A net victory

The debate over whether Democrats should get involved with Fox News has been going on for years, but I have always supported appearing on the network. First, refusing to engage gives Fox News the story they want. Imagine if I had refused to call Peter Doocy in the White House press conference room. I would have missed some of my most satisfying conversations in the meeting room, and that would have suggested that I was somehow afraid of his questions.

And as vice president Kamala Harris As she proved in her interview Wednesday night, Fox News really isn't that scary. Sure, Harris' interview wasn't perfect, but she provided a much more compelling answer to how her presidency would differ from her Joe Biden'sand she called out the host very memorably Bret Baier for failing to fully address Trump’s “enemy within” comments.

When I was White House press secretary, I appeared on “Fox News Sunday” more than any other weekend news program. Partly to prove that I could do it. But also to combat misinformation and present Americans with arguments and data they might not otherwise see. Plus, sometimes a combative interview can be fun. Just ask the secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Ultimately, refusing to engage with networks like Fox doesn't penalize them. By the same token, I think Democrats who refuse to engage on social media platforms are making a big mistake. Yes, many platforms have legitimate flaws, but they also serve more than 50 percent of people with their news. With Election Day just weeks away, now is not the time to try to claim the moral high ground. Candidates must meet voters where they get their information and leave nothing on the field.

A story to watch: Judge halts Georgia State Election Board rules

A much-needed victory for voting rights, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox struck down several new rules proposed by Georgia's pro-Trump state elections board. Those rules, widely condemned as attempts at voter suppression, were deemed “illegal, unconstitutional and void” by Cox in a scathing ruling.

The judge particularly condemned the Georgia State Election Board for ignoring existing law and proposing these reforms so close to Election Day. Referring to a rule requiring video surveillance of mailboxes after polls close, Cox wrote: “The SEB cannot require by rule something that the General Assembly has neither legislated nor expressly considered and declined to adopt.”

While Republicans may still appeal, the clock is clearly ticking. Courts have historically been reluctant to make sweeping changes so close to elections, making this decision a significant setback for partisans seeking to undermine mail-in voting and harm election integrity.

A race to watch: Independent Dan Osborn versus Republican Deb Fischer

Democrats are currently fighting hard to retain control of the Senate. But a potential upset could happen in Nebraska, a state often assumed to be an easy Republican win. Independent Dan Osborna former union president who led his colleagues in the Kellogg's strike in 2021 is running against the two-term Republican senator. Deb Fischer, and the numbers get very interesting

This week, Osborn's campaign claimed it had crossed a critical threshold and was now ahead of Fischer (according to internal numbers). The race has also turned into a windfall for Republicans, who are now investing in new attack ads against Osborn.

Osborn has not announced who he will be working with in the U.S. Senate, but similar to Sens. Joe Manchin And Kyrsten Sinemacould easily be the most important Senate swing vote to watch.