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Donald Trump's presidency has been a disaster, but he has succeeded beyond his wildest expectations in one key way: getting attention attention that fills the void where the rest of us have a soul.

Trump's victory exposed the party establishment as utterly broken now Dems hope to rebuild in time for a 2018 comeback

The bad news for the rest of us is Trump isn't going away anytime soon. But the good news is that it's not only possible but crucial to pay less attention to the president. That's because fighting back against Trumpism doesn't begin at the top, with Trump himself. It begins with winning back the state legislatures that draw electoral maps and make the rules that shape elections.

Yes, state legislatures are a tough topic to get excited about. Most voters cannot even name their state reps. Yet when we think about some of the worst developments in modern politics voter suppression, purged voter rolls, ruthless gerrymandering, abortion restrictions, Neanderthal educational policies, brutal sentencing and policing "reforms" they emanate not from D.C., but from state capitols. Right now Democrats control 31 of 98 partisan state legislative chambers nationwide.

Read that again. That's less than one in three. That's not lagging behind that's getting blown the hell out.

Of course the most regressive parts of the right-wing agenda will become reality when Republicans control state legislatures this lopsidedly. Trump is increasingly the focal point of politics on the left, but he is not the one who stacked the deck in favor of the right over the past two decades. Republican success at every level is built upon control of state legislatures that dictate essential aspects of elections.

How long is the early voting period? Will mail-in or absentee ballots be easy to acquire? How strict is the voter ID requirement? When is the registration deadline? Can felons and ex-felons vote? Are voting locations convenient, and do they have sufficient equipment? How will votes be counted and verified? Don't look to Trump or Congress for answers to any of these critical questions. The GOP uses state-level power to answer them, and has effectively suppressed the vote in recent elections.

Then there's the matter of redistricting. The 2010 Republican victory was both overwhelming and well-timed for the party. Between 2010 and 2012, GOP-dominated redistricting tilted the electoral landscape in Republicans' favor. Redistricting after 2020 will follow the same lamentable trajectory if Democrats cannot make inroads in state houses. In the era of Big Data and geographic information systems, redistricting is a precise science, not an art. The party that controls the process can put its thumb on the scale for a decade.

Institutions matter more than policy in the short run, but it's worth remembering that loosening the GOP stranglehold on state legislatures will also produce policy benefits in areas like education, the administration and distribution of social programs (food stamps, unemployment benefits, public health programs) and criminal justice issues.Some of the things coming out of state legislatures make Paul Ryan look like Trotsky. These are not abstractions, but matters of life and death for many people.

So what can be done?

The payoff of being politically active simply is greater in down-ballot races. House and Senate races are of course important, but the marginal benefit of adding one more volunteer to those campaigns is small compared to what an activist can contribute to a local race. Throwing your donation and evening volunteering hours into the miasma of money and noise that is a modern congressional race is like spitting into the ocean. In a local race, the time and money you can donate will be much more impactful. Knocking on doors and speaking to a few hundred voters on behalf of an unknown candidate in a state assembly primary could make a real difference.

It goes without saying, of course, that Trump matters. His nihilistic brand of politics is a real threat to millions of Americans. Resisting his dangerous agenda remains essential. However, there is a downside to paying so much attention to Trump and so little to less sensational parts of the system. So maybe today, instead of reading a 50th story about Trumpian antics (spoiler alert: He did a stupid thing because he is a stupid person), research who's running or considering running in your state Senate and House elections. Is there a progressive challenger you could support in the primaries? Turnout in midterm election primaries is very low. Getting involved at that stage can make a real difference.

The"midterm loss" phenomenon and the colossal embarrassment that the Trump presidency has been suggest that Democratic candidates will have the wind at their backs in 2018. The timing is perfect to get serious about down-ballot races and start chipping away at the dominant position Republicans hold in state capitols across the country.

Donald Trump is not the problem with the GOP; he is the symptom of the party's top-to-bottom absence of principles and willingness to manipulate rules. If progressives focus exclusively on Trump, that makes it easier it is for Republicans at other levels to push their loathsome agenda forward. So give it a shot: Try paying a bit less attention to the loud-mouthed clown and a lot more to the low-key races that will determine control of America's electoral future. The country will be better off for it.

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The Case for Paying Less Attention to Donald Trump - RollingStone.com

Republican support for the Senate health care bill is falling, after a report predicted 22 million people would lose insurance. Here are some key takeaways.

Undocumented immigrants in the United States appear to be avoiding medical treatment, out of fear they might be deported.

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In Britain, the Conservatives signed a deal with Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party that will allow Prime Minister Theresa May to govern, after she lost her majority in the recent general election.

And Mrs. May pledged that E.U. citizens currently living legally in Britain would not be asked to leave the country after its exit from the bloc.

