Saturday, August 22, 2026

Progressive defies millions in AIPAC-linked spending to win Swalwell’s old seat

Progressive defies millions in AIPAC-linked spending to win Swalwell’s old seat

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/aisha-wahab-swalwell-california-congress-b3036997.html 

Progressive defies millions in AIPAC-linked spending to win Swalwell’s old seat

California state Sen. Aisha Wahab will serve out the rest of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term after securing victory

Woman says she was drugged and raped by Rep. Eric Swalwell

California state Sen. Aisha Wahab won a special election Thursday to complete former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term, overcoming millions of dollars in outside spending against her and becoming the first Afghan American elected to Congress.

Wahab, a progressive Democrat, defeated Bay Area Rapid Transit Director Melissa Hernandez in California’s 14th Congressional District, which covers parts of Alameda County east of San Francisco Bay.

She will serve through January, when Swalwell’s term was scheduled to end. Wahab and Hernandez will face each other again in November for a full two-year term.

Aisha Wahab speaks to the media during an election-night watch party at Firefighters Local 1909 on August 18
Aisha Wahab speaks to the media during an election-night watch party at Firefighters Local 1909 on August 18 (Getty)

Swalwell resigned from Congress in April and ended his campaign for California governor after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment. He has denied the allegations.

His departure remains under scrutiny as criminal investigations into the allegations continue.

Federal agents seized electronic devices from Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport over the weekend and later searched his Washington home, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Swalwell, a Democrat who was running for California governor, ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment
Swalwell, a Democrat who was running for California governor, ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment (AFP/Getty)

Swalwell’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Wahab, who entered foster care after losing her parents as a child, framed her victory as both historic and personal.

“I will fight for this district that raised me,” she said in a statement. “From foster care to Congress, this journey shows the possibility of the American Dream.”

Wahab will be the first Afghan American to serve in Congress
Wahab will be the first Afghan American to serve in Congress (AP)

Wahab became the first Afghan American elected to public office in the U.S. when she won a Hayward City Council seat in 2018. She later joined the California Legislature, where she focused on housing affordability and access.

Her congressional victory came despite a late surge of outside spending against her. Groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, spent millions supporting Hernandez and thousands opposing Wahab.

Wahab said the result showed the district “cannot be bought.”

The Middle East emerged as a dividing issue during the campaign. At an April candidate forum, Wahab answered “yes” when asked whether she considered “what is happening to the Palestinian people” to be a genocide.

Hernandez did not answer yes or no, saying Israel had a right to defend itself following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack but that “the destruction into Gaza has gone too far.”

Hernandez, a moderate Democrat, said she was proud of mounting a competitive campaign after Wahab won the June primary decisively.

“I’ve been a fighter my whole life, and when I promised the residents of CA-14 I would fight for them, I never gave up,” Hernandez said.

The rematch in November will determine which Democrat represents the district for the next full congressional term.

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  1. Comment by DFreebird.

    Saying Israel has the right to defend itself by sustained mass killing of noncombatants is such a good look. Should play just as well next election.

  2. Comment by Chaos4700.

    subscriber

    At least the spending power of millions of Israeli dollars (dollars, not shekels) aren't going so far anymore, after decades of political damage.

  3. Comment by AsICIt.

    Stand for your principles and your constituents.

  4. Comment by Observant.

    US politicians have finally realized how toxic AIPAC is for their political survival.

    Meanwhile, rich American juices keep dumping money into AIPAC coffers.

    • Reply by SirAlleycat.

      Yes, the exposé of AIPAC also opened all the voters' eyes to millions pouring in from corporate interests. People are tired of being ignored. They are tired of paying for forever wars and an endless stream of military hardware.

    • Reply by Observant.

      Any other entity working for a foreign country - against the interests of its host country's people! - would have been shut down decades ago.

      But not this one! It's God-chosen after all.


