NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.   

Join us‼️: At the beach. On a road trip. Out for your morning summer walks. My book, "Born Lucky," is now available for 40% off on Audible. 

🎧One of the hardest things I have EVER done is narrate my book "Born Lucky" for the audio version. 

Look back🔙: "Born Lucky" is my story growing up with autism and my dad quitting his job to adapt me to the world rather than the world to me.

Zoom out🌍: It's hope for every parent of a kid having a hard time — doesn't matter if it's autism or ADHD or just the difficulties growing up. 

"Born Lucky" is 40% off on Audible today through Sunday. 

Get your copy here📗: "Born Lucky" Audiobook by Leland Vittert, Don Yaeger 

Get help🤦: Ohio Congressman Max Miller (R) needs help — it's the only obvious takeaway from his trainwreck interview with CNN's Jake Tapper

Miller is credibly accused of abusing two women, including his ex-wife and mother of his child.

Sad👎: Watch his ex-father-in-law Bernie Moreno talk about Miller 

Yet Miller says he will stay in Congress and in his reelection race. 

What I am thinking💭: Miller says he won't go because Trump didn't go when facing various allegations — newsflash, buddy, the rules of Trump don't apply to you

Zoom out🌍: Miller only compounds the GOP's problems in Ohio. 

Axios headlines, "Reliably red Ohio suddenly a red-hot mess for GOP"

Thought bubble💭: Before we get to coverage of election night — let's just all celebrate we are having an election — I was worried, you know.

Look back🔙: Two years ago, Democrats warned a Trump victory would mean we would NEVER have an election again — now the socialists are winning elections.

You always worry about the wrong thing. 

Voters cast their ballots at the Copland Center on August 04, 2026 in Wyandotte, Michigan. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

‼️Abdul El-Sayed's coming victory in  Michigan totally resets how we must look at politics in America. 

Zoom out🌎: Ayanna Pressley isn't wrong — socialism/marxism is now mainstream in the Democratic Party 

https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2084038450739621894?s=20 

Which brings us to 2028 — how can there NOT be a socialist nominee?

https://x.com/NextUpHalperin/status/2084715714259140702?s=20 

Look forward▶️:  Erin Maguire warns Republicans celebrating surging socialists  

New reality❗: The Democratic base is now fully controlled by the socialist and communist left

Rep. Seth Moulton, who promised to be the voice of reason in the Democratic Party post-2024, is now apologizing for saying he didn't want boys to play on his daughters' sports teams 

https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2084441173628715511?s=20 

Bars in Michigan are now apologizing for allowing an event with Haley Stevens — because Stevens is too moderate 

What I am watching👀: "Former Representative Cori Bush, a member of the progressive 'squad,' is trying to defeat Representative Wesley Bell, a moderate who ousted her two years ago," writes The New York Times

Look back🔙: Cori Bush stands out as the single dumbest politician I have EVER interviewed. 

https://x.com/LelandVittert/status/1821143465352188305 

‼️Likely the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor —

Shot:https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2084397050385330509?s=20 

Chaser: https://x.com/Acyn/status/2084456363061924260?s=20   

What I am thinking💭: A few things can be true at once

Socialism is incompatible with American values and has a predictable end state

The anger and frustration in America is real – dismissing it is a mistake 

The barista socialist crew has no interest in helping working class Americans 

The red-green alliance is the most underreported part of the story 

I could keep going, but it's election night — elections have consequences and messages.

📺See you tonight at 9. 

U.S. President Donald Trump announces the Freedom Haulers initiative on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 30, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

‼️An endorsement from the president is what most candidates want — yet this year, GOP candidates are questioning how helpful Trump's endorsement really is. 

Republicans in Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and Georgia — all states Trump won in 2024 — have key Senate races and have to figure out what to do with Trump.

❓Do you go out on the campaign trail with Trump?

Or do you keep him away — what about TV ads? 

Trump's approval rating is at 35%

❓How do you not put the sitting president out on the campaign trail?

Can you say no to his help? 

❓Do you run away from him? 

❓Do they talk about how we need to do more to fix the economy?

Or do you talk about how great Republicans are?

Polling shows 27% of Americans believe Trump is focusing on the right things. 

73% say he's focused on the wrong things. 

Reality‼️: Americans are angry about the economy

49% of Americans say they are financially worse off than they were a year ago  

People voted for Trump to fix the economy — yet things haven't gotten better. 

Watch tonight📺: Our buddy Erick Erickson on how helpful Trump's endorsement really is for Republicans. 

👀Independent candidates, many with Democratic roots, are charting a new course as we approach the midterms—and it might be something to celebrate. 

📰The Economist headlines, "Americans are sick of Republicans and Democrats. Can Independents win?" writing:

"Voters are dissatisfied with America's two main political parties, with net favourability for Democrats near a 35-year low. That has created an opening for politicians on the far left, but it is also inspiring a new generation of independents. More congressional candidates have filed to run as independents in 2026 than in any election cycle since at least 2000"

45% of Americans identified as independent voters — this is the highest since at least 1988 

Polling shows these voters are more likely to lean Democratic than Republican 

What to watch👀: States in the Mountain-West — Idaho, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana — all have independent Senate candidates that are doing well

Dan Osborn (Nebraska) 

Todd Achilles (Idaho)

Seth Bodnar (Montana)

Brian Bengs (South Dakota)

Look back🔙: Trump won these states by 20 to 30 percentage points in 2024

Tonight📺: Idaho's independent candidate Todd Achilles 

Tune into "On Balance with Leland Vittert" weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

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