Separately, the authorities are racing to identify and evacuate dozens of high-rises wrapped in the same kind of combustible cladding as Grenfell Tower in London, where a fire killed at least 79 people.

A regulatory gap allowed the claddings American manufacturer to sell the product for use in towers in Britain, despite a ban in the U.S.

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Climate conundrum: The amount of carbon dioxide humans are pumping into the air seems to have stabilized but data gathered at the worlds monitoring stations (like the one above in Australia) shows that excess carbon dioxide is still on the rise.

One terrifying possibility is that the worlds natural sponges for the greenhouse gas, like the ocean, are no longer able to keep up.

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We bring you news of the great male skirt rebellion of 2017.

French bus drivers suffering through last weeks heat wave were among the men conducting a sartorial revolt against dress codes barring shorts.

Our top fashion critic says the design crowd actually seems to be far more comfortable with skirts than shorts on men. Odds are, we are going to see more of it, she predicts. Employers had better get ready.

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Finally, The New York Times has set up the Reader Center, a forum for our journalists to speak directly to you about our coverage.

In one of the first such posts, a top editor addresses a frequent complaint that we are overly focused on U.S. politics.

You can contact the Reader Center at nytnews@nytimes.com.

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European Union officials are expected to issue a record fine of at least $1.2 billion against Google as soon as today for breaking the regions competition rules. Above, Margrethe Vestager, the blocs competition chief.

There was widespread criticism of Italys decision to use billions in taxpayer money to wind down two banks, and of the E.U.s swift approval.

American hedge funds are taking their aggressive strategies to Europe, where companies have fewer tools to thwart activist investors.

Amazons newest Echo smart speaker has a touch screen.

Heres a snapshot of global markets.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany softened her opposition to gay marriage, saying Conservative lawmakers could deviate from the partys position in a future vote of conscience. [Deutsche Welle]

In France, a court rejected a request to establish a shelter for migrants but ordered the local authorities to allow the distribution of aid. [France 24/Le Monde]

In Moscow, a jury could soon reach a verdict in the trial of five men accused of killing Boris Nemtsov, a leading Russian opposition figure, in 2015. [TASS]

A Swedish tourist kidnapped by Islamist militants in Mali in 2011 has returned home. A South African fellow traveler remains missing. [Radio Sweden]

Liu Xiaobo, the jailed Chinese Nobel Peace laureate, has been transferred to a hospital to be treated for late-stage cancer. [The New York Times]

In Brazil, President Michel Temer was charged with corruption. [The New York Times]

A court in Madrid ruled that exhuming Salvador Dals corpse was the only way to resolve a womans claim that she is the Surrealist painters daughter. [The New York Times]

Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life.

Give biking to work a try. Start with our guide.

If you find yourself nodding off at your desk today, take a nap. Itll do wonders for your productivity.

Recipe of the day: A cucumber and yogurt salad sprinkled with dill and sour cherries is a great complement to a hearty main dish.

New Zealand won the Americas Cup, the most prestigious prize in yachting. The Kiwis took calculated risks to overcome tight budget constraints.

Thousands of patients may receive incorrect cancer diagnoses each year because of biopsy mix-ups. And heres how to make sense of shifting advice on prostate cancer screenings.

In the French village of Courances, about an hours drive south of Paris, a furniture designer and a restaurateur find silence (for her) and outstanding produce (for him).

Today is Seven Sleepers Day, which both celebrates an ancient legend and supposedly predicts the weather in the German-speaking parts of Europe.

The legend stretches back centuries. It involves a group of seven youths who escaped religious persecution by hiding in a cave, where they slept for hundreds of years before awakening.

More practically speaking, the days weather is thought to foretell conditions for the rest of the summer, similar to the way Groundhog Day predicts the arrival of spring in the U.S.

Above, a hiker on Herzogstand Mountain in southern Germany.

According to one saying, If Seven Sleepers is wet, it rains unceasingly. More precisely, if it rains on June 27, it will pour for seven weeks.

The days predictive power is helped, as Germanys weather service explains, by the jet stream, which stabilizes around this time, providing, with some variation, a consistent forecast.

(Confusing matters, the days name in German is Siebenschlfertag, which is nearly identical but unrelated to Siebenschlfer, the word for a type of dormouse common in Europe that hibernates for about seven months.)

Palko Karasz contributed reporting.

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This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here.

Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online.

What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com.

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Donald Trump, Theresa May, Angela Merkel: Your Tuesday Briefing - New York Times

WASHINGTON The Trump administration could begin barring some people from six majority-Muslim countries under its revised travel ban as early as this week, after the U.S. Supreme Court partially reinstated the controversial executive order ahead of hearing the case in the fall.

In October the justices will consider arguments that the order discriminates against Muslims, and the Trump administrations defense that the measure is crucial to national security.

