Also today: Free watch party at Van Andel for the World Cup. They moved it from the amphitheater because of smoke. Event is sold out - and holy shit that could be 10-12k if they all show. Very curious as to whether they’ll be rooting for Spain or Argentina, because we have no ties to either. 🤔

Smoke report: it’s back, but not bad at the moment. Just a bit of haze and smell. Getting the walk in and the cool air feels great. 🙂 No rally for me, not up to waiting for hours in a big line. Streaming from the couch sounds SO much better. They’re not bugging me so I’m guessing they’re full. 👍

This just might collapse the global economy, and then we'll need 1000 FDRs on steroids to put it right. Sinking feeling this is all falling faster than we can even begin to address it, even if we were rowing in the same direction.

The squeeze is on globally, but here's a country that has public healthcare and progressive taxation/cap policy to deal with it. "The total margin of increases will be between 4% and 38%, depending on a patient’s annual income." Can't argue good or bad. It's better than subsidizing Big Insurance.

"El-Sayed is running on a pledge to limit the influence of money in politics, to increase taxes on billionaires, to fight for Medicare for all, to work to make the American political system more responsive to the needs of ordinary people." If the D Party doesn't stand for this, what's the point?

Yes please Detroit, bounce Shri would you?

RASHIDA! (yes I’m watching the 3rd place soccer too)

You’ll be able to watch here from anywhere (except Ohio):

Whitecaps at the Loons (Midland, MI) smoked out as well. Erie played in a haze in Richmond, VA.

FYI: NBC seems to have dropped the subscription model. Bet it just cratered their page views.

Meijer head lettuce is Ocean Mist out of Castroville CA. Want salad so I’m going for it. 👍

What they do.

Even though I fell asleep during the third inning, that was still a thoroughly satisfying evening of Tigers baseball activities.

CBC: "None of those lawmakers mentioned climate change or the burning of fossil fuels. A landmark 2023 study directly linked increasing wildfires in western U.S. and southwestern Canadian forests to a group of the world's 88 largest fossil fuel companies, including several American oil majors."

AIR. We have air. Enjoy this window, because the smoke is coming back later today.

Re-upping because the discourse is getting deeply stupid. What, to you, shall matter?

Democratic socialists top MAGA candidates among voters in CNBC's 'All America' poll

Democracy Project has a new one playing the "defund the police," "sympathy for terrorists," and "hates women" lines on Abdul, all in one ad. The Dark Money flood has really begun, and they are playing every racist and sexist card they can. Smacks of desperation, but never underestimate reptition.

And yes, Taylor Farms is a source for Meijer, although they list plain head lettuce as "unbranded." So, who knows. Not familiar with the breakdown on Big Lettuce, someone said Taylor controls one third of the market, monopolies are bad for this reason!

Stevens with an ad "fighting Trump." New? Believe so, though will admit I've had the TV muted almost continuosly because we are at full saturation now. Playing the hits: ICE, corruption, impeachment. It's laughable because she's not going to do any of it, but It's what people want to hear. 🤷

Check in on Canada: "Michigan Republicans made similar complaints about Canada last summer, prompting Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to brand them as attention seekers throwing a 'timber tantrum.'" Special cameo from Pete Hoekstra as the voice of reason. Also, Minnesota fires exist. SO embarrassing.

Businesses closed, outdoor concerts and events canceled, and they made these kids play baseball. Put stronger youth sports regulation on the list.

Smoke report: Still smoky. Current AQI 467/500, PM10 dominant. Should clear out today as the wind will change to the SW with a chance of showers. Mud rain! Funny how you don't get used to this smell. Maybe it's too strong.

If and when Nexstar/Tegna happens, we will have two entities that will control most broadcast TV, and can usurp the networks to push a rightwing agenda. Neat! Broadcast may be diminished, but it is still a major content producer and distributor. Sinclair has made it clear they will use that power.

Never thought I’d find myself cheering Disney and Comcast, but thanks everyone. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.

The air was so bad early Thursday in Southeast Michigan that Detroit was listed as having the worst air quality in the world in the IQAir database. www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news...

It’s hard to capture up close, but you can see the smoke in the distance. This is the air at 6:30am in West Michigan. If you’ve got a mask, you’re going to want to use it. They really do help. Be careful out there.

"The Michigan League of Conservation Voters condemned the decision by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her administration to approve the permits, stating that it puts the Great Lakes, Michigan communities, tribal sovereignty and the state’s economy at risk." She's out there pushing data centers too. 🤑

The smoke is here, and it’s bad. Really bad. The smell is almost overwhelming. Canceling morning walk. 😕

More of this, please. Voters want someone that will fight Trump and the Republicans, first and foremost, and he rarely mentions it. Capturing undecideds will come down to who will "fight Trump," say it clear. It's the lowest hanging fruit, and it's maddening that it's not being used.

Michigan Senate candidate Haley Stevens just voted against the amendment to cut military aid to Israel — going against half of her colleagues and a majority of Democratic voters

Omg. And it's headed this way.

The CDC is worthless, it’s theorized that Michigan is so high because our state is doing better at testing and reporting than others. So, there’s a good thing. I will give them credit for that, thank you MDHHS for doing the work.

Jeffries set me off by the way. I cannot support a party that votes for active genocide overseas and passive genocide at home when it comes to wages and healthcare. It's murder for hire, and they know it. Unlike the UK, we don't have a viable Green Party to turn to. Thanks Jill, you fraud.

This would have been Michigan had Republicans not eliminated it and Whitmer and the Democrats ignored it when they had a trifecta. We had the start. Don’t cry crocodile tears and beg for young people and the creative class to come here when you refuse to attract the jobs that would draw them.

Omg. Watching local news that is using a NewsNation report on Trump's speech - and it's all about "election integrity." Holy fuck. "Trump says," followed by a few lines about Dem objections, your standard "both sides" reporting that always places Ds as an annoying afterthought. Wow is this bad.

MLB is targeting upper-middle class and trying to soak them for every dollar. Minor League games are becoming out-of-reach for families. My local team has ripped out all the cheap seats and replaced them with corporate decks to rent. Food, drink and merch sales are the only things that matter.

Alfonzo was a Whitecap, one of those guys that worked hard every game, and I'm really glad the Dodgers gave him a shot. No acknowledgment from Whitecaps site because they have gone to ticket sales and promos only. Even links to ongoing games are buried (away games). Why does MLB hate their fans?

Still here. During his first AB of Game 3 between the DBacks & Dodgers, Ketel Marte, who is Dominican, pats Dodgers' catcher Eliezer Alfonzo's back and comforts him before taking the plate. Alfonzo learned of his mother and sister's passing in the Venezuela earthquake just before his MLB debut.

People are gonna fucking hate this if it actually happens. Enjoy all these post 8am sunrises

Rather not hear the pitch announced before he throws it. Kills the surprise. 🫤 Have gotten away from watching ASG the last few years . Just too much fluff.

Scholten. When it's still dark at 9:30 in the morning and everyone's all pissed-off about that (and they will be, we tried this before), remember who to thank. Only way this works for Michigan is to be in the Central time zome.

Extreme heat, a food-illness outbreak, and coming up next wildfire smoke in the air. Welcome to Hot Apocalypse Summer, everyone!

A song for today.

Tacos for lunch today?

My family's roots in mid-Michigan trace back to the early 1800s. I lived with Grandma and Grandpa during my time at Michigan. And they’ve always had my back. They mean the world to me❤️ I’m honored to introduce them to you, too, in our new ad:

Might be helpful to know that Stabenow works for Liberty Partners Group, lobbyists who represent orgs that profit from healthcare as is. Full disclosure for former politicians, please. Also, "electability" is yet another tired trope. Can't these people come up with ANYTHING original? Bored now!

Being the host of a TV show trains you in a indirect way, yes. Plus, he was the subject of media for years before that, and, you also learn by watching. Being a life-long manipulative narcissistic liar trains you the best though. It's why it looks natural.

The @UAW wants a pro-Stevens super PAC to stop using its wheel logo in campaign ads. The union says the ads distort its endorsement of @AbdulElSayed and undermine its democratic process. www.metrotimes.com/news/uaw-sla...

The humidity is back. Boo.