BREAKING: Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary — defeating the candidate backed by Chuck Schumer, the party establishment and more than $50 million in outside spending. AIPAC tried to buy this election. Michigan voters refused to sell it.

RIGHT NOW: Michigan voters aren’t just deciding a Senate primary, says David Sirota. They’re deciding whether tens of millions in super PAC cash is “campaign finance zoomies”—or whether the corruption auctioning off our democracy is why nobody can afford to live.

NEW: FIFA killed a plan to sell a $20B commercial spinoff to Josh Kushner’s firm after soccer federations revolted. Josh’s brother Jared is Trump’s son-in-law. FIFA created a new “peace prize” for Trump and rents space in Trump Tower.

🚨 Six Savannah police employees were referred for prosecution for allegedly abusing an AI surveillance network. Cops have allegedly used Flock’s cameras to stalk partners, relatives and acquaintances. ICE is tapping the same network for Trump’s immigration raids.

Outside groups backing Haley Stevens have outspent groups supporting Abdul El-Sayed by roughly 13 to 1 in the Democratic Senate primary. The biggest spender? AIPAC’s super PAC.

MICHIGAN VOTES TODAY. The primary began with three lanes. The compromise candidate dropped out. What remains is a direct choice between Abdul El-Sayed’s populism and Haley Stevens’s corporate-backed incrementalism. Today, we find out whether Democrats still have a middle lane.

Tomorrow, Michigan Democrats decide whether to elect Medicare for All champion Abdul El-Sayed. Gretchen Whitmer is backing his opponent after Blue Cross donors poured record sums into her campaigns. Her father was the company’s longtime CEO.

NEW: Walmart’s own AI chatbot just ratted out its bosses, telling researchers that retailers face little pressure to police fraudulent “Made in USA” labels because the FTC pursues so few cases.

🚨 NEW: An AIPAC-linked super PAC has now spent more than $3 million to stop Cori Bush from taking back her seat — up from more than $1 million just five days ago. The Democratic primary is tomorrow.

🚨With just days left before the Dem primary election in the closely watched Michigan Senate race, Rep. Stevens released an eleventh-hour campaign advertisement featuring a pastor with a history of delivering anti-LGBTQ sermons and sharing Islamophobic posts. More: www.levernews.com/haley-steven...

We sat down with @abdulelsayed.bsky.social in June — weeks before John Fetterman started publicly floating an exit from the Democratic Party. When asked to name the party’s single biggest problem, El-Sayed didn’t hesitate. Full episode at youtu.be/svN6vgmbyo0

As Homeland Security tears apart immigrant families, expands detention, and funnels billions to private contractors, Secretary Markwayne Mullin received a potentially indefinite tax break after cashing out millions in stock he purchased while in Congress — including companies tied to his own agency.

ICE contracts are proving lucrative for those hired to carry out the Trump administration’s deportation and detainment efforts — and for President Trump himself. The details: www.levernews.com/a-detention-...

AIPAC is once again going big to shut down former Rep. Cori Bush in Missouri’s Democratic primary next week, as the progressive Squad member seeks a comeback. More at www.levernews.com/midterm-madn...

💵 Today, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston will hear oral arguments in a clever case that could break the stranglehold of Citizens United. www.youtube.com/watch?v=phxq...

You Can't Overturn Citizens United — But You Can Hack It

YouTube video by The Lever

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The Director of National Intelligence, who the Senate just confirmed, has investments in companies linked to Jeffrey Epstein and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

For decades, ideologues worked to expand the powers of the American president. From Cheney's power grab after 9/11, to Obama's drone war, to Russell Vought's plan to reshape the federal government, The Kingmakers reveals the plot to build an all-powerful presidency. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZtt...

The Kingmakers Returns: Official Trailer | Master Plan Season 2

YouTube video by The Lever

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🚨 Three U.S. airports signed onto a new TSA initiative putting private contractors in charge of security screenings, as the Trump administration seeks to outsource federal functions and throttle government worker unions. Find out which airports are involved: www.levernews.com/these-major-...

The House just approved $1.15 trillion in military funding for fiscal year 2027 — a nearly 30% budget hike. The bill passed 216 to 212, with six Democratic defectors joining the GOP. Guess who they were? www.levernews.com/these-democr...

"We straight up just don't want these here ever." francescahongwi.bsky.social is the only candidate for Wisconsin governor calling for a moratorium on new AI data centers. Wisconsin's been here before, she says — they already got Foxconned once. www.youtube.com/watch?v=slyB...

The Socialist Who Wants to Stop AI Data Centers

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As Gov. Whitmer tries to stop Abdul El-Sayed, remember: Whitmer’s dad was Blue Cross’s CEO, she appointed a Blue Cross CEO co-chair of her transition & got more Blue Cross cash than any MI candidate — as Blue Cross denies 1 in 6 claims Story at LeverNews [dot] com

Who’s poisoning your produce? How will Maine Democrats replace their Senate candidate? And why are oil companies making so much money? www.levernews.com/whats-in-you...

LeverMind Quiz: What’s In Your Lettuce?

Test your knowledge of the midterms, the Winklevoss twins, and other issues that really matter.

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Missouri’s Amendment 5 is being sold as a tax cut. But it could let lawmakers impose new sales taxes on medical treatments, insurance, home repairs, and other currently untaxed services — shifting more of the cost of government onto working families and seniors.

Trump’s SNAP cuts have pushed 4 million people off food aid, including 1.5 million children. Meanwhile, 17 of the 50 largest Fortune 500 firms rank among the top employers of SNAP recipients in multiple states.

The 2026 midterms are Democrats’ to lose. They now lead Republicans by five points among registered voters — 46% to 41% — according to YouGov.

🚨 HAPPENING NOW: Trump’s pick to lead the CFPB faces a Senate confirmation hearing. We found Brian Johnson worked for payday lenders charging up to 360% interest and companies accused of consumer abuses. If confirmed, he hasn’t pledged to recuse himself from matters involving former clients.

The DCCC poured money into defeating progressive Matt Dunlap in Maine’s primary. He won anyway — and now leads Republican Paul LePage. But the DCCC is still refusing to put his race on its “Red to Blue” priority list...

Missouri voters are being asked to eliminate a tax that supplies nearly two-thirds of the state’s general fund — with no clear replacement beyond sweeping new sales-tax powers. Analysts warn the result could be billions in cuts to vital public services ⬇️ www.levernews.com/defeat-in-th...

Midterm Madness: Defeat in the Desert

Yet another Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee-endorsed candidate is set to lose their primary to a progressive.

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Elon Musk said he was pulling back from politics. Instead, he’s already poured at least $90 million into the 2026 midterms — while political allies move to protect Tesla from a $243 million court judgment. 🧵 1/4

🚨 SCOOP: Trump’s pick to run the CFPB advised payday lenders charging up to 360% interest and companies sued by the agency for allegedly ripping off consumers.