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FYI. Nobody can replace Hunter's dad, but Tom Vilsack would be a good choice.

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Liz Schrayer <Liz@schrayer.com<mailto:Liz@schrayer.com>>
Date: July 14, 2016 at 10:24:05 AM EDT
To: "Dan.Glickman@aspeninstitute.org<mailto:Dan.Glickman@aspeninstitute.org>" <Dan.Glickman@aspeninstitute.org<mailto:Dan.Glickman@aspeninstitute.org>>
Subject: Fwd: The Daily 202: Keep an eye on Tom Vilsack in Hillary Clinton’s veepstakes

You may be right!

Liz@schrayer.com<mailto:Liz@schrayer.com>

Begin forwarded message:

From: The Washington Post <email@e.washingtonpost.com<mailto:email@e.washingtonpost.com>>
Date: July 14, 2016 at 9:55:54 AM EDT
To: liz@schrayer.com<mailto:liz@schrayer.com>
Subject: The Daily 202: Keep an eye on Tom Vilsack in Hillary Clinton’s veepstakes

Agriculture secretary, apparently being vetted, brings a lot to the table


If you're having trouble reading this, click here.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/view/544d12dc3b35d04a528e277849bjg.5w6s/bae7b1db>
[The Daily 202]<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwL2NhdGVnb3J5L3RoZS1kYWlseS0yMDIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bc0ee9ccb>
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Keep an eye on Tom Vilsack in Hillary Clinton’s veepstakes<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3BhbG9tYS9kYWlseS0yMDIvMjAxNi8wNy8xNC9kYWlseS0yMDIta2VlcC1hbi1leWUtb24tdG9tLXZpbHNhY2staW4taGlsbGFyeS1jbGludG9uLXMtdmVlcHN0YWtlcy81Nzg3MGEzN2NkOTY5MjZiZGY0MDkyYjYvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bc84dfd82>
[Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)</p>]

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

[https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/pr2/da92c88a2f3c6958009de9885e634f36-250-0-james_hohmann.jpg]

THE BIG IDEA: Tim Kaine will get his V.P. tryout with Hillary Clinton at a community college in Annandale this afternoon. Conventional wisdom holds that the Virginia senator is a, if not the, favorite to be her running-mate.

But there’s increasing chatter among some tip-top Democrats that another white guy – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – could be emerging as a real contender late in the process. He’s a sleeper, but he has several qualities that make him appealing to the Clintons.

Vilsack declined to answer questions about whether he’s being vetted during an interview on MSNBC<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tc25iYy5jb20vbXRwLWRhaWx5L3dhdGNoL3RoZS13cy10cnVtcC12LWdpbnNidXJnLTcyNDU4MTk1NTc5MD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B575b084f> last night, referring questions to the campaign. That’s a surefire indicator that he’s being considered.

[Hillary Clinton campaigns in Springfield, Ill. (AP/Andrew Harnik)</p>]

Hillary Clinton campaigns in Springfield, Ill. (AP/Andrew Harnik)

Here’s why Vilsack makes sense—

-- He’s not a lightning rod. Clinton wants the election to become, as much as possible, a referendum on Donald Trump. That benefits the relatively unobjectionable, “safe” figures on her list. Vilsack was Iowa’s governor from 1999 to 2007. When Barack Obama appointed him Agriculture Secretary, he was confirmed by unanimous consent. He’s the only cabinet secretary who has served during the president’s full tenure. He’s a low-risk choice.

-- Clinton is known for putting an immense premium on loyalty, and Vilsack has a deeper and longer-term relationship with her than anyone else being considered. Vilsack’s brother-in-law became friends with Hillary Rodham in 1972 when they worked together on the congressional committee investigating Watergate. When he was a longshot candidate for governor in 1998, Hillary helped him raise money. “Without her support I may not have won,” Vilsack wrote in an op-ed endorsing her for the Cedar Rapids Gazette<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVnYXpldHRlLmNvbS9zdWJqZWN0L29waW5pb24vdmlsc2Fjay13aHktaW0tc3VwcG9ydGluZy1oaWxsYXJ5LWNsaW50b24tMjAxNTA4MjU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B2302e3ad> last year. “Why did she do it? Loyalty.” (Vilsack tried briefly to run for president in 2007 but dropped out and endorsed Clinton.)

-- He could potentially deliver Iowa. If you had to rank the states Obama won in 2012 that Trump could realistically pick off, Iowa would be relatively high. It’s one of several reasons that The Donald was intrigued by Sen. Joni Ernst – besides the fact she is a woman and a veteran – before she took herself out of contention.

A poll of Iowa released yesterday by the Wall Street Journal, NBC and Marist University shows Clinton leading Trump by just 3 points (42 percent to 39 percent), which is within the margin of error. Their previous poll of the state had her up 8 points in a head-to-head match-up.

Vilsack remains popular back in the Hawkeye State, and he deserves some credit for her very narrow win over Bernie Sanders in the caucuses.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley told the Waterloo Courier<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3djZmNvdXJpZXIuY29tL25ld3MvbG9jYWwvZ292dC1hbmQtcG9saXRpY3MvZ3Jhc3NsZXktZXJuc3Qtcy1jYWxsLW9uLXZwLWJpZC12aWxzYWNrLWdvb2QtZGVtcy9hcnRpY2xlXzU4NjlhNGU3LTk1MWUtNTU0Yy1iMDFhLTdkNWFmYTBhNzRiZi5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Beb6f4413> last month that Vilsack would be a good pick for Clinton, giving him high marks as head of the USDA and noting that tapping him would signal how seriously the Democrats want Iowa. “He’s clean … ethically very clean,” Grassley said.

[Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, one of the Clintons' closest allies, holds a press conference with Tom Vilsack on June 30 in Abingdon, Va., after a town hall meeting on the opioid epidemic. (Earl Neikirk/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)</p>]

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, one of the Clintons' closest allies, holds a press conference with Tom Vilsack on June 30 in Abingdon, Va., after a town hall meeting on the opioid epidemic. (Earl Neikirk/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)

-- Vilsack is a well-known figure across rural America, where Democrats (and Clinton) have struggled. As Agriculture Secretary, he’s spent seven years traveling to rural areas where national figures rarely go, bringing welcome news about federal appropriations. During the 2014 midterms, when Obama was toxic in some of the key Senate battlegrounds, Vilsack was still an in-demand administration surrogate. Narrowing the margin among rural voters by just a few points might help Clinton win a couple states that could be close. (While the Pittsburgh native is a lawyer by training, he was a small-town mayor before getting elected to the state legislature in 1992.)

