ICYMI Over The Fourth: Big Ben Show, Friendly Fire

Check it out!

Jul 07, 2026

I know we’re all busy over the Independence Day holiday, so as you recover from it, I hope you’ll check out two things you might’ve missed — first, here’s last week’s episode of Friendly Fire for your viewing pleasure:

And here’s The Big Ben Show celebrating the 250th:

How Long Can Graham Platner Last?

Punchbowl News:

After Politico and CNN both reported that Platner allegedly sexually assaulted Jenny Racicot, the DSCC and Senate Majority PAC said they’d no longer support his campaign. Republicans have already announced that they will spend $42 million in Maine defending Collins. Platner will have no backing from the Senate Democratic political machine.
Party leaders believe Platner will drop out of the race as soon as today, possibly even this morning. That would give Democrats just three weeks to find a new challenger to take on Collins.
Much of the discussion about possible replacements for Platner is currently focused on other failed 2026 candidates.
Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, epidemiologist Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood are all options, according to multiple sources. Jackson released a statement saying he believes Racicot and urged Platner to get out of the race.
“There is no place in our politics for sexual violence,” Jackson said. “Not in our party, not in any party. Graham Platner must withdraw from this race today.”
Retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden would be the top choice of many Democrats. But the four-term lawmaker has made clear he wants to leave Congress at the end of this year. Maine Gov. Janet Mills, whom Platner decisively defeated in the Democratic primary, is extremely unlikely.
Platner allies say that he’ll only drop out of the race if his replacement supports the progressive policy positions that Platner campaigned on. Platner does have some power here, as Democrats understand that Platner needs to leave the race quickly if they have any hope of unseating Collins.

More from the New York Times, Washington Examiner, and Mediaite.

Why Trump Was Right About NATO

Politico Europe:

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has one message for NATO allies about Donald Trump: The U.S. president was right.
He was right on pressing NATO allies to boost defense spending, he was right in getting them to modernize their militaries, and he was right to launch a war with Iran, Rutte told POLITICO in an interview for “The Conversation with Dasha Burns” podcast at this week’s alliance leaders’ summit in the Turkish capital.
“I just like the man. I think what he is doing for NATO is great news,” Rutte said.
It was a full-throated endorsement of the president’s policies that have at times rankled other alliance members, many of whom question Trump’s commitment to the alliance after his threats to annex Greenland, his questioning of the NATO’s Article 5 common defense pledge, his attacks on fellow leaders, his decision to withdraw some U.S. troops from Germany and the ongoing broader Pentagon review of the American military presence in Europe.
“President Trump [is] basically achieving what, since Eisenhower, American presidents tried to achieve, which is to equalize the defense spending between the U.S. and Europe,” Rutte added.
The NATO boss said this year’s summit would be “transformational” for the alliance, and also pump billions more into critical defense programs.
The numbers, so far, are massive. Over the past two years the 31 non-U.S. NATO members have pledged $250 billion in new programs and defense investments, with a slew of new deals and pledges expected over the next two days.
All that has come against the backdrop of Trump demanding allies spend and do more as Washington shifts to homeland security and to a lesser degree, the Pacific region.

Get Ready For The Small Generation

Axios:

By the numbers: The U.S. population ages 45-64 fell by 2.68 million from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, according to new Census Bureau population estimates reviewed by Axios.
The group declined 3.2% nationally, from 84 million to 81.3 million.
The Northeast had the steepest percentage drop, falling 7.1%.
The Midwest fell 6.2%.
The West fell 2.7%.
The South was the only region where the 45-64 population grew — barely — adding 18,749 people, or 0.1%.
The decline is happening as the country gets older overall.
The U.S. median age rose to 39.4 in July 2025, up from 38.6 in April 2020.
The 65-and-older population grew 16.2% nationally during the same period.
The under-18 population fell 2.4%…
Gen X is smaller than the baby boom because it was born during the “baby bust” that followed the postwar birth surge.
Birth rates fell sharply in the 1960s and 1970s as contraception became more widely available, women delayed marriage and childbirth and divorce and new family structures became more common.
The U.S. is not alone. Other wealthy countries also are wrestling with aging populations, slower workforce growth and rising pressure on public budgets.

ESPN: Inside Sean Payton’s Plan to Return the Broncos to the Playoffs

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— Thomas Jefferson

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