Did Democrats just change direction? The fight inside the party isn’t over yet. Let’s go Off Script
Every day brings a new set of headlines.
Here on Off Script, we’re more interested in the questions they leave behind.
— The Unbiased Updates Team
In This Episode
- Michigan picked a nominee. But did Democrats just pick a direction? We go beyond the results with senior politics reporter Azi Paybarah to explore what Abdul el-Sayed’s win may indicate about where the party is headed next.
- Plus, America has spent decades building jails. But what if we’ve been building the wrong thing? Legal reporter Eva Fedderly tells us about a New York program that’s quietly testing whether stable housing can keep some of the country’s most vulnerable people out of jail at lower cost.
- And the Justice Department says the controversial anti-weaponization fund is gone. So why are some legal experts saying it could come back?
What Matters
First, What Matters: a story that caught our attention this week — and why we think it deserves yours.
El-Sayed’s progressive victory reshapes Democrats’ 2026 playbook
Michigan’s recent primary served as an early indicator for the 2026 midterms, potentially revealing the Democratic Party’s future direction. The event began with a lively walkout, cheered and waved on
Abdul el-Sayed, a progressive candidate, secured the party’s U.S. Senate nomination after a fierce primary that showcased two contrasting visions for the Democrats.
Was this just a local victory or a sign of broader trends? Straight Arrow senior politics reporter Azi Paybarah shared insight into what we could see going forward.
Conversation highlights:
CRAIG NIGRELLI: I’d like to get your thoughts on this. David Axelrod, CNN’s political analyst and a former Obama administration adviser, said this is now going to be a tough hold for Democrats with Gary Peters not running for re-election. Politico also cited an EPIC-MRA poll showing Mike Rogers leading Abdul el-Sayed 46% to 43%. What do you make of the fact that, at least in some polling, it appears this could be an uphill battle for el-Sayed, who just won the primary?
AZI PAYBARAH: You know, CNN reported earlier that Mike Rogers told supporters that if Abdul el-Sayed won the Democratic primary, Rogers believed he’d be in a strong position to win the seat for Republicans.
Remember, Michigan has been represented by two Democratic senators, but Trump has won the state twice in presidential elections. In between those victories, former President Joe Biden carried Michigan as well. So this is a true battleground state that has gone back and forth politically and recently split control of its state government.
el-Sayed’s supporters argue that running a moderate Democrat is not enough to energize voters or offer a compelling alternative. They argue that Democrats have tried that approach before and should instead embrace something bolder.
More broadly, there is a growing sense in both parties that voters are dissatisfied with the political establishment. Democrats remain frustrated by the party’s loss in 2024, while some Republicans are unhappy about issues ranging from foreign policy decisions to support for AI data center projects that have drawn local opposition. el-Sayed is attempting to tap into that frustration and present himself as an outsider candidate.
NIGRELLI: Let me take that a step further. The el-Sayed vs. Stevens race has shined a light on what some are calling a Democratic civil war between progressive and establishment wings of the party. What does his narrow victory say about Democrats heading into November?
PAYBARAH: It suggests those divisions are real, they’re deep and the people on either side are still having trouble coming together.
Now, both el-Sayed and Stevens have urged their supporters to unite behind the Democratic nominee and focus on defeating Mike Rogers in November. But that reconciliation effort will take work.
This has become one of the key races political observers are watching because many believe it could influence how Democratic candidates across the country position themselves heading into the midterms.
Now to You
There’s no shortage of opinions online. What’s hard to find… is answers.
This is Now To You, where we take your questions, comments and hot takes — and dig for the facts.
Viewer comment:
STRAIGHT ARROW: It’s an interesting observation because there are actually two different issues here.
The first is political.
Todd Blanche issued a written order stating that the fund is “rescinded and shall have no force or effect.” That was enough to satisfy Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had refused to support his nomination until the Justice Department put that promise in writing.
But the second issue is legal.
Blanche rescinded his order creating the fund. He did not rewrite the underlying settlement agreement between the Justice Department and Trump. Some of the lawyers suing over the fund argue that matters because the original agreement says it can be changed only with the written agreement of all the parties. They say Blanche’s order may solve a political problem without fully settling the legal one. Cornyn has acknowledged as much, saying Congress couldn’t force the president to change the settlement agreement.
What senators could have done was require Blanche to put the Justice Department’s interpretation in writing before moving his nomination forward.
So, could the fund come back? The short answer is yes.
An attorney general can generally issue a new order reversing a previous one, so this administration could try to revive the fund later if it chooses to. But if that happens, it would almost certainly spark a new round of court challenges, because the lawsuits over the original settlement are still playing out.
