> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.readtangle.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The latest on John Fetterman. - URL: https://www.readtangle.com/john-fetterman-democrats/ - Published: 2026-09-10T15:52:17.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-10T15:52:22.000Z - Description: Plus, an update on sanctions against Russia. - Author: Isaac Saul - Tags: John Fetterman, Republican midterm convention, John Fetterman health, Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick, Russia, Russia oil, 2026 midterms, Israel Good Thursday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, writing at a giant cafeteria table surrounded by the Tangle team in the woods of Maine. It’s always invigorating to be with this group, in person, exchanging ideasoutside the confines of Slack. And this week has been no different. Today, we’re diving into **John Fetterman’s peculiar RNC appearance**,which we watched as a group last night. We also have a **Treasury Department announcement to buy back debt** anda reader question about **sanctions on Russian oil**.Plus, Ari, Kmele, and I recorded an in-person podcast ruminating on the25th anniversary of September 11 and the seventh anniversary of Tangle. There’s a lot to cover. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Suspension of the Rules. This week’s edition of *Suspension of the Rules* is a little different, as Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have an in-person discussion from the Tangle team retreat in Maine. The conversation focused on two very different anniversaries: 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, and seven years since the founding of Tangle. What’s changed in the years since the attacks, and what keeps Isaac coming back to Tangle day after day? Check out the Maine edition here: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address at the Republican Party’s midterm convention, touting his administration’s record and saying that he will issue $5,000 “dividends” to every U.S. adult if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November elections. ([The speech](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-makes-stunning-first-of-its-kind-cash-promise-bid-rally-gop-voters-dallas-midterm-convention?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. military struck several Iranian oil tankers after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. warship, causing global oil prices to rise above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. ([The attacks](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/08/politics/us-targets-iran-tankers?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Temporary Protected Status for Salvadoran nationals in the United States expired, but the Department of Homeland Security said their legal status will remain in place for the time being. ([The expiration](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-says-immigrants-el-salvador-will-now-keep-temporary-protected-status-2026-09-09/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump signed an executive action banning the import of most alcoholic beverages and some dairy products and motorcycles from Canada amid an escalating trade dispute between the countries. ([The order](https://apnews.com/article/canada-carney-trump-tariffs-trade-war-a5fbb50d1c30327ae813482556a37ac3?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Supreme Court blocked a Missouri congressional map drawn to benefit Republicans from going into effect for the 2026 midterms. No justices dissented from the decision. ([The block](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-blocks-missouris-attempt-use-newly-drawn-republican-cong-rcna596857?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s sponsor [****Americans Born Between 1941–1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) You could be missing out on thousands, and you might not even realize it. Sure, you might know about some senior discounts at diners or retail stores. 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John Fetterman (D-PA) [appeared](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/09/fetterman-video-gop-convention-trump?ref=readtangle.com) via video at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating his opposition to socialism and praising Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). Fetterman has frequently criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialism and anti-Israel rhetoric, leading to speculation that he could switch parties or become an independent. **Back up:** In Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate election, Fetterman defeated now-Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz on [a platform](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FPennsylvania,%5F2022?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pittsburgh%20and%20Braddock.