 

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Friday, August 21, 2026

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem


Remember, remember! The fifth of trumpvember

 the 40 days of trumpmas - a serial poem

 

for 40 days the trumpeter reigns,

his lies and hate on whom he disdains,

but election day will come so soon,

we'll no longer hear the orange baboon;

 

in 39 days full of world wide problems.

we could elect him to get rid of the muslims,

but as he'll rant on trivialities of his presidential life,

what could be worse? - you could be his wife;

 

in 38 days just what will you do?

the donald has said he likes lgbtq,

but as he bullies his women and all his men too,

if youre questioning, what stops him from bullying you?

 

in just 37 days, some people are saying,

(or pleading or hoping or some even praying)

the duke of prunes will dye his forelock purple my friend,

and thus make america grape again,

 

our days are down to just 36,

before our problems the don will fix,

he will on day one do what hes said - true,

he'll wall out our enemies - and fat women too!

 

on the 35th day of trumpmas

yes just seven weeks remain!

will the polls and tallies deliver us

donald with his golden mane?

 

34 days and the vice-pipers have piped,

though pence didnt say why donalds suit shouldnt be striped,

he wouldnt defend his master's string pulling,

to make america great? - who do they think they're fooling?

 

just 33 days till the macho tornado,

unless its blown away by hurricane machado,

with women and voters he has so much to loose.

keep your mouth shut donald (unless youre changing your shoes)

 

32 days and we’ve been hit by the big blowhard,

donald spoke here in fla (oh, we had a hurricane too)

this administration gives us playing the race card, a weak economy, and unemployment

but if you want a job you could be donald’s campaign manager (unless youre a jew)

 

31 days, just a month, remains;

will the donald say hes sorry, and his baser impulses restrain?

or keep blaming bill clinton for our moral demise;

when trump speaks to us, our NO votes must be our replies!

 

election comes this time (in 30 days) each 4 years,

time for praise and tears and fears;

as polls will open in many states,

vote early, please dont vote late!

 

down to 29, just a leap february,

and theres still the donald quite

contrary;

donald donald, how does your garden grow?

quoth the master debater, "with pretty maids groped in a row"

 

just 28 days - later or soon,

and the zombies will rise, led by the big goon;

unless everyone gets a reality inoculation,

i might have to move to canada for a well deserved vacation; 

 

now just 27, less than 4 weeks,

no time for you to say 'yikes!' or 'eeeks!'

obama wants to go to mars and colonize it for man,

lets send trump tomorrow! and colonize it for orangutan!

 

26 days are all that remain,

will our democracy and economy go down the drain?

if we all keep listening to the blustering oaf,

will he give jobs and prosperity? - or just half a loaf

 

25 days - will more women speak?,

of the antics of donald who the presidency seeks,

dating 14 year old girls or groping their mothers,

how did the gop pick him over the others?,

 

24 days - were down to two dozen,

the next woman who speaks just might be your cousin,

or mother or sister, aunt, niece, even daughter,

describing the circumstance in which donald caught her,

 

23 days left and trump doesnt yet have as many accusers,

as cosby, but he assures us that they are all really losers,

sent by bankers or hillary with secret agendas,

to disrupt our election of him - our defender!,

 

22 days and we know charity begins at home,

but donalds attention is so prone to roam,

his gift that disappeared to 911 survivors from his foundation?,

oops! maybe donald spent it on a vacation,

 

21 days and trump says the election may be rig-ly,

if hes not the winner and his total's not big-ly,

tremendously higher than hillary gets,

he warns his supporters may all lose their wits,

 

20 days left and while george zimmerman still walks free,

the man who shot at HIM got 20 years - while trayvon got eternity,

trump wants us to support our cops and maintain law and order,

he'll put all the inner city dwellers in jail, and send the immigrant criminals far across the border,

 

19 days left till we all go to pretend,

to elect someone to lead us, as if on it our lives depend,

but wise man, donald trump, already really knows,

who we really voted for - a wolf in president's clothes?,

 

18 days and we bad hombres demand a rebate,

on the ill feelings left since the comments of one candidate,

the debaters have met in their final grudge match,

but only donald can say from whose hands victory will be snatched,

 

