Isaac Dovere
@isaacdovere.bsky.social
Senior reporter, CNN. Author, Battle for the Soul. Photographer, lots of animal pictures.
NEW - I spent yesterday with Ro Khanna, as *his bill* passed for the Epstein files release. He explained how he did it, and what that means:
“On one of the biggest things, which is getting MAGA on board, it’s not just ideas. I’m able to get things done.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
“On one of the biggest things, which is getting MAGA on board, it’s not just ideas. I’m able to get things done.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
Ro Khanna explains how he helped engineer the vote that ‘ripped MAGA apart’ | CNN Politics
The House vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files was, in the end, 427-1. That’s a margin typically reserved for proclamations and post office namings, not for what was perhaps the biggest defeat of...
www.cnn.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
NEW - I spent yesterday with Ro Khanna, as *his bill* passed for the Epstein files release. He explained how he did it, and what that means:
“On one of the biggest things, which is getting MAGA on board, it’s not just ideas. I’m able to get things done.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
“On one of the biggest things, which is getting MAGA on board, it’s not just ideas. I’m able to get things done.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
Trump has said in the past he barely watches Seth Meyers, but yesterday he was posting about watching the show for the second time in the last few weeks — and it was a rerun:
lol last night was a rerun
“NBC's Seth Meyers is suffering from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). He was viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage…”
November 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Trump has said in the past he barely watches Seth Meyers, but yesterday he was posting about watching the show for the second time in the last few weeks — and it was a rerun:
[email protected] when I asked him if he considers Schumer a leader of the future of Democrats:
“That’s an interesting question … he’s a reasonable amount older than I am. So it’s hard to say about somebody —what is he, in his 70s? — ‘leader of the future.’” www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
“That’s an interesting question … he’s a reasonable amount older than I am. So it’s hard to say about somebody —what is he, in his 70s? — ‘leader of the future.’” www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
How the shutdown left Democrats questioning Chuck Schumer’s future more than ever | CNN Politics
As eight senators in Chuck Schumer’s caucus broke ranks to side with Republicans and vote to end the government shutdown fight he had engineered, the New York Democrat was on the phone trying to make ...
www.cnn.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
[email protected] when I asked him if he considers Schumer a leader of the future of Democrats:
“That’s an interesting question … he’s a reasonable amount older than I am. So it’s hard to say about somebody —what is he, in his 70s? — ‘leader of the future.’” www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
“That’s an interesting question … he’s a reasonable amount older than I am. So it’s hard to say about somebody —what is he, in his 70s? — ‘leader of the future.’” www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
NEW from me and @mkraju.bsky.social: How Schumer is reacting to the trouble he knows he’s facing in DC as leader and back home in New York when he’s up in 2028.
“It’s his last term, and he may be the only one on Earth unaware of it,” one House Dem from NY told me. www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
“It’s his last term, and he may be the only one on Earth unaware of it,” one House Dem from NY told me. www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
How the shutdown left Democrats questioning Chuck Schumer’s future more than ever | CNN Politics
As eight senators in Chuck Schumer’s caucus broke ranks to side with Republicans and vote to end the government shutdown fight he had engineered, the New York Democrat was on the phone trying to make ...
www.cnn.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
NEW from me and @mkraju.bsky.social: How Schumer is reacting to the trouble he knows he’s facing in DC as leader and back home in New York when he’s up in 2028.
“It’s his last term, and he may be the only one on Earth unaware of it,” one House Dem from NY told me. www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
“It’s his last term, and he may be the only one on Earth unaware of it,” one House Dem from NY told me. www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/p...
FIFA, which faced allegations of corruption for awarding the World Cup to Russia and Qatar, is now going to have its own peace prize—which the FIFA president is teasing may be awarded to Trump in December: apnews.com/article/fifa...