In January, Obama tapped<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2FncmljdWx0dXJlLXNlY3JldGFyeS10by1sZWFkLWVmZm9ydC1hZGRyZXNzaW5nLXJ1cmFsLWFyZWFzLXN0cnVnZ2xlcy13aXRoLWRydWdzLzIwMTYvMDEvMTQvMmZiNjE2ODQtYmIwNS0xMWU1LWI2ODItNGJiNGRkNDAzYzdkX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Beee32a4a> Vilsack to lead an interagency effort focused on addressing rural America’s struggle with heroin and opioid abuse. He has been aggressively traveling the country this summer<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uaDEuY29tL25ld3MvdXMtYWdyaWN1bHR1cmUtc2VjcmV0YXJ5LXRvbS12aWxzYWNrLWluLW5oLXRvLXRhY2tsZS1vcGlvaWQtY3Jpc2lzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bb544b81a> to talk about the government’s strategy.

-- He doesn’t potentially jeopardize the balance of power in the Senate. Unlike Elizabeth Warren or Sherrod Brown.

[President Obama holds a Cabinet meeting in the summer of 2012. Both Vilsack and Clinton were at the table. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)</p>]

President Obama holds a Cabinet meeting in the summer of 2012. Both Vilsack and Clinton were at the table. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

-- He’s a bridge to Obama. With the president’s approval rating rising, Clinton is essentially running to serve Obama’s third term. Vilsack’s work in the administration could help her make that case as she tries to galvanize the Obama coalition.

-- He’s not offensive to the Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party. He does not have ties to Wall Street.

-- One hiccup there: Vilsack, like Obama, actively supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership, touting it as especially beneficial for farmers. Clinton was an early cheerleader for the TPP negotiations, but she flipped under pressure from labor and the protectionist left. Downplaying the divide, the Ag secretary sounded a conciliatory tone during his MSNBC sit-down last night, saying that the deal will either pass or fail before the next president takes office. “TPP is in Congress’s hands,” Vilsack said. “Everybody likes trade; the issue is trade agreements.”

He then accepted the premise of a question about how he and Clinton could run together with different positions on the trade. “It’s kind of like a marriage,” he said. “I don’t agree with my wife on everything, although she isn’t right 100 percent of the time. And that’s the way this relationship would work.”

-- Precedent: Henry Wallace, an Iowan like Vilsack, was Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of Agriculture during his first two terms and then tapped to be vice president for his third term. Had FDR not dumped him for Harry Truman as he sought a fourth term in 1944, Wallace would have become president. He challenged Truman from the left as the Progressive Party’s candidate in 1948 and got 2.4 percent of the vote. Anyone who has read about Wallace and knows Vilsack, though, will reassure you they are very different kinds of politicians…

-- What Vilsack does not bring:

While he was once chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, he’s not a feisty attack dog – traditionally the role that the vice president plays.

Farmers know the 65-year-old. Hispanic and African Americans, millenials and single women – constituencies with which Clinton needs to run up the score – by and large do not.

Vilsack also does not speak Spanish, a la Kaine.

That said, he has worked to develop relationships with communities of color. Just yesterday, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) gave him its “Agency of the Year” award during its conference in Washington. “Vilsack told the group that he was adopted and so doesn't know his heritage. ‘When I see a group like this I say well, maybe I am Latino,’ Vilsack joked,” according to an account from NBC Latino<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYmNuZXdzLmNvbS9uZXdzL2xhdGluby9zaGlmdGluZy1zYW5kZXJzLWNsaW50b24td29ya3Mtc29tZS1sYXRpbm9zLW42MDg4MTE_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bf5a2a016>. “At the event, he announced $26 million for housing for farmworkers, telling the crowd the worse poverty he had seen was when he went to live with farmworkers in McAllen, Texas.” Clinton addresses the same group today.

[Tim Kaine heads into a Democratic lunch in the Capitol last week. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)</p>]

Tim Kaine heads into a Democratic lunch in the Capitol last week. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

-- Today, though, is Tim Kaine’s day. (My colleague Paul Schwartzman wrote a profile of the senator that just posted online. Read it here.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2xvY2FsL3ZpcmdpbmlhLXBvbGl0aWNzL3doYXRzLWEtbmljZS1ndXktbGlrZS1zZW4tdGltLWthaW5lLWRvaW5nLWluLWEtcmFjZS1saWtlLXRoaXMvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9mNzk2NTY1Mi00N2EzLTExZTYtYmRiOS03MDE2ODc5NzQ1MTdfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B2f6d83b0>)

-- What a difference eight years makes: While now he is considered Clinton’s safest choice, in 2008 Kaine was perceived as a risky pick when he was on Obama’s short list. Largely that was because he had only been elected governor two years earlier, and he had no foreign policy experience. “And that presented a potential weakness when matched with Obama’s own brief tenure in the Senate,” Paul Kane notes in an astute column<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RoZS1saWtlbHktZW5kLW9mLWFuLWVyYS13aXRoLXZpY2UtcHJlc2lkZW50cy1hcy1jb25ncmVzc2lvbmFsLWVtaXNzYXJpZXMvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9jZTgyZGY2Yy00OTMxLTExZTYtOTBhOC1mYjg0MjAxZTA2NDVfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bf7007a1c>. Getting slammed for his opposition to the Iraq surge and with the world a tinderbox, Obama picked Joe Biden – who had spent 36 years as a senator, including a dozen years as the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. “Now, after (just) three-plus years on the Senate’s Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, Kaine is presented as the old hand compared with the competition.” (Vilsack’s been passed over before, too. John Kerry considered him in 2004 before going with John Edwards.)

-- Clinton has the luxury of not needing to make her decision until after she knows who Trump has chosen. She will be able to think about how her potential picks will match up against Mike Pence, Chris Christie or Newt Gingrich when they debate at Longwood University on Oct. 4.

