So What?

What a week (he says every week). This is a week where we saw: Graham Platner exit stage left (we think) Mitch McConnell talk to a WHOLE lot of people for exactly 20 minutes each Donald Trump declare the ceasefire with Iran over Victor Marx, who claims his stepfather made him murder a man when he was seven years old, win the Colorado Republican gubernatorial nomination I mean…. So who had the absolute Worst Week in Washington?

Happy Friday. We made it. Below I answered real questions from real paid subscribers to this newsletter. Not one yet? Become one today! Q: For Platner, I get it he could not have won if he stayed in, but he could not be forced out either. What kind of sweetheart deal would the Democrats would have given to make it palatable? Secondly, what chance does Collin’s have now in winning? A: You’re right that, technically, no one could force Platner out of the race.

A new welcome sign reading "Donald J. Trump International Airport" is seen at the airport's main entrance ramp in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 9, 2026. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images) As of 5 am this morning, Palm Beach International Airport is no more. That airport is now known as Donald J. Trump International Airport. On August 18, the airport code — “PBI” — will officially be changed to “DJT.” No, I am not kidding. The first plane to land at DJT this morning?

Graham Platner may have just unwittingly proved that character still matters in politics. The Maine Democrat announced Wednesday night that he will withdraw as the Senate nominee in the wake of an allegation that he had non-consensual sex with a woman he dated five years ago.

United States' Chris Richards (3) reacts after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy) Moments after the U.S. men’s national team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the World Cup, Barstool founder Dave Portnoy took to X to lament the squad’s failure: Dave Portnoy@stoolpresidente US Soccer is not ready for primetime. I dont wanna be mean but this team is embarrassing.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images Graham Platner is [quickly checks X] still the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine. For now. It’s impossible for me to imagine a scenario where Platner — after a woman he dated alleged on Monday that he sexually assaulted her five years ago — remains in the race beyond the end of the week.

Way back in the summer of 2024, I shot my friend Chuck Todd a text out of the blue — asking him if he would be willing to do a weekly chat with me through the election. Chuck was still at NBC. I was still trying to get my arms around being an independent news creator. I didn’t have any big plan or strategy behind my ask.

Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks to an overflow crowd outside a campaign event Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Graham Platner is not long for the Maine Senate race. Within hours of Politico publishing a story Monday afternoon in which a former girlfriend accused Platner of sexually assaulting her, his candidacy was teetering badly.

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to former U.S. President Donald Trump, attends the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) In the very early days of this Substack, several people I knew from the politics/media world suggested I find a way to do some collaborations with former-Trump-fixer-turned-ardent-Trump-critic Michael Cohen.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during "Salute to America 250" Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall on July 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Just after 11 pm eastern Saturday night, President Donald Trump — finally — took the stage and addressed a massive(?) crowd of Americans celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary in the stormy nation’s capitol.