Controversial Graham Platner overcomes allegations to seal Maine Democratic nomination for Senate race – US politics live

From 5h agoControversial Platner overcomes allegations to seal Democratic nomination for Senate race

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Graham Platner won the Maine Democratic primary for Senate and called for supporters to “believe people can change” amid his controversial candidacy.

Reports emerged that Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married. Former partners described him as volatile and unfaithful.

One ex-girlfriend, Lyndsey Fifield, a Republican operative, alleged in the New York Times that more than a decade ago he had twisted her arm behind her back during an argument and held her in a room against her will – claims that Platner categorically denied.

“If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and our country then you must also believe that people can change,” Platner, 41, told supporters in Blue Hill. “And the reason I believe is that is because I have lived it. And the reason I have lived it is because of my wife.”

In a nod to his troubled past, Platner said:

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Redemption is not just some simple or easy destination; it’s a journey. I’ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from. I’m still far from perfect. But every day I wake up and I try to be a little bit better and a little kinder than I was the day before. And if you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator.

Platner also earned supportive hollers and whoops from the crowd when he took a swipe at his critics outside Maine.

“Now, the national pundits, the political establishment, they keep looking for that one story, that one headline, that one moment in my life that they can define the campaign by. But in trying so hard to understand me, they fail to understand that this is not about me at all. This is a movement about us.”

Platner will face the senator Susan Collins, a Republican running for a sixth six-year term, in November. The race is seen as a must-win for Democrats to take control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.

Read the full story:

In other developments:

House Republicans narrowly passed a reconciliation bill on Tuesday, by two votes, to provide another $70bn in funding over the next three years to the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that agencies carrying out Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda remain funded until the end of his presidency.

At nearly the same moment, the US struck Iran again, in retaliation for the downing of a US helicopter near the strait of Hormuz.

JD Vance, the US vice-president, said that a deal with Iran to end the war launched by the US and Israel 102 days ago, “could happen in the next week, but the deal could also happen months from now.”

Lesley Groff, longtime executive assistant to Jeffrey Epstein, the late child sex offender Trump socialized with for nearly two decades, testified before the House oversight and reform committee.

Donald Trump is due this morning to sign the Secure America Act – the GOP’s $70bn bill that will fund ICE and Border Patrol through 2029 – into law, after the House narrowly passed the bill yesterday.","elementId":"d6facdd2-e936-410e-b630-a4fe63c24663"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

There is a livestream here if you’d like to follow the signing. Trump often makes remarks and/or takes questions at these events, and I’ll bring you all the key lines here.","elementId":"b2b31b2c-2958-46c6-ab08-4d29bd4c5cad"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781101845000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"16.30 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781102268000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"16.37 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781102076000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"16.34 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"16.34","title":"Trump to sign $7obn immigration enforcement funding package into law","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 16.49 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 12.37 CEST"},{"id":"6a2971cc8f0827386cba528d","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is largely targeting people from the countries most vulnerable to displacement from climate-driven disasters, a Guardian analysis shows.","elementId":"92afd193-5d4e-42c1-a4f9-b66ada298a0b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

As the Trump administration pushes policies to boost planet-heating fossil fuels, millions of people are being forced to flee their homelands due to storms, floods and droughts worsened by the climate crisis.","elementId":"692d4b52-6e71-4fdd-b382-f4297f98b939"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Of the 39 countries from which the Trump administration has fully or partly restricted entry to the US, 22 are ranked within the most vulnerable quarter of nations in the world to climate impacts, according to a Guardian analysis of data from the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, which assesses how prone jurisdictions are to the climate crisis.","elementId":"e9e4149a-3fd2-4e86-9d12-d056181b7bfd"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

“Nearly all of the most vulnerable countries are on a ban or visa pause,” said Danielle Wood, an associate professor at Notre Dame. Immigrants from Chad and Niger, the two most climate-vulnerable countries in the world according to the index, are now fully barred from the US, as are people from Sudan, Somalia and Sierra Leone, also among the 10 countries most exposed to climate impacts.","elementId":"445acd9a-0707-4cf6-8b39-681d0fc69a6f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Here is Oliver’s report:","elementId":"0a26ccbe-f43f-4dc6-a105-db04a465b7e5"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"Trump targeting immigrants from countries hit most by climate shocks","elementId":"09564592-f10e-4211-9183-8926d3dfcbd8","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/10/trump-administration-immigrants-climate-crisis"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781101004000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"16.16 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781101373000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"16.22 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781101206000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"16.20 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"16.20","title":"Trump targeting immigrants from countries hit most by climate shocks","contributors":[{"name":"Oliver Milman","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2014/9/30/1412084830432/Oliver-Milman.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dc9d7205ee13422323669d8ba9443463","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/09/Oliver-Milman,-L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=851c9c9b1357655e93f43b2ec335f721"}],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 16.49 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 12.37 CEST"},{"id":"6a29610f8f08e85b579a570f","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

US inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.2% in May, the third consecutive monthly increase since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran and a three-year high, as Americans continue to face steep oil prices.","elementId":"296bfe0a-6edc-4b5d-a264-9b17ca9f654c"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Energy prices were once again responsible for the increase in the consumer price index, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting for 60% of the overall monthly increases. The national average price for a gallon of gas is $4.15, according to AAA, which is slightly lower than where the price was a month ago but still $1 per gallon more than a year ago. Airline fares also increased 26.7% annually, a squeeze travelers may have already noticed ahead of the busy summer season.","elementId":"350a6847-d39e-49df-bb63-e918becd377a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Other essential everyday expenses, such as food, energy services and clothing, also increased. Stripping out volatile energy and food prices, core CPI increased 2.9%.","elementId":"8ed80914-1e46-4349-9940-c4904942b7bd"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.","elementId":"f63c2b4a-dafb-4533-8761-7c76dc2f3406"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

More from this report here:","elementId":"5af8e519-3ee6-425b-ab4b-7c6f6981f9c5"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"US inflation jumped to 4.2% in May, the third consecutive increase since start of Iran war","elementId":"07d91ab0-a409-4640-a096-23396e508dd5","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/10/inflation-report-rate"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781096719000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"15.05 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781096988000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"15.09 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781096989000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"15.09 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"15.09","title":"US inflation jumped to 4.2% in May, the third consecutive increase since start of Trump's war against Iran","contributors":[{"name":"Gaya Gupta"}],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 16.49 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 12.37 CEST"},{"id":"6a2956168f080a615eb1b63d","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Donald Trump said Iran has taken “too long” to agree to a deal “that would have been great for them” and will now “have to pay the price”.","elementId":"13c89bf3-caad-4bbc-831a-716124d4b3dc"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

In a post on Truth Social early this morning, which came after the US and Iran exchanged fire on Tuesday, Trump wrote:","elementId":"b8fd2809-283c-4f2e-8ef8-8d852b0aca9b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":"\n

Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!\n","elementId":"d5a2ae0c-ddca-4cf9-b004-ec3a0469034d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

He did not clarify on Truth Social what action he intended to take, but Fox News, citing a phone interview yesterday with the president, reports that Trump said Iran was “dragging its feet” at the negotiating table – and suggested he may be close to ordering the US military to begin targeting Iranian power plants and bridge.","elementId":"977c49c7-010a-4c9d-a32a-6cd2f51d2d8e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

As you will remember, this is not the first time Trump has threatened to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure – which could constitute a war crime under international law.","elementId":"41b0612a-88d0-4e1b-abb2-f9a2d57c3aaa"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The future of peace talks have been thrown into question after the two sides traded fire overnight. The US launched strikes against Iran in the early hours of Wednesday morning in retaliation for what it said was Iran’s downing of a US army helicopter near the strait of Hormuz. Iran then launched a wave of retaliatory airstrikes claiming hits on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.","elementId":"b96b6894-0ece-4e62-96a2-a3e00405363c"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Trump has previously insisted that a deal could be reached.","elementId":"08faec43-99dc-4723-b819-8bba97150197"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

My colleague Tom Ambrose is covering all the latest developments here:","elementId":"c9142ec9-858b-4ce2-bf26-54959e98b924"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"Middle East crisis live: Trump accuses Iran of taking too long to make a deal and says ‘it will now pay a price’","elementId":"b5c4b7bd-dd0b-4a79-ae0d-e15d1c62ac7c","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/10/iran-war-updates-missile-strikes-trump-us-retaliation-middle-east-crisis-war-live"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781093910000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.18 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781095433000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.43 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781095246000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"14.40 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"14.40","title":"Trump says Iran 'will pay the price' for taking 'too long' to agree peace deal","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 16.49 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 12.37 CEST"},{"id":"6a29488f8f08e85b579a55d4","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

A key group of anti-Trump Republicans has endorsed the Democratic nominee in a pivotal House race in Pennsylvania, according to details first provided to the Guardian.","elementId":"5ba8ebcb-701c-4249-8e6e-9b4f4fb63cfb"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Republicans Against Perry (Rap) revived their effort to oust hardline congressman Scott Perry last year. Now, the group is formally supporting Democrat Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania’s 10th District, which includes Harrisburg.","elementId":"a0076c82-545e-4ceb-9dd9-3c9581983dec"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Rap is backed by WelcomePac, which focuses its support for Democratic candidates across the country. The group is also launching a new ad which focuses on Perry’s support for restarting the infamous nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island.","elementId":"90089403-67d8-455e-b020-cf6ebad2ac9e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Craig Snyder, Rap’s executive director, said the new campaign aims to show Perry “kowtowing to Washington and the handful of the super rich by supporting a billion taxpayer dollars to restart the reactor … known the world over as the site of the first major nuclear accident ever in the free world”.","elementId":"53b12759-d104-404a-97c9-0721f1eb1ec7"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockEl