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- Democrats position themselves to replace Graham Platner as Senate nominee in Maine
- Firefighters battle blaze at Essex industrial unit amid water supply issues
- British man, 88, dies after intervening in mugging of wife in Tenerife
- EU finance ministers discuss Spain’s €850 billion joint borrowing proposal
- US inflation rate shows signs of stabilization amid economic concerns
- Venezuela’s shift towards Israel aims for survival rather than conviction
- B.C. family’s urgent effort to save son diagnosed with genetic disease
- West Palm Beach airport officially renamed after Trump, code to change next month
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Democrats position themselves to replace Graham Platner as Senate nominee in Maine
10:00 am
Get you up to speed: Here’s who’s vying to replace Graham Platner as Maine Democratic Senate nominee
Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign following a woman’s accusation of sexual assault, prompting Democrats in Maine to seek potential replacements for the upcoming election against GOP Senator Susan Collins. The Maine Democratic Party will select a nominee by July 27 after Platner officially files to withdraw from the race.
The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 at 5 p.m. to select a replacement for Graham Platner following his withdrawal from the Senate race. Numerous Democrats, including Shenna Bellows and Troy Jackson, have expressed interest in the nomination, while the party announced plans to hold a nominating convention, with further details yet to be disclosed.
Graham Platner’s suspension of his Senate campaign has triggered intense interest among Maine Democrats, with several individuals, including Shenna Bellows and David Costello, announcing their candidacies to replace him. The Maine Democratic Party will convene a nominating convention by July 27 to select a replacement candidate ahead of the November election against GOP Sen. Susan Collins.
What remains unclear — The specific details of the nominating process for Platner’s replacement by the Maine Democratic Party have yet to be announced.
Democrats position themselves to replace Graham Platner as Senate nominee in Maine
Washington — Graham Platner’s move to suspend his Senate campaign after a woman accused him of sexual assault has prompted a mad dash in Maine, as Democrats position themselves as possible replacements to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November.
After Platner officially files paperwork to withdraw, the Maine Democratic Party will have until July 27 at 5 p.m. to select a replacement. The party announced it would hold a nominating convention, with details on the process forthcoming.
While some have made clear they aren’t interested, including Rep. Jared Golden and actor Patrick Dempsey, a growing list of Democrats are making their interest clear.
Here’s who’s vying to replace Platner on the ballot:
Shenna Bellows
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows quickly jumped into the race for the Democratic Senate nomination. She said in a social media post she has taken on “tough fights for working people” throughout her career, and added: “I’m not stopping now.”
Bellows, 51, sought the governor’s mansion earlier this year, but she fell short in last month’s Democratic primary. The native of Hancock, Maine, previously served in the state Senate and as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She is the first woman to serve as secretary of state.
It’s Bellows’ second run for Senate. In 2014, she won the Democratic nomination to challenge Collins, but lost in the general election by almost 37 percentage points.
During her gubernatorial campaign, Bellows advocated for more affordable housing and a statewide freeze on property tax increases for Maine residents, paid for by doubling property tax rates for non-resident homes.
Bellows raised just under $1.8 million during her campaign for governor. Because of Maine’s ranked-choice voting system, Bellows and two other primary candidates — former state Senate President Troy Jackson and former state House Speaker Hannah Pingree — endorsed each other. Pingree ended up winning the Democratic nomination.
Bellows, like most of the candidates now seeking to replace Platner, pushed him to drop out of the race shortly after he was accused of sexual assault. She called the allegations — which Platner has denied — “extremely serious.” She said on X that while Platner “ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo, given the seriousness of the allegations, he needs to step down.”
David Costello
A native of Bangor and former government official in Maine and Maryland, David Costello previously ran against Platner for the Democratic Senate nomination, and said that if Platner dropped out, “I’m back in.”
