The Daily Valet. - 8/31/23, Thursday
✔️ Can We Mobilize the Middle?
Thursday, August 31st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Life is short and precious and unpredictable … check in with those you love.
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Today’s Big Story
‘Politically Homeless’
Sen. Joe Manchin and his daughter are reportedly launching a centrist political organization
It's a noble goal. Sen. Joe Manchin and his daughter Heather Manchin are looking to launch a centrist political organization. It's the latest twist in the mystery over the 76-year-old West Virginia Democrat's political future.According to the Wall Street Journal, the project comes as Manchin is weighing whether to mount an uphill effort to win re-election to the Senate in 2024 or pursue a long-shot run for president—or take on a different role in politics altogether. “The centrist senator, who represents a solidly Republican state, has been a pivotal deal maker in recent years and has flirted with becoming an independent, citing increasing frustration with both parties.” Last month, he said he was considering leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent.Heather Manchin told the newspaper in an interview that she'd registered a political nonprofit organization called Americans Together last month—adding that the effort would be separate from her father's political endeavors. A memo sent to potential donors said that the project would seek to build a coalition to “mobilize the middle” of the political spectrum and give “the politically homeless a voice.” CBS News confirmed Sen. Manchin's involvement on Wednesday, adding that it was unclear whether the organization is intended to serve as a separate political party, lift up Manchin, or back moderate politicians of all stripes. More plans are set to be announced soon, but billionaire Ken Langone, the co-founder of Home Depot, already said that he will back the new project.Of course, any third-party bid for president is unlikely to garner enough support to challenge the major parties. But with the last two presidential elections decided by tens of thousands of votes in key states, any alternative campaign could prove decisive. And with the political divide getting wider and wider, more solutions like this might be necessary.
Dig Deeper:
The viable third-party presidential option is the fever dream of American politics. CNN digs into why they never work out.
Hurricane Idalia Soldiers On
Flood Threat Shifts Toward East Coast After Storm Moves Inland
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, bringing a slew of destruction in its wake. Heavy rains spread inland along with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, as meteorologists warned of flooding and tornadoes in parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.Unlike last year's Hurricane Ian, which hit the heavily populated Fort Myers area in Florida, leaving 149 dead in the state, yesterday's hurricane blew into a very lightly populated area known as Florida's “nature coast”. High winds shredded signs, blew off roofs, sent sheet metal flying and snapped tall trees. Storm surge damage could stretch about 200 miles along Florida's west coast. But as of Wednesday evening, there were no confirmed deaths, although fatal traffic accidents in two counties may end up being storm-related Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.Idalia weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mile-per-hour winds. Some more weakening was expected overnight, but it will probably remain a tropical storm while it moves through the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas, forecasters said in their latest update. And last night's rare “blue supermoon” briefly caused additional flooding thanks to the stronger than usual high tides due to the moon's gravitational pull on Earth.
Dig Deeper:
What makes Idalia so potent? Scientists say it's feeding on intensely warm water that acts like rocket fuel.
Fentanyl Is Killing Kids
As more teens overdose on fentanyl, schools face a drug crisis unlike any other
Fentanyl's toll on American lives now includes a growing number of children. Desperate to keep the deadly synthetic opioid out of the hands of kids, Texas lawmakers enacted Tuckers Law this summer to launch an education campaign about its dangers in middle and high schools. And a similar law is being discussed in California.Fentanyl was involved in the vast majority of all teen overdose deaths—84% in 2021—and the problem has been growing. According to the CDC, fentanyl-related adolescent overdose deaths nearly tripled from 2019 to 2021. And nearly a quarter of those deaths involved counterfeit pills. The teens thought they were taking prescription-quality pills for pain and relaxation (drugs like Valium or Percocet). Only they hadn't come from a pharmacy—they were cooked with fentanyl, and just 2 milligrams of the synthetic opioid can kill you.Thankfully, the first over-the-counter naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdose, will be available in retail stores and online as soon as next week, its manufacturer said Wednesday. That will hopefully help save all-too-common accidental overdoses.
Meanwhile:
U.S. health officials are recommending easing restrictions on marijuana, which would remove it from the most restricted designation.
ESPN at the Theater?
The Worldwide Leader is bring college football games to the movies
ESPN is enlarging college football's presence in movie theaters, entering a distribution agreement with Theater Sports Network for dozens of Atlantic Coast Conference games this season—everything from the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to the Capital One Orange Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.Building on a previous venture with major exhibitor Cinemark for the three-game College Football Playoff, the new pact spans about 75 games in all, reports Deadline. “We believe movie theaters are the next great frontier for live sporting events, and we are elated with this unprecedented agreement with ESPN,” Scott Daw, the president and COO of Theater Sports Network, told The Athletic. “As we move forward, we hope to add games from additional college football conferences as well as other live sporting events.”Could one of those other live sporting events eventually be the Super Bowl? InsideHook thinks so, but maybe not until 2027 as that's the next time that ABC, which is owned by ESPN's parent company Disney, has the rights to the big game.
FYI:
For more information and a schedule of games in specific areas, you can visit Theater Sports Network.
In Other News
They're earning less from oil and spending more on war.
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Partner
Refresh Your Skincare Routine
Lumin's brilliant grooming solutions are now on sale
Regular The Daily Valet. readers are familiar with Lumin, the California-based brand that was developed in South Korea—a country famed for their cutting-edge skincare and cosmetics. They specialize in brilliant grooming solutions (like their trio skincare kit), designed specifically for men's skin that deliver real results and fast. And during the long holiday weekend, you can get 15% off sitewide w/code 15VALET. So stock up while you can.
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What We’re Buying
A packable jacket
This is an adventure-ready collaboration we're excited about. And apparently, so is everyone else because it's selling out quickly. Taylor Stitch has teamed up with Goruck for a limited edition capsule collection of gear that's designed to stand up to whatever training, travel and adventures you have planned. Our favorite piece? The packable jacket cut from fast-drying and moisture-wicking ToughDry fabric. It's got double-layer shoulder construction, abrasion resistance throughout and tough-as-nails YKK zippers. Plus, it just looks cool.
Get It:
Deploy packable shell, $198 by Taylor Stitch x Goruck
Partner
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Meridian will ensure you feel fresh
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Want to feel good about your body? You need to put in the work. Of course, that means building up an arsenal of products created specifically to tackle various concerns. Which is exactly what Meridian specializes in. Their products are engineered to keep unruly hair at bay while ensuring you feel fresh, dry and cool all day long, in any situation. And right now, you can you get 15% off any purchase w/code 15VALET.
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Morning Motto
You’ve gotta stretch to grow.
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