The Dictatorship
Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 2.9.26: GOP’s Amodei joins Congress’ retirement parade
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Republican Rep. Mark Amodei announced late last week that he’s retiring at the end of this term. Amodei represents Nevada’s reddest district, so the GOP primary to replace him will likely be quite crowded.
* Democratic state lawmakers in Virginia late last week unveiled a newly proposed district map that Republicans aren’t going to like: Under the new plan, Democrats would be well positioned to control 10 of the commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts.
* Sen. Susan Collins is one of the top Republican targets in this year’s midterm elections, but the Maine senator is getting some notable financial help: The GOP-aligned One Nation, a nonprofit allied with the top super PAC for Senate Republicans, ran a Super Bowl ad in support of her.
* In Utah, Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, and she conducted a review of the state’s voter rolls, looking for ineligible voters. The grand total of noncitizens who were found to have cast ballots in Utah was zero.
* There’s a crowded field of GOP primary candidates in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race, and Rep. Andy Barr is looking for ways to differentiate himself. With that in mind, the GOP congressman bought a bunch of tickets to the documentary about first lady Melania Trump and then gave them away as a promotional gimmick.
* With former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene having resigned last month, a crowded field of Republicans is vying to replace her in her far-right Georgia district. Last week, Donald Trump threw his support behind Clay Fuller, a local district attorney.
* And in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro was recently asked whether he would support Sen. John Fetterman’s re-election bid in 2028 if the Democratic incumbent seeks a second term. “John will decide if he’s going to run for re-election,” the governor repliedseeming to avoid the question. “I appreciate his service.”
Steve Benen is a producer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He’s also the bestselling author of “Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans’ War on the Recent Past.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to keep home prices highbypassing calls to ramp up construction so people can afford what has been a ticket to the middle class.
Trump has instead argued for protecting existing owners who have watched the values of their homes climb. It’s a position that flies in the face of what many economists, the real estate industry, local officials and apartment dwellers say is needed to fix a big chunk of America’s affordability problem.
“I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people that own their homes, and they can be assured that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump told his Cabinet on Jan. 29.
That approach could bolster the Republican president’s standing with older voters, a group that over time has been more likely to vote in midterm elections. Those races in November will determine whether Trump’s party can retain control of the House and Senate.
“You have a lot of people that have become wealthy in the last year because their house value has gone up,” Trump said. “And you know, when you get the housing — when you make it too easy and too cheap to buy houses — those values come down.”
But by catering to older baby boomers on housing, Trump risks alienating the younger voters who expanded his coalition in 2024 and helped him win a second term, and he could wade into a “generational war” in the midterms, said Brent Buchanan, whose polling firm Cygnal advises Republicans.
“The under-40 group is the most important right now — they are the ones who put Trump in the White House,” Buchanan said. “Their desire to show up in an election or not is going to make the difference in this election. If they feel that Donald Trump is taking care of the boomers at their expense, that is going to hurt Republicans.”
The logic in appealing to older voters
In the 2024 presidential election, 81% of Trump’s voters were homeowners, according to AP VoteCast data. This means many of his supporters already have mortgages with low rates or own their homes outright, possibly blunting the importance of housing as an issue.
Older voters tend to show up to vote more than do younger people, said Oscar Pocasangre, a senior data analyst at liberal think tank New America who has studied the age divide in U.S. politics. “However, appealing to older voters may prove to be a misguided policy if what’s needed to win is to expand the voting base,” Pocasangre said.
Before the 2026 elections, voters have consistently rated affordability as a top concern, and that is especially true for younger voters with regard to housing.
Booker Lightman, 30, a software engineer in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, who identifies politically as a libertarian Republican, said the shortage of housing has been a leading problem in his state.
Lightman just closed on a home last month, and while he and his wife, Alice, were able to manage the cost, he said that the lack of construction is pushing people out of Colorado. “There’s just not enough housing supply,” he said.
Shay Hata, a real estate agent in the Chicago and Denver areas, said she handles about 100 to 150 transactions a year. But she sees the potential for a lot more. “We have a lack of inventory to the point where most properties, particularly in the suburbs, are getting between five and 20 offers,” she said, describing what she sees in the Chicago area.
