Just out: Supermajority: How Democrats Can Build Lasting Power by Adam Jentleson.
“With the fate of our democracy hanging in the balance, are we destined to watch every presidential election come down to a coin flip?”
Supreme Court Rejects Trump-Backed Map in Missouri
“The U.S. Supreme Court again rejected a push to use Missouri congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump on Thursday, a loss for Republicans trying to maintain control of the House in the fast-approaching midterm elections,” the Associated Press reports.
“The decision appears to clear the way for use of the old maps.”
JD Vance Faces 2028 Test
USA Today: “Vance’s primetime address on Sept. 10 will provide the 42-year-old politician with one of his last best opportunities before the midterm election to convince skeptical MAGA voters he has the charisma and showmanship to lead the party into its next era.”
“He will be addressing his largest crowd at the convention since he accepted his party’s nomination for vice president in 2024, with the GOP boasting a 20,000-person crowd of lawmakers, candidates, donors and the Republican Party faithful both evenings.”
“The political stakes for Vance are high — both at the convention and over the next 54 days, a make or break stretch for the anticipated 2028 presidential candidate. As the party’s midterm messenger and finance guru, Vance’s political fortunes will be closely tied to the election’s outcome.”
Experts Say NATO Must Plan for a Future Without the U.S.
“Trump administration officials have made a flurry of visits to Moscow over the last month, with Europe on edge over a spate of hybrid attacks attributed to Russia,” the Washington Sun reports.
“But America’s European allies aren’t taking the visits as reassurance. Rather, security experts say they see it as another sign of the deep strain plaguing the NATO alliance.”
“American action is now less predictable, and its leaders are less communicative and less reliably committed to the NATO structure that has governed European security for 75 years, the experts said. Even if President Donald Trump doesn’t ultimately fulfill his threats to leave the alliance, the experts in the region said NATO needs to prepare to go it alone.”
How American Universities Get Around the DEI Backlash
The Economist: “University students have long delighted in fashionable slang. Now their administrators are joining in. Amid a growing backlash against ‘woke’ programmes for minority students, campus leaders are finding new names for their diversity, equity and inclusion offices—ditching words such as ‘diversity’ and ‘equity’ in favour of ones like ‘well-being’ and ‘community.'”
“Behind this linguistic makeover lies a Republican-led crackdown on DEI at public universities.”
Troy Jackson Ahead in the Maine Senate Race
A new YouGov poll in Maine finds Troy Jackson (D) leading Susan Collins (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 48% to 44%.
Maine Senate Race
Troy Jackson (D) 48%
Susan Collins (R) 44%
Democrats Play Up Trump Probes During GOP Convention
“As counterprogramming to Republicans’ two-day midterm convention — in which they are heavily touting President Donald Trump’s achievements — a handful of House Democrats descended upon Dallas to speak about their investigations into the president and their long-standing investigation into convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein,” the Washington Post reports.
How Donald Trump Boxed His Party In
The Economist: “Mr Trump’s years of purging apostates, combined now with his unpopularity, have boxed Republicans in. Across statewide primaries, turnout by Democratic voters has outstripped that of Republicans, revealing a gap in partisan enthusiasm confirmed by polls. Independent voters who warmed to Mr Trump in 2024 have turned against him…”
“Nothing better illustrates the dwindling returns of Mr Trump’s politics of self than his choice to hold his midterm convention not in a traditional electoral battleground but in Texas, which he won in 2024 by almost 14 points.”
Trump Suggests U.S. Wouldn’t Exist if He Weren’t Elected
“President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. would not exist if former Vice President Kamala Harris had been elected in 2024,” Mediaite reports.
Said Trump: “It’s not about stupid policies that led us down the drain. We were going down the drain. If we hadn’t won the last election, I’m not sure that our country right now would even exist. It was going so bad.”
Treasury Buyback Fails to Shock and Awe the Bond Market
“The Treasury Department failed to cow the bond market Wednesday with its amped-up buyback announcement, as rates still rose,” Axios reports.
“The reaction suggests that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s unusual showdown with the markets could itself add to upward pressure on interest rates — precisely the opposite of what most think he’s trying to achieve.”
Roy Cooper Leads Big in North Carolina Senate Race
A new Elon University Poll poll in North Carolina finds Roy Cooper (D) leading Michael Whatley (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 38%, with Shannon Bray (L) at 2% and Michael Dublin (G) at 2%.
North Carolina Senate Race
Roy Cooper (D) 49%
Michael Whatley (R) 38%
Democratic Donors Bypass the Party
“Democratic donors who were once turned off by the state of their party are beginning to write checks again, spurred by the prospect of Republican losses in November’s midterm elections,” NewsNation reports.
“But their return comes with a big caveat: Many are bypassing the party and homing in on individual candidates and races where they say they can help Democrats gain control of both chambers of Congress.”
Turning Point USA Grows but Trump Slips with Youth
“One year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA, has grown dramatically, expanding its presence at colleges and high schools and cementing itself as a force in Republican politics,” Reuters reports.
“But some of the young voters Kirk helped bring into the party are not proving uniformly loyal to Republican President Donald Trump, testing the coalition that helped return him to the White House in 2024.”
NPR: A year after Charlie Kirk was killed, young conservatives navigate a divided movement.
Fewer International Students Expected On Campuses
“College campuses may be a little quieter this fall as tens of thousands of international students face roadblocks to entry and education in the U.S,” NBC News reports.
“Early estimates indicate enrollment could decline by as many as 110,000 international students this year, the result of new government policies that have already shrunk the number of international students in U.S. higher education. These policies threaten the finances of many smaller and regional colleges and contribute to a growing perception that the U.S. is unwelcoming toward international students.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“The Republican Party has to be defeated, and I think MAGA specifically, I want to defeat it and then salt the Earth with its ashes.”
— Sarah Longwell, quoted by The Atlantic. about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant.
How Election Deniers Infiltrated the System
“Right-wing activists have slowly taken control of a significant part of America’s local election apparatus. The country isn’t prepared for what they might do,” The Atlantic reports.
White House Threatens Medical School Funding
“The Trump administration’s mounting investigations and attacks on diversity initiatives have left medical schools facing a tough choice as they consider how to select incoming classes: stick with policies they see as core to their mission or risk critical federal funding,” the Washington Post reports.
“The legal landscape is unresolved, leaving some schools to weigh potential consequences in a high-profile, high-stakes fight.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“California already has two senators; it doesn’t need a third. But that’s exactly what James Talarico would be.”
— Texas U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R), quoted by USA Today.
