s government, did not disclose her exact location or provide details about how she returned.
Fellow opposition leader Edmundo González, who ran for president in 2024 after Machado was barred from seeking office, confirmed her arrival on social media and said he would join her «very soon.»
«Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!» González wrote on X. «You know it, this is until the end.»
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks during a news conference at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, on Jan. 16, 2026. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Machado’s return comes nearly 10 months after U.S. forces captured Maduro in January, removing the longtime leader from power.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has remained in power with the Trump administration’s support, despite exceeding the period she was initially authorized to serve as acting president.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado displays vote tally sheets during a protest against the reelection of President Nicolás Maduro one month after the disputed presidential vote which she says the opposition won by a landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Cristian Hernandez/AP Photo)
Trump has repeatedly praised his administration’s relationship with Rodríguez, highlighting agreements involving Venezuelan oil production and other business ventures with American companies.
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In September, Trump said it was too soon to consider holding democratic elections in Venezuela, with U.S. officials prioritizing economic stabilization. Machado and her allies, meanwhile, have pushed for an election date, arguing that democratic governance is essential to the country’s long-term stability.
Her return could complicate relations between the Venezuelan opposition, the interim government and Washington. Reuters reported in June that U.S. officials had asked Machado to delay her return.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures at a protest ahead of the Friday inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro for his third term, in Caracas, Venezuela January 9, 2025. (REUTERS/Maxwell Briceno)
Machado spent much of 2025 in hiding after being briefly detained following an opposition protest that January. She later secretly left Venezuela and resurfaced in Norway in December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Meanwhile, a faction of the Venezuelan opposition and Rodríguez’s government held another round of talks this month focused on reforms to the country’s Supreme Court and electoral authorities ahead of eventual elections, Reuters reported.
Machado’s political movement has not participated in those negotiations.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
venezuelan political crisis, south america, world, nicolas maduro, politics, world politics
A fight over cuts to autism therapy for Georgia foster children is escalating at the state Capitol, with a Republican lawmaker and families now calling for the 30% reimbursement reduction to be reversed as advocates warn children could lose hard-earned progress.
State Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, joined parents and providers Thursday to demand action over a reduction in reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy that went into effect Sept. 1 through Amerigroup, which administers Medicaid coverage for children in Georgia’s foster care system.
«As a parent of a child with autism, I know what ABA therapy means for a family and Georgia’s foster children, which is why I stood at the Capitol to make clear that these cuts are indefensible,» Strickland told Digital.
Strickland, who is running for state attorney general, also pledged to hold companies accountable if elected.
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The political pushback comes after Digital first reported earlier this month that autism advocates feared the reduction could force providers to stop treating foster children as an unintended consequence of the Trump administration’s Medicaid fraud crackdown.
Taylor Sanders of the Autism Families Alliance told Digital on Saturday that families and clinicians have increasingly begun speaking out since the cuts took effect, emphasizing that «time is crucial to these families.»
«Every moment where their child is not receiving services, we’re seeing a regression in possible communication, safety skills,» Sanders said. «Maybe we’re seeing an increase in some of those challenging behaviors.»
Sanders previously warned that as many as 75% of clinics could close or stop serving foster children because of the cuts.
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She described a family whose 3-year-old child had begun using words for the first time after receiving ABA therapy and whose mother now fears losing access to treatment.
«She was in absolute tears and so worried and frustrated,» Sanders said, recalling their recent conversation.
The mother, Sanders explained, fears losing the consistent one-on-one therapy that she said helped the child begin communicating.
Sanders said the child had not received enough therapy to ensure those newly learned communication skills could be maintained across different settings.
«For these children and their families, time matters,» Kelsey Bennett of the Autism Families Alliance told Digital. «Every day without critical care risks reversing hard-earned progress and limiting opportunities for continued development.»
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Bennett added, «Reverse the cuts.»
Advocates are calling not only for the cuts to be reconsidered, but also for families, clinicians and other stakeholders to be involved in reviewing the policy rather than relying on a blanket approach.
In a statement to 5 Atlanta, Amerigroup said it rebalanced ABA reimbursement rates based on service complexity and clinical expertise, increasing rates for treatment planning and caregiver-engagement services while decreasing rates for some technician-delivered services. The company also said rates for licensed clinicians did not decrease and that medically necessary autism services remain covered.
In response, Sanders emphasized that the reductions affected technicians who provide much of the one-on-one care.
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«Just because we put something down on paper doesn’t mean that it’s gonna be clinically effective or that these children are gonna be able to access care because companies are now having to maybe close their doors to these individuals because they can’t afford the rate cut,» Sanders said.
Sanders reiterated her concerns about the potential long-term consequences for children whose therapy is interrupted.
«Progress lost is extremely hard to come back from, which is the biggest concern that we’re facing here,» Sanders said. «Reconsider before ripping the rug from families. Start to involve the clinicians, involve families before making major cuts.»
Digital has reached out to Amerigroup and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for additional comment.
Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
autism, georgia, childrens health, health care, parents, health care executive, politics
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