Dems' midterm chances? Maybe better than expected.

Plus, the EU fines Google $4 billion.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Help us reach our goal   We're committed to keeping our work, including our midterm coverage, free, because we believe that an informed electorate is critical to the future of American democracy. Will you help us reach our goal of 5,000 gifts by September 30? Yes, I'll Give Abortion and Trump could improve Democrats' midterm election chances; the EU upholds a multibillion-dollar fine against Google.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS What we learned from the 2022 primaries Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images The primary election season effectively ended Tuesday. As the US moves into midterm season, it's unclear which party has the advantage. [USA Today / David Jackson] The incumbent party typically loses congressional seats during midterms, but the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and growing threats to democracy have boosted Democrats in recent polling. [New York Times / Jonathan Weisman] Still, the GOP is favored to win the House, while Democrats may narrowly keep the Senate. [FiveThirtyEight] On the Senate side, the GOP is struggling with candidate quality, having nominated a number of far-right election deniers and inexperienced candidates over establishment figures. [Washington Post / Colby Itkowitz and David Weigel] Investigations into former President Donald Trump could weaken the GOP's support with independent voters. [CBS News / Ed O'Keefe, Aaron Navarro, and Rebecca Kaplan] It's too early for Democrats to celebrate, however. Adverse developments in the economy or inaccuracies in polling could hand the GOP a larger-than-expected victory. [Vox / Andrew Prokop] 📍 Go deeper Vox's Rachel Cohen explains what Republicans could do if they win Congress in November. [Vox / Rachel Cohen] The EU upholds a  $4 billion fine against Google Wednesday, an EU court upheld a multibillion-dollar fine Google was ordered to pay in 2018 for violating competition laws. [NYT / Adam Satariano] The court slightly reduced the fine to a record $4 billion; the tech company was found guilty of placing unlawful restrictions on Android manufacturers to promote market dominance in its apps and search engines. [The Verge / James Vincent] Wednesday's decision could strengthen current EU investigations into the business practices of tech giants like Apple and Amazon. [Associated Press / Kelvin Chan] Meanwhile, South Korea fined Google $50 million and Meta $22 million on Wednesday for collecting and analyzing user data without consent. [Reuters / By Soo-Hyang Choi and Joyce Lee] MISCELLANEOUS The share of US children living in poverty has plunged 60 percent since 2019, fueled by a cash-based pandemic safety net. [Vox / H. Luke Shaefer, Patrick Cooney, and Betsey Stevenson] Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrived at the UK Parliament where her body will lie in state until her funeral Monday. [BBC] Northeastern University reopened with enhanced security Wednesday after officials determined a package that injured an employee didn't contain explosives. [CNN] WHO's director-general says the end of the coronavirus pandemic is "in sight" as weekly deaths sank to their lowest point since March 2020. [NBC News / Aria Bendix] Help us reach our goal   We're aiming to add 5,000 financial gifts from readers by Sept 30. Give today to help keep Vox free Give VERBATIM "As a forecaster, I prefer it when all the signs are one way or the other. That is not the case in 2022." [J. Miles Coleman, a congressional election analyst at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, on 2022 midterms / NYT] LISTEN TO THIS An Alzheimer's uproar In July, a bombshell report in Science magazine suggested that a key Alzheimer's study might have contained manipulated evidence. What does this mean for more than a decade's worth of research? And where does the field go from here?   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox The case for Democratic optimism — and pessimism — in the midterms How to (actually) stay friends with an ex China is committing genocide. The world has no plan to stop it. The Twitter whistleblower made a convincing case that Twitter is a mess What Republicans would do if they win back Congress This email was sent to vox@quicklydone.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.