Does the Fate Of the Senate Hinge On…Montana?

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Politics

Does the Fate Of the Senate Hinge On…Montana? 

What's going on: The “last Democrat” holding a statewide office in Montana could determine whether the Senate flips red this year. Meet: Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). He has held his seat since 2007 but is now in a tough fight to keep it. His challenger, Tim Sheehy — a Trump-endorsed former Navy SEAL with no prior political experience — leads in the polls, 52% to 44%. According to The New York Times, both candidates and their political committees have spent over $100 million in the state, recognizing that the upper chamber’s at stake. While Tester has support from moderates and Native American voters — who make up 6.5% of Montana’s population — Sheehy has gained traction by campaigning on issues like border security and gun rights.

What it means: This year, Montana is among eight competitive states that Republicans and Democrats are watching. West Virginia, where Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) is retiring, is another state that’ll likely flip Republican. Whether Tester wins or loses could result in either Democrats or Republicans with a razor-thin majority or a tie in the Senate. One thing that is certain: Regardless of the outcomes, the winning party will play a major role in determining what the future president can get done in office. For now, all eyes are on Montana and its outsized impact on the future of the Senate.

Related: “I Only Met Him One Time.” How Harris Answered This Town Hall Question About Trump (AP)

Science

The Call of The Wild Is: Distress

What's going on: The world’s animals are not alright. A new study from the World Wildlife Fund found that the global animal population shrank by 73% between 1970 and 2020. Amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles all experienced declines. Freshwater species have been hit the hardest, with populations plummeting by 85%, followed by land animals, which have dropped by nearly 70%. The study recorded the most severe losses in Latin America and the Caribbean. In response to the findings, the WWF director issued a grave warning: “Nature is issuing a distress call.” This alarming decline in wildlife is closely linked to climate change and habitat destruction, which studies show is largely driven by food production. With 2023 already on record as the hottest year in history, 2024 may be even hotter.

What it means: The report says the next five years will be crucial to preserving wildlife. One expert compared the loss of animal life to the Louvre losing 75% of the art it houses. The WWF said these global declines will have a ripple effect, potentially harming the human food system, access to clean water, and contributing to climate instability. Every animal plays a role in the ecosystem — even the Chinook salmon. The WWF is urging nations to remain committed to their 2030 climate goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions. However, it says wealthy countries need to invest more into building a sustainable future, like limiting deforestation and overfishing. The Hawksbill turtle, chinstrap penguin, and many more are depending on us.

Related: How Your Grocery List Is Costing the Environment…Big Time (NYT Gift Link)

Entertainment

Trump's Biopic Hits the Big Screen. It Could Be Huge

What's going on: Before reality TV and the Oval Office, former President Donald Trump was an apprentice — at least that’s the story in a new controversial film. The Apprentice, out in theaters today, centers on Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) and his early days in real estate development in NYC. Set in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the movie shows Trump’s rise to power under the wing of ruthless attorney Roy Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong), who imparted three rules on young Don: “attack, attack, attack,” “admit nothing, deny everything,” and “no matter what happens, you claim victory.” The R-rated film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, receiving rave reviews and a nearly eight-minute standing ovation (though Trump might’ve been more curious about the crowd size). The film hit some snags. At one point, Trump’s lawyers sent the filmmakers a cease-and-desist letter, which dampened investor interest for months.

What it means: The timing of the film’s release (coming less than a month before Election Day) isn’t lost on the Trump campaign, which criticized it as “election interference by Hollywood elites.” Though The Apprentice is a dramatization, the film is still based on real events. One controversial scene depicts Trump allegedly raping his first wife, Ivana Trump, based on a statement she made in the ‘90s. Trump has denied the allegation. Meanwhile, the movie’s director Ali Abbasi insists the two-hour-long feature is “accurate and double and triple, quadruple checked journalistically and legally.” Vanity Fair journalist Gabriel Sherman wrote the script, relying on biographies of Trump and Cohn, archival footage, and interviews with people who knew Trump as a child. Still, some critics questioned whether The Apprentice was too sympathetic to Trump and Cohn. Grab the popcorn and find out.

Related: “The Insults Are Subtle and Classy” — the Reviews for Melania Trump’s Memoir Are In (Intelligencer)

Settle This

Paris Hilton name-dropped her role models growing up. Who’s on the list?

Extra Credit

Stream

In Disclaimer, the new Apple TV+ thriller, Cate Blanchett plays Catherine Ravenscroft, an acclaimed journalist and filmmaker whose reputation is threatened when she receives a gift from an anonymous sender that appears to expose the dark secrets of her past. Described as "nightmarish [and] addictive," the seven-part series — which is adapted from Renée Knight’s book of the same name — is directed by Roma’s Alfonso Cuarón and also stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Kevin Kline, and Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. Grab your popcorn.