candidates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to denounce Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist mayoral candidate in New York City. The attack on a local American politician from a global diplomatic stage drew immediate attention and criticism, with commentators debating why Netanyahu singled out Mamdani and what it says about his effort to frame opponents of Israeli policy.

Republican candidates and officeholders are publicly distancing themselves from Donald Trump as polling shows weakening support, particularly in competitive districts. Lawmakers are reportedly avoiding joint appearances and softening ties with the former president ahead of upcoming elections. Commentators see the move as an effort to protect vulnerable seats, while Trump allies dismiss the polls and warn that abandoning him could hurt the party with its base.

Attention is turning to who might succeed Christine Lagarde as president of the European Central Bank. Four possible scenarios are being sketched for the post-Lagarde era, laying out potential candidates and pathways for the eurozone's top monetary policy job as her term eventually winds down.

A new survey in the Netherlands finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say their smartphone use harms their everyday life. The finding has drawn attention for how candid young adults are about the negative impact of their own screen habits, feeding into wider debate about phone addiction, sleep, concentration and mental wellbeing among younger generations.

A study using artificial intelligence at the Large Hadron Collider challenges the theory that the universe has ten dimensions. The AI analysis of particle collision data casts doubt on predictions from string theory, which requires extra spatial dimensions beyond the four we observe. If confirmed, the findings would force physicists to rethink one of the leading candidate frameworks for unifying quantum mechanics and gravity.

Several Democratic candidates are making Christian faith a prominent theme of their 2026 midterm campaigns, a strategy aimed at countering Republican dominance among religious voters. NPR reports the candidates are speaking openly about their beliefs on the campaign trail, hoping faith-forward messaging will broaden their appeal ahead of the elections.

Montenegrin commentary argues that Brussels is closely monitoring the country's EU accession process and that the rules of the game are clearly defined. Part of the reforms required on the road to European Union membership are affecting the political space, with the EU showing it will not turn a blind eye to how candidates meet its standards.

President Trump has dramatically expanded ICE's enforcement operations, and candidates in competitive congressional and state races are now struggling to craft a clear response. With immigration a defining issue heading into upcoming elections, battleground contenders are divided between appealing to voters concerned about border security and those alarmed by aggressive deportation tactics, leaving many campaigns searching for a message that resonates.

Elections for the president's post of the Rajasthan Cricket Association are drawing wide attention after five candidates from prominent political families entered the fray. The contest has turned the state cricket body's polls into a proxy battleground for political influence, with observers watching whether lineage or cricket administration credentials will decide the outcome.

Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, has pledged not to attack Jean-Luc Mélenchon too harshly ahead of the presidential election. His campaign director, senator Ian Brossat, told La Tribune that "we will not fall into aggressiveness." The olive branch toward the veteran left-wing rival is drawing attention as the French left weighs unity against competition in the race.

Pope Leo visited Lourdes in France and said the Catholic Church must heal its 'wounds, infidelities, and painful errors.' The pilgrimage site, famous for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, drew attention for the Pope's frank language about institutional failings and the call for repentance and renewal within the Church.

Alaska's gubernatorial candidates have laid out their competing visions for the state's energy future in a discussion aired as part of the Addressing Alaskans series. The debate centers on how Alaska should develop its energy resources, a defining issue for a state whose economy and budgets rely heavily on oil and gas while also facing pressure to expand renewables.

A sticker business owner endorsed by Donald Trump is running for Congress, and reporting has surfaced an unusual backstory behind the candidate. The profile has drawn attention for how an unconventional entrepreneur with the former president's backing could win a seat, fuelling debate about the kind of candidates Trump-endorsed primaries are producing.

Germany has selected Munich as its candidate city to bid for hosting the Olympic Games. The decision makes Munich the city that will represent Germany in the international competition to become an Olympic host, reviving the city's connection to the Games decades after it staged the 1972 Summer Olympics.

NPR's The Sunday Story examines whether clergy candidates could help Democrats become competitive in Republican-leaning states. The piece explores how candidates with religious backgrounds might connect with voters in communities where the party has struggled, raising questions about faith, values and electoral strategy. It is fueling discussion about whether Democrats should recruit more faith leaders to run for office.

The German Olympic Committee has named Munich as its chosen bid city, moving Germany a step closer to a future Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Bavarian capital, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, now emerges as the country's candidate to pursue hosting duties, with details of the bid and potential Games year expected to be outlined in the coming period.

A Latina Republican lawmaker is breaking with her party on immigration policy as she campaigns for reelection. The question now is whether the split will win over swing voters in her district or cost her support among her own base. It highlights how immigration remains a volatile issue for Republican candidates, especially in competitive races where Hispanic voters' loyalties are being actively courted by both parties.

A new Marquette Law School poll is set to offer a preview of upcoming Wisconsin races and voter attitudes on election integrity. The survey is expected to gauge how candidates are positioned and how much weight election-related concerns carry among state voters, giving campaigns and observers an early read on the political landscape.

Tariffs, farm policy and taxes have emerged as the main points of division among candidates competing in Iowa. With agriculture central to the state's economy, positions on trade barriers and farm support are drawing sharp contrasts, while tax plans are also separating the field as voters weigh who best represents rural interests.

In Alaska politics, calling someone a product of the 'Lower 48' is considered one of the harshest insults, and the label is now playing a central role in the state's Senate race. Candidates are trading accusations over their ties to the state, with Alaska voters known to prize local roots and distrust outsiders seen as importing outside interests.

Education freedom accounts — state-funded accounts that let families pay for private schooling — are emerging as a talking point in the race for Texas Comptroller, the office that would administer any such program. Coverage in Austin connects the candidates' positions on school choice to how the comptroller would oversee payments and eligibility if the program expands.

Attention is turning to Indiana's Fourth Congressional District ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Local coverage is framing the district as one of the congressional races to watch in Indiana, though no candidates, primaries, or campaign developments have yet been detailed. With the midterms approaching, voters are beginning to look ahead to who will run and what issues will shape the contest.

Candidates running for the US Senate seat in Alaska are divided over tax policy, offering voters contrasting positions on how the state's finances should be handled. The race has drawn attention as the state weighs issues such as resource revenues and funding for public services.

San Francisco voters are looking ahead to the November 2026 municipal elections, with a new election guide from the San Francisco Public Press laying out the races, candidates and ballot measures at stake. The guide aims to help residents navigate the city's upcoming election cycle, which will determine local offices and policy questions.

Sylvester Stallone has opened up about the extreme measures he took to get in shape for his iconic role as Rocky Balboa, admitting he suffered from bulimia and used steroids during the filming of the 1976 classic. He described the physical toll of crash dieting and overtraining as a brutal price for fame.

Colt Shelby, a candidate in Arkansas's gubernatorial race, appeared on Talk Business & Politics alongside longtime political columnist John Brummett. The segment covered the candidate's campaign as the state's gubernatorial contest draws attention, with Brummett offering analysis from his decades covering Arkansas politics.