Inside the Story
Ok, let’s go Inside the Story.
You can read the stories on Straight Arrow, but this is where we go a step further… getting at the details that didn’t fit, the questions that came up, and the reporting that shaped the story.
Can housing replace jail? A Manhattan non-profit has tested the answer for almost half a century
Is it more cost-effective and efficient to house individuals with severe mental illness rather than repeatedly involving the criminal justice system? It’s the core question legal reporter Eva Fedderly aimed to explore.
At St. Francis Friends of the Poor in Manhattan, residents enjoy amenities often absent from other shelters — their own rooms, medical care and a permanent address. Unlike shelters where they must leave each morning and return at night, or jails where they are confined, residents have stability.
For nearly 50 years, St. Francis has operated one of America’s earliest permanent supportive housing programs, demonstrating how providing private rooms along with on-site psychiatric and medical services can help vulnerable populations stay stable — reducing their interactions with jails and psychiatric facilities.
Fedderly concentrated her investigation on this New York-based permanent supportive housing initiative, which served as a foundation for our discussion.
Conversation highlights:
CRAIG NIGRELLI: You mentioned a little bit in your article about the cost, and I found it very interesting. The cost per year of incarcerating someone versus permanent supportive housing. Could you talk about the cost-benefit analysis of the program you profile versus being behind bars?
EVA FEDDERLY: For sure. Just looking at New York City, Rikers Island is, I would argue, the city’s most notorious jail complex. To house one person on Rikers Island, or in any of New York City’s jails, costs, on average, $556,000 per year. To house someone with supportive care at a place like St. Francis costs $33,000 per year. So you can see it’s dramatically different.
NIGRELLI: Yeah, and your article takes it even further, talking about supportive housing. I was surprised to learn that some of the residents are taught to live on less than $20 a day.
FEDDERLY: Yes, it’s interesting. It’s actually taken from their Social Security, and the employees at St. Francis help each tenant create their own unique budget based on their needs. So yeah, it’s $17 per day, and that could include medicine and food. They take their Social Security checks at the beginning of each month, make sure that rent is paid and then create a budget from the remaining money.
NIGRELLI: You touched on Rikers Island a little earlier, and I know you interviewed various subjects for your article, including Camilla Broderick, who noted that many jails lack proper psychiatric care. What did she mean by that, and what did she emphasize?
FEDDERLY: Camilla is now a program manager at St. Francis in New York City. She was previously incarcerated at Rikers Island on a drug charge and placed in the jail’s mental health facility. She said there were maggots everywhere and human excrement on the walls, and that very little care was provided.
Camilla has since been released, earned her master’s degree in social work, and now works as a program manager at St. Francis. She’s uniquely positioned to compare how jails treat people with mental health challenges to how a permanent supportive housing residence like St. Francis does.
Read Eva’s full story here.
Also Worth Your Time
Want more to read?
Here’s what didn’t make the cut on Unbiased Updates this week — but we think it’s Also Worth Your Time.
Wildfires sweep across Greece and France
This week on Unbiased Updates, we highlighted the wildfires that have destroyed over 700 homes and businesses in Spokane, Washington, forcing 65,000 people to evacuate. We also reported on major fires in France, and now Greece has been affected as well.
Flames are rapidly spreading across hillsides west of Athens, burning forests and filling the sky with thick smoke.
The most tragic news, however, involves a mid-air collision between two firefighting helicopters. One helicopter crashed, killing two people, while the crew on the other survived.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the collision.
Boy, 10, who died in Passaic River flooding helped save sister: Police
July’s severe flooding left more than just damaged infrastructure in New Jersey; it also told a story of remarkable courage.
Three children — two 10-year-olds and one 11-year-old — were caught in the swollen Passaic River. Just days prior, police had released a video warning about the swift current, emphasizing the extreme danger of the floodwaters.
As the children struggled, authorities say a 10-year-old boy used his final moments to push his sister toward the rocks along the shore, likely saving her life. She survived, but her brother and another child did not.
Many community members are now calling for the installation of physical barriers along the river to help prevent such tragedies in the future.
Here’s the Kicker
Feeling overwhelmed by this week’s headlines? We’ve got a good way for you to head into the end of the week.
Frozen watermelon and misting stations keep Beijing Zoo animals cool this summer
At the Beijing Zoo, keepers keep residents cool with misting stations and pools. One of summer’s favorite snacks is frozen watermelon.
The giant pandas appear quite content with these arrangements, and the polar bears seem equally satisfied. It’s a good reminder that when the heat rises, simple solutions often work best.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
