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Maine progressive says he won’t back Schumer even after Democrats unite behind Collins challenger
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ELLSWORTH, MAINE — Graham Platner says he still wouldn’t support Sen. Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader going forward, even after holding what he described as a «perfectly cordial conversation» with the top Democrat in the chamber.
Platner, an oyster farmer and Army and Marine veteran who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, will face off in this year’s midterm elections in blue-leaning Maine against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The high-profile and competitive 2026 race is one of a handful across the country that will likely determine whether Republicans keep control of their slim Senate majority.
Platner, a first-time candidate, who is backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after his rival for the nomination, two-term Gov. Janet Mills, ended her campaign two weeks ago after trailing Platner in polling and fundraising.
Mills was supported by Schumer, who recruited the governor to enter the race.
SCHUMER’S ‘NUMBER 1 TARGET’ SAYS VOTERS WILL SEE HER DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER AS TOO EXTREME
Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, right, called Senate candidate in Maine Graham Platner after he became the party’s presumptive nominee (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital; Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But Platner said what could have been a difficult conversation was anything but when he had a chance to speak with Schumer on the phone after Mills ended her bid.
«It was not awkward at all. He called to congratulate me on a good race, and nothing brings people together like agreeing that Susan Collins shouldn’t be in the U.S. Senate. So we had a perfectly cordial conversation.»
Platner said that «at this point, it very much feels that the Democratic Party will support us in our continued endeavor.» But he added «we’re going to keep doing what we’ve done up here, because it’s obviously what’s working.»
Platner is one of a small but growing number of progressive Senate candidates who say that, if elected in November, they won’t support Schumer as the Senate’s Democratic leader. Platner added that the topic of his lack of support for the Democratic leader didn’t come up in his conversation with Schumer.
Platner advocates an economically populist agenda as he takes aim at corporate influences and advocates for the working class as he runs for the Senate.
In an interview in Maine with Fox News Digital last week, Collins was asked if she believes Platner is too far to the left and extreme for voters in her northern New England state.
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«I believe that will be the conclusion of Maine voters. But, obviously, I don’t take anything for granted,» the senator, who is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, answered.
But Platner charges that it’s Collins who is too «radical.»
«My response is that, trying to bring down costs for working Mainers. Trying to make sure that our communities don’t get emptied out because housing has become unaffordable for young people. Trying to create a system in which we are not seeing our health care system utilized as a way of just screwing working people all for the benefit of a health care insurance CEO, I don’t think that’s radical at all,» Platner said. «I think in fact that what most Mainers agree is what we have to be doing.»
And he charged, «What’s radical is somebody like Susan Collins, who, for decades now, has made sure that we pass policies that are going to help corporations and billionaires to the detriment of working people, supporting over and over and over again, illegal and insane foreign wars. She voted to send me to Iraq, and now she continues to vote to support the war in Iran,» Platner said. «I’m sorry that I think is much more radical to the people of Maine than having a health care system that doesn’t collapse before our eyes.»
Platner enlisted in the Marines in 2003 and served three combat tours in Iraq. In 2010, he joined the Maryland Army National Guard for a fourth tour, serving in the infantry in Afghanistan. He returned to Afghanistan eight years later as a security contractor.
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It’s been less than two weeks since Platner became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee, and Republicans didn’t waste any time in taking aim at him.
A Republican group supporting Collins is already blasting Platner in a new ad over controversial comments he made over a decade ago on Reddit about women and rape and a well-publicized tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, left, and Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner (Fox News and Getty Images)
Among the comments is one from 2013, which Platner later deleted, that people concerned about rape should not «get so f—ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to.»
Platner apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after they made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign. And Platner has said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol.
The candidate said he’s not concerned about the attack ad, which is likely just a taste of things to come.
«The Democratic establishment tried to use all those attacks against me and failed miserably,» Platner said as he referred to a spot from the Mills campaign before she dropped out of the race. «Now the Republican establishment is going to try to use the exact same attacks, and that will also fail miserably.»
