Michael Scherer
@michaelscherer.bsky.social
Staff Writer at The Atlantic. Previously at the Washington Post, TIME, Salon, others. Signal: michaelscherer.11 https://www.theatlantic.com/author/michael-scherer/
John Fetterman has been working with GOP fundraising consultants—and paying a hefty commission, @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @mviser.bsky.social report.
John Fetterman’s Right-Wing Fundraising Deals
After losing his Democratic fundraisers, the Pennsylvania senator found a new firm with MAGA-world ties.
bit.ly
I'm not sure who saw this coming, but so far nearly all the jobs created during the second Trump administration have gone to women.
NEW: NEW: John Fetterman's fundraising firm, MissionWired, quit working for him in June. So he started offering right-wing groups like RedMajorities and TrumpTruth a hefty commission to raise him money. Even Sen. Mike Lee has joined the rush for cash. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Right-Wing Groups Are Making Money Off John Fetterman
After losing his Democratic fundraisers, the Pennsylvania senator found a new firm with MAGA-world ties.
theatlantic.com
Omigod, this is the most heartwarming story possible! Backpack (bear 89) is the son of the 2019 winner of Fat Bear Week, Holly (bear 435). In 2007, he injured his foot & a practice of riding on momma's Holly's back had a new meaning: he was mobility-restricted while it healed. So Holly moved him.
Alaska Public Media@alaskapublic.org · 2w agoMeet Backpack, your 2026 Fat Bear Week champion. Backpack is 20 years old, weighs about 1,000 pounds and got his nickname because, as a cub, he loved riding on his mom's back across the Brooks River.
NEW: NEW: John Fetterman's fundraising firm, MissionWired, quit working for him in June. So he started offering right-wing groups like RedMajorities and TrumpTruth a hefty commission to raise him money. Even Sen. Mike Lee has joined the rush for cash. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Right-Wing Groups Are Making Money Off John Fetterman
After losing his Democratic fundraisers, the Pennsylvania senator found a new firm with MAGA-world ties.
theatlantic.com
NEW: A republican fundraising consultant alerted her colleagues this month in a private message about a hot new business opportunity from an unlikely source: Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat. Gift Link: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Right-Wing Groups Are Making Money Off John Fetterman
After losing his Democratic fundraisers, the Pennsylvania senator found a new firm with MAGA-world ties.
theatlantic.com
Exclusive: John Fetterman has been working with GOP fundraising consultants—and paying a hefty commission, @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @mviser.bsky.social report. 📸: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Dammit. I am so mad I posted that. The Post pushed that, but doesn't say until the sixth paragraph that The Atlantic actually broke the news (and they don't link to the story when they finally acknowledged it). Here's a gift link to Nick Miroff's report: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The ICE Officer in Austin Wasn’t Wearing a Body Cam
The officer who shot a Venezuelan man was hired last year from another federal law-enforcement agency.
theatlantic.com
Reported here first. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The ICE Officer in Austin Wasn’t Wearing a Body Cam
The officer who shot a Venezuelan man was hired last year from another federal law-enforcement agency.
theatlantic.com
Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 3w agoThis is like eight stories in one breaking news alert. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Using AI in many cases means sending your most sensitive and intimate thoughts to a server where they can be exploited as training data, sold to ad brokers, or even handed to law enforcement. So I assembled this guide to using AI with your privacy intact. www.wired.com/story/how-to...
How to Use AI With Your Privacy Intact
Your conversations with AI chatbots are both highly personal and deeply vulnerable to surveillance. Here’s how you can protect yourself.
wired.com
This is a bad tweet. Poll did not ask approve or disapprove of $5000 check. Asked whether the quid pro quo of the proposal was appropriate. Totally separate issue. Like asking if Barry Bonds should have cheated vs was a great player.
Polling USA@usapolling.bsky.social · 4w agoSupport For Trump's Proposed $5000 Check: Oppose: 63% Support: 17% Ipsos / Sept 14, 2026
The Trump administration staged an unofficial Cabinet-travel competition in which secretaries competed to see who could visit the most swing states and districts, @ashleyrparker.bsky.social and @michaelscherer.bsky.social report. See who logged the most trips: theatln.tc/dqg5nYPm
Cabinet members competed to visit the most swing areas—a dinner with President Trump was rumored as a prize, and at least one secretary feared being docked points for going to a blue state, @ashleyrparker.bsky.social and @michaelscherer.bsky.social report. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump’s Secret Points System for Cabinet Members
The White House held a summer contest to see who could appear in the most congressional districts and states with competitive midterm elections.
theatlantic.com
President Trump is facing his last great electoral test with the midterms—and he is trying to defy the odds again, @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @ashleyrparker.bsky.social write.