Welcome to the Daily 202, PowerPost's morning newsletter.
With contributions from Breanne Deppisch (@<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9icmVhbm5lX2RlcD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B55a25a29>breanne<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9icmVhbm5lX2RlcD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778C55a25a29>_dep) and Elise Viebeck (@eliseviebeck<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9lbGlzZXZpZWJlY2s_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B2f7a6d9a>) Sign up to receive the newsletter.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwL2NhdGVnb3J5L3RoZS1kYWlseS0yMDIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Cc0ee9ccb>
[Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Theresa May to Buckingham Palace yesterday. She formally invited the Home Secretary to become Britain's new Prime Minister, the way it works across the pond. (Dominic Lipinski/EPA)</p>]

Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Theresa May to Buckingham Palace yesterday. She formally invited the Home Secretary to become Britain's new Prime Minister, the way it works across the pond. (Dominic Lipinski/EPA)

GET SMART FAST:​​

1. Former London Mayor Boris Johnson, who had been the early favorite to replace David Cameron as prime minister before withdrawing, will now be Foreign Secretary. (Ishaan Tharoor<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3Mvd29ybGR2aWV3cy93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2JvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24tYnJpdGFpbnMtbmV3LXRvcC1kaXBsb21hdC1oYXMtc2FpZC1zb21lLXZlcnktdW5kaXBsb21hdGljLXRoaW5ncy8_dGlkPXBtX3BvcF9iJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B6e87f827>)
2. Congress passed the opioid addiction treatment bill before leaving for a nearly two-month recess. Most Democrats think the legislation will be ineffective because there's not enough funding to make a real difference. Republicans see the measure as political gold because vulnerable incumbents like Rob Portman and Kelly Ayotte now have a marquee accomplishment they can tout back home. (Karoun Demirjian<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvb3Bpb2lkLWJpbGwtc2V0LXRvLWNsZWFyLWNvbmdyZXNzLXRoaXMtd2Vlay1kZXNwaXRlLW9uZ29pbmctZnVuZGluZy1maWdodC8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B450597cd>)
3. Members of the House Freedom Caucus filed a motion to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, defying Republican leaders who don't believe he deserves to be removed. (Politico<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNy9mcmVlZG9tLWNhdWN1cy1maWxlcy1pcnMtaW1wZWFjaG1lbnQtbWVhc3VyZS0yMjU0OTg_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B09f9a4a3>)
4. The House Science Committee inserted itself into a multi-state ExxonMobil investigation, issuing a “slew” of subpoenas to state attorney generals related to an ongoing securities fraud probe. (Buzzfeed<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6emZlZWQuY29tL2RhbnZlcmdhbm8vZXh4b24taW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi1mYWNlcy1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9uP3V0bV90ZXJtPS52d3hwRVdqNU4md3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMiMuaG9YZHdLUmth/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bdbce4a8e>)
5. The Senate confirmed Carla D. Hayden to be the 14th Librarian of Congress, making her the first woman and the first African American to hold the post. (Peggy McGlone<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvYXJ0cy1hbmQtZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2NhcmxhLWhheWRlbi1jb25maXJtZWQtYXMtMTR0aC1saWJyYXJpYW4tb2YtY29uZ3Jlc3MvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Ba0b47b0e>)
6. A Chinese businessman who pleaded guilty to hacking sensitive U.S. military information was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He participated in a years-long plot to steal technical data for the communists. (Matt Zapotosky<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3dvcmxkL25hdGlvbmFsLXNlY3VyaXR5LzQ2LW1vbnRoLXNlbnRlbmNlLWZvci1idXNpbmVzc21hbi13aG8taGVscGVkLWNoaW5lc2UtbWlsaXRhcnktaGFja2Vycy1zdGVhbC1kYXRhLWZyb20tdXMtZGVmZW5zZS1jb250cmFjdG9ycy8yMDE2LzA3LzEzLzg4MDdkMzVjLTQ5NDYtMTFlNi1iZGI5LTcwMTY4Nzk3NDUxN19zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B308c5d00>)
7. Russian authorities briefly detained – and then deported – the chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors. The diplomatic skirmish comes as John Kerry prepares to travel to the country to meet with Vladimir Putin on a U.S. proposal to coordinate counterterrorism operations in Syria. (Karen DeYoung and Andrew Roth<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3dvcmxkL3J1c3NpYS1kZW5pZXMtZW50cnktdG8taGVhZC1vZi11cy1nb3Zlcm5tZW50LWZ1bmRlZC1tZWRpYS1hZ2VuY3kvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy83NWIyYmQ0YS1kMWJmLTRlZjctODU5Yi02YmUxM2ZkNTBjN2Rfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B87ce0e26>)
8. Kerry's effort to coordinate air attacks in Syria with Russia has opened a deepening rift in the administration. Some senior national security officials insist it could quiet Syria’s civil carnage and further larger counterterrorism goals. Others consider it a counterproductive sellout to the Kremlin. (Karen DeYoung<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3dvcmxkL25hdGlvbmFsLXNlY3VyaXR5L2FzLWtlcnJ5LXB1c2hlcy1mb3ItY29vcmRpbmF0aW9uLXdpdGgtcnVzc2lhLWluLXN5cmlhLW90aGVycy1pbi1hZG1pbmlzdHJhdGlvbi1jcnktZm91bC8yMDE2LzA3LzEyLzgzNjIzMDA4LTQ4NGQtMTFlNi1iZGI5LTcwMTY4Nzk3NDUxN19zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bb3a26cfe>)
9. Fiat Chrysler will begin rewarding hackers. The automaker has offered up to $1,500 to anyone who can expose vulnerabilities in its cars' software. The announcement comes after two researchers hacked into a 2014 Grand Cherokee – remotely – turning the wheel, disabling brakes and shutting down the engine from afar while the vehicle was driving 70 mph on a highway. (Jacob Bogage<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLXN3aXRjaC93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2ZpYXQtY2hyeXNsZXItd2lsbC1wYXkteW91LTE1MDAtaWYteW91LWNhbi1kby10aGlzLW9uZS10aGluZy10by1pdHMtY2Fycy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B42fdd112>)
10. Immunotherapy drugs have revolutionized cancer treatment – but they're also sparking the emergence of new, genetically-altered tumors that become immune to the treatment. UCLA researchers are trying to figure out why. (Laurie McGinley<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdG8teW91ci1oZWFsdGgvd3AvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9oZXJlLWFyZS1zb21lLXdheXMtY2FuY2VyLWNhbi10aHdhcnQtdGhlLW5ldy1pbW11bm90aGVyYXB5LWRydWdzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Be97df131>)
11. The FEC fined three nonprofit groups formerly connected with the Koch political network, a rare intervention by the commission into the world of outside spending. (New York Times<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8yMDE2LzA3LzE0L3VzL3BvbGl0aWNzL2tvY2gtZmVkZXJhbC1lbGVjdGlvbi1jb21taXNzaW9uLWZpbmVzLmh0bWw_bXRycmVmPXVuZGVmaW5lZCZnd2g9M0MxQkE3ODUyMUYzQTg4QThBNjk5RjEyN0I2ODFBRTMmZ3d0PXBheSZfcj0wJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B56e6d087>)
12. NBC correspondent Luke Russert announced he is leaving the network, saying he “plans to take some time away from political reporting” and focus on non-journalistic endeavors. (Read his statement<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9MdWtlUnVzc2VydC9zdGF0dXMvNzUzMjUwNjM5MjU0MTI2NTkyP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B32e97e3b>.)
13. Armstrong Williams, a central figure in the failed campaign of Ben Carson, stands accused of sexual harassment and retaliation by a man in his late 20s. Williams denies wrongdoing. (Erik Wemple has the details.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2Jsb2dzL2VyaWstd2VtcGxlL3dwLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvYXJtc3Ryb25nLXdpbGxpYW1zLW5hbWVkLWluLXNleHVhbC1oYXJhc3NtZW50LXN1aXQvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B6a2859d0>)
14. Bernie Sanders finally stopped getting Secret Service protection. His detail said goodbye after he returned to D.C. from New Hampshire. ( Los Angeles Times<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy9sYS1uYS10cmFpbGd1aWRlLXVwZGF0ZXMtMTQ2ODM2MzMzMi1odG1sc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Ba9f3d693>)
15. New York cops swarmed Brooklyn, raiding bodegas and questioning suspects after 33 people overdosed from synthetic marijuana in a single day. One resident likened the scene to a zombie movie after watching three people collapse. (New York Times<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8yMDE2LzA3LzE0L255cmVnaW9uL2syLW92ZXJkb3Nlcy1icm9va2x5bi1wb2xpY2UtcmFpZHMuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B036d22ac>)
16. Two months before the 2-year-old was killed by an alligator at Disney’s Grand Floridian resort, firefighters at Walt Disney World were warned to stop feeding the reptiles. The firefighters, who were admonished in emails obtained by the Orlando Sun-Sentinel<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdW4tc2VudGluZWwuY29tL25ld3Mvb3MtZGlzbmV5LWVtZXJnZW5jeS1zZXJ2aWNlcy1maXJlZmlnaHRlcnMtZmVlZGluZy1nYXRvcnMtMjAxNjA3MTMtc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B12769e39>, were less than a half-mile from where Lane Graves tragically drowned.
17. Utah lawmakers voted to give authorities permission to down drones that fly too close to wildfires, after it was revealed that the small aircrafts have interfered with firefighting efforts in the state. (AP<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL2FiY25ld3MuZ28uY29tL1BvbGl0aWNzL3dpcmVTdG9yeS91dGFoLXZvdGVzLWF1dGhvcml0aWVzLWRpc2FibGUtZHJvbmVzLXdpbGRmaXJlcy00MDU2MzY0Mz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bee86fe29>)
18. Dr. Phil and his wife filed a quarter-million-dollar lawsuit against the National Enquirer, accusing the tabloid of libel and malicious defamation. The lawsuit focuses on a series of Enquirer-launched allegations that Dr. Phil abused his wife. (Travis M. Andrews<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvbW9ybmluZy1taXgvd3AvMjAxNi8wNy8xNC9kci1waGlsLWFuZC13aWZlLXJvYmluLXN1ZS10aGUtbmF0aW9uYWwtZW5xdWlyZXItZm9yLTI1MDAwMC1taWxsaW9uLWNpdGluZy1kZWZhbWF0aW9uLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B0b207cd0>)
19. A community in central England became the first in that country to label misogyny a “hate crime,” criminalizing actions such as street harassment, catcalling – even unwanted text messages or picture-taking – as part of the broad new measure. (Elahe Izadi<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3Mvd29ybGR2aWV3cy93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzE0L2hhcmFzc2luZy13b21lbi1vbi10aGUtc3RyZWV0LWp1c3QtYmVjYW1lLWEtaGF0ZS1jcmltZS1pbi10aGlzLWNvdW50eS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B3ded0739>)
20. Denver police staged a bizarre wildlife rescue mission after a black bear locked himself inside a Subaru. The 17-year-old owner, who discovered the bear “tossing stuff around” in her backseat and chewing at her steering wheel, said she was late to work. (Elahe Izadi<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvbW9ybmluZy1taXgvd3AvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy90aGlzLWlzLXdoYXQtaGFwcGVucy13aGVuLWEtYmVhci1nZXRzLWludG8teW91ci1zdWJhcnUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B5bb8ba44>)

