Seth Moulton

THE ELECTION is over, but the fallout from the result isn’t. The political pundits across the spectrum claim that the Democrats lost the presidency because they were seen to be out of touch with the concerns of the average, everyday American voter on everything from inflation, high housing and energy costs, to border security.

Desperate for answers on what went wrong on Election Day, finger-pointing among Democrats and media pundits has been swift. Many — in private — are holding President Joe Biden responsible. Others are blaming the operatives who have run the party’s last several campaigns. But some are pointing to an issue with far less power in American politics: transgender rights.“The Democrats have to stop pandering to the far left,” Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told The New York Times on Wednesday. “I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports.”Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., shared a similar view, telling the Times on Thursday: “Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face. I have two little girls. I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”Representatives for Suozzi and Moulton did not immediately return a request for comment.In Texas, where the battle over transgender rights has become particularly fierce in recent years, then-Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa told a local radio station that “you can support transgender rights up and down all the categories where the issue comes up, or you can understand that there’s certain things that we just go too far on, that a big bulk of our population does not support.”news2 hours ago‘#EndtheFed': Elon Musk endorses plan to let presidents meddle with Federal Reserve after Trump election winDonald Trump3 hours agoTrump has promised lower interest rates. That will be largely out of his controlHinojosa issued an apology on X on Wednesday, saying that he “failed to communicate my thoughts with care and clarity” before resigning over Democratic losses on Friday.Brad Pritchett, the interim chief executive of LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas, condemned Hinojosa’s comments and the wider argument by some Democrats that trans people contributed to Democratic losses.“This is something that Democrats need to stop and remember what their values are,” Pritchett said in an interview with NBC News. “We live and run campaigns by the values we hold dear.”He also said Democrats should not be “alienating” some of their most loyal supporters. Eighty-six percent of LGBTQ voters said they supported Vice President Kamala Harris compared with 12% who said they supported Donald Trump, according to NBC News exit polling of 10 key states.Between the 2020 and 2024 elections, transgender rights have become a political flashpoint in the nation’s culture wars.Thousands of anti-LGBTQ bills were filed in state legislatures across the country, with many of them targeting transgender Americans specifically, according to tallies by the American Civil Liberties Union.Corporate America was also pulled into the fray, with American brands like Bud Light facing immense backlash for partnering with trans influencers. And perhaps nothing stoked more conversation than the issue of transgender girls and women competing in girls and women’s sports.In 2022, a streak of wins by transgender athlete Lia Thomas as a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swim team sparked global headlines and conservative outrage. Thomas’ win in the NCAA swimming championships provoked particular ire. This past summer, conspiracy theories that Olympic boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria was not born female exploded online, drawing atypical attention to the women’s sport at the Paris Games.Throughout the campaign, Republicans spent more than $200 million on network television advertisements centered on transgender issues this year, according to data shared with NBC News by AdImpact, an analytics firm that tracks political ad spending.Ads that mentioned Harris’ past support for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care treatments were repeatedly aired during NFL and college football games last month. The ads ended with the tagline: “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.”Harris largely avoided the issue on the trail and in interviews and it was notably absent from this year’s Democratic National Convention.Asked if she believed that transgender Americans should have access to gender-affirming care in this country, Harris told NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, “That is a decision that doctors will make in terms of what is medically necessary.” Pressed further, she said, “I believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, period, and should not be vilified for who they are, and should not be bullied for who they are.”The Harris campaign’s LGBTQ engagement director, Sam Alleman, urged voters not to blame trans people for Harris’ loss.“Please do not blame trans issues or trans people for why we lost,” he wrote on X on Thursday. “No exit polling or data is showing this as a significant decision point for voters.”The issue voters most often cited as their No. 1 concern was “the state of democracy,” followed closely by the economy, according to the NBC News exit polls.Brianna Wu, a prominent transgender Democratic activist, told NBC News in an interview that the debate over trans rights has “radically shifted” in recent years.Wu ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a Democrat in 2018 and 2020 and now hosts a podcast on trans perspectives called “Dollcast.”“It has moved from a message that’s saying, ‘This is my body, this is how I feel most comfortable. Please, let me do this and move on with my life,’ to being able to self-ID into women’s locker rooms and women need to deal with seeing penises that are fully intact in front of them,” Wu said.Wu thinks trans people need to make compromises on what the broader public is willing to accept regarding trans issues.“Plenty of gay men put on khakis and went on daytime TV to make the argument that love is love,” she said. “And yeah, it’s a little embarrassing, but you do what you have to do to talk to normal people.”This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:Trump has shaped the Supreme Court, but it could still hinder his agendaBiden to host Trump at the White House on WednesdayTrump wants to expand the federal death penalty, setting up legal challenges in second term

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., is facing progressive backlash for comments about transgender youth athletes while discussing dissent on the left.