New construction could help more people afford homes because in some cases, buyers qualify for discounted mortgage rates from the builders’ preferred lenders, Hata said. She called the current situation “very discouraging for buyers because they’re getting priced out of the market.”
But pending construction has fallen under Trump. Permits to build single-family homes have plunged 9.4% over the past 12 months in October, the most recent month available, to an annual rate of 876,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Trump’s other ideas to help people buy houses
Trump has not always been against increasing housing supply.
During the 2024 campaignTrump’s team said he would create tax breaks for homebuyers, trim regulations on construction, open up federal land for housing developments and make monthly payments more manageable by cutting mortgage rates. Advisers also claimed that housing stock would open up because of Trump’s push for mass deportations of people who were in the United States illegally.
As recently as October, Trump urged builders to ramp up construction. “They’re sitting on 2 Million empty lots, A RECORD. I’m asking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to get Big Homebuilders going and, by so doing, help restore the American Dream!” Trump posted on social media, referring to the government-backed lenders.
But more recently, he has been unequivocal on not wanting to pursue policies that would boost supply and lower prices.
In office, Trump has so far focused his housing policy on lobbying the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rates. He believes that would make mortgages more affordable, although critics say it could spur higher inflation. Trump announced that the two mortgage companies, which are under government conservatorship, would buy at least $200 billion in home loan securities in a bid to reduce rates.
Trump also wants Congress to ban large financial institutions from buying homes. But he has rejected suggestions for expanding rules to let buyers use 401(k) retirement accounts for down payments, telling reporters that he did not want people to take their money out of the stock market because it was doing so well.
There are signs that lawmakers in both parties see the benefits of taking steps to add houses before this year’s elections. There are efforts in the Senate and House to jump-start construction through the use of incentives to change zoning restrictions, among other policies.
One of the underlying challenges on affordability is that home prices have been generally rising faster than incomes for several years.
This makes it harder to save for down payments or upgrade to a nicer home. It also means that the places where people live increasingly double as their key financial asset, one that leaves many families looking moneyed on paper even if they are struggling with monthly bills.
There is another risk for Trump. If the economy grows this year, as he has promised, that could push up demand for houses — as well as their prices — making the affordability problem more pronounced, said Edward Pinto, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank.
Pinto said construction of single-family homes would have to rise by 50% to 100% during the next three years for average home price gains to be flat — a sign, he said, that Trump’s fears about falling home prices were probably unwarranted.
“It’s very hard to crater home prices,” Pinto said.
This is the Feb. 9, 2026, edition of “The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter.Subscribe hereto get it delivered straight to your inbox every Monday through Friday.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a jolt of Latino pride coursing through a country whose greatest strength, as Ronald Reagan once said, is its immigrants.
At the start of his electrifying show, Bad Bunny quietly handed his Grammy to a young Hispanic boy. It was a small gesture that spoke volumes.
Then came the explosion of vivid colors and cultural references — a celebration of Latino American life. Families dancing together, generations working side by side, communities building their own American dream.
Unlike the hyperchoreographed spectacle of a J.Lo show, this was an authentic snapshot of people rejoicing in who they are — children and seniors alike filling the stage with joy, energy, and love.
The performance was a testament to the diverse spirit of the Americas, stretching from Canada’s Arctic Circle to the tip of Chile.
More than 130 million viewers saw the vastness and depth of Latino culture choreographed in a big, brilliant, romantic way.
Elsewhere, the contrast could not have been sharper.
An alternative Super Bowl halftime show featured performers like Kid Rock lip-synching trite, audience-specific lyrics for a preening crowd. The event was organized by self-righteous elites who chose a performer whose career has included songs glorifying the exploitation of girls and women — even lyrics celebrating his fondness for underage girls.
Lines that read as if they were torn straight from the pages of the Epstein files.
Back on the main stage, Bad Bunny offered something entirely different — a cultural marker in the age of Trump that transcended language and politics.
