Mike Murphy
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Articles by Mike Murphy
Real Life Bruce Wayne Christian Bale Builds Foster Homes
Christian Bale spent years playing Bruce Wayne on screen. Now, the actor behind The Dark Knight is doing something even more important in real life. He is helping foster children in California stay with their brothers and sisters. Bale this week launched Together California, a foster care community in Palmdale, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. The 11,000-square-foot site includes 12 furnished homes designed to keep sibling groups together after they enter foster care.
Primary Election Night Snapshot
Labor Neighbor Aug. 1st door knocking event. Photo: WSLC Primary Election provides context for Washington voters as WSLC Endorsed Candidates appear posed to secure spots in General by OSTA DAVIS (August 11, 2026) — Primary Election night is always abuzz with possibility, and this year was no different. With an open primary in Washington, the top two vote-getters go on to the General Election in November.
Mike Murphy: Republicans Are Feeling Fed Up with POTUS
Trump's killing off of John Cornyn's political career was the last straw for Senate Republicans, who magically found the courage—for the moment—to oppose his thug fund and the cool billion dollars he's demanding for his ballroom. And while the DNC autopsy shows a party not focused on winning, Jeffries and Schumer played a very shrewd hand with their anti-ICE DHS shutdown.
Opinion: Trump world hopping mad over Bad Bunny
The MAGA crowd sure is in a tizzy over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show. The Puerto Rican rapper and singer performed much like previous halftime acts, singing and dancing while surrounded by other performers singing and dancing.
Opinion: Let’s play ‘Name that Autocrat’
Back in 2020, during Donald Trump’s first term as president, he placed a bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for $15 million. Yet, his administration failed to take any steps to arrest Maduro. Then, during his last month in office in 2025, President Joe Biden increased the Maduro bounty to $25 million. Finally, last August, Trump’s current State and Justice Departments raised the bounty to $50 million, and now we all know what that led to.
Opinion: Perhaps Department of War (Crimes) is more accurate
Two months ago, President Trump began his push to change the Department of Defense title to the Department of War. Mr. Trump said in a speech that to restore pride in the U.S. military, he is changing the department name back to what it was in 1789.
Ceasefire Abroad, Crossfire at Home (with Rahm Emanuel)
This week, Axe and Heilemann were joined by Rahm Emanuel — former White House Chief of Staff, two-term Mayor of Chicago, ex-Ambassador to Japan, and a true Hack’s Hack. The Hacks dive into the new Gaza peace accord, Trump’s shifting attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and his curious relationship with Putin, the optics of the ongoing government shutdown, ICE’s brutality in American cities, and so much more. Photo by Evan Vucci via Pool/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices.
Killing Democracy-And Not Bothering to Hide It
We talk a lot about failing institutions. But you know what matters more? People. Because people create new institutions, like the Washington Litigation Group, a new legal nonprofit designed to fight the Trump administration in court: The new group aims to bring appellate expertise to the very beginning of a client’s case, an approach that its founders say will improve the odds of making a successful argument before the Supreme Court. It’s a game plan straight out of the Big Law playbook.
Killing Democracy-And Not Bothering to Hide It
We talk a lot about failing institutions. But you know what matters more? People. Because people create new institutions, like the Washington Litigation Group, a new legal nonprofit designed to fight the Trump administration in court: The new group aims to bring appellate expertise to the very beginning of a client’s case, an approach that its founders say will improve the odds of making a successful argument before the Supreme Court. It’s a game plan straight out of the Big Law playbook.
Opinion: Are tariffs smart or for the birds?
“History and facts have proven that the United States’ increase in tariffs will not solve its own problems,” The Chinese Commerce Ministry Unfortunately, Donald Trump has never let history and facts interfere with his gut feeling and kneejerk reactions when it comes to business decisions. As proof, Donald Trump’s history of business ventures is blemished with an extensive list of bad decisions and failures. A prime example is Trump’s holdings in Atlantic City.
Opinion: State legislature guilty of indecent overexposure
Hang on to your, uh… truck nuts, guys. Because the Idaho State Legislature is coming after them. Just when you think that the Republican-dominated, anti-government overreach, Idaho State Legislature cannot possibly dream up any more new laws to expand the reach of government, the legislators get their second wind of hot air. House Bill 270 which will amend Idaho’s indecent exposure law was sent to the governor’s desk for signature this week.
Opinion: Democrats can learn from Republican success
Donald Trump claims that he can do whatever he wants because he has been given a “mandate.” And it’s true. Though it’s certainly not a mandate from the people since Trump received 4 million fewer votes in 2024 than Joe Biden got in 2020. No, the mandate he is referring to is this one: the "Mandate for Leadership 2025,” otherwise known as Project 25. While campaigning for president, Trump claimed “I have nothing to do with Project 2025.
