Ben Binday

Personal news! In June, I'll be joining The Washington Post as their politics and government intern. I can't wait to dive into D.C.'s political scene and learn from many talented journalists. If anyone will be in D.C. over the summer, feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect.

Sen. McConnell’s office released a photo in an effort to answer questions about his health, showing what appears to be him holding The Post’s July 12 Sports section. We reviewed metadata that shows the photo was taken July 12. An independent digital forensics expert also said there appeared to be no evidence that the image is fake. wapo.st/4fyZdmy

Mitch McConnell sent out a proof-of-life picture holding a copy of Sunday’s Washington Post. I acquired and reviewed the metadata, and a visual forensics expert said it seems legit. But the internet still has questions. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister, is expected to be SC’s next senator and the state’s first female senator. But she has nearly no political record — including on abortion, foreign policy, healthcare, and more. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell’s ailments have given rise to an old issue: the Senate is getting historically old, and yet the chamber mandates no health disclosure or allows lawmakers’ removal for health reasons. w/ @matthewichoi & @JarrellTDillard washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Rep. Nancy Mace is strongly considering running to replace Sen. Lindsay Graham in the Senate, a source familiar tells me. Mace most recently finished fifth in SC’s governor’s race.

Jordan Wood, the former Chief of Staff to Katie Porter who lost his primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, said that he’s officially in the race to replace Platner as the Democratic nominee. @washingtonpost washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Who will replace Graham Platner on the ballot in Maine? @benbinday has a rundown of the many contenders, several of whom already made it official tonight: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

The length and tone of Platner’s exit surprised even supporters. We're told, however, that the video was a condition Platner put on suspending his run, telling aides he would only suspend if he could say everything he wanted, leading to the 11-min video: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

After Graham Platner dropped out of Maine’s Senate race today, I compiled a list of the nine likeliest replacement candidates — from Troy Jackson to Janet Mills — some of whom have already entered the race: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Dan Kleban, the brewery owner, has now also said that he would not accept Platner’s endorsement.

Troy Jackson, the contender perhaps most ideologically aligned with Platner, also responded. He, too, said that he did not want Platner’s endorsement.

As the shadow primary to replace Graham Platner takes off, Democrats interested in the seat don’t seem eager for his endorsement. We asked seven potential nominees if they’d accept his endorsement. Only one responded — and said no. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Increasingly isolated, Graham Platner is holed up at his home in rural Maine, navigating the likely end of his once-surging Senate campaign. Campaign staff were told today that Platner would speak tonight about the future of his run. w/ @akoseff: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Ex-girlfriend of Graham Platner says he removed condoms without consent during sex (via @washingtonpost) washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

As health rumors swirl around Mitch McConnell, several allies say they've spoken with him. Yet several right-wing influencers continue to believe that the senator is "brain dead" and that GOP politicians are involved in a cover-up to stop the SAVE Act. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Sen. Mitch McConnell has spent three weeks in the hospital, and his office still will not say what sent the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican there, his latest condition or when he might return. Here’s what we know about the senator’s health so far: wapo.st/4vfF4GM

As concern rises about the health of Sen. Mitch McConnell, here’s what we know about his condition: washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

@diamywang Banger

bad news for noah kahan

End Citizens United is rescinding its Platner endorsement. Tiffany Muller, the group's president: "The allegations reported today are profoundly disturbing and disqualifying. The conduct described is fundamentally inconsistent with the standards we expect from candidates"