June 9, 2026 - Fewer Americans Call US Exceptional

President Trump returned to the "Gaaaaden" last night, and the reception was nothing like what he gets at a UFC fight. There are as many headlines in the media today about him being booed as there are about the outcome of the game. The Knicks lost. Fans immediately blamed him. And this might be just the start.

Talisman is a funny word. As a teenager, I always wore the same hat to Eagles games at the Vet. It was my good luck charm - after all, I'd been wearing it the day Wilbert Montgomery chewed up the turf against the Cowboys and earned the Eagles a bid to their first Super Bowl. Never mind that I'd also been wearing it for countless losses before Dick Vermeil arrived in town. Superstition is the engine of sports fandom. We are creatures of ritual and magical thinking, blaming ourselves when things go wrong, crediting our lucky hats when things go right.

Politicians, it turns out, are not immune from the same treatment.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani learned this the hard way back in April. On his 100th day in office, he visited Citi Field, hugged Mr. and Mrs. Met, and posed for photos. The Mets then lost 12 games in a row - their longest skid in over two decades. Fans dubbed it the "Curse of the Mambino." This has history. Bill de Blasio was the first New York City mayor in over a century to preside over zero championships by any of the city's major sports teams. Eight years, nothing - the "Curse of the Blas-bino." Every mayor going back 100 years had seen at least one title. De Blasio managed none, perhaps because he spent his tenure openly rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots.

Now back to Trump. He became the first sitting president ever to attend an NBA Finals game, taking in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, riding a 13-game playoff winning streak, lost to the Spurs 115-111. Stephen A. Smith had warned it would happen. Gavin Newsom gleefully piled on.

Next up, the World Cup kicks off Thursday on American soil. The Summer Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028. You know Trump will want to be front and center for both.

I might lend him my hat.

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A new AP-NORC poll finds growing skepticism about American exceptionalism and democracy, with younger Americans especially likely to question whether the U.S. is the world's best country and whether its political system still reflects the nation's founding ideals.

Associated Press

City Councilmember Nithya Raman surged past former reality TV star Spencer Pratt to secure a runoff spot against incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, setting up a high-stakes November contest that could reshape the city's political direction.

KTLA

A Bryant Park watch party for Game 3 of the NBA Finals descended into chaos Monday night as rowdy Knicks fans clashed with police, vandalized property and sparked multiple arrests outside the packed Midtown gathering.

New York Post

Scott Pelley’s emotional New York Times interview defending his criticism of CBS News leadership and recounting his firing has drawn sharp backlash from conservative figures who accused the veteran journalist of bias, self-importance, and unfair comparisons between war correspondents and military service members.

The Hill

The Trump administration has launched its largest-ever denaturalization effort, seeking to revoke the citizenship of 17 naturalized Americans accused of crimes or immigration fraud as part of a broader crackdown on legal and illegal immigration.

CBS News

A new study finds that while remote work remains highly popular among employees, it is also linked to increased social isolation, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and greater use of mental health services—especially among workers who live alone.

NPR

Former Graham Platner campaign political director Genevieve McDonald argues that a pattern of controversies, alleged misconduct, and dishonesty make the Maine Democratic Senate candidate unfit for office and urges voters to demand higher ethical standards from political leaders.

The Washington Post

CNBC's Jim Cramer says he's turning more cautious on stocks, warning that fading hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts, concerns surrounding the upcoming SpaceX IPO, weakness in Apple shares, and increased AI-related fundraising could undermine key drivers of the market's recent rally.

CNBC

Hotel booking data ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows host cities in Canada and Mexico outperforming most U.S. markets, as higher travel costs, visa concerns, and perceptions of an unwelcoming political climate appear to deter international visitors from booking stays in the United States.

The Wall Street Journal

Bill Maher criticized Democrats over artists withdrawing from the Freedom 250 concert series, arguing the boycott risks reinforcing perceptions that the party is unpatriotic and unwilling to separate celebrations of America from opposition to President Trump.

USA Today