-,KEY%20MESSAGES,-The%20following%20key) of eliminating the filibuster, raising the minimum wage, and codifying abortion rights. Fetterman [suffered a stroke](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pennsylvania-senate-candidate-john-fetterman-to-return-to-in-person-campaigning-after-stroke-in-may/?ref=readtangle.com) during the campaign and spent three months recovering. Shortly after joining the Senate, he was hospitalized with clinical depression for a month and a half, [rejoining](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/john-fetterman-returns-to-senate-clinical-depression-treatment/?ref=readtangle.com) the chamber in April 2023. Fetterman has been an outspoken advocate for Israel, particularly in defense of its military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. He has also decried Democratic politicians’ criticism of the country, [saying](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/16/fetterman-leave-democrats-israel?ref=readtangle.com) in July that he would only leave the Democratic Party if it became “the anti-Israel party.” Additionally, Fetterman has broadly backed U.S. military operations in Iran, repeatedly [voting against](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/18/us-iran-peace-agreement-fetterman-war-powers-vote/90603478007/?ref=readtangle.com) war-powers resolutions to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority in the conflict. Separately, recent reporting has highlighted staff turnover within Fetterman’s office and questions about his constituent services. Citing the senator’s former staff members, The Wall Street Journal [reported](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/john-fetterman-little-interest-senator-be74e7a3?ref=readtangle.com) last week that he has withdrawn from public commitments and frequently skips Senate votes while showing increased interest in appearing on conservative media programs. Fetterman [said](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/06/politics/john-fetterman-staffers-report?ref=readtangle.com) the report was “stripped of any context and circumstance” and based on “lies, half-truths, innuendos, \[and\] smears” from “disgruntled staffers.” In his pre-recorded video for Wednesday’s GOP convention, Fetterman called himself a “common-sense Democrat” who will “always… stand with America.” In a [statement](https://x.com/igorbobic/status/2097855328079532477/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) afterward, he emphasized that he intends to remain in the party and fulfill his campaign promise of being Democrats’ “51st vote” in the Senate. A New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll in August [found](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/john-fetterman-poll-republicans-democrats-pennsylvania.html?ref=readtangle.com) that 22% of the state’s registered Democratic voters view him favorably, while 73% of Republicans do. Last week, former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) [called on](https://x.com/ConorLambPA/status/2095862372074160275?ref=readtangle.com) the senator to resign, and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) [said](https://x.com/RepBrendanBoyle/status/2095695768778637370?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Fetterman is a “disgrace,” adding, “Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job.” Meanwhile, Sen. McCormick [thanked](https://x.com/DaveMcCormickPA/status/2097848169245630786?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Fetterman for his support and said, “We were both sent to Washington to fight for what’s best for PA.” Today, we’ll share views from the right and left about Fetterman’s future. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say Democrats are attacking Fetterman because he challenges party orthodoxy.Some argue the senator should switch parties.Others suggest Fetterman could complicate the post-midterms picture. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote** [**“Democrats want John Fetterman ‘on a pike.’”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-want-fetterman-on-a-pike-afbaea14?ref=readtangle.com) “Sources who decline to be identified say \[Fetterman\] neglects semiofficial duties such as constituent meetings, committee hearings and public funerals, but that he appears on cable-news shows with regularity (including, mortal sin, Fox News),” the board said. “Mr. Fetterman’s real offense is political. He’s a consistent progressive on taxes, healthcare, climate, guns, social issues and much else. But he vocally supports Israel in its war against Hamas and Hezbollah, backs President Trump’s war in Iran, and rejects such progressive-left follies as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and defunding the police. “Such heterodoxy probably benefits Democrats by making their party seem less crazy. A lot of thanks he gets — his Democratic colleagues evidently want to ruin him,” the board wrote. “\[Democrats will\] feign indignation about poor office behavior, but what angers them is his occasional votes with Republicans, his refusal to indulge in hysteria about Mr. Trump and, especially, his unapologetic support for Israel. This is intolerable in today’s Democratic Party.” **In The Washington Examiner, Zachary Faria argued** [**“by 2028, Fetterman can be a Democrat or a senator, but not both.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4701279/john-fetterman-2028-elections-democrat-or-senator/?ref=readtangle.com) “Fetterman will almost certainly face some socialist affiliated candidate \[in 2028\]. He or she will call Fetterman a closet Republican and accuse him of supporting the ‘genocide’ of Palestinians, and with Fetterman’s low scores among Democratic voters, he will lose, regardless of how much help \[Senate Minority Leader Chuck\] Schumer provides him,” Faria said. “That leaves Fetterman with two options going forward. The one he insists on holding to thus far is going down with the ship, accepting the fight in the Democratic Party, and, as a result, being out of office by January 2029.” “Or Fetterman could jump ship and join the Republican Party, an idea that has been discussed louder in political circles as 2028 approaches. He is already extremely popular among Republicans, and a double-digit favorability among independents means he would be the heavy favorite to beat anyone (of either party) in a general election,” Faria wrote. “If he wants to choose the latter, he is running out of time… Republicans like him *as a Democrat*, but the standards change if he becomes a Republican. He would have GOP goodwill, but he would need to polish some Republican credentials as well.” **In The American Conservative, Spencer Neale discussed** [**“the GOP’s John Fetterman wildcard.