Costello won 8.1% of the vote in last month’s primary, trailing Platner (72.1%) and Maine Gov. Janet Mills (19.2%), who had suspended her campaign but remained on the ballot. He was also the Democratic nominee in the 2024 Maine Senate race, though the winner of that race — incumbent Sen. Angus King, an independent — caucuses with Democrats.
Costello raised just over $30,000 from donors and lent his campaign more than $100,000 during this year’s Senate run.
Valli Geiger
State Rep. Valli Geiger, a close ally of Platner’s, has indicated interest in replacing him on the ballot.
The 70-year-old told WMTW that Platner was supporting her bid. But she later clarified that she is one of “several people” who have supported Platner and with whom he was speaking.
A nurse and resident of the coastal town of Rockland, Geiger has served in the state Legislature for three terms.
Troy Jackson
Former state Senate President Troy Jackson also threw his name into the mix and filed with the Federal Election Commission for a Senate exploratory committee.
Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from the tiny northern Maine town of Allagash, told the Bangor Daily News he is the “best person” to replace Platner.
The 58-year-old has been active in Maine politics since 2002, serving in the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate, where he was president from 2018 to 2024.
Before Jackson positioned himself as a potential Senate candidate, he was eyeing the governor seat. He came in third in the Democratic primary this past June after raising around $1 million.
Supported by Platner and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in his gubernatorial bid, Jackson billed himself as a progressive candidate who would focus on affordable housing and lowering property taxes. In an MS NOW interview, Jackson called himself a “pickup truck progressive.”
Jackson and Sanders’ ties go back a decade, with Jackson working on his 2016 presidential campaign. Sanders said Jackson would “stand with working-class families against the enormous power of the monied interests.” Some former Platner allies have argued Jackson should succeed Platner.
Earlier in his political career, Jackson held socially conservative views on some issues, including abortion and same-sex marriage, though he has shifted to the mainstream of the Democratic Party since then and attributed some of his prior stances to the views of his rural northern Maine constituents.
Jackson urged Platner to withdraw, writing on X that there is “no place in our politics for sexual violence.”
Dan Kleban
Dan Kleban, a co-founder of the Maine Beer Company, announced that he’s running to replace Platner, and made it official with an FEC filing.
Kleban, 49, briefly ran for Senate last year before suspending his campaign in October and endorsing Mills. His original campaign was built around Maine’s economy and affordability, combined with environmental issues. Like Platner, Kleban is a newcomer to elected politics, but the craft brewery that he founded with his brother in 2009 is well known.
Since suspending his Senate campaign, he has stayed vocal about Maine’s politics on social media, and he condemned the allegations against Platner, calling them “horrifying and completely disqualifying.”
“Mainers deserve a Senator who will fight for them against the DC establishment while also doing what’s right,” he said.
During his initial Senate run last year, Kleban gave almost $215,000 of his own money to his campaign and raised another $244,000 from donors, according to federal records. He spent almost all of his campaign cash during his run.
Paige Loud
Paige Loud, a 29-year-old social worker, filed to run for Senate shortly before Platner ended his campaign. After he dropped out, Loud wrote on social media that “Mainers deserve more than a hand-picked replacement whose morality only kicked in at the last minute.”
Loud ran in the Democratic House primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District last month, coming in fourth place with 10.4% of the vote. She contributed around $30,000 to her own campaign and raised about $17,000.
Nirav Shah
Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also announced that he’s interested in becoming the Senate nominee, after coming in second in the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary last month.
“Establishment politicians have failed us,” Shah said on X. “To defeat Susan Collins, we need an outsider who is not afraid to take on the broken system she has spent decades upholding.”
As Maine’s CDC director starting in 2019, Shah navigated the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pine Tree State and has touted the state’s fast vaccine rollout. Shah went on to serve as principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Biden administration.
A Wisconsin native, Shah has degrees in law and medicine from the University of Chicago, and previously worked in public health in Illinois and Cambodia.
In his gubernatorial bid, Shah’s platform centered on “fixing housing, funding healthcare, feeding kids, and fueling growth — all while fighting the overreaches of the Trump administration.”