Infantino says 'you will see' at World Cup draw if Trump receives new FIFA peace prize
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington.
apnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
FIFA, which faced allegations of corruption for awarding the World Cup to Russia and Qatar, is now going to have its own peace prize—which the FIFA president is teasing may be awarded to Trump in December: apnews.com/article/fifa...
Reposted by Isaac Dovere
NEW on CNN: Inside the “absolute shitshow” at the Heritage Foundation. Where staff are in open revolt, a major donor bailing, and resurfaced deleted tweets from Kevin Roberts show him praising Pence and seemingly bashing Trump on Jan. 6th.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
How Nick Fuentes ignited a civil war within the Republican Party- and DC’s most prominent conservative think tank | CNN Politics
Nick Fuentes, the well-known White nationalist and Holocaust denier, has ignited a civil war within the Republican Party — and inside one of Washington’s most prominent conservative think tanks.
www.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
NEW on CNN: Inside the “absolute shitshow” at the Heritage Foundation. Where staff are in open revolt, a major donor bailing, and resurfaced deleted tweets from Kevin Roberts show him praising Pence and seemingly bashing Trump on Jan. 6th.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
“I’ve got to get Adams and Sliwa out and then I’m going to win,” Cuomo kept saying, according to an operative who spoke with him but didn’t sign on to his campaign. “I know who to call, I know who to put pressure on.”
He had no other real plan.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
He had no other real plan.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
The inside story of Zohran Mamdani’s triumph and his planning to become NYC’s mayor | CNN Politics
The new leaders of the Working Families Party, the coalition of progressive groups and labor unions, sent around invites to a secret meeting in November 2023.
www.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
“I’ve got to get Adams and Sliwa out and then I’m going to win,” Cuomo kept saying, according to an operative who spoke with him but didn’t sign on to his campaign. “I know who to call, I know who to put pressure on.”
He had no other real plan.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
He had no other real plan.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
Bernie Sanders was walking out of the bathroom at Trevor Noah’s podcast studio in Sept when an aide played him the video of Adams staying in the race.
“All right!” he said, pumping his fist.
“He’s still going to drop out, but this is very good news.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
“All right!” he said, pumping his fist.
“He’s still going to drop out, but this is very good news.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
The inside story of Zohran Mamdani’s triumph and his planning to become NYC’s mayor | CNN Politics
The new leaders of the Working Families Party, the coalition of progressive groups and labor unions, sent around invites to a secret meeting in November 2023.
www.cnn.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Bernie Sanders was walking out of the bathroom at Trevor Noah’s podcast studio in Sept when an aide played him the video of Adams staying in the race.
“All right!” he said, pumping his fist.
“He’s still going to drop out, but this is very good news.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
“All right!” he said, pumping his fist.
“He’s still going to drop out, but this is very good news.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
on their call Saturday, Mamdani told Obama that his 2008 race speech was the template for his own Islamophobia speech two weeks ago, which he saw as a key moment for his campaign. (He had also considered an anti-semitism speech earlier, but passed on it.) www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
The inside story of Zohran Mamdani’s triumph and his planning to become NYC’s mayor | CNN Politics
The new leaders of the Working Families Party, the coalition of progressive groups and labor unions, sent around invites to a secret meeting in November 2023.
www.cnn.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
on their call Saturday, Mamdani told Obama that his 2008 race speech was the template for his own Islamophobia speech two weeks ago, which he saw as a key moment for his campaign. (He had also considered an anti-semitism speech earlier, but passed on it.) www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
The secret meetings of top NYC Dems that began in November 2023. Mamdani’s promises when he launched. Sanders’s behind the scenes warnings. The Obama call details. What Mamdani thinks of Lander.
My story on what you didn’t know was coming together:
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
My story on what you didn’t know was coming together:
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
The inside story of Zohran Mamdani’s triumph and his planning to become NYC’s mayor | CNN Politics
The new leaders of the Working Families Party, the coalition of progressive groups and labor unions, sent around invites to a secret meeting in November 2023.
www.cnn.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The secret meetings of top NYC Dems that began in November 2023. Mamdani’s promises when he launched. Sanders’s behind the scenes warnings. The Obama call details. What Mamdani thinks of Lander.
My story on what you didn’t know was coming together:
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
My story on what you didn’t know was coming together:
www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/p...
If polls hold, Spanberger is looking more likely to clear 50% in her more swingy state than Mamdani is in a city so Democratic that only 6 of 51 city council members are Republicans.
Dems nationally say that matters a lot for thinking what comes next. www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Dems nationally say that matters a lot for thinking what comes next. www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Why Tuesday’s elections could give Democrats two paths to coming back from Trump | CNN Politics
Only a party going through the Democrats’ identity and existential crises could, nine months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, have Zohran Mamdani and Abigail Spanberger as its front-runners in t...
www.cnn.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
If polls hold, Spanberger is looking more likely to clear 50% in her more swingy state than Mamdani is in a city so Democratic that only 6 of 51 city council members are Republicans.
Dems nationally say that matters a lot for thinking what comes next. www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Dems nationally say that matters a lot for thinking what comes next. www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Ruben Gallego, who won his Arizona seat last year running far ahead of Harris, said he sees Spanberger & Sherrill as more the path forward for Dems than Mamdani.
But “Look at the Republicans, look at those weirdos, man. They have a weird span of things.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
But “Look at the Republicans, look at those weirdos, man. They have a weird span of things.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Why Tuesday’s elections could give Democrats two paths to coming back from Trump | CNN Politics
Only a party going through the Democrats’ identity and existential crises could, nine months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, have Zohran Mamdani and Abigail Spanberger as its front-runners in t...
www.cnn.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Ruben Gallego, who won his Arizona seat last year running far ahead of Harris, said he sees Spanberger & Sherrill as more the path forward for Dems than Mamdani.
But “Look at the Republicans, look at those weirdos, man. They have a weird span of things.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
But “Look at the Republicans, look at those weirdos, man. They have a weird span of things.” www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Spanberger to me on Mamdani:
“People do want us to be aspirational and dream big. They also don’t want us to lie to them."
When Democrats make "promise after promise" and then say they couldn't get it done "vulnerable people believed you." www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
“People do want us to be aspirational and dream big. They also don’t want us to lie to them."
When Democrats make "promise after promise" and then say they couldn't get it done "vulnerable people believed you." www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Why Tuesday’s elections could give Democrats two paths to coming back from Trump | CNN Politics
Only a party going through the Democrats’ identity and existential crises could, nine months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, have Zohran Mamdani and Abigail Spanberger as its front-runners in t...
www.cnn.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Spanberger to me on Mamdani:
“People do want us to be aspirational and dream big. They also don’t want us to lie to them."
When Democrats make "promise after promise" and then say they couldn't get it done "vulnerable people believed you." www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
“People do want us to be aspirational and dream big. They also don’t want us to lie to them."
When Democrats make "promise after promise" and then say they couldn't get it done "vulnerable people believed you." www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
NEW from me:
I asked Spanberger what she thought of Mamdani's saying he's won the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
“Then maybe,” she said, “he should be a Democrat.”
+ much more on the sharply different paths out of 2025 coming from VA & NYC www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
I asked Spanberger what she thought of Mamdani's saying he's won the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
“Then maybe,” she said, “he should be a Democrat.”
+ much more on the sharply different paths out of 2025 coming from VA & NYC www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Why Tuesday’s elections could give Democrats two paths to coming back from Trump | CNN Politics
Only a party going through the Democrats’ identity and existential crises could, nine months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, have Zohran Mamdani and Abigail Spanberger as its front-runners in t...
www.cnn.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:35 PM
NEW from me:
I asked Spanberger what she thought of Mamdani's saying he's won the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
“Then maybe,” she said, “he should be a Democrat.”
+ much more on the sharply different paths out of 2025 coming from VA & NYC www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
I asked Spanberger what she thought of Mamdani's saying he's won the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party.