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-gops-john-fetterman-wildcard/?ref=readtangle.com) “As November heaves into view, Democratic capture of the Senate — an idea that seemed implausible at the beginning of this year — is also firmly in play… There is, as it turns out, an interesting wrinkle. If Democrats win with a razor-thin majority, there might be one man capable of denying them actual control: John Fetterman,” Neale said. “Fetterman has been a fervent supporter of the Iran War, for example, and a constant critic of his Democratic colleagues on foreign policy. The freshman senator from Pennsylvania has appeared on Fox News 56 times since the beginning of 2026, mostly to talk up Israel, lambast Islamist terror, and decry progressive Democrats.” “Democrats don’t even control the Senate right now, yet Fetterman has single-handedly sunk Iran war powers votes at least four separate times since February. In a Senate under narrow Democratic control, Fetterman’s support for Trump’s wars could continue to kill his party’s efforts to wind these up,” Neale wrote. “After his humble beginning as a Bernie-bro-style populist, Fetterman has merrily morphed into a DINO (Democrat in Name Only)… Even if things go swimmingly in the midterms, Democrats could wake up in January with a majority in name but not in fact — all thanks to John Fetterman.” | What the left is saying. The left is critical of Fetterman, saying he has deceived his voters. Some suggest the party should ignore the senator. Others argue Fetterman leaving the Democratic Party would be a net positive. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board detailed** [**“what John Fetterman forgot about his U.S. Senate seat.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/john-fetterman-democratic-party-israel-trump-senate-20260724.html?ref=readtangle.com#loaded) “\[Fetterman’s\] supporters do deserve to be dismayed… at their increasingly right-leaning senior senator’s self-indulgent recent threats to leave the Democratic Party entirely. Fetterman won a competitive race as a Democrat thanks to voters who believed in him and his politics even after a stroke forced him off the campaign trail for months,” the board said. “Fetterman is making a very inside-the-Beltway mistake. Judging by his willingness to change his positions and party at a whim, he seems to think the Senate seat belongs to him rather than the people he represents.” “Despite Fetterman’s proclaimed ‘moral clarity’ on Israel, he often speaks of his grievances with his fellow partisans — and his appreciation for Trump — in political rather than policy terms. He has groused about the repercussions of left-leaning Democrats’ positions for swing-state politicians like him, enthused about Trump’s sheer political talent, and lamented the electoral fate of Democrat Bob Casey, his former Senate colleague,” the board wrote. “Maybe the senator’s red shift is motivated less by foreign policy than by an impulse to keep his job — even if it means betraying his voters.” **In USA Today, Chris Brennan wrote** [**“Democrats have a Fetterman problem. Or do they?”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/08/fetterman-reelection-democrat-challenge-trump-republicans/89966877007/?ref=readtangle.com) “For more than a decade, Fetterman mostly provoked anger among Republicans. But now, like a professional wrestler after a ‘heel turn,’ Fetterman has his own party frothing as he cozies up to President Donald Trump,” Brennan said. “Do Democrats have a Fetterman problem? And, if so, what if anything should the party do about it? Here's an idea: Let Fetterman be Fetterman. Don't bite his outrage bait. Focus on the midterms. Pay him no attention at all.” “Fetterman has a problem. His 2022 campaign was fueled by millions of dollars in small-donor campaign contributions from progressives who embraced his populism. That base has walked away. And those voters are not coming back. No wonder he feels a kinship with Trump, who has left parts of his MAGA base feeling infuriated and betrayed by the very actions Fetterman supports,” Brennan wrote. “Still, Fetterman works in Washington. And there are always other buckets of money. That might explain why Fetterman has broken with Democratic colleagues on developments in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.” **In MS NOW, Zeeshan Aleem said** [**“good riddance”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/john-fetterman-leave-democratic-party-israel-aid?ref=readtangle.com) **to Fetterman.** “Fetterman did not say whether he would become an independent or join the Republican Party if he were to leave. But his departure from the party in order to support Israel would still be a remarkable development for a politician who was once widely — and, in my opinion, misguidedly — hailed as an exciting exemplar of populist progressivism,” Aleem wrote. “His threat of an exit also reflects how quickly the Democratic Party is reorienting on Israel policy, and growing less hospitable to those who advocate for backing the country’s government unconditionally.” “Losing a lawmaker in a battleground state would deal a blow to Democrats, who already have to fight tooth and nail for razor-thin majorities in the Senate. Regardless, Fetterman’s warning foreshadows a tectonic shift on the electoral left — and a positive one,” Aleem said. “Ultimately it will be best for the left if Fetterman, who seems to spend more time on Fox News by the day, is replaced by a progressive in Pennsylvania. The Democratic Party cannot re-establish moral authority unless, at a minimum, it looks to put an end to backing Israeli domination of Gaza and observing human rights with consistency.