Plus, Trump pardons husband of political ally U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, Van Epps misses finance disclosure deadline

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

Back in July, Laura Loomer — who is some combination of Trump confidante, MAGA enforcer and right-wing media personality — went public with her urging to President Trump to appoint a special

“Historically, this type of political propaganda has worked to win elections,” he said, citing the ad featuring Willie Horton, a Black man who committed crimes while out of a Massachusetts prison through a furlough program. Dukakis was governor at the time.

President Donald Trump’s once unquestioned grip on his MAGA political base is showing signs of strain as some of his supporters have started pushing back on White House policy proposals they see as contrary to his long-held promises on immigration and the economy.

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with U.S.-Latin American policy expert Geoff Ramsey of the Atlantic Council about the Trump administration's military buildup near Venezuela.

Charlotte Jones, a Dallas Cowboys executive and Jerry Jones' daughter, expressed excitement for Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl LV next year.

But for now, Democrats are holding their own in the redistricting battle as they set their sights on reclaiming the House majority in 2026.