17 days and our government is corrupt with quid pro quo,

did you take latin at wharton? is that how you know?,

donald wants us to fire at them all - the bureaucrats lined up in rows,

and believe me, corruption is a subject. that donald really knows,

 

16 days - lets set term limits on all our office holders,

and put all our women in binders - or maybe in folders,

donalds endless complaints are becoming a sour whine,

have a little cheese with that, from wisconsin, where 

hillary's doing fine,

 

15 days and on stocking covered thighs did linger,

two miniature hands with two thumbs and eight tiny fingers,

they belonged to the donald who believed that he owned,

any thing that he wanted - or anyone he got alone,

 

14 days yes only two weeks,

till the duke of orange assends to the throne he seeks?,

to rule all americans, the strong and the weak?,

and dominate the globe with power that's peak?,

 

the 13th day to go - does that seem unlucky?,

not for donald whos lately been appearing quite plucky,

claiming media, polls, and parties are against him,

and rallying his multitudes with wit waxing dim,

 

on the 12th day of trumpmas donald awoke with a jerk,

promptly fired his latest campaign manager (who considered that a perk),

if youre "AAAfroAAAmurikan" and unemployed i can put you to work,

barked donald the businessman from behind his sly smirk,

 

it's the 11th and engineer casey trump is in the caboose,

i hear some of you saying oh no! what's the use,

our campaign will probably just go off the tracks,

but donald says its ok - cause he's got "the blacks",

 

just ten days left yes only one-zero,

til donald is hoping that he'll be your hero,

as new hillary emails come under investigation,

donald hopes to rename camp david to camp donald for

his vacations,

 

like a cat has nine lives we're left with only 9 days,

till we're subject to donald? and his old wicked ways,

on foreign affairs he says he'll save us from isis,

but his domestic affairs are misogyny and crisis,

 

our days are numbered - yes only eight,

till once again we make america great,

by getting rid of candidates who have nothing to add,

goodbye donald you wont make america sad,

 

just one week to go - its day minus seven,

till america's lifted above - to trumpty dump heaven?,

where for rich folks like donald opportunity abounds,

and we keep the working poor with a wall that surrounds,

 

how the time it does fly its already day 6,

till americans problems the donald will fix,

his solutions begin on trumpday number one,

dont you like them? they'll come at the barrel of a gun,

 

Five days to go, baby, One in five,

No one here gets out alive, now,

david dukes not opposed to all jews,

he backs trump - who are you going to choose?,

 

only 4 days left till the armaged-don,

he'll seize power by the horns once he has won,

and donnie will be what he longs for - a winner,

using the FBI to wreak havoc on hillary the sinner,

 

only three left, just a triad of days,

and the donald his supporters continues to amaze,

with hoopla and folderoll made up in his head,

his winning temperament will leave us all dead,

 

just a pair of days - 2 - till trump paradise,

since these words you're reading please heed my advice,

the creatures that surround us are beginning to bite,

'blacks for trump' fear the Illuminati so lets turn out their light,

 

just a single day left till our thanksgiving,

deliver us from donald and preserve the living,

forget sanity and disgard your misgivings,

but pray hard to your gods that they'll be forgiving,

since we've got the nukes why can't we use'em?,

on the road to 2016 why couldn't we lose HIM?,

 

and trumpmas now has finally come,

the tallies will count up to a winning sum,

unless the earth is struck soon by a cataclysmic comet,

to elect a candidate who just makes you want to vomit?,

we wish you a merry trumpmas at this time each 4 years,

if you have'nt voted you've lost the chance to mitigate your fears,

cause donald duck is ready to lead, forget your crocodile tears,

so you'd better get the vaseline and lubricate your rears!

 

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stay informed 4

  stay informed 4

 https://www.youtube.com/@SenatorChrisMurphy/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@RepRoKhanna/videos 

https://www.politico.com/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@ForbesBreakingNews/videos 

https://www.nbcnews.com/ 

https://www.nvunheard.org/protest-listings/?q=ergonomic%20backpack 


 

 

AllYouFascistsBoundtoLose 4k BetteMidler 2026

 

 

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