August 4, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael's Daily Notes
|
It's Election Day in Michigan, and all eyes are on the Wolverine State for signs of which way swing-state Democrats want to go in the divide between the party's establishment and its more progressive wing. The Senate primary is a clean test: Rep. Haley Stevens, an Obama administration alum backed by Gretchen Whitmer, Jim Clyburn, and $25 million in AIPAC advertising, versus Abdul El-Sayed, the Bernie Sanders-endorsed progressive who would be the nation's first Muslim senator. Final polls show El-Sayed ahead by double digits. Here's the rub: the same polling shows him trailing Republican Mike Rogers by ten points in November matchups that Stevens narrowly wins. In a state Donald Trump carried twice, a primary electorate and a general electorate are two different animals.
Which sets up the bigger picture: on Monday I was joined on radio by Doug Sosnik, who advised President Clinton and some 50 governors and senators, to discuss slides from his most recent presentation on the midterm elections. Some takeaways: History points to a blue wave- Trump's approval sits at 39 percent, and every modern president at 40 or below has suffered massive midterm losses. Yet Sosnik cautions Democrats will struggle to maximize the moment: polarization has left just nine competitive Senate races out of 35, and Democrats need a net of four seats to take the Senate — Michigan among the few true toss-ups — and three to take the House.
His most important insight: midterms are referendums, decided by a smaller, more educated electorate. The two biggest wave winners of the past 50 years — Republicans in 1994 and 2010 — failed to capture the White House two years later. Whatever happens in Michigan and elsewhere in 2026, remember: a very different electorate will choose the next president.
##
|
DAILY POLL
|
Can Sanders-style progressive Democrats win general elections in swing states like Michigan?
|
TOP STORY
|
The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared nearly 700 points to a record close Monday as a rebound in Big Tech stocks and falling oil prices fueled a broad market rally amid easing concerns over U.S.-Iran tensions.
|
TODAY'S YOUTUBE
|
SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
|
IN OTHER NEWS
|
Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old Washington man, has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson after authorities say he deliberately started the Old Trails Fire, one of three devastating wildfires that have destroyed at least 700 structures and scorched more than 10,000 acres in the Spokane area.
Progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is challenging the idea that Michigan is moderate, arguing that the state voting twice for President Donald Trump is evidence that voters are rejecting the political establishment as he campaigns on grassroots support ahead of the Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens.
Trump told Rep. Max Miller on a private phone call that his reelection bid appears to be in jeopardy amid allegations of domestic abuse, despite the President publicly refraining from criticizing the Ohio Republican or calling on him to drop out of the race.
|
A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
A dispute over the Democratic National Committee's 2024 election autopsy has erupted after its author claimed the party omitted a chapter criticizing former President Joe Biden's reelection bid and Democratic leadership, allegations the DNC strongly denies.
Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination is back on track after he formally rescinded a proposed $1.8 billion payout fund tied to President Trump’s IRS settlement, securing the support of two key Republican senators who had threatened to oppose his confirmation.
If the U.S. adopted permanent standard time instead of daylight saving time, summer sunsets would occur an hour earlier—often before 8 p.m. and, in some areas, even before 7 p.m.—while bringing earlier sunrises that many health experts say better align with the body's natural rhythms.
|
CARTOONS
|
by Jack Ohman
|
MORE NEWS
|
As the Grateful Dead enters a new era without many of its original members, musicians and fans alike are working to ensure the band's music and community continue thriving for generations to come.
President Trump criticized DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the Reflecting Pool case and considered firing her, but after a White House meeting with Pirro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the longtime ally remained in her post.
A new federal survey finds daily or near-daily marijuana use has surpassed both cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in the U.S., with 21.4 million Americans now using cannabis at least 300 days a year amid rising concerns over health risks.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
For the Left
Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha says he now believes a laboratory leak is the most likely origin of the pandemic based on information he learned in office, while stressing the evidence remains inconclusive and urging greater transparency from China.
For the Right
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a digital cooking series promoting the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda through low-cost recipes centered on animal proteins and traditional fats, drawing criticism from those who say it overlooks broader public health and food access challenges.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.