[https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/pr2/13f3d824885c673a485f7341bd2a1e0a-550-0-069c186c495211e68dac0c6e4accc5b1_video.jpg]<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3Mvc2VuLXRpbS1zY290dC1naXZlcy1tb3Zpbmctc3BlZWNoLW9uLXJhY2UtcG9saWNpbmcvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy8wNjljMTg2Yy00OTUyLTExZTYtOGRhYy0wYzZlNGFjY2M1YjFfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B3f6838a1>
Sen. Tim Scott gives moving speech on race, policing

[http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142951&layout=marquee&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324]<http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142951&layout=marquee&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324>

[http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142954&sz=116x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324]<http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142954&sz=116x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324> [http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142955&sz=69x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324] <http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142955&sz=69x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324>

THE LONG, HOT SUMMER OF DISCONTENT CONTINUES:

-- South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott delivered a powerful Senate floor speech on policing and race in America, sharing personal anecdotes as he addressed the “trust gap” between the black community and law enforcement. The only black Republican senator described seven humiliating incidents with the police since winning office. “I do not know many African American men who do not have a very similar story to tell, no matter their profession, no matter their income, no matter their disposition in life," he said. “The vast majority of time, I was pulled over for nothing more than driving a new car in the wrong neighborhood, or some reason just as trivial. Imagine the frustration, the irritation, the sense of a loss of dignity that accompanies each of those stops.”