Democrats say restrictions GOP lawmakers are seeking would disenfranchise thousands of U.S. service members and their spouses living overseas.

U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo says she sought treatment for depression earlier this year after deciding to take the advice the first-term lawmaker, a physician, has offered her patients — to take care of their health and seek support when they...

CHICAGO — Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has distinguished herself in myriad ways in her long political career, as a highly effective legislator, legendary power player and the first female Speaker in the nation’s history. But as the California Democrat takes the stage on Wednesday night to address the Democratic National Convention, she will stand out [...]

Minnesota Gov. and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz does a podium check Wednesday before the Democratic National Convention resumes in Chicago. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

A federal judge said that Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy has not been officially dismissed because the former New York City mayor has refused to pay administrative expenses — even though he seems to have the funds to do so.In July, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane said he would dismiss the bankruptcy case at the request of Giuliani and two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Giuliani had initially declared bankruptcy after a court ordered him to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million for defamation.In a five-page order on Thursday, Lane noted that the order to dismiss the case had not been entered into the court record because Giuliani claimed he could not afford to pay related administrative expenses."The administrative expenses in question are the fees for the financial advisors retained by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors," the judge's Thursday order said. "What little we know about the Debtor's financial situation makes his stance here more troubling.""Even assuming that the Debtor does not have the funds on hand to immediately pay these bankruptcy expenses, he certainly has considerable assets upon which he can draw to pay such expenses," Lane continued. "It is undisputed that he owns two apartments of considerable value."Giuliani's New York apartment was said to be worth $5.6 million, and his Florida apartment was valued at approximately $3.5 million.EXCLUSIVE: Trump ‘secretary of retribution’ won't discuss his ‘target list’ at RNCLane explained that the "most obvious path forward" would be to hold hearings to determine Giuliani's financial conditions and possibly force him to testify."[T]here may come a point when dismissal is no longer an option because the Debtor is unwilling to pay these administrative expenses, a necessary requirement under the law for dismissal of the case," Thursday's order said. "Under such circumstances, the Court may be forced to reevaluate the alternative of a Chapter 11 trustee to supervise the administration of the Debtor's financial affairs and to promptly liquidate assets such as the New York apartment as appropriate."Lane gave Giuliani and his creditors until July 31 to submit proposals for a path forward.

A GOP strategist unleashed an attack on Kamala Harris that was dripping in sarcasm Thursday after losing his cool over positive media coverage of the Democratic Party’s presumed presidential candidate.Doug Heye was on CNN as the vice president finished a rally speech in Houston. As his co-guest, Democratic Party strategist Maria Cordona, finished praising the candidate’s performance, Heye got flustered.Raising his voice, he said, “Everything we heard is 'Oh my god, Kamala Harris is the greatest thing ever. She's the greatest cook that we've ever had near the Oval Office. She knows more about wine than anybody other than maybe Thomas Jefferson. Everything she does is amazing.'“So we should just cancel the election because clearly she's going to win by 25 points?”He then tried to bring the CNN panel back from what he saw as rose-colored adoration.ALSO READ: ‘Creepy weirdos’: Senator fears Trump WH staff would destroy government from ‘inside’“The reality is, i'm not going to get in Donald Trump's head, don't want to be there, don't know what's in there. But he sees the same polling that we do," he said.“Kamala Harris is marginally less unpopular than Joe Biden. She's not winning in the polls. Maybe that changes in a week or two, or six or eight, but at this point, Donald Trump is still winning despite this barrage of nothing but positive press for Kamala Harris and has been marinated in the public's mind.”Cardona had set him off by suggesting that Trump was “going through a mental meltdown” because of his opponent's popularity.“Not just that she is incredibly accomplished as DA, AG, senator, VP,” she said, “but the fact that she is also very attractive. I mean, I have to say it.“...In addition to that, she's not only a woman, she's a woman of African American Asian descent, daughter of immigrants, Jamaican descent.I mean, it's it's this sort of cauldron of all of the things that Trump has nightmares about every single night.”Watch the video below or click the link here.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, addresses the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17.