Middle Niobrara NRD to host meetings about new building
A rendering of the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District’s proposed new building at 303 E. Highway 20 in Valentine. Meetings will be held in Valentine on March 10, 2025 and in Ainsworth March 21.
Opinion: With Trump, Goliath always wins
Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, has sponsored a bill to require Bible reading in all public schools. According to his website, Rep. Jordan has also previously sponsored legislation requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in school buildings. None of this should come as a surprise since Republican-dominated Louisiana and Oklahoma state legislatures have recently pushed through similar bills.
Opinion: The miracle worker
Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, has sponsored a bill to require Bible reading in all public schools. According to his website, Rep. Jordan has also previously sponsored legislation requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in school buildings. None of this should come as a surprise since Republican-dominated Louisiana and Oklahoma state legislatures have recently pushed through similar bills.
Opinion: Prop 1 opponents insult Idaho voters’ intelligence
Proposition 1, the election ballot measure to create an open primary and ranked-choice voting (RCV) system in Idaho, has really stirred up some prominent Republican politicians. I must admit that I honestly do not have strong feelings either way on this issue. Yet, the mere fact that the dominant party in a state is so adamantly opposed to Proposition 1 can’t help but make one suspicious.
Opinion: And now for ‘the rest of the story’
While reading Idaho Republican Party chairwoman Dorothy Moon’s recent column “Idaho vs. Minnesota,” I thought of Paul Harvey’s radio program “The Rest of the Story,” where he would fill in missing details on a particular topic. In her column, Chairwoman Moon attempts to compare Idaho, which she says “represents what America once was,” to a nightmarish Minnesota.
Opinion: Louisianans’ 11th commandment: “thou shalt learn to read”
Louisiana and Oklahoma both made the national news recently, and it wasn’t about hurricanes, tornadoes, or football. It was about public education or lack thereof. Politically, Louisiana and Oklahoma are two of the reddest states with Republicans holding every statewide elected position in both states.
Opinion: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s journey to fame - or infamy
Perhaps you were scrolling through the Donald Trump stories on the internet this morning, shaking your head and thinking “What a buffoon.” And at that very moment, someone else, possibly even a neighbor, was scrolling through the same Trump stories, thinking “That poor man.
Opinion: Revenge of the factory farm animals
If you are thinking about tossing your N-95 masks in the trash, you might want to think again. There’s a topic floating around on the internet even more important than Trump’s new game show “Name That Trial,” and that’s the H5N1 bird flu virus. Bird flu did not rate much media coverage for years when it only resulted in the mass killing of chickens to slow the spread of the virus, with 90 million being the latest figure in this country. But things have changed.
New Polling Should Warn the GOP Against Attacking Electric Cars - POLITICO Original
Opinion | Why Republicans Will Regret Their Crusade Against Electric Cars New polling suggests that stance is a political loser in 2024. The biggest potential blunder in the GOP’s attacks on EVs can be found in the Electoral College map. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images I grew up in and around Detroit in the ‘70s, so naturally I’m a car guy. I’m also a veteran Republican political consultant with a warning for my party: Slam the brakes on the electric vehicle bashing. It will cost you on Election Day.
Here’s what’s worth streaming in February 2024
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with Mike Murphy on Apple Podcasts
There are two storylines we have been following closely that are not necessarily shaped by the minute-to-minute developments in Israel, but their outcomes could have an outsized impact on U.S. policy on Israel, Gaza, and the broader Middle East. The first is the Republican contest for president. The next debate is this coming week – December 6. In the last GOP presidential debate, the issue that attracted the most airtime was the October 7 war and America’s response.
Opinion: If Trump isn’t reelected, unemployment could spike
There are myriad reasons for not supporting Donald Trump in his efforts to regain the presidency which he feels is rightfully his since he only lost his bid for a second term in 2020 by a mere 7 million votes. For instance, some may find it difficult to vote for a man who appears to possess zero knowledge of world geography and world leaders. In fact, Trump is not even aware of his own whereabouts at times.
New poll shows Trump leading Biden in 5 key battleground states
By Mike Murphy Former Obama adviser David Axelrod suggests Biden should consider dropping out A new poll released Sunday found President Joe Biden trails Donald Trump in five key battleground states, raising new questions about Biden's ability to hold onto the White House in 2024.