Another time, Scott said, he was entering one of the Senate’s offices wearing the pin that identified him as a member of Congress. An officer stopped him, demanding his identification. “I was thinking to myself: Either he thinks I’m committing a crime, impersonating a member of Congress, or what?” Scott said. “While I thank God I have not endured bodily harm, I have, however, felt the pressure applied by the scales of justice when they are slanted. I have felt the anger, the frustration, the sadness and the humiliation that comes with the feeling that you are being targeted for being nothing more than yourself.” Watch a 2.5-minute clip from the senator's speech here<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3Mvc2VuLXRpbS1zY290dC1naXZlcy1tb3Zpbmctc3BlZWNoLW9uLXJhY2UtcG9saWNpbmcvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy8wNjljMTg2Yy00OTUyLTExZTYtOGRhYy0wYzZlNGFjY2M1YjFfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778C3f6838a1>.

David Weigel notes <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL29uLXRoZS1zZW5hdGUtZmxvb3ItYmxhY2stZ29wLXNlbmF0b3ItdGFsa3Mtb2YtZGlzcmVzcGVjdC1mcm9tLXBvbGljZS8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2RiNjdjN2RlLTQ5NDktMTFlNi1iZGI5LTcwMTY4Nzk3NDUxN19zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B5604a1d0> that Scott, whose political career began 21 years ago on Charleston’s City Council, joined Congress in 2010 by defeating one of the sons of former senator Strom Thurmond. “The good Lord has given me a soapbox, and I’m going to use this soapbox to talk about what needs to be spoken about,” the senator told his home town newspaper this week.

-- Only 26 percent of Americans think race relations are getting better, according to a fresh New York Times/CBS News<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jYnNuZXdzLmNvbS9uZXdzL25lZ2F0aXZlLXZpZXdzLW9mLXJhY2UtcmVsYXRpb25zLXJlYWNoLWFsbC10aW1lLWhpZ2gtY2Jzbnl0LXBvbGwvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bb913364e> poll, an 11-point drop from 2015 and a 40-point drop since 2009. Seven in 10 Americans think race relations are getting worse. These are historically bad numbers.

* Three in four African Americans believe the police are more likely to use deadly force against a black person than a white person. Meanwhile, a majority of white Americans (56 percent) think race “doesn't make a difference” in the use of deadly force by police.
* 41 percent of Americans said they agree with the Black Lives Matter movement, while 25 percent said they disagree. Support is concentrated among African Americans (70 percent) while white Americans are more divided, with 37 percent supporting the movement and 31 percent opposing it.

-- Obama held a closed-door meeting with 33 civil rights, law enforcement and state and local government representatives yesterday, seeking to forge a consensus on how best to address racial bias in policing. “I do not want to gloss over the fact that not only are there very real problems, but there are still deep divisions about how to solve these problems,” he told reporters after the huddle. “We have to, as a country, sit down and just grind it out, solve these problems. (Juliet Eilperin<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL29iYW1hLWh1ZGRsZXMtd2l0aC1wb2xpdGljaWFucy1wb2xpY2UtYW5kLWFjdGl2aXN0cy1vbi1yYWNpYWwtYmlhcy1pbi1wb2xpY2luZy8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2E5MmZhOWY2LTQ5MmQtMTFlNi05MGE4LWZiODQyMDFlMDY0NV9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bd69b66c5>)

-- “Empty cells and hotels: Cleveland takes stock before the convention comes to town<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25hdGlvbmFsL2VtcHR5LWNlbGxzLWFuZC1ob3RlbHMtY2xldmVsYW5kLXRha2VzLXN0b2NrLWJlZm9yZS10aGUtY29udmVudGlvbi1jb21lcy10by10b3duLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvYTRmZjVkZGUtNDkxNi0xMWU2LWJkYjktNzAxNjg3OTc0NTE3X3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bb8352a85>,” by Mary Jordan and Wesley Lowery: “The Cleveland jails are being emptied and its courts are staying open until 1 a.m. in case of mass arrests. Riot gear, handcuffs, body cameras — police equipment that cost tens of millions of dollars — are ready, and more than 70 law enforcement and government agencies are on alert. … The close proximity of thousands who love or loathe Trump is what law enforcement is most worried about. The fact that Ohio has an open-carry law, allowing people to walk into crowds carrying a rifle if they have a permit, compounds safety concerns. ‘I’m not telling people to bring guns, and I’m not telling people to leave their guns at home,’ said Tim Selaty, the Houston-based founder of Citizens for Trump. Selaty said he is encouraging people to livestream themselves during protests for their own security."

“At least half a dozen of the most prominent Black Lives Matter leaders [across the country] have been contacted by the FBI in recent days," Mary and Wes report. "The FBI describes the visits as community outreach, but some see it as warning not to show up at the convention. ‘The agent basically told me not to go to Cleveland,’ said Sam Sinyangwe, an activist in San Francisco … who said an agent came to his home this week.”0

-- NBA superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul spoke out about race relations during last night’s ESPY awards, condemning racial profiling in black communities as well as any retaliation efforts. “Enough is enough,” said Wade. (Des Bieler<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvZWFybHktbGVhZC93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL25iYS1zdXBlcnN0YXJzLWlzc3VlLWNhbGwtdG8tYWN0aW9uLWZvci1mZWxsb3ctYXRobGV0ZXMtaW4tYXBwZWFyYW5jZS1hdC1lc3B5cy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bfcfb89fe>)

-- At a Wal-Mart in McKinney, Texas, a former employee slit the throat of an off-duty firefighter. It is believed he was intentionally targeted. A Dallas Police officer heading back from a colleague’s funeral responded to the incident. (CBS DFW<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL2Rmdy5jYnNsb2NhbC5jb20vMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9icmVha2luZy1zdGFiYmluZy1hdC13YWxtYXJ0LWluLXByaW5jZXRvbi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bbe835fe9>)

-- Three Republican senators filed a bill to step up penalties against anyone who intentionally targets police officers, making such actions punishable by up to 30 years in jail. The measure is authored by Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, along with North Carolina's Thom Tillis.(Karoun Demirjian<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvYWZ0ZXItZGFsbGFzLXRleGFzLXNlbmF0b3JzLWxhdW5jaC1iaWQtdG8tcHVuaXNoLXRob3NlLXdoby10YXJnZXQtY29wcy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B8b2b3d71>)

-- The ACLU filed a lawsuit against Baton Rouge police, accusing officers of violating the constitutional rights of people protesting the death of Alton Sterling. The group accuses officials of “physically and verbally abusing demonstrators, threatening protesters with pepper spray and using ‘objectively excessive force’ during arrests,” Mark Berman<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1uYXRpb24vd3AvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9ncm91cHMtc3VlLXBvbGljZS1pbi1iYXRvbi1yb3VnZS1wb2xpY2UtYW5kLWFjY3VzZS10aGVtLW9mLXZpb2xhdGluZy1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzLXJpZ2h0cy8_dXRtX3Rlcm09LjY5MTgxOThiYzMxNCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B18ec8b05> reports.