A revised version of the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act, backed by bipartisan sponsors, was introduced to address multiple safety issues.

A number of Democratic lawmakers, governors and past leaders were quick to rally behind Vice President Harris as she pursues the Democratic Party's presidential nomination following President Biden's withdrawal from the race. Shortly after dropping out of the presidential race, Biden endorsed Harris as his successor, stating it is "time to come together and beat" [...]

'He made the right decision'

"We have many talented people in our party, but Vice President Harris is the person who was chosen by the voters to succeed Joe Biden if needed. She can unite our party, take on Donald Trump, and win in November,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

A total of 37 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

WASHINGTON >> Sick with COVID and abandoned by allies, President Joe Biden has been fuming at his Delaware beach house, increasingly resentful about what he sees as an orchestrated campaign to drive him out of the race and bitter toward some of those he once considered close, including his onetime running mate Barack Obama.

President Joe Biden is remaining publicly defiant as more Democrats call on his to exit the 2024 race and Kamala Harris' allies consider next steps.

More than 30 congressional Democrats are publicly panicking that he can't defeat Donald Trump and urging the president to "pass the torch."

A total of 34 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

A total of 28 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

Congressman Seth Moulton reiterated his call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race with anecdotes from their relationship.The Democrat representing Massachusetts’ Sixth District said earlier this month in an interview with WBUR that Biden should step aside in the election against former President Donald Trump. NBC News reports that he was the third Congressional member of his party to make such a public statement, but more than 30 other lawmakers have followed.Writing in the Boston Globe Friday, Moulton said the president had “earned an amazing legacy,” and that giving up his power could serve to solidify it.The representative describes in the piece how Biden has supported him in his own political career dating back to 2014, calling the president a mentor and friend. But fast forward to 2024, and he describes how the president could not recognize him during an event at Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.“Of course, that can happen as anyone ages, but as I watched the disastrous debate a few weeks ago, I have to admit that what I saw in Normandy was part of a deeper problem,” Moulton wrote.He then lays out why he believes it’s time for Biden to step aside, driving home the point that Democrats must rally to beat Trump.“We have a choice to make. To my colleagues who are deeply concerned but who haven’t said so publicly: Let’s demonstrate the courageous, forward-looking leadership that Americans tell us they want in their politics and rob the Trump-Vance ticket of the opponent they want,” he wrote.U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, weighed in Thursday, making the same point about the need to defeat Trump, but taking the opposite stance from Moulton.“We understand what the stakes are in this election. That’s the agenda that we need to pursue, that’s why I continue to believe that reelecting Joe Biden is the best way to protect our democracy, protect the individual rights of all Americans, and that it’s a sharp contrast to what the Republicans have to offer,” Hassan said.Biden’s campaign insisted in a memo released Friday that he will not drop out of the race. However, sources tell NBC News that his family has discussed possible exit strategies. Friday alone, 13 more Congressional Democrats publicly called on Biden to step aside.State lawmakers in Massachusetts have also joined that chorus, with seven senators on Beacon Hill writing a letter calling for Biden to pass the torch Thursday night before Trump spoke at the Republican National Convention.“Selecting a new Democratic presidential nominee will inject badly needed excitement and grassroots energy into the party and its voters, especially young people,” wrote the group, which included Sens. Jo Comerford of Northampton, Jamie Eldridge of Marlborough, Paul Feeney of Foxborough, Pat Jehlen of Somerville, John Keenan of Quincy, Jason Lewis of Winchester, and Michael Moore of Millbury.Information from State House News Service was used in this reportMore on Decision 2024news11 hours agoSenate Finance chair Sherrod Brown calls on Biden to drop out, joins over 30 lawmakersnews11 hours agoBiden won't drop out, campaign insists in a new memo

Although Biden has made it clear he's staying in the presidential race despite his shaky performance at last month's presidential debate, several Democrats on Capitol Hill have publicly called on him to step aside.

A beleaguered President Joe Biden is expected to bow out of the 2024 race within a week, the Herald has learned.

Increasingly more Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., joined the growing group of Democrats calling on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. He is the second Democratic senator to do so.