• Democrats begin publicity tour to convince US on Covid rescue plan
• Romney wants US to boycott Beijing Olympics
• Stacey Abrams calls efforts to restrict voting ‘Jim Crow in a suit’
• Sign up to receive First Thing – our daily briefing by email

2.50pm GMT

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas seems to be proposing a slightly different approach that the United States should take to the Olympics. He writes in an op-ed for Fox News that there should be no boycott:

Our athletes should go to Beijing next year proudly, bring home medal after medal, and show the world what it means to compete on behalf of a free society. We shouldn’t give China an easy way to run up its medal count by preventing Americans from going to the Olympics.

2.30pm GMT

Ohio has emerged as an intersection of the major internal dynamics at play in the Democratic and Republican parties. That’s because Senator Rob Portman, a Republican, is retiring.

On the left, Nina Turner, a longtime ally of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is hoping to tap into the energy of the Sanders sect of the left. Here’s The Wall Street Journal’s Eliza Collins:

A year ago, President Biden was wrapping up the Democratic nomination, helped by strong support among Black voters. His top rival, Mr. Sanders, had promised a liberal future, drawing the largest crowds and the most money. Still, voters chose Mr. Biden and his message of unity and incrementalism, and the race for the Democratic presidential nomination was over by the time Ohio staged its primary.

Now, Ms. Turner is hoping to capitalize on the same energy, but with different results. She says she will push Democratic leaders to the left on healthcare, climate and the economy if elected. She didn’t rule out joining with a handful of liberal members to threaten to vote against legislation if it doesn’t include progressive priorities.

CANTON, OH – U.S. Senate candidate Jane Timken applauded Rep. Mike Loychik’s effort to rename Mosquito Lake State Park after the 45th President.

“After swinging Trumbull County towards Republicans by more than 20 points in 2016, President Trump increased his margin by another 4 points in 2020. It is clear Trumbull County and Ohio supports President Trump,” Timken said. “In order to recognize the promises President Trump kept to the people of Ohio and Trumbull County, I fully support renaming our state park Donald J. Trump State Park.”

Continue reading…
Source: The Guardian