Michael Kruse
@michaelkruse.bsky.social
Senior staff writer, POLITICO, POLITICO Magazine. michaelkruse.bio
“I feel like we accomplished what we set to accomplish. Except Trump won.”
Obama Took On Recession, Health Care and Iraq. What He Didn’t See Coming Was Trump.
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:53 PM
“I feel like we accomplished what we set to accomplish. Except Trump won.”
Newsom: “We’re going to need a good carpenter.”
Munich Looks to the Future
The annual security conference turned its focus not just to present dangers, but what’s to come.
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Newsom: “We’re going to need a good carpenter.”
“He is currently at his lowest point in the second term. There’s a sense that this is a pretty chaotic administration and seems to remind people of the pandemic period in the first term.”
Trump’s second year: Whiplash
“Even proposals that don’t ultimately move forward have consequences.”
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM
“He is currently at his lowest point in the second term. There’s a sense that this is a pretty chaotic administration and seems to remind people of the pandemic period in the first term.”
“When you actually look at the data, there is not a problem that needs to be solved here.”
Noncitizen voting is rare. Why is Washington so focused on it?
Republicans are zeroing in on proof-of-citizenship requirements — even as critics warn federal support for election cybersecurity is quietly shrinking.
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:57 PM
“When you actually look at the data, there is not a problem that needs to be solved here.”
"This isn’t a boutique or niche issue back home. This is a big deal back home, and it’s also shaped the demographics of my support back home. The people who were upset that my entire family posed with machine guns are now voting for me."
“I don’t think it’s necessary to proverbially pull a knife right now in this argument because we’re winning it.”
‘You’re Going to See More Defections’: Thomas Massie’s Ominous Prediction for the GOP
In a new interview, the Republican congressman opens up about Donald Trump, Mike Johnson and his strategy to dig even deeper into the Epstein files
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:55 PM
"This isn’t a boutique or niche issue back home. This is a big deal back home, and it’s also shaped the demographics of my support back home. The people who were upset that my entire family posed with machine guns are now voting for me."
“I don’t think it’s necessary to proverbially pull a knife right now in this argument because we’re winning it.”
‘You’re Going to See More Defections’: Thomas Massie’s Ominous Prediction for the GOP
In a new interview, the Republican congressman opens up about Donald Trump, Mike Johnson and his strategy to dig even deeper into the Epstein files
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:42 PM
“I don’t think it’s necessary to proverbially pull a knife right now in this argument because we’re winning it.”
“They started off with, ‘Hey, we were all Trump supporters, and we thought he was going to secure the border and then kick out criminals, we just never thought that they were going to be coming after our folks, our workers, on that.’”
‘South Texas will never be red again’: Home builders warn GOP over Trump’s immigration raids
Construction executives have held multiple meetings over the last month with the White House and Congress to discuss immigration busts on job sites.
www.politico.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:31 AM
“They started off with, ‘Hey, we were all Trump supporters, and we thought he was going to secure the border and then kick out criminals, we just never thought that they were going to be coming after our folks, our workers, on that.’”
“Marco Rubio comes with a conciliatory tone, but then he goes to Hungary and Slovakia. What kind of a signal is that?”
America’s charm offensive in Munich masks harder line on Europe
The message itself is uncompromising: Join Donald Trump’s campaign to reshape the world for Washington’s benefit, or get out of the way.
www.politico.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:29 AM
“Marco Rubio comes with a conciliatory tone, but then he goes to Hungary and Slovakia. What kind of a signal is that?”
POLITICO Weekend.
The data wars get local
The AI data center boom could see facilities balloon well beyond the industry’s hubs in Silicon Valley and northern Virginia — whether local residents like it or not.
www.politico.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:15 AM
POLITICO Weekend.
Massie: “Who is responsible? Who in your organization made this massive failure?”
Bondi Faces Anger From Lawmakers Over Handling of Epstein Files
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Massie: “Who is responsible? Who in your organization made this massive failure?”
“Last year, the public felt that the U.S. was an unreliable ally but a critical one, deterring their enemies despite being slightly unpredictable. But now, far from taking the transatlantic deterrence offered by the NATO alliance for granted, the European public hardly believe it exists ...”
Poll: Top NATO allies don’t think US helps deter enemies anymore
The United States' eroding reputation is raising fresh questions about the stability of the global order that has held for decades, and of the country's strength on the world stage.
www.politico.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:10 PM
“Last year, the public felt that the U.S. was an unreliable ally but a critical one, deterring their enemies despite being slightly unpredictable. But now, far from taking the transatlantic deterrence offered by the NATO alliance for granted, the European public hardly believe it exists ...”
“We’re just so far removed from this becoming a reality. At best, this is one step above the edgelord meme factory at every federal department.”
