Another Trump-Backed Republican Loses His Primary
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is projected to lose his primary in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional district, becoming the second Trump-backed candidate to fall short this week.
Ogles, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, is projected to lose to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, a longtime state official who garnered the endorsement of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R).
Ogles has previously drawn backlash for anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-Muslim posts he’s shared. In June 2026, he blamed a staffer after his social media account published a homophobic post, which stated that “homosexuality has no place in America.” In March 2026, he was also widely criticized for sharing an Islamophobic post that said “Muslims don’t belong in American society.”
Trump has repeatedly touted his backing for Ogles, including in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
“Congressman Andy Ogles is doing a fantastic job representing the incredible people of Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District! Andy is a Conservative Warrior who has strong support from his Community,” Trump wrote, adding that Ogles has his “Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election.”
Ogles’s campaign has struggled in recent months as he faced a strong bid from Hatcher, hefty outside spending from a renewable energy super PAC and the challenge of reintroducing himself to voters in a recently-redrawn district.
Earlier this week, Trump-backed candidate Amir Hassan also lost a Republican primary in Michigan’s 8th Congressional district, further highlighting the limitations of the president’s endorsement.
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Trump Names Former Personal Attorney As New White House Counsel
President Donald Trump on Sunday named Will Scharf, his one-time personal attorney, as the new White House Counsel. He will replace current counsel David Warrington, who is headed to the private sector, according to a Truth Social post.
Scharf is currently the White House Staff Secretary and has previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri. He defended Trump in multiple cases, including one on federal election interference, and supported the confirmation of his Supreme Court nominees.
Additionally, Scharf has chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, a body that’s helped advance Trump’s prized construction projects, including the new $400 million White House ballroom and a massive arch in the capital.
“I know Will well! He previously represented me in numerous cases, including at the Supreme Court, during the Biden Administration’s corrupt and illegal campaign of Weaponization,” Trump wrote in his announcement for the role.
Scharf has “embraced some of the most extreme elements of the president’s agenda,” The New York Times reported. “But he has also thrown up flares at times over matters that, according to his colleagues, he believed could imperil the presidency.” One such instance was when Scharf warned White House officials against a proposal to suspend undocumented immigrants’ habeas corpus rights.
AOC Doesn’t Rule Out Running For President Or Senate
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) didn’t rule out running for president or Senate when asked about both prospects in an ABC News interview on Sunday.
“I haven’t ruled out the possibility. And I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there,” said Ocasio-Cortez regarding a potential presidential run. “I think that we have a responsibility to remain focused on the midterms and not on our individual aspirations or plans.”
ABC News’s Jonathan Karl followed up by asking if the Congresswoman would consider running against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for Senate.
“I think that anything is possible at this juncture,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Previously, Ocasio-Cortez has emphasized that her ambitions aren’t constrained to attaining a specific title or seat.
“My ambition is to change this country,” she said in May. “Presidents come and go, Senate, House seats, elected officials, come and go, but single-payer healthcare is forever. A living wage is forever. Workers’ rights are forever. Women’s rights — all of that.”
Senate Republican Condemns GOP Lawmakers' Anti-Muslim Statements
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Sunday condemned anti-Muslim statements made by some of his fellow Republicans in the wake of Abdul El-Sayed’s win in the Michigan Senate primary last week.
During an exchange on “Face the Nation,” CBS News’ Margaret Brennan asked Cassidy about the Islamophobic posts shared by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
“Are you comfortable here? Does your party need to condemn language like this?” Brennan asked.
“I condemn language like that…I condemn those statements, and everybody should be treated as an individual,” Cassidy said.
El-Sayed has also called out the Islamophobic attacks that have been levied against him, noting that it’s “the only play they got.”
“Senator Cassidy did the right thing by clearly and unequivocally condemning anti-Muslim rhetoric from members of his own party,” CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad said in a statement. “American Muslims are our doctors, teachers, neighbors, veterans, business owners, public servants and elected officials. They are Americans, and they deserve the same dignity and respect as every other American.”
‘Deeply Troubling’: Indiana Senator Adds To Pushback Against Max Miller
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Sunday became the latest Senate Republican to speak out about Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), calling on the embattled congressman to resign “if the allegations are true.”
“Well, if the allegations are true and watching this play out publicly, of course he should resign,” Banks said during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Banks added that the domestic abuse allegations that have been raised against Miller were “deeply troubling” and noted that he should drop out of his House race “if he’s endangering a seat.”
Miller has denied the allegations and refused to relinquish his bid for reelection.
Read more from NBC News:
RNC Chair Downplays Max Miller's Abuse Allegations
The chairman of the Republican National Committee skirted the alarming abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) while appearing to confirm the GOP’s congressional committee does intend to fund his reelection campaign.
On News Nation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Florida state Sen. Joe Gruter whitewashed the scandal around Miller with a vague platitude about divorce, saying, “I always tell people that there’s not many things worse than divorce and watch these processes play out. Nobody’s a winner.”
Read more:
El-Sayed Describes ‘Warm And Inspiring’ Call With Obama After Win
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday recounted a “warm and inspiring” call he shared with former President Barack Obama after his recent primary victory.
“It was a really warm and inspiring conversation,” El-Sayed said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “...I was grateful for his advice. It was very warm, very inviting. And I know that he knows the critical role that Michigan is going to play in holding Trump accountable, in winning back the Senate, and in building forward the future that we need.”
El-Sayed also told CNN that Obama helped him see himself in politics, and noted that he hoped the former president could join him on the campaign trail in Michigan.
Obama won Michigan twice in both presidential elections in 2008 and 2012.
AOC Shares Her Decision To Freeze Her Eggs
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said she has started the process of freezing her eggs, saying it’s a “very personal” and “sensitive matter,” but she wants to be open about her decision to help other people who might want to do the same.
She shared her thoughts behind the decision on her Instagram stories Saturday, saying she took her first shot that morning.
The 36-year-old, who has teased the idea of running for president, said sharing her decision might be a “political ‘risk or even political tax,’” but that doesn’t influence her.
She said when men apply for jobs or run for office, they aren’t burdened with people wondering when they might start a family, but women are. Ocasio-Cortez added that she wants to feel “more in control” of her life. She called the choice to freeze her eggs a “privileged” one.
Perez Hilton Experienced 'Significant' Blood Loss During TikTok Live
Perez Hilton is in “serious but stable” condition, his family said in a statement Saturday.
He is still hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act, which requires an individual to remain in the hospital for up to 72 hours if they pose a threat to themselves or others. Hilton appeared to harm himself live on TikTok on Tuesday and has since been in the hospital.
His family said he experienced “significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days.” His communication has been limited, and he’s only spoken to his family and medical providers, his family said.