Platner insisted that «the people of Maine understand exactly what this is. They’re not happy to see millions of dollars poured into negative TV ads in a state that, quite frankly, could use million dollars of investment in lots of other things instead of just negative television. And I don’t think it’s going to work, because it hasn’t up until this point.»
And pointing to the Republican attack ad, he said «we knew it was coming the whole time. Look, man, I fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Somebody wants to say….mean things about me on television, I’m pretty sure I can handle it.»
Platner has also faced scrutiny for more recent Reddit posts, including one from five years ago where he described himself as a «communist» and «socialist.»
«You should read the comments in context. It’s very clear I’m joking,» he told Fox News Digital when asked about them. «It’s called shitposting. It’s when you argue with people on the internet and try to bother them. So, yeah, no, it’s very obviously not true.»
Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Platner was interviewed minutes after casting an early voting ballot in Maine’s primary and then holding an event near a gas station to showcase his newly released energy plan, which he says will help reduce people’s bills.
His proposal includes eliminating the national gas and diesel tax, a freeze on electricity rate increases and a fund for clean energy projects.
Platner said his energy plan is «very central» to his campaign. «I think energy costs right now are one of the things that are most damaging working families in this state. It is, in my opinion, essentially an existential crisis that we face.»
Democrats are spotlighting the cost of living as they overperform in special elections, which they hope is a prelude to winning back control of Congress in the midterms.
Republicans — as the party currently in power in Washington, D.C. — were already up against traditional political headwinds that typically lead to a loss of congressional seats. Add to that the challenging climate fueled by persistent inflation, rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump’s underwater approval ratings.
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Asked how she can overcome the blame pointed at Republicans over the high cost of living, Collins told Fox News Digital last week that she’s championed the low-income heating assistance program, which «helps low-income families and seniors stay warm during the cold winter months. I just recently made sure the final tranche of money was released because there is a lot of need in the state of Maine, and the cost of living is high here.»
Collins, who was interviewed at a food bank that expanded with federal funding the senator helped obtain, also emphasized her opposition to cuts «in food stamp benefits and in other programs that designed for low-income families because I know how important they are.»
chuck schumer, bernie sanders, midterm elections, elizabeth warren, senate elections, maine, democrats elections
INTERNACIONAL
Talarico says the divide is ‘top vs. bottom’ — then heads to one of America’s richest donor enclaves
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Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, who has built a reputation for his anti-corporate rhetoric and criticism of tech, reportedly spent mid-April traveling around the San Francisco Bay Area soliciting donations from deep-pocketed tech executives.
Talarico attended at least four California fundraisers organized by major Democratic fundraisers linked to the tech industry in April, according to invitations obtained by Politico and a source interviewed by the outlet.
The Democratic Senate hopeful criticizes the tech industry on his campaign website, accusing it of profiting off «predatory algorithms» that amplify extremism and promising to protect workers against «intrusive AI surveillance.»
The fundraisers took place in Palo Alto, the Mission District of San Francisco, Oakland and Marin County, according to Politico. Among the attendees were venture capitalists, including at least one who advises AI start-ups, wealthy Democratic donors and political staffers.
TALARICO TOUTS TEXAS ROOTS AS OUT-OF-STATE CASH POWERS SENATE CAMPAIGN
State Rep. James Talarico, D-Texas and U.S. Senate candidate, participates in a debate at the Texas AFL-CIO COPE Convention in Georgetown, Texas, on Jan. 24, 2026. (Bob Daemmrich/The Texas Tribune/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Talarico’s proximity to wealth creates tension with how he has presented himself on the campaign trail.
He has stated that «the biggest divide in this country is not left vs. right. It’s top vs. bottom,» argued that the «people at the top work so hard to keep us angry and divided because our unity is a threat to their wealth and power,» characterized lawmakers that take donations from «megadonors» as «puppet politicians,» accused «billionaires are waging war on the rest of us» and expressed a strong desire to hold corporations accountable.
He has also vowed not to accept corporate PAC funding, though he has taken money from corporate executives, the individuals who typically fund and control corporate PACs.
