Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here’s Thursday’s news:
Nicole Fallert here, considering a move to one of these cat-loving cities.
Michigan just reshaped the midterms
Abdul El-Sayed, an unabashed progressive, secured the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, defeating moderate Democrat U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.
But to beat Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November, El-Sayed needs to coalesce the support of Democratic constituencies who backed Stevens while expanding his coalition to moderate voters.
Winning the Michigan seat ‒ which Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is vacating ‒ is a virtual must for Democrats to have any shot at reclaiming the GOP-controlled Senate.
More news to know now
- Washington is still burning: Firefighters from across the state continue to battle the Old Trails Fire, Fairview Fire and Autumn Lane Fire, which have burned more than 10,500 acres in the Spokane area.
- Battle with the Flock cameras? Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, has taken over the industry of license plate reader cameras and local safety surveillance. With tens of thousands of cameras now deployed in jurisdictions across the country, local law enforcement is being faced with balancing the crime-stopping aid with calls for personal privacy.
- How fans stepped in for Perez Hilton: Both fans’ and law enforcement’s response to Hilton’s apparent online self-harm highlights how mental health crises play out in the age of social media.
TV
We believe!
Cast and new faces of “Ted Lasso” Season 4 reunited for the Apple TV premiere at BAM Harvey Theater on Aug. 4, 2026, in New York City. The cast told USA TODAY what they’re “believing.”
Something to talk about
All the cool kids are birdwatching
Children and teenagers are learning bird calls through apps, trading sightings on social media and finding one another through campus clubs and community walks. The new wave of birders is coming home to roost, drawn by technology, community and a more welcoming vision of who belongs outdoors.
Before you go
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.