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I normally love stories of bipartisan cooperation, but something about what Fetterman’s doing seems off.Simple altruism doesn’t explain a person who ran as a progressive fully endorsing his Republican counterpart.The simplest explanation is that Fetterman is being negatively polarized against his party by progressives. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | On paper, John Fetterman just delivered so much of what I dream of. A Democratic politician showed up at Republicans’ midterm convention with a simple message: My Republican counterpart is good at his job. He is worthy of office. I don’t hate him — in fact, we’re friends — and he delivers for his constituents. I’ll work with the Republican president because I love America and I want to get things done for my state, and it doesn’t matter that I have a D next to my name and they have Rs next to theirs. Is this the [return to decency I’ve predicted](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/)? A politician who can win widespread support from the other party? A senator in an *actually* competitive swing state not afraid to cross party lines? My heart! Well, not quite. In reality, everything about Fetterman’s actions is perplexing — if not frustrating — to me. What *really* happened, it seems, is a politician ran on one set of issues, and then, in one of the most peculiar turns I can remember, became singularly focused on something that has nothing to do with any of them. Fetterman, you’ll remember, campaigned in 2022 as a kind of working-class everyman. The hoodie-wearing, jean-short-rocking townie from Braddock, Pennsylvania, reminded me of so many friends I grew up with in Bucks County or went to college with in Pittsburgh. He *exuded* Pennsylvania. He *felt* authentic. His politics were progressive, yes, but he didn’t rely on academic jargon; instead, he connected his beliefs to his experience living in a Pennsylvania town that had been hollowed out and destroyed the way so many others had. It’s hard to remember now, but these were his [2022 campaign priorities](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FPennsylvania,%5F2022?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pittsburgh%20and%20Braddock.-,KEY%20MESSAGES,-The%20following%20key): a minimum wage increase, marijuana legalization, healthcare access, criminal justice reform, voting access, and a compassionate immigration system. He built an entire identity around his proximity to union, working class jobs, and he repeatedly signaled that he would focus on what mattered to workers across Pennsylvania who felt like Washington, D.C. had left them behind. He was a new-age Pennsylvanian Bernie Bro. Of course, Fetterman’s campaign was upended by his stroke, which occurred just before the Democratic primary. And, honestly, nothing has quite felt the same since. As his speech and physical affect diminished, his health became the story. Could Fetterman still do the job? Then, as he slowly rehabilitated, another story took hold: his clinical depression. In February of 2023, he stepped away from the Senate to receive inpatient treatment for depression, leading to another round of questions about the senator’s fitness for office. And then October 7 happened. Since Hamas attacked Israel in 2023, Fetterman has made Israel policy one of his top issues. He talks about Israel constantly, and he’s said or implied on multiple occasions that [he would leave the Democratic Party](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/john-fetterman-democrats-israel?ref=readtangle.com) if it became “anti-Israel” — which he’s (at times) defined as the national party platform including funding cuts to military support for Israel. Fetterman is a genuine enigma these days. Interpreting his worldview became harder after his stroke, which damaged his ability to speak and navigate interviews and sometimes makes him difficult to decipher — especially when the conversations include quick back-and-forths. But he certainly *seemed* to articulate a worldview when Jon Stewart [pressed Fetterman](https://youtu.be/U3BMAkJIlnw?si=4jvu3bwIip-erAXI&t=2850&ref=readtangle.com) about his comments on Israel: Israel was his red line. He could agree with a politician on a whole host of economic issues, like increasing the social safety net or helping labor wrest capital back from corporations, but if they disagreed on Israel, then he didn’t want them in his party. Stewart — appropriately, in my view — expressed some shock at this. How could this guy who ran on such working-class, progressive bona fides now tell his constituents that he didn’t want people in his party who disagreed with him on one specific foreign policy question, one that didn’t even exist when he was on the campaign trail? It seems like a very bizarre line to draw. Then, of course, *The Wall Street Journal* ran its exposé. In a deeply sourced exclusive, The Journal reported that Fetterman has seemed uninterested in the work of being a senator, instead becoming preoccupied with cultivating media relationships and publicly advocating for Israel. They came with receipts: text messages between Fetterman and staffers, constituents recounting their experiences trying to meet with him, and a *lot* of off-the-record comments from people who worked for him or had been in his office. In just one of many jarring examples, Fetterman refused to