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
In his closing moments, Bad Bunny looked straight into the camera and said he reached this stage by never losing faith.
Believe. Believe. Believe.
And you can get here, too.
“This is the Epstein class ruling our country. They are the elites they pretend to hate.”
— Sen. Jon OssoffD-Ga., campaigning for re-election in Atlanta on Saturday
BAD DAY FOR THE PATRIOTS
It was a rough day at the office for the Patriots’ QB, Drake Maye. The 2nd year standout felt the crush of Seattle’s pass rush. The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX 29-13.
A CONVERSATION ABOUT BAD BUNNY
The Super Bowl halftime show drew more than 130 million viewers — and a predictable outcry from the MAGA right. David Drucker, John Heilemann, Jonathan Lemire, Katty Kay, and Al Sharpton joined us to discuss the performance, the backlash, and what the moment revealed about America on its biggest stage.
JS: A lot of the criticism of the halftime show was framed as moral outrage. Rev. Al, what do you make of the reaction we’re seeing?
AS: You have people who want to look the other way and turn the page on their own behavior while holding everyone else to a moral standard. That alone tells you a lot.
There was a prayer breakfast last week— traditionally bipartisan, meant to bring people together — and the president used it to attack his enemies. Then later that same day, there was a video depicting former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. And after all that, they wonder why people don’t take their pretensions of moral authority seriously. Look at how they behave.
JS: On the performance itself, David Drucker, what did you think?
DD: I don’t get offended very easily. I don’t own any of Bad Bunny’s music — I know I’m not the target demographic — but I watched it and thought it was a good show. It was entertaining.
JS: Critics said it wasn’t “American.” How did it look to you?
DD: I grew up in Los Angeles, and this felt very American to me. In major cities across the country, people speak all sorts of languages. That’s just how America works.
JS: From the NFL’s perspective, why did this choice make sense?
DD: The NFL has decided its growth market is international. Next year they’re scheduled to have nine regular-season games overseas — Australia, Brazil, Mexico City. The NFL is looking to grow its business, and this fits.
JS: John Heilemann, what did this moment signal to Hispanic Americans?
JH: For Hispanics, who’ve long been treated as the “other,” this had to be an extraordinary night — one of the most powerful institutions in America recognizing that we are Americans. And the NFL is so big that it simply doesn’t care what Donald Trump or the MAGA right tweets.
JS: Was Bad Bunny actually a risky choice for the league?
JH: No. The NFL followed the data. This is the most streamed artist in the world, on the biggest stage anywhere. That’s not bold — that’s smart.
JS: Jonathan Lemire, how political was this performance, and in what way?
JL: Only subtly — in its inclusiveness. It was a love letter to Puerto Rico and to all the Americas. And in this moment, that message of unity over division is something a lot of Americans wanted.
JS: Katty Kay, what stood out to you?
KK: The politics was the joy. People expected something confrontational, but instead it was a celebration of heritage and love. The final message — that the only thing more powerful than hate is love — made it very hard to be offended.
JS: John, what’s the takeaway?
JH: Whatever you think of the music, this was one of the most exquisitely produced halftime shows ever. And it shut up the critics in every possible way.
This conversation has been condensed and edited for brevity and clarity.
OLYMPIANS SPEAK OUT
American athletes have long carried domestic politics onto the international stage. From Tommie Smith and John Carlos Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Games to the U.S. women’s soccer team kneeling in 2021, the Olympics have often reflected the country’s political tensions back to the world.
That tradition resurfaced almost immediately at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Asked about representing Team USA during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, freestyle skier Hunter Hess said he had “mixed emotions,” adding that there was “a lot going on” he wasn’t a fan of.
Donald Trump responded angrily on Truth Social, calling Hess “a real Loser” and saying he never should have made the team. Rep. Byron DonaldsMegyn Kellyand Jake Paul quickly joined the criticism.
Other American athletes echoed those concerns. Teammate Chris Lillis said he feels “heartbroken about what’s happened in the United States,” while figure skater Amber Glenn said the LGBTQ community has struggled during the Trump administration — a reminder that sports and politics have never been as separate as critics insist.