-- Meanwhile, Sterling’s 15-year-old son, who appeared inconsolable in a press conference last week, delivered a speech calling for peace and begging the public to come together “as one united family.”

-- Three first responders in South Carolina were fired for insensitive social media posts about the Black Lives Matter movement, two days after a Columbia fire captain was dismissed over a Facebook post in which he threatened to run over protesters blocking traffic. “It’s not clear what those comments were, since they have been deleted," Sarah Kaplan writes<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1uYXRpb24vd3AvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy90aHJlZS1zLWMtZmlyc3QtcmVzcG9uZGVycy1maXJlZC1mb3ItdGhyZWF0ZW5pbmctY29tbWVudHMtYWJvdXQtcHJvdGVzdGVycy8_dXRtX3Rlcm09LmUxOWUyOWZmMGJhYiZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B17f73da7>. "But a Columbia Fire Department spokesman told the Associated Press that the men were fired as part of the same investigation that led to the dismissal of Capt. Jimmy Morris, a 16-year veteran of the department, on Monday. Morris had reportedly written on Facebook: ‘idiots shutting down I-126. Better not be there when I get off work or there is going to be some run over dumb a—.’ The Black Lives Matter protest, which blocked part of the interstate Sunday night, was legally sanctioned.”

-- During her half-hour speech at the old State House in Illinois, Clinton acknowledged that she at times has contributed to the nation’s partisan division. “I realize that our politics have contributed to the sense of division that many Americans feel right now,” she said. “And as someone in the middle of a hotly-fought political campaign, I cannot stand here and claim that my words and actions haven't sometimes fueled the partisanship that often stands in the way of progress. So I recognize I have to do better, too.”

She didn’t go into additional detail, pivoting instead to attacks on her opponent: “Donald Trump’s campaign adds up to an ugly, dangerous message to America. A message that you should be afraid — afraid of people whose ethnicity is different, or whose religious faith is different, or who were born in a different country or hold different political beliefs.” (John Wagner and Abby Phillip<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2NsaW50b24tbGFtYmFzdGVzLXRydW1wLWFzLXVuZml0LXRvLWxlYWQtYS1jb3VudHJ5LWRlYWxpbmctd2l0aC1yYWNlLXZpb2xlbmNlLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvYWNiODc3YzAtNDhmZi0xMWU2LWJkYjktNzAxNjg3OTc0NTE3X3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B6633df31>)

[Hillary Clinton speaks at the Old State House. (Reuters/Whitney Curtis)</p>]

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Old State House. (Reuters/Whitney Curtis)

A PANOPLY OF POLLS SHOWS CLINTON’S LEAD NARROWING ACROSS THE BATTLEGROUNDS, apparently driven by fallout over James Comey’s speech last week:

-- Trump and Clinton are tied in Ohio at 39 percent, down from a 6-point Clinton advantage in March, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYmNuZXdzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy9maXJzdC1yZWFkL3BvbGxzLWNsaW50b24tYWhlYWQtb3ItZXZlbi1taWR3ZXN0LWJhdHRsZWdyb3VuZHMtbjYwODY1MT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B7e9e0b5a> poll. In Pennsylvania, Clinton tops Trump by 9 points, compared to a 15-point lead in April. There are large numbers of undecided voters. And, as noted in the big idea, she’s up 42-39 in Iowa, down from 8 points earlier. "The good news for [Clinton] is that she is still even or ahead of [Trump] in these three critical states in the aftermath of the FBI's report,” said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff. "The bad news for her is the contest has gotten closer in all of these states, and the issue does not seem to be going away anytime soon."

An editor at the Journal flags remarkable racial disparities in their crosstabs:

[https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/pr2/c93e399ccae0b087423b438a88b165f8-540-0-753300478402801664width540embedTypetwitter.jpg]<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9OS2luZ29mREMvc3RhdHVzLzc1MzMwMDQ3ODQwMjgwMTY2ND93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B950f7481>
[https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/pr2/5532ec8179b501852338261c3f8e6a0d-540-0-753298230159429632width540embedTypetwitter.jpg]<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9OS2luZ29mREMvc3RhdHVzLzc1MzI5ODIzMDE1OTQyOTYzMj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bc4d77396>

-- Clinton has also ceded ground in Wisconsin: She now leads Trump 43-37 in a Marquette University Law School<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly9sYXcubWFycXVldHRlLmVkdS9wb2xsLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bf6a51387> survey. In a head-to-head matchup, her lead shrinks to a 4-point margin, down from 9 points last month.

-- Clinton gained on Trump in COLORADO, however. She leads by 10 points (44-34) in a Fox News<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mb3huZXdzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL2ZveC1uZXdzLXBvbGwtdHJ1bXAtdHJhaWxzLWNsaW50b24taW4tY29sb3JhZG8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B8ace1890> poll of the state. She leads among whites with a college degree (47-30) and voters who are “extremely” interested in the election (50-43). She also enjoys stronger party base support, with 81 percent of Democrats backing her to 75 percent of Republicans backing Trump.

-- Nearly four-fifths of white evangelical voters plan to vote for Trump: 78 percent of white evangelicals said they would vote for Trump if the election were held today, according to a new Pew Research Center<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wZXdmb3J1bS5vcmcvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9ldmFuZ2VsaWNhbHMtcmFsbHktdG8tdHJ1bXAtcmVsaWdpb3VzLW5vbmVzLWJhY2stY2xpbnRvbi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B45068af6> poll, with 36 percent saying they “strongly” back his campaign.

