Tell Joe Manchin: Don’t run third party against Biden!

Daily Dose of Democracy:

"You're down 41 points" in Florida: Gavin Newsom tells Ron DeSantis he'll never beat Trump
For some reason, part-time Florida Gov. — and man who totally can smile naturally when he wants to, honest — Ron DeSantis thought it would be worthwhile to take a break from getting whipped on the Republican presidential primary campaign trail to suffer a whole new thumping in a meaningless "debate" with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, hosted by Fox News blowhard Sean Hannity. "You’re trolling folks and trying to find migrants to play political games, to try to get some news and attention, so you can out-Trump Trump. And, by the way, how’s that going for you, Ron? You’re down 41 points in your own home state," Newsom said during a punishing segment on immigration and the border. The beatdown continued. "One thing in closing that we have in common is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024," Newsom told DeSantis, touching on a conspiracy theory that Newsom will somehow be anointed the Democratic nominee over President Joe Biden despite not actually running in the presidential primary. No word yet on aloe shortages in the immediate vicinity in the wake of all that burning. [RETWEET THAT!]

Take Action: Stop Trump Republicans' scheme to rig the census!

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Republican senator suffers embarrassing takedown at hearing
It's always refreshing to watch Republicans' Fox News auditions backfire on camera in real time. Case in point, Louisiana's John Kennedy pivoted to the usual punching bag of Chicago to claim some sort of moral high ground on gun violence during a Senate hearing, despite the fact that he represents the state with the second-highest firearm mortality rate in the country. The testifying witness was having none of it. Roll the tape.

Take Action: Pass automatic voter registration!

Bigots launch new attack on LGBTQ+ rights across the country
100K Acts of Solidarity: As legislatures across the country work around the clock to institutionalize homophobia and transphobia — over 491 bills introduced this year ALONE! — it's more important than ever that we show the LBGTQ+ community that we'll never give up in the fight for equality. Will you add your name to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights?

Israel resumes strikes in Gaza after ceasefire ends
Fighting has resumed in Gaza after the seven-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired, with both sides predictably blaming the other for the violence restarting after a week in which more than 100 hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The Israeli military also began dropping leaflets with a QR code-linked map designed "to enable the residents of Gaza to orient themselves and understand the instructions, and to evacuate from specific places for their safety if required." The instructions ominously closed with a stark message: "You have been warned." Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says dozens of people have been killed by airstrikes in the hours since fighting resumed.

Senate Judiciary Committee authorizes subpoenas of Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo in Supreme Court ethics probe
Despite objections from tantruming Republicans who walked out of the hearing and refused to vote, Senate Democrats authorized subpoenas compelling SCOTUS sugar daddies Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo to testify about the lavish gifts they've showered conservative justices with for years on end, with zero accountability. But don't get too excited. The subpoenas may not ultimately help Democrats obtain the information they're seeking on behalf of the American people, because they're unenforceable without 60 votes on the Senate floor — a threshold they're unlikely to reach given the 49 seats held by Republicans who have no interest in judicial ethical reform.

Take Action: Tell corporations to stop funding lobbyists pushing harmful laws!

Trump's dystopian, downright Orwellian government employment pre-screening questionnaire revealed
Axios gained access to copies of the exact questionnaires Trump allies are using — and that the disgraced ex-president used himself during his final days in office — to pre-screen the ideologies and allegiances of thousands of potential appointees and employees in case the treasonous grifter takes back the White House in 2024. The serially indicted con man is planning a far more targeted and sophisticated sequel to his haphazard first term, when internal feuding deterred policy wins or permanent changes to government, and he's dead set on enlisting an army of disgruntled, ideologically extreme cronies to do his autocratic bidding. Buckle up, folks. Things are getting bumpy out there. [RETWEET THAT!]

Take Action: Tell Congress to make sure EVERY worker has paid sick leave!

Federal judge blocks Montana from banning TikTok use in state
US District Judge Donald Molloy blocked Montana's first-of-its kind state ban on the use of short-video sharing app TikTok from taking effect on Jan. 1, saying it violated the free speech rights of users. TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, sued Montana in May, seeking to block the US state ban on several grounds, arguing that it violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the company and users. A Chinese corporate juggernaut going to bat in United States court on behalf of Americans' constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech... What a world.

Democrats suddenly STRIKE GOLD for 2024
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Brilliant.

Legal sports betting explodes in the US, prompting calls for a crackdown as addiction among younger people spikes
Placing a bet in the US has never been easier. Access to legal gambling, once confined to casinos and racetracks, now sits in millions of pockets across the country. The United States is heading into a quagmire of gambling addiction among young people, according to counselors and clinicians, prompting widespread calls for a regulatory crackdown. Any meaningful intervention will be tough to come by, though, as Americans wagered a record $93.2 billion on legal sportsbooks last year, providing cash-strapped states with some $13.5 billion in taxes from the wider sector. Hard to such spigots off once the water is flowing.

Voting rights defenders applaud Michigan Democrats for key reforms
On the heels of approving a clean energy package to combat the climate emergency, Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed a series of bills to tackle another urgent issue: voting rights. The package includes legislation to create criminal penalties for intimidating an election official or preventing them from performing their duties, allow 16-year-olds to preregister to vote when they turn 18, and expand Michigan's automatic voter registration (AVR) process. Hey, Democrats: more Michigan, please!