PROGRESSIVE TALARICO KNIFES BIDEN’S OPEN BORDER, TRIES MODERATING STANCE ON KEY ISSUES IN TEXAS SENATE RACE
Democrat candidate for Senate James Talarico speaks during a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on May 29, 2026. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)
While Talarico has raised over $40 million, the second most of any Senate candidate this cycle, the vast majority of that has come from small-dollar donors. Additionally, Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, has a history of accepting large-dollar donations, though he hasn’t taken a stance against the wealthy in the same way as Talarico.
«The only way to get big money out of our politics is to vote out politicians like Ken Paxton who want corporations and billionaires to decide our elections, not Texans,» Talarico campaign spokesman JT Ennis told Fox News Digital.
«James is the only candidate who’s outlined a comprehensive agenda to ban super PACs, ban corporate PACs, ban congressional stock trading and tax billionaires so we can fix this broken, corrupt political system. If anyone supports taxing billionaires more and limiting big money’s influence on our politics, they’re welcome to help defeat politicians like Ken Paxton, who rake in millions of dollars from special interests then enrich wealthy donors while working Texans struggle.»
Paxton campaign spokesperson Madison Cercy told Politico the fundraisers are «just another chapter in James Talarico’s saga of lying and hypocrisy as he runs a flip-flopping campaign across the state of Texas.»
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Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico speaks during a campaign launch rally in Round Rock, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2025. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital previously reported that Talarico is far more reliant on out-of-state donors than Paxton, a trend common among Democrats challenging Republicans in swing states.
Democrats have sought to flip Texas blue for decades, often spending large sums of money in ill-fated attempts to dethrone Republican gubernatorial and senatorial incumbents. Some in the party feel that 2026 could be different from their past failures in the Lone Star.
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Talarico’s open Christian faith, for one, is seen as something that could provide him with cross-party appeal. That, combined with his strong fundraising numbers, tendency to generate viral clips and an unpopular Republican in the White House, could propel Talarico to an upset victory.
In any case, the race for Senate in Texas is shaping up to be an expensive one. One Democratic fundraiser projected that the contest could cost north of half a billion dollars across all sides.
republicans elections, fund raising, tech, texas, democrats elections
INTERNACIONAL
Estados Unidos e Irán pactaron en Suiza una hoja de ruta para alcanzar en 60 días un acuerdo que ponga fin al conflicto en Medio Oriente
Las negociaciones de alto nivel entre Irán y Estados Unidos concluyeron la madrugada de este lunes en Suiza con un acuerdo para crear una “célula de desescalada” destinada a abordar los combates en Líbano, en el marco de una hoja de ruta de 60 días orientada a alcanzar un acuerdo permanente entre ambas partes.
El resultado de la primera ronda de conversaciones fue anunciado en un comunicado conjunto de los mediadores, Pakistán y Qatar, que informaron además que las discusiones técnicas continuarán durante el resto de la semana en la localidad suiza de Bürgenstock, donde se desarrolló el encuentro.
Según el comunicado, la nueva instancia incluirá al gobierno libanés y “garantizaría el cumplimiento del cese de las operaciones militares en el Líbano”. Las partes también acordaron un mecanismo para intentar poner fin a los combates en ese país y establecieron una línea de comunicaciones destinada a facilitar el tránsito seguro de los buques mercantes a través del estrecho de Ormuz, uno de los principales corredores energéticos del mundo.
La ronda de contactos estuvo marcada por tensiones desde su inicio. Horas antes del comienzo formal de las conversaciones, Irán anunció que había vuelto a cerrar el estrecho de Ormuz, mientras que el presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, reiteró sus advertencias contra Teherán y amenazó con nuevas acciones militares si no modificaba determinadas conductas en la región.
De acuerdo con un reporte de Fox News citado por diversas fuentes, Trump transmitió a funcionarios iraníes el siguiente mensaje: “No tendrán país” si intentaban cerrar nuevamente el estrecho. Además, el mandatario volvió a plantear la posibilidad de que Estados Unidos asumiera el control de esa vía marítima estratégica.
