{"id":560,"date":"2026-06-01T21:14:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=560"},"modified":"2026-06-01T21:14:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:14:23","slug":"democrats-zero-in-on-an-anti-corruption-message-from-the-politics-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=560","title":{"rendered":"Democrats zero in on an anti-corruption message: From the Politics Desk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to <\/em>From the Politics Desk<\/em>, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team\u2019s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more 30 gallons of fuel spilled on National Mall after event for America\u2019s 250th birthday<\/a><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s edition, Allan Smith and Natasha Korecki explore how Democrats are trying to turn the GOP\u2019s \u201cdrain the swamp\u201d message on its head. Plus, Ben Kamisar looks ahead to the next primaries where members of Congress are in danger of losing. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Wollner<\/em><\/p>\n

Democrats think their secret sauce in 2026 is targeting Trump and Republicans on corruption<\/h2>\n

By Allan Smith and Natasha Korecki<\/h3>\n

Corruption is increasingly at the center of the 2026 election, with Democrats making it a core tenet of their messaging. <\/p>\n

Much like President Donald Trump<\/strong> \u2014 who has aimed his \u201cdrain the swamp\u201d mantra at congressional Democrats who reported stock trades or Hunter Biden for his business dealings \u2014 Democrats are seeking to take advantage of spiking levels of voter distrust in government and dissatisfaction with the economy by spotlighting examples or allegations of the president, his allies or congressional Republicans enriching themselves or providing friendly industries with special treatment.<\/p>\n

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Democrats\u2019 most recognizable leaders \u2014 including 2028 contenders \u2014 have all zeroed in on the issue. <\/p>\n

During his primary night address to supporters in Bucks County last month, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro <\/strong>accused Trump, his administration and his congressional supporters of participating in or enabling corruption no fewer than a dozen times.<\/p>\n

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/strong>, D-N.Y., last week announced the launch of the \u201cEnd Corruption Caucus\u201d with Reps. Jason Crow<\/strong>, D-Colo., and Mike Levin<\/strong>, D-Calif. <\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/strong> recently told reporters at a Center for American Progress conference that the party\u2019s \u201ctop priority\u201d upon retaking power in Congress needs to be \u201cimmediately\u201d putting to an end to \u201cthe corruption and the graft and the grift.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same conference, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries<\/strong>, D-N.Y., pointed to the financing of the president\u2019s proposed ballroom, the \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund and Trump\u2019s recently reported stock trades in describing a need for \u201ccleaning up corruption.\u201d <\/p>\n

And Sen. Jon Ossoff<\/strong>, D-Ga., has centered his campaign on the issue, saying over the weekend that the Trump administration is \u201cthe most corrupt administration of all time, and everybody knows it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re doing it in every corner of the country,\u201d said one national Democratic strategist. \u201cAnd the idea is it\u2019s an affordability cycle, and so everybody cares about affordability, No. 1, when you pair the message with the reason that your costs are going up is because politicians care more about themselves, they\u2019re corrupt, they\u2019re bought by corporate donors or they\u2019re lining their own pockets, and that\u2019s why they\u2019re not looking out for you, that\u2019s the most potent mix of the two arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcb0Related: <\/strong>The Trump administration signaled it is backing off on the creation of a $1.8 billion fund announced by the Justice Department that could send money to allies of the president deemed to be \u201cvictims of lawfare and weaponization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Taylor Swift releases new song for \u2018Toy Story 5\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

For subscribers: DNC Chair Ken Martin is digging in after fumbling the 2024 autopsy<\/h2>\n

By Natasha Korecki<\/h3>\n

Despite a torrent of criticism and calls for his resignation after mishandling the release of an autopsy of Democrats\u2019 2024 presidential election loss, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin<\/strong> is sending every signal that he isn\u2019t going anywhere. <\/p>\n

So far, no organized effort to oust him has materialized. <\/p>\n

Keep reading \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

Primary challengers threaten to unseat House members across the country<\/h2>\n

By Ben Kamisar<\/h3>\n

Four House incumbents have already lost re-election bids so far this year. And about a dozen more are facing legitimate threats in the coming months.<\/p>\n

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Two Republican incumbents are squaring off for one district in California this week, the latest example of redistricting changing not just general elections but also primaries, after two Democratic members lost in Texas last week.<\/p>\n

But the heaviest upcoming primary action will be on the Democratic side. A handful of Democratic members of Congress in California will also face challengers arguing that voters want a fresh face, part of a national slate of anti-incumbent candidates focused on generational change. A wealthy incumbent Democrat in Maryland is running against an even wealthier former congressman in a primary there. <\/p>\n

And other Democrats in states like Colorado and Massachusetts face challenges from their party\u2019s left flank, part of a running battle between progressives and the Democratic establishment. <\/p>\n

The incumbent primary danger stretches from Connecticut and New York to California and beyond: Hawaii\u2019s oldest member of Congress is fighting for his political survival, too, from a challenger backed by a former governor.<\/p>\n

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Incumbent members of Congress are notoriously difficult to defeat. But many Democrats are facing stronger challenges this election cycle than ever before, as party members look to turn the page on the 2024 presidential election and mount an effort to retake control of Congress. <\/p>\n

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Read more \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Today’s other top stories<\/h2>\n