Pride Match, Ballot Battles: Washington Leaders Push LGBTQ Rights as Iran-Egypt Face Off in World Cup

Washington state House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Senate President Jamie Pedersen—openly gay leaders—are teaming with LGBTQ groups to defeat two transgender-related ballot measures while hoping the World Cup’s Iran-Egypt match spotlights inclusive messaging beyond Seattle; the piece also notes Florida’s GOP World Cup-driven event, Pew’s finding of waning global confidence in U.S. leadership, a major counter-drone effort at World Cup venues, and Norway’s diplomacy through soft power around the tournament.