During his gubernatorial campaign, Shah raised more than $1 million. He contributed around $100,000 to his campaign, state campaign finance records show.
Shah — who called for Platner to drop out of the race — said in a campaign launch news conference that there is “very little light” between him and Platner on matters of policy, but he “would not accept an endorsement from Graham, nor have I sought one.”
Shah told WTX US News that Maine Democrats are “feeling a thousand emotions all at once” following the allegation against Platner and the campaign shake-up.
“The one I would say is overriding is the eagerness and the commitment to defeating Susan Collins in the fall,” Shah said.
Jordan Wood
Jordan Wood, who previously sought the Senate seat last year before dropping out to run in a House race, announced he’s hoping to replace Platner on the ballot.
Wood, a 36-year-old native of Lewiston, Maine, previously worked as chief of staff to Democratic Rep. Katie Porter before founding an organization focused on combating election denialism. He launched his campaign for Senate last year before pivoting to run for a House seat to replace moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in Maine’s red-leaning 2nd Congressional District, where he fell short last month.
In a post on X, Wood touted his work to “get big money out of politics and end corruption in Washington.”
“If I am a nominee for Senate, I’ll lead the fight to pass Medicare for All, pass sweeping anti-corruption reform, and stand up to Trump’s lawlessness,” he said.
During his House bid, Wood raised more than $5 million from donors and lent $400,000 to his campaign, the vast majority of which he spent during the campaign, according to FEC data.
Firefighters battle blaze at Essex industrial unit amid water supply issues
9:00 am
Get you up to speed: Fire tears through industrial unit in area with ‘limited water supply’ | News UK
A massive fire broke out at an industrial unit in Nine Ashes, northeast of Epping, soon after 11pm, with twelve fire crews responding to the scene. Firefighters are battling the blaze with limited water supplies, while residents have been advised to keep windows and doors shut due to ongoing smoke and the risk of exploding cylinders.
Emergency crews are currently scaling down operations at the industrial site in Nine Ashes, with eight crews anticipated to remain on scene for several hours. The ongoing heatwave in Essex, with temperatures set to rise to 30C, complicates firefighting efforts amid limited water supplies.
Residents near the Nine Ashes fire site have been advised to keep their windows and doors shut to mitigate smoke inhalation risks as crews manage the blaze with limited water resources. Station Manager Scott Fretton indicated that fire services will scale down operations from twelve to eight crews, anticipating a prolonged presence at the scene due to ongoing challenges posed by weather conditions.
What remains unclear — It is not confirmed whether any injuries have occurred as a result of the fire.
Firefighters battle blaze at Essex industrial unit amid water supply issues
Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in Essex with ‘limited water supplies’ after flames engulfed an industrial unit.
A massive fire broke out at the site housing industrial units, vehicles and mobile homes in Nine Ashes, northeast of Epping.
Twelve crews descended on the site on Woolmongers Lane shortly after 11pm yesterday as the alarm was raised.
Dramatic footage shows one of the barns going up in flames as the fire raged inside it, appearing to contain farming or industrial cylinders.
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Residents are urged to keep windows and doors shut today as smoke continues to billow into the air and the surrounding areas.
Some cylinders could also explode as they burn, causing loud bangs, the firefighters warned.
Station Manager Scott Fretton, from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘Crews have worked really hard with a limited water supply to surround the fire and we’re now in a position to start scaling this incident down. We’ll scale it down to eight crews initially and we anticipate being here for several hours.
‘You might see lots of smoke as it starts to get lighter throughout the morning and hear some bangs coming from the scene as there are cylinders involved.
‘If you live in High Ongar near Woolmonger Lane, please keep your windows and doors shut.’
Crews in the area face gruelling weather conditions today as the sun rises, with temperatures expected to climb to 30C in Chipping Ongar.
By 9am, mercury is set to hit 25C.
A week-long heatwave has been gripping Essex, London and the South East, with no significant rainfall forecast for at least another week before the weather turns cooler and thundery.