Las conversaciones fueron encabezadas por el vicepresidente estadounidense, JD Vance, y altos funcionarios iraníes, en cumplimiento del memorando de entendimiento alcanzado la semana pasada para extender por al menos 60 días el frágil alto el fuego acordado en abril.
El conflicto en Líbano se mantuvo entre los principales temas de discusión. Los enfrentamientos continúan entre el grupo terrorista Hezbollah, respaldado por Irán, e Israel, que sostiene operaciones militares en territorio libanés y afirma que necesita preservar capacidad de acción contra organizaciones que atacan el norte israelí.
Durante las conversaciones en Suiza, Vance señaló que existían avances para reducir la violencia en territorio libanés. “Estas cosas siempre son un poco complicadas”, afirmó al referirse a las gestiones diplomáticas en curso.
Mientras tanto, versiones contrapuestas surgieron sobre el desarrollo de las negociaciones. La agencia semioficial iraní Tasnim, citando una fuente informada, aseguró que la delegación iraní se negó a regresar a la sala de reuniones después de que trascendieran públicamente las amenazas de Trump. Según esa versión, los contactos continuaron a través de intermediarios paquistaníes y qataríes.
La misma fuente sostuvo que Teherán condicionó el avance de futuras negociaciones sobre asuntos nucleares al cumplimiento de otros puntos contemplados en el memorando de entendimiento, entre ellos la liberación de activos congelados y la concesión de exenciones que permitan las exportaciones de petróleo iraní.
Por su parte, un diplomático estadounidense citado por Reuters que participó en las conversaciones ofreció una evaluación diferente de la situación. “Los iraníes no se han marchado y siguen aquí reunidos y negociando hasta altas horas de la noche”, declaró. El funcionario agregó: “Hemos hablado del estrecho, del Líbano, de cuestiones nucleares y de los detalles de la implementación del memorando de entendimiento, entre otros temas”.
En una publicación en redes sociales, el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores iraní, Abbas Araqchi, afirmó que las conversaciones permitieron obtener avances relacionados con exenciones para exportaciones de petróleo y productos petroquímicos, la liberación de algunos activos congelados y la puesta en marcha de un plan de reconstrucción y desarrollo para Irán.
La Casa Blanca no emitió comentarios inmediatos sobre la conclusión de la ronda de negociaciones. No obstante, funcionarios estadounidenses indicaron que el personal técnico permanecerá en Bürgenstock para continuar las discusiones previstas en la hoja de ruta acordada.
Desde Washington, Trump volvió a vincular el futuro de las conversaciones con la situación en Líbano. “Irán debe impedir de inmediato que sus aliados mejor pagados en el Líbano causen problemas”, escribió en redes sociales. El presidente estadounidense añadió: “Si no lo hacen, volveremos a golpear a Irán con mucha fuerza, igual que la semana pasada, ¡pero aún más fuerte!”.
Pese a esas advertencias, Vance sostuvo que el objetivo de la administración estadounidense continúa siendo la búsqueda de una nueva etapa en las relaciones bilaterales. Según relató a periodistas, Trump les había “pedido que dieran un giro radical para transformar su relación con el pueblo de Irán”.
(Con información de Reuters y AFP)
War,Europe,Military Conflicts
INTERNACIONAL
Major dispute to threaten Trump’s Iran deal over billions in frozen Tehran funds: expert
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As U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Switzerland on Sunday, a regional analyst warned that a dispute over billions in potentially unfrozen Iranian assets could quickly test the durability of a fledgling interim agreement.
The disagreement is emerging, they say, as Washington and Tehran begin implementing the memorandum of understanding signed June 17, with negotiators holding the first round of talks at Bürgenstock, near Lucerne, Switzerland.
According to Iran International, President Masoud Pezeshkian had signaled Tehran’s expectations early Sunday, saying, «$6 billion of our funds in Qatar will be returned. Trump, who tried to deny Iran its rights, acknowledged them in his recent speech.»