Opinion: Halloween fright night at Mar-a-Lago
For some bizarre reason, I have been having dreams about Donald Trump. Well, at least I thought they were dreams. First, I thought I dreamt that Trump said, “There would be no Russia-Ukrainian War right now if I were President. I would have just said, ‘Vladimir, don't do it, you know you and I are friends, don't take over any countries….’” Later, I found out that Trump actually did say that. Talk about reality being stranger than fiction.
with Dan Senor: Mike Murphy on Plan B for 2024 on Apple Podcasts
Each national political party should be thinking about their Plan B for the 2024 presidential election. Mike Murphy returns to the podcast to discuss each party's predicament and where they can go from here. Murphy has worked on a number of presidential campaigns and run 26 gubernatorial and US Senate races across the country. He was a top strategist for John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.
Opinion: Kari Lake brings her ‘ideological chaos’ to Idaho
Dorothy Moon, the chairperson of the Idaho Republican Party, recently wrote two opinion pieces for the Idaho State Journal. Her July 13 article dealt with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s early July visit to Idaho. She followed that up a week later with a column announcing former TV news anchor and never-ending-election-denier Kari Lake’s upcoming stop in Idaho.
Kushner, other top Trump aides testified before grand jury in Jan. 6 probe: reports
Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, testified before a federal grand jury in recent weeks to answer whether the former president had ever privately acknowledged in the days after the 2020 election that he had lost, the New York Times first reported late Thursday. CNN and ABC News also reported Kushner’s testimony. Furthermore, ABC News reported former Trump aide Hope Hicks also testified, and that Trump’s former communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin met with prosecutors.
Opinion: DeSantis spins ‘woke’ Fantasyland in Florida
A few days ago, I was all set to write an article poking fun at President Joe Biden for tripping over a sandbag and falling at West Point last week. But that morning while outside watering some flowers, I tripped over the hose, fell, got up and jammed my forehead into a tree branch causing a big scratch. So, I decided to give Joe a pass on his comparatively mild stumble.
Trump says he’s been indicted in documents probe, with Tuesday court date
Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s been indicted in the federal investigation into classified documents in his possession, and has been summoned to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday. In a pair of posts late Thursday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was informed of the indictment by his attorneys. There was no immediate confirmation from the U.S. Justice Department, but reports this week indicated an indictment was looming.
Opinion: College students show signs of having ‘woke’ up
Recent opinion pieces in the Idaho State Journal addressed the topic of students protesting speakers on college campuses. The incident that writers found particularly disturbing was an appearance by 5th Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan and the treatment he received from a group of Stanford Law School students.
Durbin: ‘Everything is on the table’ in response to ‘tangled web’ of Clarence Thomas revelations
Revelations about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s financial disclosures get “worse and worse by the day,” Sen. Dick Durbin said Sunday, and “everything is on the table” when it comes to establishing a code of ethics for the high court. Speaking Sunday morning on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Jake Tapper, the Illinois Democrat, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said “We need to change the image of this court.
Opinion: President Biden’s gaffes embarrass him, not the nation
President Joe Biden returned recently from a whirlwind trip to Ireland. One purpose of the trip was to honor the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, which ended sectarian violence on the island. On a more personal note, the president fulfilled a lifelong goal of visiting his ancestral home. During one of his talks in Ireland, he wished that his mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, was there to hear him.
Trump says ‘I’d never drop out’ of presidential race, even if convicted
Donald Trump says there’s nothing that would make him drop out of the 2024 presidential race — even being convicted of a crime. In an interview that aired Tuesday night on Fox News, Trump was asked by Tucker Carlson: “Is there anything they could throw at you legally, that would convince you to drop out the race? If you get convicted in this case in New York, would you drop out?” Trump responded: “No, I’d never drop out. That’s not my thing.
Opinion: Madness loves company. So, come on, Oregon, join us! Original
“Madness Loves Company,” AT&T commercials proclaimed during the NCAA basketball tourney broadcast. That sure sounds like an ideal slogan for this year’s Idaho state legislative session.
Opinion: 'Hustler' magazine at the library? Where’s my dang library card?
The 2023 Idaho legislative session is nearing its end, and if you are a librarian and you’re not sitting in jail, you have to be feeling pretty lucky. I cannot for the life of me figure out what the Republican-led state Legislature has against books, libraries and librarians. On March 16, the House State Affairs Committee debated its second version of a bill designed to stop librarians from checking out “obscene” materials to juveniles.
Opinion: Idaho education saved from reverting to Colonial Period - for now Original
The Republican-led Idaho Legislature has been on a tear this session to “fix” the state’s education system. Here are some of the bold moves made by conservatives so far. The Senate Education Committee endorsed Senate Bill 1071, which prohibits all instruction on “human sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity” prior to fifth grade. Those actually involved in education vow that, to the best of their knowledge, this is not happening in the public schools. Yet Sen.
with Dan Senor: Mike Murphy on the 2024 presidential primaries on Apple Podcasts
In this episode, we go deep on 2024 presidential primaries with Mike Murphy, who has worked on 26 gubernatorial and US Senate races across the country. Murphy was a top strategist for John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC. He’s co-host of the critically acclaimed "Hacks on Tap" podcast. Mike is also co-director of the University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future.