It comes after a huge fire broke out at an old Debenhams building in Edinburgh yesterday morning.
The iconic Victorian building was gutted in the blaze, which ripped through the roof and top floors, while the rest of the building was black and charred.
British man, 88, dies after intervening in mugging of wife in Tenerife
8:00 am
Get you up to speed: British man, 88, dies defending wife from muggers in Tenerife | News World
Ray Cowen, an 88-year-old British pensioner from Blackpool, died after being injured while attempting to stop thieves from mugging his wife in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, on June 17. The suspects have been arrested, with one man remanded in custody following an appearance in court.
A formal investigation has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Ray Cowen’s death. Three suspects have been arrested, with one already remanded in custody, while concerns about the rising incidence of violent muggings in Los Cristianos have been raised by local expats.
The Spanish authorities have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ray Cowen’s death, with three individuals arrested, including one with a history of similar offences. Local residents have voiced increasing concerns over a spate of violent muggings in the area, with one expat remarking it was the fourth such incident in recent months.
What remains unclear — The specific circumstances leading to Ray Cowen’s fatal injuries during the robbery are yet to be fully determined.
British man, 88, dies after intervening in mugging of wife in Tenerife
Ray Cowen, died as he tried to fight off two thieves trying to snatch his watch outside his holiday apartment in Los Cristianos (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial Getty)
A British pensioner has been killed in Tenerife while trying to stop his wife being mugged.
Ray Cowen, 88, originally from Blackpool, fought with thieves after they stole his 79-year-old wife Judy’s handbag and tried to take his watch on June 17.
He was pushed into a stationary car outside their holiday home in Los Cristianos, suffering serious head injuries.
He was taken to hospital after being revived at the scene, but died two days later. The attack happened just days after he celebrated his 88th birthday at the nearby Big Ben pub.
Three people have been arrested since the robbery, including a man known to police for similar crimes.
The suspect alleged to have been responsible for Ray’s fatal injuries has been remanded in custody after appearing in court.
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Flowers have been left for Ray outside the apartment block where the mugging took place
(Picture: Solarpix)
The other two, one aged 36 and the other in their 20s, were released on bail.
A floral tribute left outside their Victoria Court apartment said: ‘RIP Ray, We Will Miss You.’
Expats in the area have expressed concern about the growing number of violent muggings.
Stephen Fox wrote: ‘Sad state of affairs. Fourth incident that I know of in this exact same area in the last three months.”
‘I witnessed a woman in a wheelchair in her 80s getting her chain ripped off her at 3pm.’
Another Brit said: ‘This isn’t the first time it’s happened. RIP Ray. Thinking about you Judy and sending hugs.’
A friend said: ‘I met that man two weeks ago in Big Ben. He was celebrating his birthday with his wife and having a great time. Such a lovely man. Can’t believe this happened. Rest in peace.’
A formal investigation has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding Ray’s death.
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EU finance ministers discuss Spain’s €850 billion joint borrowing proposal
7:00 am
EU finance ministers discuss Spain’s €850 billion joint borrowing proposal
Joint Borrowing Proposal
EU finance ministers are considering Spain’s proposal for a new mechanism for joint borrowing of up to €850 billion per year.
EU finance ministers are considering Spain’s proposal for a new mechanism for joint borrowing of up to €850 billion per year.
Joint borrowing mechanism
Proposed EU joint borrowing could aggregate up to €850 billion annually, significantly enhancing funding efficiency and addressing economic fragmentation amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
Proposed EU joint borrowing could aggregate up to €850 billion annually, significantly enhancing funding efficiency and addressing economic fragmentation amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
ECB President’s Support
“It’s great that a country like Spain makes a proposal and puts it on the table for debate,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde regarding the EU joint borrowing initiative.
“It’s great that a country like Spain makes a proposal and puts it on the table for debate,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde regarding the EU joint borrowing initiative.