* Support for Trump among evangelicals is even stronger right now than it was for Mitt Romney in 2012: At that time, nearly three-quarters of white evangelical voters said they planned to vote for the Mormon, with one-quarter saying they “strongly” supported him.
* Roman Catholics, meanwhile, favor Clinton by 17 points.
* She also enjoys an advantage among the religiously unaffiliated (68-26). But they are somewhat less enthusiastic about her candidacy than Obama’s: 26 percent of the religiously unaffiliated say they “strongly” support her, while 37 percent said the same of Obama in 2012.

-- Gallup's polling finds that a full one-quarter of American adults view both Trump and Clinton unfavorably — “a figure that's more than twice as high as those who disliked both Romney and Obama in 2012,” Philip Bump<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzE0L2EtcXVhcnRlci1vZi1hbWVyaWNhbnMtZGlzbGlrZS1ib3RoLW1ham9yLXBhcnR5LXByZXNpZGVudGlhbC1jYW5kaWRhdGVzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bc3a74f72> notes. “Only 4 percent of Americans viewed both Trump and Clinton favorably. Everyone else fell into the camps you'd expect: Liking one candidate and disliking the other. Who are these people that dislike both candidates? According to Gallup, more than half are independents, which makes sense. They also tend to be younger, suggesting that there may be some overlap here with supporters of Sanders.”

[Technicians check the lighting on the main stage at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland yesterday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)</p>]

Technicians check the lighting on the main stage at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland yesterday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION STARTS IN FOUR DAYS:

-- A tentative schedule of speakers in Cleveland, per the New York Times’ Jeremy Peters<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8yMDE2LzA3LzE0L3VzL3BvbGl0aWNzL3JlcHVibGljYW4tY29udmVudGlvbi1zcGVha2Vycy1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAuaHRtbD9yZWY9cG9saXRpY3MmX3I9MCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B3e186127> and two sources with “direct knowledge of the convention planning." Among the surprise names is Peter Thiel, who funded Hulk Hogan's litigation against Gawker.

* Night 1 will have a Benghazi focus, followed by border patrol agents and a man whose son was killed by an undocumented immigrant. Tom Cotton, Rudy Giuliani, Melania Trump and Joni Ernst are scheduled to speak.
* Night 2 will focus on the economy. Among the scheduled speakers are the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship; Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas; Michael Mukasey, the former U.S. attorney general; Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn; Senator Mitch McConnell; Tiffany Trump; Donald Trump Jr. and Scott Walker.
* Night 3 will be headlined by the V.P. nominee. Speakers: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Newt; Ted Cruz; Eric Trump.
* Night 4 will end with Trump accepting the nomination. Speakers include Tim Tebow; Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee; Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma; RNC chair Reince Priebus; Gov. Rick Scott of Florida; and Ivanka Trump.

-- Without naming specific nights, the RNC just blasted out a longer list of speakers that included: Congressman Ryan Zinke, Michael McCaul, Chris Collins, Sean Duffy and Marsha Blackburn; Mike Huckabee; West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito; Ben Carson; Harold Hamm; and Jerry Falwell Jr.

-- Missing from the above list: Don King, Sarah Palin and Tom Brady, all of whom Trump has said he would like to speak.

-- A poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5nbG9iYWxzdHJhdGVneWdyb3VwLmNvbS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAxNi8wNy9CdXNpbmVzcy1hbmQtUG9saXRpY3MtSW5mb2dyYXBoaWMtRmluYWwucGRmP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B655eeb7a> finds that a majority of consumers and the general public do not want companies to pay to sponsor the Republican convention. Financing Trump’s coronation could hurt a company’s reputation, the Democratic firm found in a survey shared first with The 202. From the firm: “Americans want companies to engage with political issues, and believe they have an impact when they do. Recently, a number of companies have made news by withdrawing their sponsorship of the RNC. In a recent survey, GSG found that three in five Americans approve of these companies’ decision.

* 57% would “be embarrassed to work for a company that sponsored the Republican National Convention given Donald Trump is the presidential nominee.”
* 44% of Americans would be less likely to “support or follow on social media” a company that supported the convention.
* 42% of Americans are less likely to “recommend this company to a friend or family member.”
* 39% of Americans are less likely to “buy this company’s products or services.” (More details on the poll here<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5nbG9iYWxzdHJhdGVneWdyb3VwLmNvbS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAxNi8wNy9CdXNpbmVzcy1hbmQtUG9saXRpY3MtSW5mb2dyYXBoaWMtRmluYWwucGRmP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778C655eeb7a>.)

-- The Democratic National Convention is slated to have a star-filled opening night, featuring remarks from Elizabeth Warren, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders, Abby Phillip and Dan Balz<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL3NhbmRlcnMtd2FycmVuLW1pY2hlbGxlLW9iYW1hLWxpa2VseS1zcGVhay1vbi1kZW1vY3JhdGljLWNvbnZlbnRpb25zLW9wZW5pbmctbmlnaHQvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B7e1fa10c> report. “Although the speaking schedule isn't yet set in stone, the jam-packed Monday night is also expected to include Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) will introduce Warren. According to another source familiar with the convention planning, the night's theme will be an economic agenda focused on families."

-- Pennsylvania's governor announced that he will allow some Philly bars to remain open until 4 a.m. during the week of the DNC. (NBC Philadelphia<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYmNwaGlsYWRlbHBoaWEuY29tL25ld3MvbG9jYWwvRGVtb2NyYXRpYy1OYXRpb25hbC1Db252ZW50aW9uLVBoaWxhZGVscGhpYS1BbGNvaG9sLUJhcnMtNC1hbS0yLWFtLTM4NjcyMDgxMS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B826e9b17>)

-- The Narrative: “Trump promises ‘showbiz,’ but GOP stars will skip convention<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wLXByb21pc2VzLXNob3diaXotYXQtY29udmVudGlvbi1idXQtc3RhcnMtb24tc3RhZ2Utd2lsbC1iZS1yZWxhdGl2ZWx5LWRpbS8yMDE2LzA3LzEzLzJlMjhkMTRlLTQ0NTMtMTFlNi1iYzk5LTdkMjY5Zjg3MTliMV9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Ba1d9dc91>,” by Philip Rucker: “For months now, Trump has promised that his convention would be unlike any other — a dazzling, spectacular affair that soars above traditional political theater. But ... next week in Cleveland, he will showcase an assortment of family members, defeated primary opponents and politicians whose names barely register with the general public. … The star-power disparity between the [Republican and Democratic] conventions speaks volumes about the state of the two parties — one is united and marching together toward what it hopes will be its fifth win of the past seven presidential elections, while the other remains divided and still not fully accepting its new standard bearer.”

