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Mike Johnson ‘Looking Into’ Cory Mills Ethics Probe

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Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he would be “looking into” an ongoing House Ethics investigation into whether Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) is guilty of assault and benefiting from federal contracts while in office, Politico reports.

While Johnson said he was not sure about the current status of the Mills investigation, he was confident the House’s “consensus” would be to soon vote to oust another Florida lawmaker, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), following findings by the House Ethics Committee that she committed myriad campaign finance infractions.

Wholesale Prices Surged 4% Last Month

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“U.S. wholesale prices surged last month as the Iran war drove up the cost of energy,” the AP reports.

“The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — rose 0.5% from February and 4% from March 2025. The year-over-year gains was the biggest in more than three years. Energy prices surged 8.5% from February.”

Vulernable Republican Gets Flashes of an Iran Backlash

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New York Times: “What unfolded over the next two hours was an at-times combative session marked by frequent interruptions; competing bursts of applause and jeers; and repeated attempts by Mr. Lawler to justify or distance himself from President Trump’s handling of the war in Iran.”

“It captured how the conflict has created a worst-case political scenario for members of his party in the run-up to November’s midterm elections, in which the party is fighting to maintain its minuscule majority.”

“Having largely sat on the sidelines as Mr. Trump began the war without congressional authorization, then abruptly announced a cease-fire and now is imposing a blockade — sending gas prices soaring amid persistent economic anxiety — Republican members of Congress like Mr. Lawler are facing mounting questions from voters, who do not appear satisfied by the answers they are getting.”

Vance Defends Campaigning for Viktor Orbán

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Vice President Vance said he was “sad” about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s reelection loss, but he defended his last-minute visit to the nation to show support for the key ally of President Trump, NewsNation reports.

Said Vance: “We didn’t go because we expected Viktor Orbán to cruise to an election victory. We went because it was the right thing to do to stand behind a person who had stood by us for a very long time.”

Political Wire on Your iPhone

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If you’d like Political Wire to feel more like an app on your iPhone, there’s a simple trick that takes less than a minute.

Just open politicalwire.com in Safari, tap the Share button (the square with the upward arrow), scroll down and select “Add to Home Screen,” then tap “Add.” 

That’s it. An icon will appear on your home screen, and with a single tap it will launch Political Wire — giving you a fast, app-like experience without needing to download anything.

Trump Slams Giorgia Meloni

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President Trump slammed Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, his one-time political ally, deepening a rift over her opposition to the war in Iran and his attack on Pope Leo XIV, Bloomberg reports.

In a six-minute interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Trump said the two hadn’t spoken “in a long time.”

His remarks are a near total reversal on his previous stance on Meloni, whom he once described as a “beautiful young woman” who had taken Europe “by storm.”

Geography Powers Iran’s Grip on the Strait of Hormuz

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Washington Post: “Even as Washington seeks to squeeze Iran economically, Tehran retains a powerful advantage: geography. Over six weeks of conflict, Iran has halted virtually all traffic in the strait by laying mines, according to its military forces, and exploiting the vulnerability created by its terrain. Even under a U.S. blockade, these factors allow Iran to continue exerting influence over who crosses — and at what risk.”

“That risk, more than any formal closure, is what is keeping ships away. According to data from Kpler, only seven vessels have crossed the strait daily on average since the ceasefire, compared with the prewar traffic of more than 130 ships.”

Politico: Trump’s decision to blockade Iran ups the ante on prices.

Government Workers Inundated With Religion

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Wired: “The USDA is not the only agency espousing overtly religious rhetoric: At the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Labor, federal employees have been alarmed to watch Christianity’s creep into the government since President Donald Trump’s return to office.”

Middle East War Will Slow Global Growth

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New York Times: “War in the Middle East has upended the world economy, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, warning in a report that disruptions to oil markets could slow growth, fuel inflation and raise the possibility of a global recession.”

“The sober message came after the global economy had largely weathered a pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and soaring inflation without tipping into a recession. But President Trump’s decision to initiate a war in Iran has stopped the world economy in its tracks.”

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

Praise for Political Wire

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— Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press”

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— Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report

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— Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report

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— Larry Sabato, Center for Politics, University of Virginia

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— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”

— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post

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— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit

“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”

— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.