Newsletter: Money talks, but first listen to Lagarde
Hello, readers. Angela Skujins here writing this Friday newsletter, with Mared Gwyn holding the pen for you next week.
Before our minds turn to the Belgium versus Spain FIFA football match at 10 pm tonight (go the Red Devils), one theme tops today’s political agenda: finance.
Blockbuster borrowing. EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss, among other issues, the Spanish proposal to create a new mechanism for EU joint borrowing of up to €850 billion per year.
“Let’s debate it,” European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde told EU News’ Europe Editor Maria Tadeo in an exclusive sit-down interview on Thursday regarding the pitch.
“It’s great that a country like Spain, for instance, makes a proposal and puts it on the table for debate. Now it’s for the others to say, ‘this part we like, this part we don’t like’, and how that can be addressed. I think it’s good to move forward.”
To caveat: Lagarde will not be in the room when the discussion occurs, nor will she vote. The ECB’s mandate covers monetary policy, price stability and financial stability, with the debate occurring among finance ministers and European Commission representatives.
But for the uninitiated, the former French minister — who helped steer the country’s economic response during the 2008 financial crisis — is one of Europe’s most influential voices on economic policy.
When she talks about topics such as the digital euro, policymakers take heed. That is also why when the French national says she is “not a candidate” for the 2027 French presidential election, the general population listens.
Back to the pitch. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, the architect of the proposal, told EU News the plan could save billions in funding costs and reduce fragmentation.
“We think there’s a good window of opportunity to put that proposal forward now. We’ve been having discussions on the international role of the euro over the past few months, with very good contributions on the fact that we need a safe asset,” he said.
According to my colleague Eleonora Vasques, the is a need for thinking outside the box amid deep geopolitical uncertainties.
energy prices could rise again now US strikes on Iran have resumed, and the EU faces the challenge of protecting itself against further shocks while also investing in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and defence.
For defence, the EU has already established a €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE)joint debt mechanism. However, some countries are calling for even greater flexibility to respond to future challenges.
Besides energy, ministers will also hold another round of discussions on the urgent reform of capital markets. EU governments aim to reach an agreement by October, but an EU diplomat told Eleonora that this deadline is unlikely to be met.
Persistent divisions over technical details, regarding how to centralise the supervision of capital markets, will make it difficult to respect the timeline.
Roland Lescure, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, just said on EU News’ flagship morning news programme Europe Today that the Capital Markets Union is something Lagarde is “fixated” on but that he is “obsessed” with. Watch.
What about Budapest? EU finance ministers are also expected to approve Hungary’s revised National Recovery Plan, valued at €10 billion. Sándor Zsíros spoke to an EU diplomat who expressed optimism about Fridays discussions.
Hungary updated its Recovery Plan after Péter Magyar’s landslide election victory in April, with the envelope expected to pave the way for the release of further money.
“It will be an important meeting, as this is the last legal step before our country can access several thousand billion forints of EU funds,” Hungarian Finance Minister András Kármán said in a social media post ahead of his trip to Brussels.
Sanctioning Russia. The EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine is also facing fierce discussion today.
Jorge Liboreiro offers in this dispatch that EU ambassadors will meet to try and get the suite of measures over the line, with multiple issues (such as cod and LNG) still unresolved.
If no deal is reached by 15 July, the price cap on Russian oil will also be automatically revised, going up all the way to $58 per barrel. It’s an unpalatable scenario that Brussels is intent to avoid.
“We’re close,” a diplomat said. “I hope for a final discussion on Friday.” (More on that top story below).
Banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements. EU ambassadors will today mull options presented by Brussels on Wednesday regarding whether to outright ban trade with Israeli settlements, alongside stricter exporting licenses and steeper tariffs.
It comes as part of a highly-anticipated “options paper” sent by Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to EU capitals earlier this week and first reported by my colleagues Maïa de la Baume, Mared Gwyn and Luca Bertuzzi.