EXTRA HOT TEA
Prediction market companies Kalshi and Polymarket — platforms that allow you to bet on, oh, anything and everything — may have been banned from advertising at Super Bowl LX, but they got eyeballs and bets rolling anyway. Here’s how last night played out in wager world:
$500M (Kalshi) and $55M (Polymarket) on the outcome of the Super Bowl
$397M on which player would get the most fantasy points (Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers surpassed Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for the final time just past 8:45 p.m. ET)
$1.5M on how long the halftime show would last.
$113.5M on Bad Bunny’s opener (“Titi Asked Me”)
One person with a Polymarket account created the day before the game got every single bet on celebrity appearances — even unannounced guests like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin — on the halftime show, strengthening claims that prediction market companies encourage insider trading.
ONE MORE SHOT
While East Coast residents endured subzero temperatures, Canadians asked “What’s that aboot?” as they celebrated the Quebec Winter Carnival in Quebec City, Canada. Here, a hearty soul smiles after jumping into the snow for a “snow bath.”
ON THE RADAR
In the coming days, actorsHalle BerryandChris Hemsworthwill join us to discuss their new film “Crime 101.”
Stay tuned for more!
CATCH UP ON MORNING JOE
Mika Brzezinski is the co-host of MS NOW’s Morning Joe, founder of “Know Your Value” and author of four best-selling books, including “EARN IT!: Know Your Value and Grow Your Career, in Your 20s and Beyond” (Hachette Books; May 7, 2019) with co-author Daniela Pierre-Bravo. Prior to joining BLN in 2007, Mika was an anchor of CBS Evening News Weekend Edition and a CBS News correspondent who frequently contributed to CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes.
Authorities in London are investigating claims that former Prince Andrew sent confidential trade information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after a series of emails between the two was made public by the U.S. Justice Department last month.
Thames Valley Police, which serves areas west of London, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, said in a statement Monday that they are assessing the claims.
The emails between Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein were part of the more than three million pages of documents from the Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein that were released last month.
The communications indicate that Mountbatten-Windsor sent Epstein trade reports from a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia while he was serving as Britain’s envoy for international trade. The former prince also shared the itinerary for a two-week trip to Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong with Epstein, according to the emails.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles by his brother King Charles III last year as speculation over his alleged ties to Epstein mounted. The former prince has denied involvement with Epstein’s sex trafficking enterprise.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s nephew Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, are “deeply concerned” by revelations from the recent files released by the Justice Department related to Epstein, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said Monday.
The release of the files has also engulfed the U.K. parliament in controversy. Several officials have resigned from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet amid revelations over the depth of former British Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson’s relationship to Epstein.
Starmer appointed Mandelson in 2024, but fired him less than a year later amid allegations that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the late financier was convicted of sex offenses involving a minor in 2008. Documents released last month contained further details about the relationship Mandelson and Epstein shared. The documents suggest that Mandelson may have leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009.
Calls for Starmer’s resignation have since amassed from critics who allege the prime minister knew of Mandelson’s ties to Epstein when he appointed him to one of Britain’s chief diplomacy positions. Starmer vowed to release documents related to Mandelson’s confirmation process last week, saying the pair’s friendship was public knowledge, “but none of us knew the depth of the darkness of that relationship.”
In the same speech, Starmer apologized for “having believed Mandelson’s lies.”
Sydney Carruth is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW.
- ‘The worst, ever’: MAGA rages about Bad Bunny’s halftime set
- Why Trump doesn’t want home prices to fall
- The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe: ‘This is the Epstein class ruling our country’
- UK investigates claims Andrew sent trade information to Epstein
- Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 2.9.26: GOP’s Amodei joins Congress’ retirement parade
- Ghislaine Maxwell invokes Fifth Amendment in House deposition
- On Iran and tariffs, watch what Trump does, not what he says
- Howard Lutnick faces bipartisan calls to resign over latest Epstein revelations
- Ghislaine Maxwell pleads the Fifth in House Oversight Epstein investigation
- Capitol agenda: Republicans prepare DHS punt
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