GOOD NEWS UP TO JULY 13, 2024

Don’t worry. It’s only the Dog Days of summer. In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were thought to be a time of bad luck and unrest, when dogs and men alike were driven mad by the heat. They coincide with the annual sunrise appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star. The exact dates can vary from source to source, but most agree that the Dog Days occur in the beginning of July… and the good news is they should be over by The Democratic Convention.

The Editorial Board of the New York Times: Donald Trump is dangerous in word, deed and action, and unfit to lead in every way. This is not news, but it’s good to see it front and center, clear as day. No bothsidesism here. The New York TImes

The anti-Trump vote remains strong and steadfast, regardless of the Democratic nominee. Here’s an interview with Alex Wagner and a pollster commenting on polls this week on MSNBC. And here, it’s why Simon Rosenberg still isn’t shaken about the November election. Are we anxious? Yes. But whether it’s Biden or Harris, Newsom or Whitmer, when it’s a vote, not a poll, voters are turning out against Trump, MAGA and fascism, over and over. When the Dog Days are done, we’re ready. We can do this. We have work to do. All of us.

In Britain, voters turned out in an historic swing-left landslide, the first major victory in 19 years, the worst Conservative defeat in 200 years. “Change begins now.” NPR

In Iran, the reformist candidate won the presidential runoff against a hard-line rival. Masoud Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon, advocates moderate policies at home and improved relations with the West, a blow to the conservative faction in Iran’s ruling establishment. The New York Times

In France, against all odds and polls, (⬅️ Are you paying attention?) the right went down in a humiliating defeat. Voters delivered a stunning rebuke to the ascendant, anti-immigrant, far-right party of Marine Le Pen. Status Kuo

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s rival has a path to take her down. In a traditionally conservative area, Shawn Harris, a military veteran and Democratic candidate competing for Greene’s House seat, believes he can win with a coalition of women and moderate Republicans. He makes a strong case. Newsweek

U.S. inflation is cooling broadly, which is predictive of a Fed interest rate cut in September. Core consumer prices rose 0.1%, the smallest gain since August 2021. Bloomberg Over the past year, core inflation rose 3.3%, its lowest yearly rate since April of 2021. Gas prices fell in June, by 3.8%, as did prices for new and used cars. The White House

October 18, 2016, two weeks out from the election, NPR headlined, “Hillary Clinton Is Winning — And It’s Not Close.” “Yes, people still have to vote, but if Democratic groups come out — and the Trump scorched-earth campaign is more like a white flag than an actual strategy — Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States unless something drastic changes between now and Election Day.” NPR  (In other words; it’s not over until it’s over.)