Key Takeaways
- Federal government shutdown looms, with White House threatening to fire workers.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon actively works to dismantle her department and shift power to states.
- A rivalry for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary emerges between Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom.
- New polling indicates the New Jersey governor's race is a dead heat, contradicting other averages.
Deep Dive
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) threatened to consider firing, not just furloughing, federal workers if funding lapses on October 1st.
- This action could impact a significant number of federal employees, particularly in Washington D.C., many of whom are Democrats.
- The White House frames its clean continuing resolution (CR) as a strategic move to lock in current spending for three weeks before negotiating.
- Democrats' demands include restoring $67 billion in annual Medicaid funding, while Republicans highlight fraud concerns in health insurance exchanges impacting 25 million people.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon reportedly intends to dismantle the Department of Education, aiming to return federal involvement in education to the states.
- She is described as competence-focused, not a culture war figure, with a strategy centered on bureaucracy reduction and state responsibility.
- McMahon supports a national school choice program and has concluded that congressional action to eliminate the department is unlikely.
- This approach is debated by those who suggest it could lead to the department "wither(ing) away over time."
- Secretary McMahon has canceled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) grants and is actively engaged in higher education reforms.
- She proposes that other departments could handle educational matters if the Department of Education were eliminated.
- Education experts observe McMahon as more aggressive than previous secretaries, attributing this to a belief that past limited-government approaches were ineffective, especially in higher education.
- McMahon's connection to former President Donald Trump through their World Wrestling Entertainment business is noted.
- An anecdote from Vice President Kamala Harris's new book details a perceived rivalry with California Governor Gavin Newsom for a potential 2028 presidential run.
- Harris claims Newsom was "too busy hiking" to respond to her text about a potential Biden 2024 withdrawal, while Newsom asserts he provided a "muscular endorsement."
- The dispute highlights early positioning for the Democratic primary, with Newsom being characterized as a businessman entering politics due to San Francisco regulations.
- Stephen A. Smith commented on Newsom as a potential candidate, noting challenges for a California Democrat due to issues like homelessness.
- Emerson College Polling shows the New Jersey governor's race in a 43-43 tie between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
- This contrasts with the RealClearPolitics average, which indicated Sherrill led by 6.5 points.
- Governor Phil Murphy's approval rating has dropped to 35% from +6, potentially negatively impacting Sherrill's campaign.
- Key voter concerns are the economy and affordable housing, which are typically Republican strengths, suggesting Sherrill may pivot to education.
- Jack Ciattarelli lost to Governor Murphy by only 2.8 points in 2021 and is now better known in the state.
- Off-year gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey are viewed as indicators for upcoming midterm elections.
- New Jersey may be shifting from a blue to a purple state, with recent elections showing declining Democratic margins.
- Current Emerson polling shows the generic congressional ballot in a tie, contrasting with the RealClearPolitics average indicating a Democratic lead.
- Voter enthusiasm and turnout are crucial as early voting begins, with recent internal polling showing Jack Ciattarelli performing stronger than anticipated.