The dispute traces back to discussions at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, where world leaders debated the issue.
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As U.S.-Iran talks opened Sunday in Switzerland, a dispute over who controls and monitors billions of dollars in potentially unfrozen Iranian assets emerged. (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via REUTERS)
«We have taken their money, it isn’t our money, it is their money, and we froze it,» President Donald Trump said. «At a certain point in time, I guess we’re going to have to give it back.»
He also stressed that any access to the funds remains strictly conditional, writing on Truth Social that Iran would receive «not ten cents» during the 60-day negotiation period if it failed to uphold its commitments.
«There are effectively two competing narratives about the frozen funds,» Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital.
«Releasing frozen assets is not simply an economic question. It is one of the central political tests of trust between Tehran and Washington and will likely become one of the first major implementation disputes in the weeks ahead,» Vatanka added.
Paragraph 11 of the MOU framework states that the United States «undertakes to make fully available» restricted and frozen Iranian funds.
However, the agreement ties any release of funds to a step-by-step process based on compliance, rather than granting immediate, unrestricted access.
BIDEN ADMIN EXTENDS $10B IRAN SANCTIONS WAIVER 2 DAYS AFTER TRUMP ELECTION WIN
The U.S. delegation, including Steve Witkoff, JD Vance and Jared Kushner, arrived in Switzerland on Sunday. (Nathan Howard/Pool/REUTERS)
«First, there remains considerable uncertainty over the total amount of Iranian assets frozen abroad,» Vatanka said.
«Iranian officials often speak of more than $100 billion, while Western estimates range higher. The immediate negotiations, however, appear focused on securing access to roughly $24 billion to $25 billion as an initial tranche.»
Iran’s frozen assets are widely estimated at between $100 billion and $120 billion and held under sanctions and financial restrictions in countries including China, India, Iraq and South Korea, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal.
Vatanka said the central dispute extends beyond the size of the payout.
«The real dispute is not simply about how much money Iran receives, but who ultimately controls how it is spent.»
«Iranian officials are emphasizing sovereignty over the funds, while the United States is trying to preserve leverage by attaching conditions to their use,» he added as talks got underway Sunday.
In a statement on X, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the talks are aimed at reaching a comprehensive and lasting agreement covering all elements of the framework.
Spokesman Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said technical teams were negotiating the final deal while oversight groups would monitor implementation and track progress.
The U.S. and Qatar are exploring a mechanism to channel an initial $6 billion toward humanitarian purchases, including food and medicine, according to reports.
US ECONOMIC CHOKEHOLD ON IRAN REACHES PEAK LEVERAGE AS COLLAPSE RISKS EMERGE
Hezbollah terrorists holding rifles are shown in this image. A «terrorist network» funded and operated by Hezbollah and Iran was foiled in the United Arab Emirates, according to a report. (Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
However, Western intelligence officials remain concerned that unfrozen funds could be diverted to regional conflicts rather than domestic development projects.
Reuters reported that Iran has already signaled to Hezbollah that increased financial support could resume if Tehran’s cash flow improves.
«This issue also has an important regional dimension,» Vatanka said. «Iran has pledged to direct a portion of those reconstruction funds toward supporting its weakened proxy network in Lebanon.»
«The United States has insisted that Iran cannot use any unfrozen assets to fund terrorist organizations, warning that access to the funds would be revoked if Tehran violates the terms of the agreement,» he added.
Vatanka said the two sides also remain divided over the broader purpose of the agreement.
«Tehran is presenting the roughly $25 billion as money that will be released gradually and invested in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, with officials talking about roads, airports, transport corridors and projects that visibly benefit ordinary Iranians.»
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«Washington, however, appears to be describing something much narrower,» Vatanka added.
«U.S. officials have indicated they want the funds released through controlled mechanisms, primarily for humanitarian and other approved civilian purchases, rather than giving Tehran unrestricted access.»
conflicts, counter terrorism, war with iran, iran, sanctions
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