The Daily Populous Friday April 17th, 2026 night edition
Authored by ms.now and submitted by unital_subalgebra

There was a special election in a Texas state Senate race in late January that Republicans clearly expected to win. Donald Trump won the district by 17 points in the 2024 elections; the GOP nominee heavily outspent the Democratic candidate; the district hasn’t been competitive in three decades; and state GOP leaders, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, went all out to eke out a victory in one of the nation’s largest Republican counties.

The president, in particular, tried to lend a hand, publishing a series of messages endorsing his party’s candidate and pleading with local supporters to turn out in the days leading up to the election.

It didn’t work. The Democrat won by 14 points, at which point Trump pretended he hadn’t done what everyone had seen him do.

Asked for his reaction to the election results, the president replied, “Somebody ran where?” Reminded of the details, Trump added, “I’m not involved with that,” despite his direct and obvious involvement.

His efforts to downplay the embarrassment came to mind this week when he tried to pull the same trick again. Reuters reported:

Altruistic-Bit8160 on April 16th, 2026 at 18:57 UTC »

That headline is hilarious

brain_overclocked on April 16th, 2026 at 18:57 UTC »

Trump promises economic support to Orbán ahead of crucial Hungary vote — Trump’s pledge to use the “full economic might” of the U.S. to help the Hungarian economy comes as Orban trails in the polls going into Sunday’s election.

> “My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our Great Allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social ahead of Sunday’s vote.

> “We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!” said Trump, who has endorsed Orbán multiple times during the campaign.

Trump affirms ‘total endorsement’ of Orbán ahead of Hungary election — U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly due to visit Budapest in April in support of the Prime Minister Orbán.

> The Trump administration is doubling down on its endorsement of Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán in next month’s Hungarian elections, even as Orbán’s deal-blocking in Brussels has been labeled “unacceptable” by EU peers.

> U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday reiterated his “complete and total endorsement” of Orbán in the Hungarian elections. And U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly due to fly to Budapest in April in support of the prime minister.

Revolutionary_Job91 on April 16th, 2026 at 18:55 UTC »

Now there’s a headline