“Then maybe,” she said, “he should be a Democrat.”
+ much more on the sharply different paths out of 2025 coming from VA & NYC www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
after months of focus on Biden’s autopen pardons:
O'DONNELL: Why did you pardon Changpeng Zhao?
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
November 3, 2025 at 2:36 AM
after months of focus on Biden’s autopen pardons:
A child born the day before Obama won in 2008 will be eligible to vote by next year’s midterms - another factor that’s driving the calibrations as the former president tries to figure out his place in the current political moment:
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
Inside Barack Obama’s stepped-up plans to fight back against Donald Trump | CNN Politics
Barack Obama and his aides are reworking his longstanding strategy of minimizing his public presence to allow the next generation of Democrats to emerge. President Donald Trump’s moves to block Democr...
www.cnn.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A child born the day before Obama won in 2008 will be eligible to vote by next year’s midterms - another factor that’s driving the calibrations as the former president tries to figure out his place in the current political moment:
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
James Talarico on the call he had with Obama, especially when they talked about hope seeming to fade for Dems:
“I definitely sensed an urgency that he felt that he had a responsibility to help the next generation of leaders be able to meet the moment.” www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
“I definitely sensed an urgency that he felt that he had a responsibility to help the next generation of leaders be able to meet the moment.” www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
Inside Barack Obama’s stepped-up plans to fight back against Donald Trump | CNN Politics
Barack Obama and his aides are reworking his longstanding strategy of minimizing his public presence to allow the next generation of Democrats to emerge. President Donald Trump’s moves to block Democr...
www.cnn.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:45 PM
James Talarico on the call he had with Obama, especially when they talked about hope seeming to fade for Dems:
“I definitely sensed an urgency that he felt that he had a responsibility to help the next generation of leaders be able to meet the moment.” www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
“I definitely sensed an urgency that he felt that he had a responsibility to help the next generation of leaders be able to meet the moment.” www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
NEW from me: Obama used to be confident America would survive Trump. He’s not so sure anymore.
“The harm is so profound that this calls for both a different approach generally, and a different involvement specifically by President Obama,” Eric Holder said www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
“The harm is so profound that this calls for both a different approach generally, and a different involvement specifically by President Obama,” Eric Holder said www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
Inside Barack Obama’s stepped-up plans to fight back against Donald Trump | CNN Politics
Barack Obama and his aides are reworking his longstanding strategy of minimizing his public presence to allow the next generation of Democrats to emerge. President Donald Trump’s moves to block Democr...
www.cnn.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:57 AM
NEW from me: Obama used to be confident America would survive Trump. He’s not so sure anymore.
“The harm is so profound that this calls for both a different approach generally, and a different involvement specifically by President Obama,” Eric Holder said www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
“The harm is so profound that this calls for both a different approach generally, and a different involvement specifically by President Obama,” Eric Holder said www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
The conventional wisdom in DC is that it will take “a crisis” to end the shutdown—but it’s a question of what counts as “a crisis”: something like major flight delays b/c of controller shortages or something like the millions who won’t be able to buy groceries w/o government assistance.
October 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The conventional wisdom in DC is that it will take “a crisis” to end the shutdown—but it’s a question of what counts as “a crisis”: something like major flight delays b/c of controller shortages or something like the millions who won’t be able to buy groceries w/o government assistance.
NEW from me: a rising DSA sees major inspiration from Mamdani.
Meetings are full. Other offices are being won. They’re dominating conversations.
But actual ranks are still small. The NYC chapter has doubled since Mamdani’s primary win…to now about 11k. www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/p...
Meetings are full. Other offices are being won. They’re dominating conversations.
But actual ranks are still small. The NYC chapter has doubled since Mamdani’s primary win…to now about 11k. www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/p...
Democratic socialists see their moment in Zohran Mamdani’s rise | CNN Politics
Mamdani’s emergence is the biggest electoral achievement the DSA has ever had, well beyond the scattered state legislature and city council seats flipped their way in recent years.
www.cnn.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
NEW from me: a rising DSA sees major inspiration from Mamdani.
