(With the elections so close, today we start with politics).

Let’s be real: We have a pretty good idea of ​​how most of New England will vote in Tuesday’s presidential election (i.e. Donald Trump in Maine’s 2nd District and Kamala Harris everywhere else).

So I hopped into the DMs of some of the best political reporters in each of the seven swing states to ask them what they’re watching heading into the final weekend before Election Day.

ARIZONA | Stephanie Murray, Arizona Republic

I have my eye on the Phoenix suburbs, specifically Scottsdale and the communities of Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler in the east valley. It is a region with many moderate Republican voters and independents who were instrumental in Joe Biden’s narrow victory four years ago. Will they lean Democratic again this time?

Winning independents is even more important for Kamala Harris this year: The state GOP has a larger voter registration lead than in 2020. That gives Donald Trump an advantage.

GEORGIA | Greg Bluestein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There is a chance that more than half of the electorate will have already cast their ballots in Georgia before Election Day. That means both campaigns will lean even more heavily on their strategies.

For Trump, it is to boost a largely white evangelical support base and energize the male voters who fuel his advantages in the polls.

For Harris, it’s a simple approach to appealing to both liberal and black voters, who are the backbone of the Democratic coalition, while also reaching swing voters and former Republicans, such as college-educated suburban women. , whom he will need to capture in large numbers to propel Democrats to the first back-to-back victories in Georgia since Jimmy Carter was on the ballot.

MICHIGAN | Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press

I’ll be keeping an eye on whether voters in areas Trump previously won are heeding his call to vote early this time. I’m also curious to see how many voters return their absentee ballots before Election Day. Unlike 2020, Michigan election officials can begin tabulating absentee ballots before Election Day, so if voters return theirs before the deadline, it could speed up the reporting of results.

NORTH CAROLINA | Laura Leslie, WRAL-TV

I pay attention to two things: visits and participation.

So far, early turnout favors Trump. Republican PACs have been pushing GOP voters to cast their ballots early, unlike the last two elections, and turnout statistics show their voters are listening. Unless there are huge early voting lines here on Friday and Saturday, I don’t know how the Democrats win in the state.

On the other hand, I see other trends that favor Harris. Trump and Vance will spend much more time here over the last week than they have in the past. That tells me their internal polls may be making them more nervous about their prospects this year than before. Harris and Walz also spend a lot of time here, for what it’s worth.

Conclusion? I don’t know. It could literally go in any direction.

NEVADA | Jon Ralston, Nevada Independent

Republicans have taken a surprising lead in early/mail voting, so the question heading into the final weekend is whether the Democratic machine here, including the culinary union that represents many casino workers, can energize voters to close the gap. That will determine the elections here.

PENNSYLVANIA | Stephen Caruso, PA Featured

I’m watching where top representatives in Pennsylvania are heading in recent days. It’s inaccurate, but I think that tells us where and what demographics they are focusing most on with their final speech. Maybe Allentown, maybe North Philadelphia, maybe Lancaster. They all suggest different paths to achieving a winning share of Commonwealth votes.

WISCONSIN | Matt Smith, WISN-TV

I’m watching early voting totals over the weekend in key Democratic cities like Madison and Milwaukee, and what both parties may need to make up for on Election Day, with Republicans firmly pushing early voting this cycle across the country. state. If voters in Madison and Milwaukee show up in large numbers (which is still an unknown), can Republicans make up for that in the rest of the state?

Elsewhere in politics

A special seven-episode season of in our mindsa teen life podcast from PBS News Student Reporting Labs, focuses on the issues and impacts of the 2024 election for young people. (PBS News Hour)

How Donald Trump’s third bid for the presidency got so caught up in the brutal sport he loves — and how millions of fans was caricatured in the process. (Board)

Newcomers to New Hampshire have brought their political identity with them. And that will determine the outcome of these presidential elections.. (The Boston Globe)

Unlike much of the country, some Kentucky Democrats favor giving public tax money to private schools under the school choice option. It is the rural Republicans who oppose it. The controversial question will be on the ballot next week.. (The Free Press)

It’s not you, it’s us. Well, that’s very kind of you.

Nowadays no one sheds a tear for any politician, but Don Grebien at least deserves a hug. He is the longest-serving mayor of Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s fourth-largest city, and is popular enough to say he is a virtual lock to be re-elected to an eighth consecutive two-year term next week.

