Trump's lead gets sliced in half in Michigan before a stunned CNN team's sleep-deprived eyes


Hang onto your coffee mugs! Early Wednesday morning, former Vice President Joe Biden cut President Trump's lead in Michigan nearly in half, leaving the bleary crew covering the election at CNN rubbing the sleep from their eyes to try to grasp what was going on.
CNN's Chris Cuomo and Phil Mattingly were routinely discussing Michigan's vote tally when their electoral map updated in real time to show Trump's roughly 60,000-vote lead sliced to 26,000, Mediaite reports. "Look," Mattingly said, momentarily stunned by the numbers, toggling with the map to confirm he was reading it right. "Donald Trump just took the lead. Donald Trump now ahead — didn't take the lead, sorry, it's been a long night. The lead narrowed. The lead narrowed."
Cuomo jumped in to clarify. "A little headline for you, since a lot of numbers come at once. We just had a change in the state of play in Michigan." According to both CNN and Fox News, that's major — because if Biden manages to beat Trump in Wisconsin as well as the Wolverine State, then he'll be "the next president." Watch the full clip at Mediaite. Jeva Lange
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Cracks appear in MAGA's pro-Israel front
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the world watches a humanitarian crisis unfold across Gaza, some of Israel's most staunchly conservative defenders have begun speaking out against its actions in the occupied territories
-
5 cultural trails to traverse by car
The Week Recommends Leave the hiking shoes at home
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire in border fight
Speed Read At least 38 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced in the recent violence
-
Israel 'pauses' Gaza military activity as aid outcry grows
Speed Read The World Health Organization said malnutrition has reached 'alarming levels' in Gaza
-
US and EU reach trade deal
Speed Read Trump's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen resulted in a tariff agreement that will avert a transatlantic trade war
-
At least 12 dead in Thai-Cambodian clashes
Speed Read Both countries accused the other of firing first
-
US and Japan strike trade deal
Speed Read Trump signed what he's calling the 'largest deal ever made'
-
28 nations condemn Israel's 'inhumane killing' in Gaza
Speed Read Countries including Australia, France, Japan and the U.K. have released a joint statement condemning Israel's ongoing attacks
-
Israeli gunfire kills dozens at Gaza aid site
Speed Read The U.N. estimates that at least 875 Palestinians have died while trying to access food in recent months