The Political Markup for April 8, 2026
Politics
Democrats continue to do well in special elections, a predictor of how the midterm elections could go.
Michael Avenatti is out of jail for extortion and financial crimes. The attorney became a popular media commentator against Trump and Republicans after he represented porn actress and stripper Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump about their alleged affair.
Trump’s presidential library is expected to cost at least $2 billion.
State legislatures are making it harder for citizen-led efforts to pass.
Economics
The San Francisco Fed president says consumers are still spending and businesses are still investing, despite larger economic issues.
Delta is halting planned growth for the quarter due to higher fuel costs of $2 billion.
Farmers and truck drivers are protesting high fuel costs in Dublin.
Iran War
Israel selfishly ruined the U.S.-Iran truce by conducting its heaviest day of bombing yet in Lebanon, killing over 250 people and wounding over 1,150. The UN said the amount of deaths and injuries were “appalling.”
Keir Starmer is in Saudi Arabia to meet with British troops and other leaders.
International
After Israel blew up Hezbollah pagers in September 2024, Hungary reached out to Iran, the sponsor of Hezbollah, to offer assistance in assessing the attack.
Hungary also gave Russia official documents about the EU’s work with Ukraine.
Ukraine intelligence suggests Russian and Iranian hackers are working together.
Polling indicates the center-right political party in Hungary, which is opposed to the Trump- and Putin-aligned prime minister Viktor Orban, is positioned to gain a parliamentary majority.
France is planning to invest $39 billion in its defense systems, including nuclear weapons.
Minnesota
Steve Simon is tracking efforts and issues that may stymie the November election.
Keith Ellison and the Democrat attorneys general from Illinois and Oregon are holding a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on April 22 on their work against the Trump Administration.
During Monday’s Angela Davis show on MPR about current agricultural issues, Thom Petersen avoided the question about potentially being on Amy Klobuchar’s ticket for governor.
The Hampton Inn hotel in Lakeville that refused reservations to ICE agents and then was removed from the hotel brand has been sold at a discount.
Winona County was hit by a cyberattack. The National Guard is assisting with the response.