/// by: Eliana Jonshon Jun 1 2026 ---------------------: Elsewhere: Breaking news: The self-described communist who got a Nazi tattoo in Croatia might be of questionable character. We’re talking, of course, about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner now facing yet another embarrassing revelation about his past behavior. Platner’s wife caught him sexting “several women” in the spring of 2025, about a year and a half after their marriage and just months before Platner launched his campaign, the Wall Street Journal reported. He also has an active account dating back to 2016 on Kik, a private messaging app popular with teens that has long been known for its lax user policies and lack of age verification. Platner’s profile photo—which makes it apparent why he was on Kik—is included below (viewer discretion is advised). https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Dr7W!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1b641edb-967b-4b87-ad1d-80b7cf7a1bae_750x1031.jpeg Platner responded to the emerging scandal by trotting out his wife to film a sad video statement imploring people to focus on the “real issues.” It didn’t convince at least some Democrats—New Jersey senator Corey Booker, for example, said Sunday that he has “concerns” about Platner. “The guy has questions to answer,” Booker said. New Jersey Democratic House candidate Adam Hamawy’s association with the “Blind Sheikh” terrorist mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, detailed in the Free Beacon in May, got the New York Times treatment over the weekend in a piece headlined “A Candidate’s Past Ties to a Militant Cleric Are Surfacing in a N.J. House Race.” One of Hamawy’s primary opponents, local mayor Adrian Mapp, told the Times that Hamawy’s “association with the blind sheikh was very telling and it speaks to the character of an individual who has associated with an unsavory character.” Texas Democrat James Talarico’s apparent girlfriend has been revealed, and nobody was surprised to learn she’s a “‘committed vegan’, yoga buff and cat mom who likes ‘dancing the night away’ at local gay bar Cheer Up Charlies in Austin,” the New York Post reported. Peace negotiations between the United States and Iran are entering another week after President Donald Trump “sent back changes to the proposed deal” that “insisted on tougher language surrounding Iran’s nuclear commitments and its pledge to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” according to CNN. Check out our full Monday lineup below. Graham Platner Says He ‘Serves’ as His Maine Town’s Harbormaster. He Held the Largely ‘Clerical’ Role for 18 Months Before Quitting To Campaign. Democrat-Backed Nebraska Senate Hopeful Dan Osborn Quietly Scrubs ‘Abortion’ From His Website, But Still Takes Money From Planned Parenthood Figure A Return to Proper History Rachel’s Life in Pieces The Empathy Justice What’s the Deal With Iran? Thanks for reading the Washington Free Beacon! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.