2020 tunnel vision

Need some good news today? Let's look to Utah, where our good friend Evan McMullin’s historic U.S. Senate candidacy continues to gain momentum. In a race that could have huge ramifications for control of the Senate, a victory for Evan would mean he could become a linchpin vote in the divided chamber. A true independent, earning the endorsement of both conservatives and liberals in the state, Evan has pledged not to caucus with either party if elected. Utah is a dependably red state that hasn't had a Democratic senator since 1977 and has never had an independent at that level. But polls show Evan gaining ground on incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Lee—so much so that Lee has committed to debating him before the general election in November. Utah’s political environment is admittedly unique, but the state is proving that a unifying leader with a commitment to democratic ideals and nonpartisan governance can compete. Keep an eye on Evan. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor

• Secret Service official at center of Jan. 6 committee probe retires —Politico

• Top-level FBI agent under fire for role in Hunter Biden investigation resigns —CBS News

• President Joe Biden to deliver prime-time speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on 'battle' for democracy —ABC News

• Ukraine has ‘good chance’ to retake territory, U.S. assesses —Politico

• Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader who helped end the Cold War, has died —NBC News

Donald is getting upset

The ex-president is displeased again. Some might even say unhinged. Donald Trump has spent much of the past 24 hours reposting dozens of QAnon conspiracies on his Truth Social platform, just a day after calling for a new election to reinstate him as president. It’s gotten so bad on the platform that Google Play has barred it over content moderation concerns. Trump has also hired a former Florida solicitor general to represent him in the investigation of those secret documents he stole from the White House. So Trump’s off his rocker with midterm elections a little more than two months away. The big question for nervous Republicans is, will Trump’s obsession with the last election damage that big red wave they’re anticipating in the next? —CBS News

• First election officials, then FBI agents, now librarians. In the three weeks since the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago to recover the classified documents, the National Archives and Records Administration has become the target of a rash of threats and vitriol. The civil servants tasked by law with preserving and securing the U.S. government’s records have been rattled by accusations of corruption and of being part of a conspiracy against Trump. —The Washington Post

• About that special master… The Justice Department is expected to imminently file its response to Trump's bid for a “special master” to oversee the FBI's review of the materials seized. The agency was granted permission by Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida to file up to 40 pages after it said the 20-page limit set by local rules wasn't sufficient to "adequately address the legal and factual issues raised by" Trump's filings. Team Trump must respond by Wednesday night, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday. —CNN

• But it might be too late. FBI agents have already finished their examination of the documents, according to a DOJ court filing. A “filter team” used by the Justice Department to sort through documents and weed out any material that should not be reviewed by criminal investigators has completed its review, casting doubt as to whether a special master is even needed. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also will review the documents for potential national security risks. Stay tuned. —The Washington Post

MORE: Assessing Trump’s claim of ‘executive privilege’ on FBI access to MAL docs —Just Security

Griffie: A simple solution to our voting problem 

“Maine and Alaska have recently adopted ranked-choice voting, with much success. There, candidates must appeal to a broader electorate because many more voters’ voices will be heard. Perhaps when voters are given a larger voice, higher voter participation will also ensue. Ranked-choice voting provides a real solution for more representative government.” —Michael Griffie in Detroit Free Press

Michael Griffie is an attorney, educator, and candidate for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.

MORE: Ranked-choice voting: The future of electoral reform —Georgetown Public Policy Review

Bye Felicia 

Meta, the parent company of the Facebook and Instagram platforms, has announced that it recently removed 480 social media accounts, pages, groups, and events associated with the far-right extremist organization the Proud Boys. Many of the pages Meta removed represented so-called "front groups" that hid their affiliation with the Proud Boys to "appear benign," according to a Meta spokesperson. However, they were in fact "attempting to direct people off platform to facilitate discussion, recruitment, and organizing" for the extremist group. The Proud Boys were banned by Facebook and Instagram in 2018, and the newest assets were in violation of that ban. Buh-bye. 👋 —ABC News

MORE: Proud Boy accused of menacing Chuck Schumer on Jan. 6 sentenced to 55 months —The Washington Post

North Carolina fights back

Finally some political ramifications for racial gerrymandering: the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled to limit a racially gerrymandered state legislature's authority to propose constitutional amendments. The case involves two amendments, a voter ID mandate and a reduction in the state's income tax cap, that were placed on the ballot by a Republican-led legislature elected in districts that courts found discriminated against Black voters. It's the first appellate court ruling in the U.S. that imposes real governing consequences for gerrymandering, by limiting lawmakers' authority to "alter or abolish" the state constitution. —Facing South

MORE: Voting in 2022: The legacy of lawsuits and legislation —The Fulcrum

WaPo Ed Board: Voting…it’s not just for Boomers

“Both parties should seek to win by running candidates and proposing policies that appeal to more people, including those whom their decisions will affect for a very long time. Meanwhile, getting young people to the polls not only permits them to have their say in how the nation is governed, it also might get them more engaged in the nation’s democracy and civil society over the long haul, enhancing the system’s legitimacy and popular buy-in. Both parties should make this long-term investment in democracy.” —The Washington Post

MORE: Millennials, Gen X clinging to independent party ID —Gallup

McCain: Democracy is our common ground

“The fight to protect democracy is never-ending. Dad dedicated his entire life to it. He has been gone four years now, but his legacy lives on and is more important than ever. Let’s set aside our differences and unite behind the defense of democracy, a cause greater than ourselves.” —Jack McCain in USA Today

Jack McCain, son of the late Sen. John McCain, is a member of Arizona State University's McCain Institute Board of Trustees.

MORE: Lynn Schmidt: Democrats should consider Liz Cheney for speaker —The Fulcrum

Liz Cheney, Jeff Flake, Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, et. al. need to join to jump start the Forward Party. She can't do it alone; none of them can do it alone. There are enough of them that they could form a critical mass of candidates and run legitimate third-party Senate, House, and gubernatorial candidates across the country. We need more viable options with a unified message that could lift them all. Evan McMullin is breaking the ice in Utah. —Lee B., Utah

We need to get over the Republican Party. It no longer exists any more than AT&T from 1970 exists. If we want Liz Cheney to be president, she will have to follow Evan's example, and we will have to propel her there. She certainly has the integrity and the smarts for the job. —David M., Colorado

On Liz Cheney's political future: I think she should use her incredible talent, honesty, and courage elsewhere. The Republican Party of today is irretrievably broken. No amount of repair is possible. I was a 50+-year registered Republican, now registered Unaffiliated. —Doug L., North Carolina

The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Renew America Foundation.