Meetings are full. Other offices are being won. They’re dominating conversations.
But actual ranks are still small. The NYC chapter has doubled since Mamdani’s primary win…to now about 11k. www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/p...
Meetings are full. Other offices are being won. They’re dominating conversations.
But actual ranks are still small. The NYC chapter has doubled since Mamdani’s primary win…to now about 11k. www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/p...
Sen. Chris Murphy, first politician to speak at the DC No Kings rally:
“There aren’t establishment Republicans riding to our rescue. The mainstream media isn’t riding to our rescue. There are no oligarchs riding to our rescue. It is up to us to save us.”
“There aren’t establishment Republicans riding to our rescue. The mainstream media isn’t riding to our rescue. There are no oligarchs riding to our rescue. It is up to us to save us.”
October 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Sen. Chris Murphy, first politician to speak at the DC No Kings rally:
“There aren’t establishment Republicans riding to our rescue. The mainstream media isn’t riding to our rescue. There are no oligarchs riding to our rescue. It is up to us to save us.”
“There aren’t establishment Republicans riding to our rescue. The mainstream media isn’t riding to our rescue. There are no oligarchs riding to our rescue. It is up to us to save us.”
Missed the first NYC mayoral general election debate but want to know what happened and who struggled where in the Mamdani-Sliwa-Cuomo face-off? Takeaways from Gloria Pazmino and me: www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
Takeaways from the first general election debate in the NYC mayoral race | CNN Politics
Zohran Mamdani was pushed to provide specifics about his plans if he’s elected mayor of New York City in the campaign’s first fall debate, hammered by his two older rivals who painted him as unprepare...
www.cnn.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Missed the first NYC mayoral general election debate but want to know what happened and who struggled where in the Mamdani-Sliwa-Cuomo face-off? Takeaways from Gloria Pazmino and me: www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
the first NYC mayoral debate is about to begin -- catch up on what's going on with the race and how tonight factors in with my story from today here: www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
Ahead of NYC mayor’s race debate, Cuomo hopes for a chance while Mamdani hopes for a mandate | CNN Politics
Andrew Cuomo is now running a campaign of attrition, hoping to get enough voters to come to him as the choice they’re least unhappy with. Zohran Mamdani wants to win by a margin big enough that he can...
www.cnn.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:52 PM
the first NYC mayoral debate is about to begin -- catch up on what's going on with the race and how tonight factors in with my story from today here: www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
NEW from me - ahead of the first NYC mayoral debate, the state of the wacky race with under three weeks to go: Cuomo hopes for a chance, Mamdani hopes for a mandate:
If there’s such energy for Mamdani, Cuomo insisted,
“Then why isn’t he at 50%? Boom!” www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
If there’s such energy for Mamdani, Cuomo insisted,
“Then why isn’t he at 50%? Boom!” www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
Ahead of NYC mayor’s race debate, Cuomo hopes for a chance while Mamdani hopes for a mandate | CNN Politics
Andrew Cuomo is now running a campaign of attrition, hoping to get enough voters to come to him as the choice they’re least unhappy with. Zohran Mamdani wants to win by a margin big enough that he can...
www.cnn.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
NEW from me - ahead of the first NYC mayoral debate, the state of the wacky race with under three weeks to go: Cuomo hopes for a chance, Mamdani hopes for a mandate:
If there’s such energy for Mamdani, Cuomo insisted,
“Then why isn’t he at 50%? Boom!” www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
If there’s such energy for Mamdani, Cuomo insisted,
“Then why isn’t he at 50%? Boom!” www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/p...
here are the proposed designs Trump was showing off to rich donors for the massive arch he wants to build in Washington, per images captured by a pool camera:
October 16, 2025 at 1:42 AM
here are the proposed designs Trump was showing off to rich donors for the massive arch he wants to build in Washington, per images captured by a pool camera: