The Political Markup for April 7, 2026
Politics
Democrats are running on the same economic messages that Republicans used to win in 2024.
The Republican Party and Democratic Party in Arizona unified to stop the formation of an Independent Party, which shows how challenging it is to establish an effective third party in the U.S.
Tony Gonzalez has been accused of sexually harassing another female staffer. House Republicans won’t expel him because it’d threaten their majority. The first staffer harassed by Gonzalez committed suicide.
Bill Gates will testify about Epstein before the U.S. House Oversight Committee.
Mark Penn writes that Trump should work to make American optimistic again, as it was under Reagan and Clinton. It’s unlikely. Gerard Baker correctly says voters want normalcy.
Noncitizens voting in America is an actual issue that continues to grow.
Research suggests that citizen assemblies could help societies decide how to move forward on policy issues.
Fox News will start using Kalshi’s prediction market data in its reporting.
Trump Administration
The White House is keeping Kristi Noem’s $70 million DHS jet for Melania Trump and other Trump officials to use. The jet has luxurious furnishings.
Trump’s DOJ is investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, a former Trump White House staffer in his first administration, for her testimony four years ago at a January 6 committee hearing.
JD Vance thinks that campaigning for Viktor Orban in Hungary will help him run for president in 2028.
Economics
Central banks say geopolitics is the current top risk to the world’s economy.
The White House still has work to do on helping farmers with a reliable workforce.
Much of the agriculture land in the country has been in a drought which could create economic issues for farmers and consumers.
Trump is ignoring requests by Ford and other American manufacturers to stop aluminum tariffs.
Iran War
Pope Leo called Trump’s threat against the entire country of Iran “truly unacceptable” and encouraged U.S. citizens to contact their elected officials and push for an end to the war.
Republicans may require congressional approval at the end of the month for the Iran war to continue. Some Republicans have also expressed concern over Trump’s latest rhetoric on Iran.
The FBI says Iranian hackers may target U.S. infrastructure.
Portugal will allow U.S. aircraft to use its bases as long as they don’t bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran. The UK took a similar position.
The Iran war is another issue created by Trump that makes our traditional foreign partners question their alliance with the U.S.
Minnesota
Elliot Engen and Walter Hudson have been removed from their committee assignments after they were pulled over after drinking. Democrats are also filing an ethics complaint against them.
The Minnesota Republican congressional delegation has been silent about Trump’s war and his latest comments on destroying the country. Tina Smith was interviewed by Clay Masters about the issue.
Kelly Morrison visited an ICE detention facility in Texas where detainees from Minnesota have been taken.
International
Israel kills 39 in Lebanon with its Easter Sunday attacks. The fighting has prevented the Vatican from providing resources to Catholic communities that have been threatened.
U.S. troops may be on the ground in Ecuador to help the country counter drug gangs.
The DOJ prevented Russian hackers from accessing various internet networks.
Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are providing an estimated $24 billion in financing for Paramount Skydance’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. Their investments don’t require U.S. approval nor FCC regulation.
Donald Trump Jr. criticized the EU during a visit to Bosnia.
Germany clarified a policy requiring military-age men to get permission before leaving the country for over three months.