Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🗳️ Democrats' midterm playbook
• 🐬 Dolphins use shells to catch fish
• 😊 Why blushing is good for you

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.89-minute read (1,036 words).

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“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

–Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)

The ongoing primary season is sending mixed signals about which approach will prove most successful for Democratic party heading into November’s midterms, with Tuesday’s slate of elections producing different outcomes for progressive and moderate candidates.

• In Wisconsin, moderate David Crowley narrowly defeated Democratic Socialists of America member and state Rep. Francesca Hong (~40% vs. ~39%) in the Democratic primary for governor, pulling off an upset after Hong had led by double digits in recent polls.
• In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan decisively defeated Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary (~59% vs. ~39%). Flanagan was backed by several prominent progressives, while Craig received more support from moderate and establishment-aligned Democrats.
• And in Michigan last week, progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary, despite significantly underperforming his polling numbers.

So, which approach wins?

The results add to an ongoing debate among Democrats over whether the recent momentum behind progressive candidates will translate to success against Republicans in November, or whether more moderate candidates will fare better with the broader electorate.

• Progressives argue the recent wins reflect support for their ideas, rather than simply frustration with the Democratic establishment.
• They point to El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan—where he defeated a more moderate opponent despite a major advertising disadvantage—as evidence that campaigns centered on affordability, Medicare for All, and reducing the influence of money in politics can resonate beyond heavily liberal areas.

Meanwhile…Moderate Democrats question whether that success will carry over to November. Centrist groups argue progressive candidates can benefit from enthusiasm and outsider status in Democratic primaries, but that positions associated with the movement could become liabilities with a broader electorate.

Concern has grown following El-Sayed’s win in Michigan, a key swing state, with centrist political org Third Way now planning to spend $15 million through 2028 on an effort aimed at discrediting democratic socialism.

Big picture: A RealClearPolling average of generic congressional ballot polls currently shows the Democratic Party favored over Republicans by ~7 percentage points.

Looking ahead… The November 3 midterms are just under three months away, with eight states scheduled to hold primary elections between now and then—including Alaska, California, Florida, and Wyoming this Tuesday.

📊 Flash poll: Which version of the Democratic Party do you most want to see?

• A more centrist/moderate-aligned party
• A more progressive/dem. socialist-aligned party
• Unsure/other

Data centers use billions of gallons a year and get all the headlines. Farming uses most of the water — and most of that never reaches a root. It drains past or evaporates before the plant gets a chance. Same with fertilizer.

Half the US is in drought. Lake Mead sits at 32% full. Water is getting scarcer, and agriculture still needs the majority of it.

InteliGel is a medical-grade hydrogel that holds water and nutrients in the root zone, where crops can use them. On working farms: up to 70% less water per acre, up to 65% less fertilizer runoff.

Precision Planting ranked it #5 of every technology on their research farm.

Here are five stats from this past week that made our team go “whoa.” Hopefully you will, too.

🌡️ July was the hottest month for the contiguous US in recorded history, with the average temp of 76.89°F topping the 76.77°F mark set in July 1936, new federal data shows.

💻 The Producer Price Index for electronic components and accessories, which measures what companies pay for semiconductor chips and other parts, rose a whopping 27.6% in June from a year earlier, the largest increase on record dating back to 1966.

⛽ Average US diesel fuel prices have risen by 44 cents over the last month to reach $5.32/gallon, up from $3.71/gallon a year ago.

🦠 Ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on track to eclipse the deadliest in history, which killed over 11,000 people, the WHO’s director-general said Wednesday. More than 2,000 people have died from the current outbreak so far.

🏅 Gold prices have risen by ~10% since the start of August, and may be on track for their best month this century. The last time gold rose 13% or more in a month was September 1999.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🤖 OpenAI revenue chief Denise Dresser is leaving the company after eight months; she marks the second senior exit at OpenAI in recent days.
• 📡 Charter Communications receives final approval to buy fellow cable and broadband provider Cox Communications in $21.9 billion deal.
• 🐄 Tyson Foods to close a major beef processing plant in Joslin, IL, sell a facility in Washington state, and close a packaging facility in Utah amid biggest US cattle shortage in 75 years.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏈 NFL preseason Week 1 kicked off last night with six games across the league; action continues with three games tonight.
• 🚨 Nick Reiner indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury for first-degree murder of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and photographer/film producer Michele Singer Reiner.
• 🎭 End of Oak Street, starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, opens in theaters today. | Selena Gomez and mom sued for allegedly deceiving investors of Gomez’s mental health startup, Wondermind, amid internal financial struggles at the company.

Navan Edge goes beyond booking, giving you the support to tackle every delayed flight, hotel change, and last-minute curveball, all in a single, ongoing conversation.

The more you travel, the smarter it gets. It learns your travel preferences, from your favorite airlines and hotels to loyalty programs and rewards, so every trip feels more tailored than the last. And when a situation calls for a human touch, a 24/7 concierge steps into that same conversation, already up to speed.

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🤖 Anthropic's new AI models will add machine-readable "watermarks" to text and files generated by Claude to comply with new EU transparency regulations.
• 👮 Police-tech giant Flock will start requiring officers to enter a criminal case number before conducting a search of Flock’s nationwide network of license plate readers; move comes amid growing backlash and concerns of mass surveillance and police abuse.
• 🐬 Australian researchers capture first-ever footage of dolphins using seashells to catch fish, with evidence suggesting that calves may learn the technique from their mothers.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 🚢 Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have come under scrutiny by Congress following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises among sailors (including attempted suicides); the aircraft carrier, currently stationed in the Middle East, is in the midst of a record 200+ days without coming ashore.
• ⚖️ Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty today to two charges of stalking resulting in death as part of his federal case over the alleged 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson; charges carry maximum sentences of life in prison; Mangione is separately charged with murder and other counts in New York state court.
• 🎓 Federal judge in Boston dismisses the Trump admin’s antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard University, ruling there isn’t sufficient evidence of ongoing institutionalized racial discrimination.

☝️ The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition revealed its 2026 finalists yesterday, featuring 84 top images selected from thousands of submissions. The winners will be announced September 10th.

🤔 Did you know? Insects don't have lungs. Instead, they breathe through tiny, valve-like openings on the sides of their bodies called spiracles.

📰 Worth a read: Inside North Korea’s operation to conquer the American job market

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• Can your dog read your mind?
• Why blushing is actually good for you
• How to start a fitness routine with just 10 minutes per day

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How well did you pay attention this week? Find out here.

Guess the definitions of the following Greek/Latin root words:

1. A restaurant bill is $64. You leave a 20% tip. What is the total amount you pay, including tip?
2. A store marks a $120 jacket down by 25%, then takes an additional 10% off the sale price. What is the final price?
3. A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours. If it continues at the same average speed, how far will it travel in 4 hours and 30 minutes?

(keep scrolling for the answers)

🐢 A 15-year-old African spurred tortoise named Molly is safely back home after escaping and turning up two weeks later at a location some 12 miles away. How she got there remains a mystery, but Molly is now officially back where she belongs.

1. $76.80
2. $81
3. 270 miles

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