As Mared writes in, ambassadors will touch base on the issue today before the paper formally goes onto the Foreign Affairs Council agenda on Monday. But it is already facing fierce opposition and steep divisions, Luca reports in this must-read analysis.
EU countries rush to avoid disastrous revision of Russian oil price cap
The European Union has entered the last stretch of negotiations to reach a deal on a new round of sanctions against Moscow, as countries scramble to avoid a politically disastrous update of the price cap on Russian oil.
Under the rules, the cap, currently set at $44.10 per barrel, must be automatically adjusted every six months to remain at 15% below the average market price.
The next review is scheduled for 15 July.
Since Russian oil soared in the aftermath of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the revision is certain to push the cap much higher, likely hitting $58 per barrel, which would provide the Kremlin with breathing space at a time when its economy is under growing strain and Ukraine enjoys momentum on the battlefield.
The European Commission considers this scenario unpalatable and has proposed to delay the review until January next year to keep the cap at $44.10 per barrel.
But Malta, Cyprus and, in particular, Greece, three countries with powerful maritime services, have raised questions about the postponement.
“The oil price cap was introduced by the G7 not only to reduce Russia’s revenues from fossil fuel exports but also to preserve stability in global energy markets. This objective is particularly relevant in the current crisis in the Middle East,” a diplomat said.
“Any adjustment to the automatic mechanism of the oil price cap should therefore be carefully calibrated in coordination with our G7 partners.”
More from our newsrooms
European Parliament aims to exclude end-to-end chats from message-scanning regime
A law allowing online communications to be scanned to detect child sexual abuse material was amended by Members of the European Parliament to protect users’ privacy on Thursday. The new version, however, is set to create a clash among member states. Vincenzo Genovese and Luca Bertuzzi have more.
US approves sale of Tomahawk missiles to Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz says
The United States committed to granting formal approval for the sale of Tomahawk missiles and ground-based Typhoon launchers by August, although the number of missiles acquired would remain classified. Gavin Blackburn has it all.
A World Bank for defence? The lender that Europe’s big powers have yet to join
Nine countries have thrown their weight behind a new multilateral bank designed to bankroll Western rearmament, but the notable caution of Europe’s largest military and economic powers raises the question of whether it can become the answer to defence funding. Quirino Mealha gets into the weeds.
We’re also keeping an eye on
- European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos continues her trip through Montenegro.
- European Commissioner for Budget Piotr Serafin meets with European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño in Brussels, Belgium.
That’s it for today. Eleonora Vasques, Sándor Zsíros, Mared Gwyn, Jorge Liboreiro and Vincenzo Genovesecontributed to this newsletter.
US inflation rate shows signs of stabilization amid economic concerns
6:01 am
US inflation rate shows signs of stabilization amid economic concerns
The Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case today regarding the constitutionality of race-conscious admissions policies at colleges and universities, a decision that could reshape affirmative action in the United States. This case, which involves Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, has drawn significant attention, with implications for how institutions can consider race in their admissions processes. A ruling is expected to be issued by the end of the court’s term, potentially altering the landscape of higher education admissions nationwide.
In financial markets, investors are on edge as the outcome of this case could influence broader discussions on corporate diversity initiatives, potentially impacting stock performance in companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion strategies. What to watch: The Supreme Court’s decision, anticipated in the coming months, will be a critical indicator for businesses and educational institutions alike as they navigate the complexities of race-related policies.
Key developments across the United States
Trump’s air force one secure amid uncertainty
US DEFENSE — The security of Air Force One has come under scrutiny following growing concerns about potential threats.
Recent reports indicate an increase in security measures for the presidential aircraft amid various global tensions. Officials emphasize the aircraft’s resilience and ability to withstand potential attacks during flight.
Supreme Court hears high-stakes gerrymandering case
US LAW — The Supreme Court is reviewing a landmark case on gerrymandering that could reshape electoral maps.
This case addresses allegations of partisan manipulation in districting processes and its implications for electoral fairness. A ruling could set critical precedents for future electoral maps and influence political representation.