But lately he’s had bad luck. Three years ago, the Pawtucket Red Sox Triple A baseball team left their town for magnificent new excavations in Worcester. Grebien has not visited Polar Park or the city. he is still suing the team for allegedly leaving McCoy Stadium in deplorable conditions.

Now Grebien is watching Massachusetts invade another of its city’s most famous tenants: Hasbro. My colleague Shirley Leung reported last month that the company that created Mr. Potato Head is looking at office buildings near South Station and Southline Boston Business Center on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester, the former Boston Globe building.

“Each one is a punch in the gut,” Grebien told me this week. “They are both iconic for Pawtucket.”

He’s quick to point out that PawSox and Hasbro are different situations. He desperately tried to build a new baseball stadium in Pawtucket, but state leaders balked at the price. He ended up getting a USL soccer team out of the deal, and they’re scheduled to open a 10,000-seat stadium in Pawtucket next year.

With Hasbro, Grebein believes there are two driving forces leading the company to consider leaving: talent and airport access (Rhode Island’s TF Green International Airport has the best bathrooms in the United States, but its direct flight offerings pale in comparison). compared to Logan).

“The airport is above my pay grade, but I know they are working on it,” Grebien said. “The big obstacle is the retention of creative talent. And that is a problem at the state level.”

The prevailing sentiment within Rhode Island’s chattering class is that Hasbro is no more, but Grebien says he’s optimistic that he’ll have a competing proposal ready before the end of the year. Meanwhile, state leaders are also proposing to Hasbro a plan to move just seven miles up the road to Providence.

“I love being the underdog,” Grebien said. “But I need a win.”

MASSACHUSETTS If you heat your home or apartment with natural gas, your bill will increase by 11 to 30 percent next month. State regulators yesterday approved the increases for both Eversource and National Grid.. (The Boston Globe)

BOSTON On the other hand, if your family earns $75,000 or less, you can attend UMass Boston for free starting next year. (WGBH)

IN THE UTERUS Triplets are becoming less common in the United States. It turns out Fewer embryos are transferred. during reproductive procedures such as IVF. (CNN)

LOS ANGELES How the Dodgers became current baseball dynasty. (The bell ringer)

ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON My colleague Brian MacQuarrie delves into The complicated legacy of Archbishop Sean O’Malleywho retired this week at the age of 80. (Boston Globe)

EVERY OTHER CORNER It turns out that Even Starbucks hates you if you’re the person who orders a pumpkin spice latte with two and a half splashes of oat milk and a side of ice. (NPR)

NEWTON Singer-songwriter Rachel Platten became famous for her “fight song,” but she kind of broke it. Now she is getting her life back.. (Boston Globe)

DEATH VALLEY Some people love beaches and amusement parks. But travelers are increasingly collecting morbid points for your vacation. (Huffington Post)

SUDAN The UN scheduled an emergency meeting as the humanitarian crisis here worsens. At least 10 million people have been displaced since the war began 18 months ago, and More than half of the country’s population is at risk of hunger.. (Semafor)

PROVIDENCE Here’s some shameless self-promotion: My latest column looks at how Rhode Island’s capital is rightfully considering eliminating all school sports to close a budget hole. (Boston Globe)

Where we share our New England adventures and rate them for Starting Point readers.

Ratings: Bagged () | Tagged () | Dragged ()

The Misquamicut Club | Westerly, Rhode Island

I’m a 16 handicap golfer who doesn’t deserve to play on fancy courses, but who enjoys being friends with the right people. The Misquamicut Club is one of the elite courses in all of New England, and you can see Taylor Swift’s home from the 12th tee box. She wasn’t home on this picturesque day earlier this month when I shot a 90.

Classification: Bagged 9/10 ()

The Kittansett Club | Marion, Mass.

Geraldo Rivera affirmed that the managers would not let him join the club, but for some reason they let me hack it at the end of June. I made par in the legendary third hole and I imagined Geraldo watching from afar while I birdied the 18th hole. I don’t want to talk about how I played the rest of the holes.

Classification: Bagged 8/10 ()

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You can contact Dan McGowan at [email protected]. follow him @danmcgowan.