Pennsylvania Democrat Brandon Dukes is campaigning to flip a GOP-held state House seat Trump carried 59-40 in the final legislative special election before November. Two years of big Democratic overperformances give him reason to think an upset is possible.

Morning Digest, sponsored by the Michigan Creator Collaborative: Democrats have one more chance for a special election flip

Tuesday's contest in Pennsylvania comes ahead of a major battle for control of legislature

the-downballot.com

Barcelona legend Xavi appointed Netherlands head coach www.dutchnews.nl?p=271343

Barcelona legend Xavi appointed Netherlands head coach

dutchnews.nl

Amsterdam researchers find remedy for fatal child brain disease www.dutchnews.nl?p=271367

Amsterdam researchers find remedy for fatal child brain disease

dutchnews.nl

THE KIDS CAN PLAY ‼️ Gallatin Sandnes bags his first Senior Team goal in his first-ever start!

#WAFCON2026 Malawi 🇲🇼 and Cameroun 🇨🇲 to contest the final Reports, Match Highlights, Pk Shoot out wosoworld.news.blog/2026/08/13/w...

#WAFCON2026 Chawinga’s fire Malawi to final, Michaely pk heroics break Morocco heart, Reports, Highlights, Goals, pk shoot out

Malawi surged to the final in their maiden appearance in the WAFCON defeating Algeria 3-1. Malawi started bright with early opportunities falling to Tabitha as the Scorchers looked to use their sup…

wosoworld.news.blog

Karoline Leavitt to Step Down https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/12/karoline-leavitt-will-leave-white-house/

Only Alexander Bublik would skip a Masters 1000 to attend the Cucumber Festival.

A gorgeous photo of AUDREY HEPBURN and GRACE KELLY at rehearsals for the 1956 Academy Awards.

Tim Wakefield displays his Knuckleball grip with the Pawtucket Red Sox, circa 1995.

Brandon Nakashima is a Masters 1000 Finalist for the very first time and with how well he played it is very well deserved, was the better player today despite getting very nervy at the finish Defeats Rafael Jodar 7⁷-6³, 6-4 and ensures there will be an American champion in Canada again

Brandon Nakashima gets over the line in a bumpy, dramatic final game, beating Jodar in the semifinals of ATP 1000 Montreal. As Nakashima awaits Shelton or Tien, we are now guaranteed the first all-American final at an ATP 1000 event since Roddick d. Fish at Cincinnati 2003.

The Lehigh Valley is not for-sale! #OpposeDataCenters #CommunityAction #Environmentalism #LehighValleyPA #UpperMacungie #PinsleyForTheWinsley

“I’m a prosecutor because I think all prosecutors should be trying to put themselves out of work" boltsmag.org/with-latest-...

With Latest Win, Progressive Vermont Prosecutor Looks to Double Down on Reforms - Bolts

Over nearly a decade in office, Burlington’s chief prosecutor Sarah George has pursued a platform of restorative justice and dialing back low-level prosecutions.

boltsmag.org

what a line from a reform prosecutor who won yesterday:

Michael Barajas@michaelbarajas.bsky.social · 17h ago

“I’m a prosecutor because I think all prosecutors should be trying to put themselves out of work" boltsmag.org/with-latest-...

5th Cir., by Judge Oldham, just straight-up lying about mail ballots. Held: plaintiff-organizations (mostly) lack standing to challenge Texas' S.B. 1 (2021), which imposed new limits on mail ballots and ballot harvesting. www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...

The Gentlemen of The North came ready. Great ep.

The Body Serve@thebodyserve.bsky.social · 4d ago

NEW EPISODE: "Pick a Struggle" The Vondrousova decision - some **** from the doping, an Italian greyhound, and no compelling justification Plus, Eala-mania, corn rows, and more fallout from the WTA sex testing policy thebodyserve.podbean.com/e/pick-a-str...