Trouble in paradise? Trump’s free-bus broadside muddles Mamdani bromance
If their relationship deteriorates, there are many ways to inflict pain on NYC.
www.politico.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM
“We’re just so far removed from this becoming a reality. At best, this is one step above the edgelord meme factory at every federal department.”
“It’s such a huge watershed moment,” @aoc.bsky.social tells @politico.com. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he used this as a very unifying moment, but also on very resonant and salient grounds to send a message to people.”
Bad Bunny created a cultural phenomenon. Can he spark a political one?
The Puerto Rican superstar’s music has brought Latinos together. Democrats are jealous.
www.politico.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:43 PM
“It’s such a huge watershed moment,” @aoc.bsky.social tells @politico.com. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he used this as a very unifying moment, but also on very resonant and salient grounds to send a message to people.”
“Violence is not the answer to any of this. I don’t understand anybody that would do that. It brings me back to Charlie Kirk losing his life here in our own backyard. It’s like, what on earth is going on here?”
A MAGA push to erase a Dem House seat is triggering accusations of fraud and violence in Utah
Assault allegations, potential fraud and a roster of Trumpworld supporters are rocking the Beehive State.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:09 PM
“Violence is not the answer to any of this. I don’t understand anybody that would do that. It brings me back to Charlie Kirk losing his life here in our own backyard. It’s like, what on earth is going on here?”
“I wouldn’t recommend talking about her at all. I don’t think praising her is good politics. But I don’t think bashing her is good politics either, because there’s still a lot of goodwill for her there.”
Georgia Republicans are walking a tightrope in the race to replace MTG
Hugging the former MAGA acolyte could hurt Republicans with Trump, but bashing her could alienate the voters who are sad to see her go.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:06 PM
“I wouldn’t recommend talking about her at all. I don’t think praising her is good politics. But I don’t think bashing her is good politics either, because there’s still a lot of goodwill for her there.”
The quiet force influencing Trump’s and Vance’s confrontational Europe policy.
The quiet force influencing Trump’s and Vance’s confrontational Europe policy
You might not have heard of Andy Baker. But he's a leading NSC intellectual whose moves could dictate the future of the GOP's foreign policy.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The quiet force influencing Trump’s and Vance’s confrontational Europe policy.
“Some of that has to do with the general chaos on this side of the pond where it’s a never ending stream of scandal emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Trump has set a tone of defiance on refusal to accept and feel any shame,” says @normeisen.bsky.social.
The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass.
As Europe moves to address its shame, it’s highlighting the comparative lack of accountability in the U.S.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM
“Some of that has to do with the general chaos on this side of the pond where it’s a never ending stream of scandal emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Trump has set a tone of defiance on refusal to accept and feel any shame,” says @normeisen.bsky.social.
“I was so fat and nasty. I would eat anything.”
MAHA and Mike Tyson want you to ‘eat real food’ during the Super Bowl
RFK Jr.’s allies are airing an ad during Sunday’s game touting the new, MAHA-inspired HHS dietary guidelines.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
“I was so fat and nasty. I would eat anything.”
POLITICO Weekend.
Meet Trump’s new Fed nominee
Kevin Warsh got one step closer to a lifelong dream when President Donald Trump nominated him to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. But the path beyond a Senate confirmation won’t be easy.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:52 PM
POLITICO Weekend.
Trump Posts Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes.
Trump Posts Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Trump Posts Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes.
“She’s going to be attuned to any election-year cycle to where she can do the most good for the most people,” says @raskin.house.gov. “She has profound ambition for where she wants New York to go and where she wants the country to go.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Steps Onto a Wider Stage
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:49 PM
“She’s going to be attuned to any election-year cycle to where she can do the most good for the most people,” says @raskin.house.gov. “She has profound ambition for where she wants New York to go and where she wants the country to go.”
Great story here.
The G.O.P. Senator Who Can’t Stop Thinking About the Boy ICE Detained
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Great story here.
In the past, “people could expect to go to a march, make a sign, put on a pink hat and come home. And that’s fine. But that’s not the era we’re in.”
“There’s a debt of gratitude to Black liberation movements that really pioneered this. The Black Panther Party did it.”
Minnesota’s ICE Watchers: How Tactics of 1960s Radicals Went Mainstream
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM
In the past, “people could expect to go to a march, make a sign, put on a pink hat and come home. And that’s fine. But that’s not the era we’re in.”
“There’s a debt of gratitude to Black liberation movements that really pioneered this. The Black Panther Party did it.”
Minnesota’s ICE Watchers: How Tactics of 1960s Radicals Went Mainstream
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM
“There’s a debt of gratitude to Black liberation movements that really pioneered this. The Black Panther Party did it.”
The Milan-Cortina Games are “happening in the most fractious political moment in the recent history of the Olympics.”
The Olympics Are a Show of Global Harmony. The World Is Anything But.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:44 PM
The Milan-Cortina Games are “happening in the most fractious political moment in the recent history of the Olympics.”