Allan Smith

nbcnews.comMike Rogers bets he can outflank Abdul El-Sayed with a low-key campaign in Michigan’s Senate brawlRogers, a former Republican congressman who is seeking to flip a Democratic seat against a pugnacious millennial, prefers “small meetings” to El-Sayed’s “big stages.”

NEW: Rogers runs a very different campaign than AES. Fewer big events. Fewer interviews. Lower prof on social He joked his wife would leave if he posted TikToks like Abdul's Republicans say he's hitting his marks but want more "volume" w/ @henryjgomez.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comHow Josh Shapiro changed his tune on data centersThe Pennsylvania governor and potential 2028 presidential candidate went from touting the benefits of data centers to touting his role protecting communities from them.

New: Dove into Gov. Shapiro's data center evolution “I saw Greg Abbott, Kathy Hochul, others who have put moratoriums in place...but my view was, the pause is to make room for the policy" "[R]ather than take a pause, my focus was on putting a policy in place” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comThe left finally has a chance to win big battleground races. Michigan is at the center of the fight.Much of the left’s hopes this fall rest on the shoulders of William Lawrence and Abdul El-Sayed. Republicans are hurrying to make them villains in races inside and outside Michigan.

NEW: The left is gets to test itself in battlegrounds Nowhere is more important than Michigan, where wins would mean "everything" Now, Abdul El-Sayed & Will Lawrence are main characters in the GOP effort to hang on to Congress My report from the state > www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Both candidates are trying to make inroads on the right. AES is promoting an ad in-state that features Fox News host Jesse Watters saying "You gotta respect Abdul because he beat the machine." www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

“The reason this race is interesting: There’s no playbook,” Rebecca Katz, an El-Sayed adviser, said. “The typical Dem is going to try and play it safe, not rock the boat, whatever, and that’s not Abdul. He’s going to try and bring people in.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Barrett said the broader GOP effort to paint Democrats as socialists/communists might actually complicate his campaign vs. Lawrence “It’s like the boy that cried wolf," Barrett said. "Like, we’ve got an actual, legit wolf here, guys.”

Hasan Piker has become a flashpoint in the races too, though MI voters may not be familiar w/ him “I do think that the association with extremism is something people can understand,” Barrett said. “And the more you describe this to them, the more they will, I think, absorb that”

Both candidates have given a sharp focus on AI and data centers, particularly Lawrence, who has centered the issue in his campaign. He believes "the extreme concentration of power [w/ tech companies] may be the single greatest threat that we face" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

He's tried to distance himself from his DSA roots & a host of controversial tweets, which Trump & Vance highlighted Rep. Tom Barrett said: “You can’t organize the local DSA chapter in the living room of your home as a founding & organizing member & then disavow their positions"

El-Sayed credited Stevens, Slotkin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who backed Stevens, with helping unify the party despite his past criticism of Schumer. “I’ve got to give it to the pragmatism of Chuck Schumer,” he said. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

El-Sayed has particular antipathy for Vance, whom he's repeatedly criticized “JD Vance is not dumb. He’s just cowardly and corrupt, which is kind of worse,” AES said. “Part of me is just like, bro, you’re so small that this is the validation you need” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

“Things happen larger and faster, but you’re essentially trying to do the same thing,” AES said of the difference between running vs. Republicans or the Dem establishment. “I think the mistake a lot of people make is that they stop doing the same thing” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

“I actually think there’s a chance that if we win the House and the Senate, that the moderate ... Democrats will cast out their losers,” Sen. Bernie Moreno said, adding, "I hope that happens and this breaks their fever. And I think they have a fever" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comZohran Mamdani packs schedule with 9/11 commemorations, including speaking at NYPD’s official ceremonyThe mayor’s office provided a look at his upcoming schedule marking the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as some conservatives have called for him to skip events.

8 Sept

NEW: Mayor Mamdani will participate in at least 8 events to mark the 25th anny of the 9/11 attacks, his office shared w/ me That includes the remembrance in Lower Manhattan on Friday + the official FDNY & NYPD events, the latter of which he will speak at www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

nbcnews.comRepublicans wrestle with data center backlash as Trump promotes the benefitsGOP candidates have sprinted to get in line with voter skepticism about data centers as they emerge as a top midterms issue. “It’s a full-on fever pitch now,” one strategist said.

24 Aug

New: Republicans recalibrate on data centers w/ voter backlash intensifying & Trump promoting their benefits Spoke w/ Vivek Ramaswamy, who unveiled a unique plan to manage data center growth, & Tom Barrett, locked in a swing race where it is a top issue www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comThe Senate’s newest odd couple is raising Republican eyebrows — and Democratic alarmsSens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick promote themselves as Pennsylvania’s power duo. Republicans see a model for bipartisanship. Democrats see one of their own getting burned.

10 Aug

NEW: Inside the McCormick/Fetterman relationship raising Republican eyebrows and Democratic alarms One former top Fetterman aide said the senator refers to McCormick as “his mentor." Added the Trump admin makes requests of Fetterman via McCormick www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

nbcnews.comHow the booming backlash to AI data centers is shaping the midterm electionCandidates are cutting ads touting anti-data center credentials. Protesters are showing up at events. Industry players are taking note.

29 July

NEW: The AI data center-backlash is crashing into the midterms Protesters at a Trump rally. Candidates cutting ads elevating the issue. A NY moratorium that stands as a mile-marker. Industry players & activists taking notice of the intensity ratcheting up www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comZohran Mamdani puts his democratic socialist version of DOGE to the testThe New York mayor’s government efficiency effort is a potential path forward for Democrats around the country. But some are concerned he’s moving too fast.

NEW: Mamdani puts his democratic socialist vision of DOGE to the test. Advisers and allies see a model for government efficiency that Dems can follow across the country. But some are worried he's moving too fast www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

At a hearing last week, some members of City Council though expressed concern that these changes could further limit their role and be abused by a future mayor www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Team Zohran has embraced DOGE comparisons, noting they want to reclaim efficiency branding from the right “The word efficiency, we believe, should fundamentally belong to those who actually believe in the public sector..." COGE chair Patrick Gaspard said www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

On Monday, COGE released draft language for ballot initiatives to amend the city's charter Those proposals would streamline building permitting and speed up the review processes for contracting, street redesigns and contracting www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Ann Cheng, COGE exec director, said COGE is unique in the efficiency space because it is taking input from NYers at hearings before having them vote on the changes this fall “So New Yorkers are in the driver’s seat this entire time," she said. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

nbcnews.comDemocratic rising stars who spoke at the party’s 2024 convention keep losingMallory McMorrow, Jack Schlossberg and Jasmine Crockett are among the Democrats who spoke at Kamala Harris’ nominating convention, only to fall short in primaries this cycle.

8 July

NEW: 2024 DNC speakers keep losing primaries or dropping out of races Crockett. Schlossberg. McMorrow. Others have lost/are on track to. It's out of whack w/ past conventions “A prime-time slot...is starting to look less like a launchpad & more like a warning label" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comZohran Mamdani to deliver a speech marking America’s 250th birthdayThe New York City mayor will speak from George Washington’s desk hours before President Trump delivers a speech from Mount Rushmore.

1 July

Scoop: Zohran Mamdani to deliver a "major" speech Friday marking America 250, hours before Trump gives his own commemorative address at Mount Rushmore Mamdani will speak from George Washington's desk at City Hall and be surrounded by recently naturalized citizens www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

nbcnews.comDemocratic rift over the party’s future widens amid the left’s New York victoriesBut some in the party cautioned against taking too many national lessons from the successes of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s congressional slate.

25 June

New: Three left-wing wins in NYC fuel an ongoing Dem rift over control of the party The Zohran-boosted victories have leftists saying they've "never been more hopeful about taking back this party." Others say "everyone needs to chill" w/ @natashakorecki.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comAnxious Republicans await details of Iran deal as Trump keeps them guessingRepublicans are awaiting full details of the president’s new agreement with Iran but early reports have exacerbated longstanding tensions over the war.

17 June

Trump's tentative Iran deal exacerbates GOP tensions “He’s the leader of our party," Sen. Moreno said. "We have to give him the grace & the space to do what he needs to do" @jonallendc.bsky.social, Katherine Doyle @sahilkapur.bsky.social + @henryjgomez.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

nbcnews.comInside the Trump Administration scramble that forced Anthropic’s new AI model offlineThis was the first time the federal government has caused a leading AI company to retract its systems from public use, heralding a new era of government AI oversight.

16 June

A call from Amazon's Jassy to Bessent detailing security risks w/ Anthropic's most powerful model alarmed the Trump admin, w/ senior officials "scrambling to understand the seriousness" of the issues via: Jared Perlo, @newsjul.bsky.social @davidingram.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/tech/securit...

nbcnews.comData center opponents have blocked or delayed projects worth nearly $130 billion in 2026, study findsThe authors found that data center opponents blocked or delayed at least 75 projects nationwide from January through March.

12 June

New: Data center opponents are on the march. A new study found that they've blocked or delayed at least 75 projects woth about $130 billion between January & March this year — roughly the total blocked in all of 2025 — as grassroots efforts gain steam www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...

nbcnews.comAnti-Trump former Republicans are running in Democratic primaries. They’re off to a rocky start.Ex-GOPers Ryan Crosswell and Geoff Duncan lost high-profile Democratic primaries last month. Up next: a test for ‘Never Trump’ stalwart George Conway in New York.

5 June

NEW: Anti-Trump ex-Republicans are running in Democratic primaries. So far, they’re off to a rocky start Geoff Duncan & Ryan Crosswell lost by double digits. George Conway trails in NY-12 polls Comes as Dems wrestle w/ perception they’re just anti-Trump www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comDemocrats think their secret sauce in 2026 is targeting Trump and Republicans on ‘corruption’Republicans think they have a potent counter — and it’s centered on Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force.

1 June

New: Dems are centering "corruption" in their campaigns. Insiders say the strategy is potent now b/c of economic dissatisfaction But Republicans think they've got a way to counter the effort w/ JD Vance's anti-fraud task force w/ @natashakorecki.bsky.social www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comZohran Mamdani unveils $28 billion housing plan that could define his time in officeIn an interview with NBC News, Mamdani said housing policies have too often been framed as a “choice,” adding, “That doesn’t have to be the case any longer.”

27 May

Chatted with @mayor.nyc.gov about his wide-ranging housing plan, which could define his time in office Mamdani: “Too often in conversations around housing, there is a sense of a choice that has to be made ... and that doesn’t have to be the case any longer.' www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

nbcnews.comDemocratic grassroots group to target more than 60 races with ambitious canvassing effortSwing Left laid out its comprehensive battle plan, “The Big Swing,” with NBC News.

14 May

New: Democratic grassroots group to target more than 60 races with ambitious canvassing effort Swing Left laid out its comprehensive battle plan, “The Big Swing,” with NBC News. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comTrump has lost control of the conspiracy theoriesTrump has long used conspiracy theories to his benefit. But now that he's president, he's the target of some influencers who have pushed those theories.

1 May

New: The WHCD aftermath showed how much the conspiracy realm has reoriented Conspiracy theories played a big role in Trump's rise and his hold on power. Now the theorists are just asking questions of him. The shift is triggering a dilemma for Dems, too. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

nbcnews.comThe White House compares deadly conflict with video games and movies in memeified videos to win support for Iran warThe White House explained its war meme strategy has viewers focused on the military’s successes. Others see a “disturbing” development.