Trump’s Dream World in Dallas
At a midterm convention, Trump tries to defy the odds one last time.
bit.ly
Trump is facing his last great electoral test with the midterms—and at his midterm convention in Dallas this week, he’s trying to defy the odds yet again, @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @ashleyrparker.bsky.social write. theatln.tc/6GiOIf8L 📸: Joseph Rushmore
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. Just one more time.” An illuminating dispatch from Dallas, by @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @ashleyrparker.bsky.social: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump’s Dream World in Dallas
At a midterm convention, Trump tries to defy the odds one last time.
theatlantic.com
NEW: President Trump began his midterm-convention address last night by casting his spell on the crowd in Dallas. “This place is packed,” he announced, pointing to the back where everyone could see empty seats. w/ @ashleyrparker.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump’s Dream World in Dallas
At a midterm convention, Trump tries to defy the odds one last time.
theatlantic.com
NEW: Hours after Iran issued a $10 million bounty on Donald Trump’s son, the State Department reissued a $10 million bounty on “information” about four Iranian officials. One of them had already been killed. How the Iran War is a war of assassination: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
A War of Assassinations
The U.S. and Iran are engaged in a conflict that is massive in scale but personal in nature.
theatlantic.com
NEW: Hours after Iran issued a $10 million bounty on Donald Trump’s son, the State Department reissued a $10 million bounty on “information” about four Iranian officials. One of them had already been killed. How the Iran War is a war of assassination: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
A War of Assassinations
The U.S. and Iran are engaged in a conflict that is massive in scale but personal in nature.
theatlantic.com
Trump team releases first Trump-focused TV ad, which we described last week, paid for by the c4 arm of MAGA Inc. Backstory below. host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/...
Toughest Guy
Securing American Greatness started airing this Positive ad about Trump for President on 09/02/26 in the Trump Issue 2026 election.
host2.adimpact.com
@ashleyrparker.bsky.social and @michaelscherer.bsky.social discuss their reporting that Trump is pushing for Republicans to run on his record. Watch the full episode of Radio Atlantic:
Trump’s Economy Goes to the Polls
Trump wants Republicans to run on his record in the midterms. Democrats do as well.
bit.ly
The only story you will read today about taking federal frog scientists hostage and Zephyr’s papaya on Gumboot Lake. www.theatlantic.com/science/2026...
The Growing Lawlessness in California’s Forests
Two frog biologists were kidnapped in the woods. More bizarre situations may come.
theatlantic.com
I embedded at an adult summer camp of women in their 20s through their 80s hoping to make new friends. The 60-something women of Cabin 3 and I danced, swam, went down the water slide, discussed mortality, then raged to Smash Mouth. www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...
The Golden Girls, but in a Camp Cabin
My weekend at adult summer camp
theatlantic.com
In addition to the lifetime ban, "Kalshi said its compliance department had imposed a penalty of $71,356." www.wsj.com/politics/ex-...
Ex-Congressman George Santos Receives Kalshi’s First-Ever Lifetime Ban
The decision comes after a federal regulator alleged he made more than $17,000 by placing bets on his attendance at the State of the Union address.
wsj.com
Donald Trump has ordered an ad blitz ahead of the midterms that could backfire for Republicans, @yvonnewingett.bsky.social, @michaelscherer.bsky.social, and @ashleyrparker.bsky.social report:
Trump Plans to Buy Midterm Ads About His Own Record
Some Republicans welcome his involvement, but whether voters will is another question.
bit.ly
Exclusive: Donald Trump has ordered an ad blitz ahead of the midterms that could backfire for Republicans, @yvonnewingett.bsky.social, @michaelscherer.bsky.social, and @ashleyrparker.bsky.social report:
Trump Plans to Buy Midterm Ads About His Own Record
Some Republicans welcome his involvement, but whether voters will is another question.
bit.ly
NEW: Trump told MAGA Inc in Oval Office meeting to make ads about his own record for midterms. Spots will run alongside campaign-specific ads. “We are going to unload the guns on both chambers real soon." www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump Plans to Buy Midterm Ads About His Own Record
Some Republicans welcome his involvement but whether voters will is another question.
theatlantic.com