Regulatory agencies propose new financial stability measures
US ECONOMY — Financial regulators have introduced initiatives aimed at enhancing economic stability and safeguarding consumer interests.
The proposed measures focus on improving transparency and risk assessment in financial markets. These regulations are part of ongoing efforts to prevent crises and bolster public confidence in the financial system.
Concerns grow about healthcare access disparity
US HEALTH — Growing concerns regarding healthcare access have come to the forefront, highlighting disparities across different demographics.
Reports indicate that underprivileged communities continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality healthcare. These disparities have prompted calls for policy changes aimed at improving health equity nationwide.
Local politics shake up future electoral strategies
US POLITICS — Recent local elections have led to significant shifts in political strategies and party alignments.
The outcomes of these elections raise questions about traditional voting patterns and may impact upcoming national contests. Political analysts are closely monitoring these changes as they could redefine party platforms and campaign tactics.
What to watch — The Supreme Court’s decision on the gerrymandering case may have lasting implications for electoral representation.
Further reading from US News sources
Associated Press
Supreme Court curtails overreaching partisanship in congressional redistricting
Politico
Furor over Trump’s indictment rages on
New York Times
As Technology Giants Face New Scrutiny, a Call for Regulation
Washington Post
In the Race for Wellness, Companies Seek to Unleash a New ‘Healthier’ Snack
Venezuela’s shift towards Israel aims for survival rather than conviction
5:00 am
Get you up to speed: Venezuela’s turn to Israel is about survival, not conviction
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has initiated a shift towards re-establishing relations with Israel, marking a significant change from the country’s longstanding hostility. This development occurred amid ongoing efforts by Rodriguez to secure international support and distance the government from previous adversaries of the United States, including Iran and its allies.
Delcy Rodriguez has moved to restore diplomatic ties with Israel, marking a significant shift from the policies of previous Venezuelan governments. The strategy includes conditionally opening up sectors to US influence while distancing from longstanding adversaries like Iran and Hezbollah, as demonstrated by recent diplomatic gestures and the extradition of alleged Hezbollah collaborators.
Delcy Rodriguez’s government has publicly thanked Israel for providing a disaster-response team in the wake of Venezuela’s recent earthquakes, marking a potential thaw in relations following nearly two decades of diplomatic estrangement. The administration is reportedly seeking to consolidate its power and reduce opposition influence by advancing ties with Israel while simultaneously distancing itself from adversarial nations like Iran.
What remains unclear — Whether Rodriguez’s shift towards Israel can endure amid 27 years of anti-Israel rhetoric remains uncertain.
Venezuela’s shift towards Israel aims for survival rather than conviction
OPINIONOPINION, OpinionVenezuela’s turn to Israel is about survival, not conviction
Delcy Rodriguez is courting Israel only to secure Washington’s support and undercut her main rival.
Six months after United States forces ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the balance of power in Latin America and the Caribbean has shifted in Washington’s favour. In Maduro’s place stands Delcy Rodriguez, his former vice president, now acting president and a far more manageable partner for Washington. Her rise has given the administration of US President Donald Trump a de facto ally in its effort to revive US dominance over the Western Hemisphere under what has become known as the “Donroe Doctrine”.
Rodriguez’s challenge is to satisfy Washington without losing control at home. To do so, her advisers are recasting a movement once rooted in the socialist politics of the Hugo Chavez-Nicolas Maduro era as something more pragmatic, transactional and suited to the new hemispheric order. The former “comrades” are now moving closer than ever to open alignment with Trumpism in Latin America.
Nowhere is the scale of Rodriguez’s shift clearer than in her approach to Israel. Under her government, Caracas has begun moving towards a state long treated as an enemy by the “21st-century socialists” who have ruled Venezuela for the past 27 years.
From hostility to rapprochement
Throughout the Chavez-Maduro era, successive Venezuelan governments considered Israel a “genocidal” state and an “enemy of peace”, condemned almost every Israeli military action in the Middle East, and denounced its very existence. Chavez broke diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009 and deepened cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel’s principal regional rival, as well as with its regional non-state allies.