The court kept in place an injunction that exempts people with a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States such as students, researchers or family members from the temporary moratorium. In those cases, the court reasoned, the concrete claim of hardship on the entrants outweighs the administrations national security claims.

But in most cases, where no such family, work or other relationship exists, the court is allowing the government to enforce the policy for the first time, noting that the equities relied on by the lower courts do not balance the same way in that context.

The Trump administration cheered the unsigned order from the high court as a victory, and White House officials said enforcement of the order will begin as soon as Thursday. The six targeted nations Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen have been identified as sources of terrorism and the government said it sought the temporary ban to improve vetting procedures.

Trump called the ruling a clear victory.

My number one responsibility as Commander in Chief is to keep the American people safe, Trump said in a statement. Todays ruling allows me to use an important tool for protecting our Nations homeland.

But three of the courts justices and some experts said the decision to allow the travel ban in some cases but not others could create uncertainty and more problems.

Three justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Trump-appointee Neil Gorsuch said in a separate opinion that they would have lifted the partial injunction entirely, citing in part the confusion it could create.

I fear that the Courts remedy will prove unworkable, Thomas wrote on the three justices behalf.

Todays compromise will burden executive officials with the task of deciding on peril of contempt whether individuals from the six affected nations who wish to enter the United States have a sufficient connection to a person or entity in this country, he stated.

The decision to allow the ban to go into limited effect, raises more questions than it answers, said Elizabeth F. Cohen, associate professor of political science at Syracuse University, noting that the case may not be heard at all.

The justices asked the parties to brief the additional question of whether the challenge will become moot by the time the case comes before the court in the fall. That indicates the court could dismiss the case altogether if the ban, which applies to foreign entrants from 90 days and Syrian refugees for 120 days, has run its course by then.

Neal Katyal, the veteran Supreme Court litigator representing Hawaii in the challenge against the travel ban, tweeted: Partial victory? Hmmm. Time will tell, but 6-3 (decision) leaving injunction of travel/refugee bans intact for US-connected people very significant.

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Donald Trump calls ruling 'victory,' experts wary - Boston Herald

Alec Baldwin isnt putting away the blonde wig and orange bronzer just yet.

The actor confirmed he will return to Saturday Night Live with his revered Donald Trump impression in the fall.

Yeah, were going to fit that in. I think people have enjoyed it, he told CNN. His busy schedule will keep his parody impersonations to a minimum though, with fans getting a couple celery sticks rather than a whole meal. In March, Baldwin mentioned he might not be back to Studio 8H for SNL at all because he didnt know how much more the audience could take of it.

Trump himself isnt necessarily a fan of Baldwins work, taking to Twitter to call his impersonation unwatchable.

Still, SNL can likely give a nod to Baldwins Trump along withMelissa McCarthys press secretary Sean Spicer for its most watched season in 23 years. In addition a guest role in a number of episodes, Baldwin hosted SNL for a record 17th time during its 42nd season.

Baldwin emphasized his decision to stick with the role is not out of necessity.

You get a little bit older and you think, Do I want to work right now? For me the question is not what do I want to do [its] do I want to do anything? Do I want to work? I dont need to work, he said. Do I want to work or do I want to just take it easy and smell the roses or do something else? When I decide I want to go to work I look at whats out there and pick something thats the best thats available to me.

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Alec Baldwin Confirms He Will Return to 'SNL' as Donald Trump - Variety

The European Tour is considering hosting the 2019 Scottish Open at President Donald Trumps golf course, according to reports, a decision that is expected to be met with resistance.

According to The Guardian, Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, is the favored venue for Aberdeen Asset Management,sponsorof the 2019 Scottish Open.

On Thursday, the tour revealed that Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland,would host next years tournament. An announcement for the following year is not expected anytime soon, but the report says Trumps course is the favorite to host.

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Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, on June 25. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Trump International Golf Linksopened in 2012, with European Tour officials said to have made several visits to the site to consider the viability of holding the event there.

A spokesperson for the European Tour told The Guardian: No decision on future venues of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open has been taken beyond 2018. Our focus is on delivering a successful championship, with its strongest field to date, at Dundonald Links next month, followed by our return to Gullane next year.

The Donald Trump Organization is currently being run by his sons Donald and Eric, but Trump has indicated how keen he is to see the Tour travel to his course.

In 2015, he said, The Scottish Open is coming. The Scottish Open wants to be here forever, they think this is the best course theyve ever seen.

Next months U.S. Womens Open isbeing held atthe Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey, and there have been protests against the venue.

Trump is a longtime golf fan and competitor, and his time in officehas notquelled his interest. On Saturday, The Independent reported that Trump spent the30th day of his presidency visiting one of his golf courses.

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Donald Trump's Golf Club in Scotland May Cause Even More Problems for President - Newsweek