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Maine Democratic Senate candidate quits race over sexual assault claims
The Democratic Senate nominee in Maine has withdrawn from the race after several former partners accused him of sexual assault. He had been polling ahead of the long-serving Republican incumbent, Senator Susan Collins, and his exit — accompanied by a swift collapse of party endorsements — deals a significant setback to Democratic hopes of winning…
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Fetterman unloads on scandal-plagued Platner after rape allegation ends Senate bid: ‘Adios, trash bag’
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania launched a scathing verbal attack on Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, after Platner abandoned his campaign on Wednesday following a rape allegation. Speaking on Fox News’s “Jesse Watters Primetime”, Fetterman said “the trash took itself out” and repeatedly branded Platner an “accused rapist”,…
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Best Horror of July 2026: ‘Evil Dead Burn,’ Nicolas Winding Refn Returns, a Bloodthirsty Pinocchio and More
Welcome to Horror Explorer, a curated column showcasing the month’s best movies, series, books and everything else spooky worth checking out. I’m William Earl, the executive digital director of Variety and the publication’s resident horror enthusiast. Please drop me a line at wearl@variety.com if there’s something I should check out for next month’s missive.
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Graham Platner Ends Senate Bid In Maine After Sexual Assault Allegation
Graham Platner has suspended his Democratic campaign for the US Senate in Maine, following an allegation of sexual assault. The move clears the way for Maine Democrats to choose a new candidate as the party seeks to retake control of the chamber, and it removes a progressive contender who had positioned himself as an outsider…
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Pardoned House Dem back in the spotlight as brother faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat pardoned by President Trump last year over bribery, conspiracy and money laundering charges, is once again facing scrutiny as his brother confronts a separate fraud case. Martin Cuellar, the sheriff of Webb County, Texas, is due at a court hearing over accusations of misappropriating county funds, and the family’s…
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Nikki Glaser, RuPaul & More React to 2026 Primetime Emmy Nods
Nikki Glaser and RuPaul were among the figures reacting to the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations, announced on Wednesday 8 July. Glaser landed three nods — two for her special Nikki Glaser: Good Girl and one as host of the 83rd annual Golden Globes — marking a notable moment for the Globes, which returned to Emmy…
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Platner drops out of crucial Senate race after bombshell rape allegation torpedoes campaign
Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign on Wednesday after an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated derailed his candidacy. His exit matters because he had been challenging veteran Republican Senator Susan Collins in one of a handful of races that will decide whether the GOP keeps its…
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Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after ex-girlfriend’s assault allegation
US Senate candidate Graham Platner has ended his Democratic campaign in Maine following an allegation of sexual assault made by a former girlfriend. The withdrawal marks an abrupt halt to a bid that had drawn national attention, and the fallout from the accusation appears to have been the decisive factor in his decision to quit…
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Left-wing host presses El-Sayed over ‘physician’ claim, questions honesty of Michigan Dem Senate hopeful
During a Zeteo interview aired on Wednesday, left-wing broadcaster Mehdi Hasan pressed Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat running in a closely watched Michigan Senate primary, over why he had described himself as a “physician” despite not holding a valid state medical licence in either New York or Michigan. The exchange matters because it saw a figure…