meet with a state lawmaker who wanted to discuss programs for the homeless and working poor. Later that day, he met with former college basketball coach Bruce Pearl, an outspoken Israel advocate, to discuss college sports legislation. When the Senate ledger started logging his absences from hearings and votes, he adopted a new strategy to drop into Senate hearings or votes just long enough to be marked as present before slipping away. And it all led up to last night: In a heavily edited video address at the Republican National Committee gathering in Dallas, Texas, Fetterman appeared on screen to introduce — and endorse — his Republican counterpart, Sen. Dave McCormick. While Pennsylvania does not have a Senate race this year, it was still rather shocking in a midterm election where Democrats have a real chance to take back the Senate. Standing in front of an old U.S. Steel mill, he told the audience that McCormick “is the kind of senator that gets the job done” before promising to work with President Trump to revitalize manufacturing in Pennsylvania. Again: *It’s all just* *odd.* I’m not exactly sure what Fetterman’s end goal is, and I certainly don’t think his appearance can be reduced to a simple belief in bipartisanship or support of Trump’s (or McCormick’s) performance. After all, the Trump administration has leveled a full-on assault on nearly every priority of Fetterman’s party, including many of the ones he personally advocated for as a candidate. At the same time, manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania — the very thing Fetterman appeared on screen to stump for — have [continued to decline](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6080435-fetterman-mccormick-trump-gop-midterm-convention-dallas/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Manufacturing%20jobs%20in%20the%20commonwealth%20have%20declined%20slightly%20during%20the%20president%E2%80%99s%20second%20term%2C%20according%20to%20Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics%20data%20analyzed%20by%20the%20Federal%20Reserve%20Bank%20of%20St.%20Louis.) under Trump. The simplest theory is probably the most likely: Fetterman is being radicalized by negative polarization. He took a hardline pro-Israel stance immediately after October 7, which is understandable since Israel, our ally, had just suffered a 9/11-like event. That stance then drew the ire of the party’s left wing, which made him dig in. So the progressive left dug in, and a whole other war began. Three years later, the volley of negative polarization has run so many cycles that it seems to have reduced him to a single issue. He’s learned that the more he aligns himself with Republicans or reaches across the aisle, the angrier the left gets and the more attention he gets, so he just keeps pressing that button. If you want my theory, that’s it. Still, I’ll allow for the *possibility* that Fetterman is motivated by a desire to model and act on bipartisanship. After all, he still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats, and he continues to assure his party that he will never become a Republican (he released a statement making that assurance again shortly after his RNC appearance). Maybe he’s just reaching across the aisle to build bridges, not to poke the left in the eye. What’s the harm in praising his Republican counterpart? Why does it matter so much if he says “I support Israel unequivocally” and tries to pull his party toward him on that issue? Is any of this all that big a deal? But it’s a story so simple I don’t think I buy it. Paired with reporting about his obsession with media appearances and indifference to constituent services, he comes across less like a friendly bipartisan warrior and more like a guy who is simply uninterested in doing the job of being a senator; less like a Democrat willing to see the good in Republicans than a Democrat who is reveling in his own intraparty squabbling; and most of all like someone who has forgotten the promises he made to the Pennsylvanians who elected him. **Take the survey:** Will Fetterman leave the Democratic Party? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/49297be9-3068-449b-a541-230fffebdebd?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Can you give an update on Russian oil sanctions? I’ve heard that they’ve been lifted to help with the oil squeeze in Iran/Hormuz.** **— Jonathan from Omaha, NE** **Tangle:** After the war began and Iran constricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. [announced](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-issues-new-russia-related-general-license-oil-treasury-website-2026-03-12/?ref=readtangle.com) that it would waive sanctions on Russian oil for a period of 30 days beginning on March 12\. This waiver allowed countries to purchase oil on Russian tankers already at sea, but it did not impact new oil shipments. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move would provide temporary relief as the U.S. navigated the war with Iran. The initial waiver expired on April 11; however, on April 17, the U.S. [extended](https://apnews.com/article/russian-oil-sanctions-iran-war-95ae06ece63f4f8c1f72ac3c2dc4251f?ref=readtangle.com) the waiver for an additional 30 days. It then [issued](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-treasury-extend-sanction-waiver-russian-seaborne-oil-source-says-2026-05-18/?ref=readtangle.com) another extension on May 18, reportedly following a request from “energy-vulnerable countries” most impacted by limited oil transport through the Middle East. However, no new extensions have been issued following the third waiver’s [expiration](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/061726-us-lets-russian-oil-sanctions-waiver-expire-amid-iran-deal?ref=readtangle.com) on June 17, when the Trump administration was discussing a peace deal with Iran. In the aftermath of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) death in July, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which is currently under consideration in the House. The bill [would impose](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/14/graham-russia-sanctions-00997329?ref=readtangle.com) new sanctions on Russia’s leadership and energy sector, as well as impose sanctions on the “shadow fleet” that Russia has used to circumvent existing international sanctions and grant the executive branch the authority to impose 100% tariffs on importers of Russian oil. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Wednesday, the Treasury Department announced that it would buy back up to $6 billion of its own long-dated debt, part of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s effort to at least double the department’s regular buyback program to bring down borrowing costs. The Treasury has about $30 trillion in outstanding debt held in Treasury notes, or T-notes, and it purchased back $2 billion of 10–20-year bonds last month. Yields on T-notes have been increasing in recent months, affecting borrowing rates for consumers and companies. However, the department’s announcement underwhelmed the bond market, as the yield on the 10-year T-note rose by 0.05 percentage points on the day to its highest level since October 2023\. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/business/economy/treasury-repurchase-bessent.html?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s partner ****Born Before 1980? Check These 10 Benefits** You probably know about senior discounts. But there are also lesser-known programs and financial perks that could help [lower insurance costs, cut monthly bills and stretch your retirement](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) savings further. We rounded up 10 worth knowing about — because paying more than you have to is rarely a winning strategy. [Learn more ](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) ### Numbers. - [**26%**](https://congressvotetracker.org/articles/fetterman-scorecard-march-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The share of votes on which Sen. John Fetterman sided with Republicans in 2025, the highest share among Senate Democrats. - [**91%**](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-fetterman-senate-voting-record-democrats-trump/?utm%5Fsource=gemini#:~:text=%22I%20vote%20a%2091%25%20Democratic%20line%2C%20and,14%20times%20over%20the%20past%2042%20days.)**.** The share of votes on which Fetterman sided with Democrats in his Senate career, according to the senator’s office. - [**56**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4654513/fox-news-favorite-democrat-fetterman-56-appearances/?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of times Fetterman has appeared on Fox News in 2026, as of July. - [**11**](https://ballotpedia.org/How%5Fsenators%5Fvoted%5Fon%5FTrump%5FCabinet%5Fnominees,%5F2025?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of second Trump administration cabinet nominees, out of 22, Fetterman voted to approve. - [**4**](https://ballotpedia.org/How%5Fsenators%5Fvoted%5Fon%5FTrump%5FCabinet%5Fnominees,%5F2025?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The median number of Trump cabinet nominees that Democratic senators voted to confirm. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina](https://www.readtangle.com/the-charlotte-stabbing/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our interview with Graeme Wood about al-Qaeda 25 years after 9/11](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-what-happened-to-al-qaeda-will-kabac?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen [share an emotional moment after their epic five-set match at the US Open](https://x.com/usopen/status/2097462804772979001?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,946 readers responded to our survey on predictions about the U.S. economy, with 92% predicting President Trump will criticize Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh by the end of September. “\[Trump\] criticizes everyone, so why would Warsh be special?” one respondent asked. “If colleges fail, they have brought it on themselves… There are too many colleges and they all cost too much,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-d60cf8ff-8f20-4488-957c-b4d8d3aa80c0.png) ### Have a nice day. Katie Pumphrey, an ultra-marathon swimmer and lifelong Maryland resident, had always wanted to swim in the Baltimore Harbor, but pollution and sewage made it unsafe to do so. Over the last decade, however, nonprofit leaders and city officials worked to make the harbor swimmable. Members of the Waterfront Partnership pushed for sewage system upgrades and for more citywide trash cans to prevent added sewage, and an environmental scientist designed a solar- and water-powered machine to gather up 12 dumpsters of trash each day from the harbor. By 2023, the bacteria levels were low enough for a crew of scientists to test out the water, which proved safe. Since then, Pumphrey has swum in the Baltimore Harbor and become the first person to swim the 24 miles from the Chesapeake Bay to the Baltimore Harbor. Pumphrey said, “I felt so proud of Baltimore, and all of the organizations in the city that worked on and continue to work on our harbor.” [The Philadelphia Citizen has the story](https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ideas-we-should-steal-make-our-rivers-clean-swimmable/?ref=readtangle.com).