12 Mar

New: The WH uses GTA, Wii sports & SpongeBob clips to memeify Iran war Trump aides says the clips have people focused on military wins. Others see a "disturbing" trend “It’s fucking bullshit,” a former top military official said. “Nobody thinks this is a good idea" www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

Allan Smith reposted

Amanda Terkel

@aterkel.bsky.social

10 Mar

The only topics surveyed in the new NBC News poll that were less popular than AI? The Democratic Party and Iran www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol... by @allansmith.bsky.social

nbcnews.comPoliticians are starting to pay a lot more attention to the plight of white-collar workersRapid advancements in AI have industry and political leaders warning of massive job displacement for white-collar workers. It could reshape U.S. politics.

NEW: The coming potential AI-fueled white-collar job displacement could have a massive effect on politics Some leaders are taking notice “We’re looking at a massive collapse of the middle class,” Sen. Hawley said. “We simply cannot allow that to happen” www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

Former Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo has given this a lot of thought, too. “What is fascinating to me,” she said, “is how many policymakers of both parties & AI executives just kind of throw up their hands & they’re like, ‘Well, what are we going to do?’” www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

White-collar workers are now a more Democratic-leaning part of the electorate than blue-collar workers, per the latest @nbcnews.com poll White-collar workers are D+8 in party ID while blue-collar workers are R+9 www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

“College-educated professionals in suburban districts whose mortgage payments are suddenly at risk are a very different political force than a hollowed-out factory town,” said former Rep. Brad Carson, now a leader at the super PAC Public First Action www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

Gov. DeSantis is at the forefront of this shift, expressing concern “some of these white-collar jobs … could end up being obsolete” due to AI advancements and worrying about predictions that AI is “going to really undercut ... a lot of white-collar jobs” www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

nbcnews.comUnions privately urge Chuck Schumer and Democratic leaders to stay out of Maine's Senate primaryAt least three pro-Graham Platner unions are pushing Democratic leaders to stop supporting Gov. Janet Mills in the competitive Senate race.

U.S. politics has long centered on the anxieties and grievances of blue-collar workers who for decades saw manufacturing jobs dwindle. These workers helped power Trump’s rise and led both parties to reorient their industrial policy www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...

Allan Smith reposted

Amanda Terkel

@aterkel.bsky.social

27 Feb

SCOOP from @allansmith.bsky.social: Unions are privately urging Schumer and the DSCC to stop backing Janet Mills in the Maine Senate primary. UAW head Shawn Fain called Schumer recently and spoke to him about it, and an IBEW leader sent a letter to the DSCC. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

27 Feb

Scoop: Pro-Platner unions, including the UAW and IBEW, are privately advocating for Dem leaders to end their support for Gov. Mills in ME Senate UAW president Shawn Fain discussed the race w/ Schumer earlier this month. The IBEW sent DSCC a letter Monday www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comJosh Shapiro to unveil plan for managing the data center boom in PennsylvaniaThe Democratic governor and potential presidential candidate is among those wading into new AI-adjacent political issues confronting both parties.

Scoop: Josh Shapiro to unveil a set of principles for the data center boom in PA during his budget address today Will say developers must pay for their own power, hire locally, and meet transparency + water-conservation standards to qualify for benefits www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Shapiro has encouraged the rapid proliferation of data centers in his state. A senior aide says the governor has noticed the pushback to the developments at the grassroots level, though www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

“We’ve seen how much interest there is in Pennsylvania from developers,” a senior Shapiro aide said of what’s driving his proposal. “And I think you’ve also seen folks in local communities be skeptical, to say the least, especially in northeast PA.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

A potential 2028 contender, Shapiro is planting a flag on a key AI issue as leaders on both sides find their footing “I know Pennsylvanians have real concerns about these data centers ...” Shapiro will say, per his prepared remarks. “And so do I.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

nbcnews.comJosh Shapiro grapples with Pennsylvania's divided government ahead of a possible 2028 bidThe Pennsylvania governor is just now emerging from a contentious four-month budget impasse that tested his ability to “get stuff done” in the pivotal battleground.

5 Jan

New: Josh Shapiro grapples with one big factor separating him from other possible 2028 Dems: A divided state Legislature that necessitates tricky compromises “He’s right, it’s very hard,” a PA Dem said. "It’s certainly different than a Wes Moore or a [Gavin] Newsom" www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...