Senate Dems sued over LaSalle vote
Dispatchist News from around the globe in real time Client login News Sources Countries People Categories Organizations The saga surrounding Justice Hector LaSalle, Gov. Hochul’s pick for chief justice of the Court of Appeals, continued Thursday as state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk), ranking member of the Senate The Judiciary Committee voted against his nomination.Justice Hector LaSalle, above, is Gov.Hochul’s nominee for chief justice of the state Court of Appeals.
Here's how to wish your ex a Crappy Valentine's Day -- while helping animals
2023-02-10 00:46:00 MarketWatch By Mike Murphy Valentines Day is fast approaching, but the cloyingly romantic holiday can be rough for those whove recently broken up. To vent that bitterness, some animal-rescue organizations and zoos around the country are offering singles a chance to express how they really feel about their ex. In San Francisco, for example, you can have a guinea pig poop on your ex. Well, symbolically at least.
Opinion: Top-secret documents make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift
Normally, I get my national news from nontraditional sources. For politics I read Doonesbury, for business news it’s Dilbert, and for the world of nature I read The Far Side. For insight into human nature, I read The Onion. Most people think it is a satirical site, but I’m not so sure. I mean, an article titled “Amazon Prime Acquires Broadcast Rights to NBA’s Showers” sounds too crazy to be true but, hey, the TV show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” played for four seasons.
Opinion: George Santos for president 2024 - no, really
A recent 2024 GOP Primary Tracker poll of potential Republican primary voters shows Donald Trump trouncing Ron DeSantis by 19 points in a hypothetical GOP primary match-up. Votes were also cast for Mike Pence, Liz Cheney and Nikki Haley, among others. Inexplicably, the one person most clearly qualified to be the front-runner for the Republican nomination for President in 2024 is entirely omitted from the poll.
Opinion: The search for Hunter Biden’s Laptop from Heck
When asked recently what the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives had on its agenda for next year, current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy vowed they would “subpoena 51 ex-intel chiefs who called (the New York) Post’s Hunter Biden exposé ‘disinformation.’” Whew, this is great news! What a relief to hear that over half of the House members will be kept busy for the next two years forming a variety of committees and holding secret one-hour long meetings during which 50...
Opinion: Midterm election and the political odyssey of Harriet the housecat
Oh no! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! What will we do since many moderate, logical, sensible, intelligent, and honest candidates did well in last week’s midterm elections? Conservative political pundits appear confused as to why common sense prevailed instead of the utter nonsense they tried to sell the people, with voters refusing to be swayed by the Big Lie along with lots of little lies.
with Dan Senor: Mike Murphy on the Democrats' "Good Bad Night" on Apple Podcasts
In this episode, we go deep on deconstructing the mid-term results. We try to understand the implications for both parties heading into 2024. (And Murphy even tries to draw a connection between Richard Nixon and Mahatma Gandhi). Mike Murphy has worked on 26 gubernatorial and US Senate races across the country, including 12 wins in Blue States. He was a top strategist for John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.
Opinion: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back 330 years on Nov. 8
It is ironic that the 2022 midterm elections take place so close to Halloween with its connection to witches, since the most potentially damaging witch hunt in our country’s political history plays a prominent role in the election next week. The original American witch hunt took place in colonial Massachusetts in 1692-1693, culminating in the Salem witch trials, which resulted in more than 200 people being accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 people executed.
Biden to get updated COVID booster Tuesday, will urge more Americans to get theirs
By Mike Murphy Updated to reflect Biden will get his booster Tuesday, not Monday. President Joe Biden will receive his updated COVID-19 booster shot Tuesday, and will encourage more Americans to get theirs, too.
Opinion: RINOs and DINOs may help save our endangered democracy
Got a couple of hours to kill? Then go to Wikipedia and search “List of lawsuits involving Donald Trump.” One must assume that the twice-impeached former president is a viable candidate for the Guinness World Records when it comes to people having a lawsuit fetish. I mention this only because it makes it all the more inconceivable that Trump is the face — plus the heart, soul and any other body part you care to mention — of the Republican Party.
with Dan Senor: Mike Murphy on the Mid-Terms (& the madness of polls) on Apple Podcasts
Between now and November, we will be taking a close look at the midterm election season, which -- for most voters -- is just kicking off now. If history is a guide, the first mid-term election cycle of a new president should result in the opposing party (the party not in the White House) scoring a wave of victories in Congress. How big will the wave be? New polls suggest that there may not be much of a wave for Republicans. But are these new polls missing something?
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