This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.
What the right is doodling.
Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate
What the left is doodling.
Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate
Suspension of the Rules.
In this week’s episode, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead dropped into Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s chair while he enjoys paternity leave. Audrey, Isaac, and Kmele discussed the Graham Platner scandal, whether the Maine Senate candidate would actually drop out (we got our answer on Wednesday night), and why they think the allegations are credible. Then, they talked about Mitch McConnell’s mysterious health issues.
Monday, July 6.
America’s 250th anniversary. On Saturday, July 4, the United States marked 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, establishing the original 13 American colonies as a new, independent nation. In addition to the traditional fireworks and parades, cities and states held special celebrations reflecting on the country’s history for its semiquincentennial. In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered to celebrate across the capital. While some of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” event was canceled or delayed due to extreme weather — including a temporary evacuation of the National Mall — the president delivered an address on the Mall, followed by a massive fireworks display.
Our take: “America remains a unique and exciting country, and taking in this year’s World Cup reminds me of that. The weekend also offered speeches that I appreciated from political leaders on both sides. We can hold both pride and cynicism at once while honoring our founding story.”
Reader Survey:
Tuesday, July 7.
National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission. Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court held that a federal law limiting the amount of money political parties could spend in coordination with campaigns violated the First Amendment. The Court’s vote was 6–3 along ideological lines.
Our take: “On the merits, the dissenters make a stronger case that limits on coordinated spending are necessary to head off potential corruption. Practically, this decision will likely empower parties and reduce the influence of super PACs. Still, I don’t think that outcome will change the kinds of candidates that are winning.”
Reader Survey:
Wednesday, July 8.
New misconduct allegations against Graham Platner. On Monday, July 6, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), accused him of raping her in 2021. Politico, which first published the report, corroborated aspects of Racicot’s account after speaking with a man whom Racicot dated after Platner, as well as reviewing messages between her and her therapist and an acquaintance. Platner denied the accusation but said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” A significant number of Congressional Democrats, including many lawmakers who previously endorsed Platner, have called on him to drop out of the race. Platner formally withdrew from the race on Friday, July 10.
Our take: “I’m heartened by Fifield’s and Racicot’s bravery in coming forward to share their stories. I can understand why Platner’s supporters stuck it out until now, but it still makes me feel deeply cynical about our politics. Platner may not even drop out, and I’m unsure where Maine Democrats go from here.”
Reader Survey:
Thursday, July 9.
Mitch McConnell’s health. Over the past week, lawmakers have expressed increasing concern about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, roughly three weeks after the senator was hospitalized for still-unknown reasons. The hospitalization is the latest in a string of health-related incidents for McConnell, which have raised questions about his fitness for office. On Wednesday, July 8, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) asked McConnell’s office to provide a “[full] update” on the senator’s status, citing increasing concern “about the current state of your health and wellbeing.”
Our take: “I hope McConnell is okay, but he should resign. Congress’s age-related issues are only getting worse. I don’t see a clear resolution to this problem unless lawmakers like McConnell lead by example and step down when they can no longer do the job.”
Reader Survey:
Friday, July 10.
Every few months, the Tangle team likes to dedicate a Friday edition to opening our vault of reader questions. This week, we tackle your questions about Rep. Tom Kean’s (R-NJ) absence, the cost of the war in Iran, Texas putting the Bible in public schools, and more. Read our answers here.
What just happened.
Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday.
On Thursday, The New York Times, New York Daily News and other media outlets asked a judge to sanction OpenAI, alleging that the artificial intelligence developer is withholding evidence relevant to a legal fight over its use of news articles to train AI chatbots. (The request) Separately, on Friday, Apple sued OpenAI, alleging that OpenAI compelled prospective employees who previously worked at Apple to disclose trade secrets. (The suit)
On Thursday, President Trump fired two of the last three members of the Election Assistance Commission, which assists election administration officials nationwide. The final member, a Republican, resigned. The White House said the president “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.” (The terminations)
On Friday, the Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times journalists, reportedly in relation to a story they published about the new Air Force One aircraft lacking the same security measures as the previous model. (The subpoenas)
On Friday, President Trump said he will not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — a housing affordability bill passed last month — in protest of Congress’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, an election security bill. The housing bill automatically became law on Saturday, as the president did not veto it. (The latest)
On Friday, Graham Platner (D) formally withdrew from the Maine Senate race. (The withdrawal)
On Friday, President Trump said he has left instructions to bomb Iran “at levels that they’ve never seen before” if he is assassinated. The comments come amid reports of new Iranian plots against the president’s life as hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resume. (The comments)
On Saturday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died “from a brief and sudden illness,” his office announced. Graham was first elected to the senate in 2002. (The passing)
On Saturday and Sunday, the U.S. and Iran exchanged heavy fire. The flare-up comes as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) said it struck a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and announced that it was closing the strait “until further notice.” (The developments)
Mathematics professor Dr. Courtney Smith-Nelson is well aware that the general American public is not very interested in math. Not only that, but Americans aren’t good at math, which has massive impacts on the country’s civic health. Inspired by Tangle’s recent coverage of rising illiteracy, she makes the case that public innumeracy is a major problem — and offers some thoughts on how we can fix it.
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