JUST IN: Superseding indictment released in criminal fraud case against Southern Poverty Law Center, adding a human defendant: former CFO Heidi Beirich. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/28... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

SPLCSupIndictment081226.PDF

documentcloud.org

👇🎯 I don't think folks outside of Wisconsin fully grasp how monumental this would be as the culmination of 16 years of slow, hard work to reverse the Fidesz-on-Mendota Party's total control of the state government & the massive damage of the Scott Walker years.

Greg Sargent@gregsargent.bsky.social · 20h ago

Big silver lining for Dems in Francesca Hong's loss: Wisconsin Dems tell me David Crowley at top of ticket will make state legislative wins more likely, potentially enabling flipping of both chambers to Dems. That would allow Dems to redistrict long-term. New piece: newrepublic.com/article/2142...

The Montco Intermediate Unit’s board of directors plans to tighten its professional development and travel policies after learning in March that its leaders had used their agency credit cards to purchase overseas trips without the board’s knowledge. (1/2)

Montco Intermediate Unit to tighten travel policy after probe into leaders’ trips to Africa and Asia

The outside investigation was prompted by an Inquirer story about $40,000 worth of international travel that Montco IU leaders purchased on agency credit cards.

inquirer.com

We have 539 subscribers on Cider Review right now. I’d love to get that to 600 by the end of the year. If you like cider and perry, or are interested in the cultures that support these amazing drinks, why not sign up for notifications on our weekly articles. Go tell your drinks-interested friends! ☺️

Subscribe

Don’t want to miss a single cider or perry post? Join our list of subscribers to receive a notification as soon as an article is published, right to the comfort of your inbox.

cider-review.com

Mazel tov to @peggyflanagan.bsky.social on her victory in the Minnesota Senate primary! Peggy is a bold progressive leader who is beloved by activists for her work pursuing justice and fighting bigotry. Bend the Arc is so proud to have endorsed her. ✏️ Sign our Mazel Tov card for Peggy below!

Add Your Name: Mazel Tov, Peggy Flanagan!

When she wins in November, Peggy will be the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate

bendthearc.us

Yes. These are high-info voters who've been coming out for off-year races to unwind the Walker takeover since 2018. Evers had to convince them that Crowley, who dropped out bc his first campaign sucked, had the better chance of winning them a trifecta and making all the work worth it.

Subscribe to Radio Free America (link in bio)@kleinman.bsky.social · yesterday

After everything Wisconsin Dems have been through over the last 15 years....a lot of risk aversion there.

MILWAUKEE! Thank you for rallying with us tonight. I'm running to deliver for working families -- that means winning tomorrow, then defeating Tom Tiffany in November. Make sure you cast your vote: myvote.wi.gov/

I am truly honored and humbled to be Minnesota’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. Thank you, Minnesota – for everything.

Mark Bellhorn rounding the bases after hitting a 2 run HR in the 8th inning of Game 1 of the 2004 World Series to give the Red Sox an 11-9 lead, which ended up being the final score.

“It’s as red as the Daily Worker and just as sore!” —Sugarpuss O’Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) in Ball of Fire (1941) describing her supposedly achy throat. Forgot how much I love this movie. #TCM

Heh. The Kennedy Center sued jazz musician Chuck Redd for cancelling a scheduled (free!) Christmas Eve concert in protest of the center's attempted renaming. Not only did Redd win the lawsuit, but now the Kennedy Center owes him $252,000 in legal fees and costs.

Judge Awards $250,000 to Musician Who Fled Trump-Led Kennedy Center Gig

The center had sued Chuck Redd when he canceled a free concert last year, citing the addition of the Trump name to the venue. But a judge dismissed the case.

nytimes.com

Anecdote: I stopped by a polling place on the UW-Madison campus today and literally saw zero voters there. Harder for Hong to organize the student vote in the summer.

If #WIgov goes down to the wire, remember: one of the last batches to report will be Milwaukee absentees—many of which were probably cast weeks ago (perhaps even when Crowley was not an active candidate).