A net win
The debate over whether Democrats should engage with Fox News has been going on for years, but I’ve always argued in favor of showing up on the network. First of all, refusing to engage gives Fox News the story they want. Imagine if I had refused to call on Peter Doocy in the White House press briefing room. I would have missed out on some of my most satisfying briefing room exchanges, and it would have implied I was somehow scared of his questions.
And as Vice President Kamala Harris proved during her interview Wednesday night, Fox News is really not that scary. Sure, Harris’ interview wasn’t perfect, but she delivered a much stronger answer on how her presidency would be different from Joe Biden’s, and she very memorably called out host Bret Baier for failing to play Trump’s full “enemy from within” comments.
When I was White House press secretary, I appeared on “Fox News Sunday” more than any other weekend news show. In part, to prove I could. But also to help combat misinformation and present Americans with arguments and data they may not otherwise see. Plus, a combative interview can be fun sometimes. Just ask Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Ultimately, refusing to engage with outlets like Fox doesn’t punish them. It’s the same reason why I think Democrats who refuse to engage on social media platforms are making a big mistake. Yes, many platforms have legitimate flaws, but they also provide more than 50 percent of people with their news. With just weeks until Election Day, now is not the time to try to claim the moral high ground. Candidates need to meet voters wherever they get their information and leave nothing on the field.
A story you should be following: Judge stops Georgia State Election Board rules
In a much-needed win for voting rights, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox struck down several new rules proposed by Georgia’s Trump-aligned State Election Board. These rules, widely condemned as attempts at voter suppression, were deemed “illegal, unconstitutional and void” by Cox in a scathing ruling.
The judge specifically condemned the Georgia State Election Board for ignoring current law and proposing these reforms so close to Election Day. Referring to a rule requiring video surveillance of drop boxes after polls close, Cox wrote “the S.E.B. cannot by rule require something the General Assembly both did not legislate and specifically considered and declined to enact.”
While Republicans may still appeal, the clock is obviously ticking. Courts have historically hesitated to make sweeping changes this close to elections, making this ruling a significant setback for partisans attempting to undermine mail-in voting and chip away at election integrity. At this point, Democrats are fighting an uphill battle to maintain Senate control. But one potential surprise could happen in Nebraska, a state often assumed to be an easy Republican win. Independent Dan Osborn, a former union president who led his colleagues in the Kellogg’s strike in 2021 is taking on two-term Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, and the numbers are getting very interesting This week, Osborn’s campaign claimed it had crossed a critical threshold and was now polling (according to their internal numbers) ahead of Fischer. The race has also become an unexpected cash suck for Republicans, who are now investing in new attack ads against Osborn. Osborn has not announced who he will caucus with in the U.S. Senate, but much like Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, he could easily be the key Senate swing vote to watch.
Jen Psaki is the host of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" airing Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 p.m. EST. She is the former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden. Recommended
A race to watch: Independent Dan Osborn vs. Republican Deb Fischer