Rodriguez, however, has chosen to pursue her own agenda with Israel. Despite initially saying the US military intervention that removed Maduro had “Zionist overtones”, the acting president has since been paving the way to re-establish relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
In late February, her government took the surprising step of avoiding any direct condemnation of Washington or Tel Aviv over the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Instead, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling for “dialogue” and criticising Iran’s retaliation against countries in the region hosting US military assets. The statement distanced Caracas from Tehran and signalled that Rodriguez’s government would not automatically support Iran in its confrontation with the United States and its regional allies.
In April, the interim president made a direct overture to Venezuela’s Jewish community, a gesture clearly intended to signal her openness to rapprochement with Israel.
She sent the Venezuelan Jewish community and Venezuelan Chief Rabbi Isaac Cohen a warm Passover greeting on social media, praising the Jewish people and advocating for peace and intercultural and interreligious respect. A few days later, she addressed Rabbi Cohen and Jewish Venezuelans again in a televised speech, reassuring them that Venezuela held “no anti-Semitic positions”.
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June gave the Rodriguez administration another opportunity to advance its rapprochement with Israel. After 17 years without diplomatic relations, Venezuela publicly thanked Israel for sending a disaster-response team. The interim president also personally praised the Israeli delegation’s expertise in search and rescue and infrastructure assessment. The mission led to the first known high-level contact between Israeli and Venezuelan officials in years, raising the possibility of the formal re-establishment of bilateral ties between the two countries.
A new ally in a struggle for survival
These moves are part of a calculated strategy by Venezuela’s acting government to secure its hold on power. The pragmatism behind them is driven by several pressures.
First, Rodriguez’s plan involves demonstrating strong alignment with US foreign policy in Latin America and beyond in order to secure Trump’s support and remain in power. Alongside her efforts at rapprochement with Israel, the acting president has reached out to Trump’s regional allies, including President Javier Milei in Argentina and President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. She has accepted US demands to open up Venezuela’s oil, mining and electricity sectors, and has permitted the deployment of US military forces to assist with the earthquake relief effort.
A second element of this strategy is to distance the current Venezuelan government from long-standing adversaries of Washington, such as Iran and its regional non-state allies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Over the years, Venezuelan leaders, including the acting president, have been accused by Washington of involvement in networks of money laundering and “terrorist” activity linked to such groups.
Weeks after Maduro was ousted from power, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of links between Maduro’s regime and the Lebanese organisation. In response, the Rodriguez administration has moved to extradite two alleged Hezbollah collaborators from Venezuela: Ali Zaki Hage Jalil to Panama and Alex Saab to the United States. Hage Jalil has been accused of “terrorism” by the Panamanian government, while Saab has been indicted in the US on money laundering and other charges.
Another driver of the Venezuelan government’s current approach to Israel is domestic politics. Maria Corina Machado, the leading opposition figure and Rodriguez’s main rival, has built a strong alliance with Israel over the years, especially with Prime Minister Netanyahu. If Rodriguez can win Netanyahu over at Machado’s expense, Machado could lose one of her most important sources of support, both internationally and in Washington, where pro-Israel lobbying networks hold significant influence. To this end, Rodriguez has adopted increasingly Israel-friendly positions while courting sectors of Venezuela’s Jewish community with strong ties to Israel.
The rapprochement between Venezuela and Israel is therefore part of a calculated strategy by the Venezuelan government to consolidate its power, weaken its main domestic opponent and reassure Washington that Caracas is distancing itself from actors Washington considers enemies, such as Iran and Hezbollah.
Rodriguez’s government appears to be driven less by conviction than by survival. So far, that strategy has served its purpose. But whether this bargain can survive the weight of 27 years of anti-Israel rhetoric and produce a durable alliance with a state the ruling party long treated as an enemy remains far from certain.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect WTX News’s editorial policy.
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