Republicans to hold their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Trump announces
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Republicans will hold a party convention in Dallas in September, noting in a Truth Social post that the event will be the first of its kind for the GOP in a midterm election year.
Trump described the convention, scheduled for Sept. 9-10, as a “truly Historic Event.”
“Dallas will take center stage on September 9th and 10th as we celebrate our Nation, our achievements, and our bright future. THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN!” Trump said in his post.
The party gathering comes as Republicans are defending narrow majorities in the House and Senate, and as the president’s sinking approval rating has put those majorities at risk.
Texas will be at the center of this year’s fight for control of Congress, with multiple House battlegrounds and competitive races for Senate, and potentially for governor. A New York Times/Siena poll released Tuesday found a tied Senate race between Democratic state Rep. James Talarico and his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Gov. Greg Abbott holds a six-point lead over Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in the governor’s race.
Trump on Tuesday offered a preview of the potential programming, writing on Truth Social: “At the Event, we will have hardworking Americans, our Great Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Manufacturers, First Responders, and Job Creators who are powering our Nation’s Golden Age, and proving that America’s best days are still ahead of us. We will also have lots of Great Entertainment — It will be a RALLY like none other!”
Trump announced plans for a midterm convention late last year. Democrats are not planning to hold a similar event.
Bridget BowmanBridget Bowman is a national political reporter for NBC News.
Tara Prindiville contributed.Danika Mason reveals she's having a baby with her footy star fiancé
Channel Nine star Danika Mason has revealed she's expecting a baby with her ex-NRL star fiancé Liam Knight.
The Logie-nominated sport reporter broke the news on Today on Wednesday morning, delighting her colleagues Sarah Abo, Tom Steinfort, Richard Wilkins and Jayne Azzopardi.
The Today crew celebrated by bringing the NRL expert a cake amid the celebrations.
'We feel so honoured to be brought into your households every single morning, so when there’s news here, it’s nice to share it with you guys first before the rest of the world gets to hear about it,' Mason told viewers.
'So Liam and I are expecting a little girl, due December, so off-season will be a little bit busier this year.'
Mason also revealed she has got over the morning sickness stage of her pregnancy.
Danika Mason has revealed she and fiancé Liam Knight (pictured together) are expecting a baby girl in December
The Nine star said her off-season from covering the NRL will be 'a little busier this year'
Pictured: Mason breaks the happy news on Today, leaving her colleagues delighted
'Everyone here at Nine has been so supportive when I've been vomiting on the way to work and everything,' she said.
'It's so funny, the moment I knew I was pregnant, I had a chicken schnitzel craving. I just, honestly, all I could think about was chicken schnitzel.'
The Nine star also announced the news on Instagram, posting a series of photos of her dog wearing a bib reading 'promoted to big brother' as he sat in front of ultrasound images of her baby, as well as a shot of her positive pregnancy test.
Her amazing news was greeted with a wave of heartfelt messages from sport and TV stars including ex-Souths player Jai Arrow, Renee Bargh, her Nine NRL colleague Allana Ferguson and Sylvia Jeffries.
Mason and Knight went public with their romance in July 2024, just months after the Channel Nine sports presenter ditched her ex-fiancé Todd Liubinskas.
The loved-up pair finally confirmed their relationship via social media after months of speculation, with the footballer embracing Danika in a photo shared to his Instagram page.
'My life's good,' Liam wrote in the caption, alongside the couple sharing a cuddle.
Danika dumped her ex Todd Liubinskas in September 2023, just three weeks before their planned wedding.
The overjoyed couple got engaged in October last year (pictured) after making their romance official in September 2023
Mason revealed she had been vomiting on the way to work due to morning sickness, but that stage of her pregnancy is now behind her
The Daily Mail previously revealed Liubinskas - a personal trainer - later asked Danika to give back her diamond engagement ring because it was a family heirloom.
Danika also kept the $1.5million Maroubra home she shared with her ex-fiancé.
She later confirmed the couple split due to a 'breakdown in trust.'
After Liam agreed terms with the English team Hull FC in March, the couple began a long-distance relationship - and they have since enjoyed getaways together overseas at every opportunity.
Knight popped the question in October last year as the couple enjoyed a romantic trip to Europe.
He went down on one knee on a beach in Sardinia, Italy, and Mason broke the news on social media by writing, 'Some exciting news.'
When the 34-year-old showed fans the dazzling ring on Today soon after the engagement, it was placed on her middle finger, with the media personality explaining that it was a little bit big and she was 'too worried about losing it'.
'It feels like I'm flipping the bird every time I show [somebody],' she joked, which prompted co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo to erupt in laughter.
'Turns out she's got skinnier fingers than they look,' Liam, 30, quipped.
Danika then revealed the shock measures Liam took to hide the ring and keep the engagement a secret.
'He was trying to hide the ring from me, and we needed to go to the beach, and we hired a little dinghy for the day,' she said.
'Anyway, so he had to drop me off and, to keep the secret, he had to go swim 150 metres.'
She added: 'So his heart rate was already through the roof and then he had to do the proposal on top of that.'
