Politics

A New Maine Character

What's going on: Seventeen days after Graham Platner ended his Senate campaign following a rape accusation, Maine Democrats have picked his replacement. Meet (drumroll, please) Troy Jackson, a former State Senate president, a fifth-generation logger, a progressive Democrat, and another straight white dude. Like Platner, Jackson has an outsider energy that Dems hope can motivate voters to — say it with us — “see themselves having a beer with him.” While Jackson is mostly controversy-free so far, he does have a reputation for losing his temper (highlights include “the water bottle incident”). But there are two key ways he’s very different: He has substantially more political experience — he began his career as a Republican in the 90s — and substantially less campaign money. 

What it means for Democrats: Jackson has to win over voters in less than 100 days on a shoestring budget, especially compared to his rival, five-term incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. (As he put it last week, “You know, Susan’s got $12 million. I got $12.”) And Jackson has to do this by striking a tricky balance: Ride the grassroots progressive wave that helped Platner win the primary… while distancing himself from Platner. Cue Republicans releasing their first attack ad this weekend calling Jackson “like Graham Platner, but worse.” Maine plays an outsize role in the midterms: Democrats must flip four Senate seats to take the majority, and Maine is one of just a few states up for grabs. If Jackson loses, the party’s path to a majority gets much narrower. 

Related: What You Need To Know About Michigan’s Democratic Primary (USA Today)

In the Thick of It

Bad Air Day

The air up there: Every Gilmore Girls fan knows about those “lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer.” But 2026 has put the emphasis on hazy. More than 250,000 people have been forced to evacuate wildfires in southwest Europe tied to this summer’s record heatwaves. And just last week, smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires pushed air quality into hazardous territory in the Northeast and Midwest. When the air quality index (AQI) is between 100-200, that’s the equivalent of smoking a quarter to a half a pack of cigarettes. Last week, Detroit’s AQI was 435. Now, new blazes are burning in parts of the West and Pacific Northwest. A major concern is polluting particles that are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Short-term exposure can aggravate asthma and raise the risk of heart and lung problems. 

A breath of practical advice: When the AQI is at an unhealthy level, close the windows and wear a well-fitting N95 if you have to go out. If you can, invest in a properly sized HEPA purifier for your home. No purifier? Get crafty: The EPA says a newer box fan paired with a MERV-13 filter can make an effective DIY air cleaner. Of course, the standard advice — “just stay inside with filtered air” — isn’t realistic for everyone. Many lower-income communities and communities of color are already more likely to face higher levels of everyday air pollution thanks, in part, to historic redlining, while people in poorly sealed housing or in outdoor and frontline jobs may be less able to escape wildfire smoke. Clean air, unfortunately, has become something else money can buy. 

Related: What Are the Best Ways To Clear My Home of Wildfire Smoke? (Wirecutter)

PS: Breathe a little easier knowing what to do with the latest health news. Every Wednesday, the Skimm Well + Good newsletter breaks down the biggest stories in health, nutrition, and fitness, and the practical steps you can take to incorporate them in your real life. Sign up here.

Publishers to Google…

It’s Not Us, It’s You

What’s going on: Google AI summaries are convenient, and that's part of the problem — for news organizations, at least. Why read a Wirecutter article on Trader Joe's skincare steals when AI can synthesize it for you in seconds? Without those clicks, publishers are suffering. According to search measurement firm Semrush, both CNN and Business Insider have seen their Google web traffic plummet 31% in the last year, as did Politico (20%), and USA Today (18%). Google doesn't think it's so bad, saying its AI program sends “billions of clicks to websites every week.” But The Wall Street Journal reports that many major companies — including Reddit, USA Today, Politico, The Economist, People Inc., and Reuters — might soon bar Google from using their content. More like degenerative AI, amirite? 

A losing battle: For years, media has been at the mercy of Big Tech, which controls how people find information. Though some outlets were reluctant to embrace the internet (see: newspapers), they eventually updated their business models. This time around, media companies seem to recognize an existential threat when they see one — and are using their leverage as producers of trusted information. Some are cutting licensing deals with AI companies. Others are pivoting to AI-proof strategies, like human storytelling and live events. Yet, industry leaders still expect web traffic to fall 40% over the next three years. There are many ways this could go, but it’s worth underlining that Google — arguably the most powerful company of the internet age — is facing the loss of some of the biggest names in news media. Life comes at you fast.

Related: Even the Kids Are Over AI (Wired)