Quote du jour from Republican strategist Rick Wilson: “Republicans have always had a terrible star-power deficit ... but this year it’s going to be even more pronounced,” the outspoken Trump critic told Rucker. “It’ll be like a hostage video of people forced on stage. ... 'On Earth 2,' you’d be showing the Republican Party isn’t this stupid white boys’ club. But Donald Trump has rejected everybody who’s not in the stupid white boys’ club. At this point, we might as well have a giant cross burning out front."

-- An especially large contingent of GOP senators is also staying home next week.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2xhcmdlLW51bWJlci1vZi1nb3Atc2VuYXRvcnMtc2tpcHBpbmctdHJ1bXBzLWNvbnZlbnRpb24vMjAxNi8wNy8xNC8zNzI4NGU2Yy00OTk2LTExZTYtOGRhYy0wYzZlNGFjY2M1YjFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bd0493ce0> The AP’s Erica Werner tried to make a list: “Sen. Steve Daines of Montana will be fly-fishing with his wife. Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said he has to mow his lawn (yes, he has one even in Arizona). Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska will be traveling her state by bush plane. And Sen. John McCain of Arizona will be visiting the Grand Canyon, and joked that his friend Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina would be coming along and might even fall in (just kidding, an aide later clarified).” Also not attending: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson.

[The RNC has recommended Rina Shah Bharara be reinstated as a convention delegate next week in Cleveland. (Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post)</p>]

The RNC has recommended Rina Shah Bharara be reinstated as a convention delegate next week in Cleveland. (Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post)

[http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142956&layout=marquee&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324]<http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142956&layout=marquee&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324>

[http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142959&sz=116x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324]<http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142959&sz=116x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324> [http://li.washingtonpost.com/imp?s=142960&sz=69x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324] <http://li.washingtonpost.com/click?s=142960&sz=69x15&li=daily202&m=ad5c109bfefaffa0b0d5267d38af671c&p=7153324>

-- An important, if symbolic, victory for freedom of conscience: The RNC contests committee has reinstated Rina Shah Bharara as a D.C. delegate. She was stripped of her position by Trump hard-liners because she had called him a “racist, misogynist flip-flopper” earlier this year and said she might vote for Clinton instead. A majority of the D.C. delegation are supporters of the “Never Trump” movement, Aaron C. Davis reports.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2xvY2FsL2RjLXBvbGl0aWNzL3RoZS1ybmMtaXMtaGVscGluZy10aGlzLWFudGktdHJ1bXAtZGVsZWdhdGUtZ2V0LXRvLWNsZXZlbGFuZC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzLzY2NTA5OTY0LTQ5MGItMTFlNi05MGE4LWZiODQyMDFlMDY0NV9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Be0bab108>

[Trump and Gingrich in Cincinnati (AP/John Minchillo)</p>]

Trump and Gingrich in Cincinnati (AP/John Minchillo)

THE DONALD'S VEEPSTAKES:

-- Trump's televised contest for V.P. is approaching its season finale. He says he will announce his pick tomorrow at 11 a.m. in New York City. Of course, it could leak out before then…

-- He met privately with the apparent finalists in Indianapolis yesterday. One by one, he had sit-downs with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, former Speaker Newt Gingrich and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

“The day carried the lure of intrigue: Trump initially was expected to depart Indiana on Tuesday evening, hours after Pence had a well-received audition for the running-mate role at a raucous rally," Jose A. DelReal and Robert Costa<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3dpdGgtZGVjaXNpb24tbmVhci10cnVtcC1tZWV0cy13aXRoLXBvdGVudGlhbC1ydW5uaW5nLW1hdGVzLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvMWYwYWIzZDAtNDkwZC0xMWU2LWFjYmMtNGQ0ODcwYTA3OWRhX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B1a751b06> report. "Instead, after his plane experienced unidentified mechanical issues, he dined with Pence Tuesday night in downtown Indianapolis and visited the governor’s residence Wednesday morning.” He was joined by Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner; his sons Donald Jr. and Eric; and campaign chairman Paul Manafort. “Gingrich, who is considered a finalist, was not aware of the Pence meeting until he saw news reports … But he flew to Indiana on Wednesday morning to meet with Trump. Sessions was spotted boarding a flight to Indiana on Wednesday afternoon.”

-- Gingrich’s flight to Indiana was paid for by Fox News host Sean Hannity, CNN<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDcvMTMvcG9saXRpY3MvbmV3dC1naW5ncmljaC1zZWFuLWhhbm5pdHktZm94LW5ld3MtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bbee7a450>’s Dylan Byers and Dana Bash reported. Hannity defended himself on Twitter<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zZWFuaGFubml0eS9zdGF0dXMvNzUzMzk1MjAxNTkxNDA2NTkyP3JlZl9zcmM9dHdzcmMlNUV0Zncmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bb68a20e2>: "I have known Newt Gingrich since 1990 (I emceed his event the night he became Speaker of the House in 1994) he has been a long term, very dear friend of mine and is a private citizen. Whatever favors I do for my friends is my business.”

-- “If Pence is the pick, it will come as a relief to (campaign chairman Paul) Manafort, who is pushing hard for him. According to multiple sources, Manafort has long been opposed to selecting Gingrich to the ticket (and to a lesser extent Christie), believing that the loquacious former speaker would be undisciplined and difficult to manage," Politico’s Eli Stokols and Nolan D. Mccaskill<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNy90cnVtcC1taWtlLXBlbmNlLW1lZXRpbmctMjI1NDcyP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfZGFpbHkyMDI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bede3177f> report. Trump son-in-law Jared "Kushner would prefer Gingrich, according to multiple sources involved in campaign deliberations. That's at least in part driven by his relationship with GOP mega-donor and Republican Jewish Coalition founder Sheldon Adelson, who is pushing Gingrich, as well as his own antipathy toward Christie (who indicted his father). On a phone call with Manafort on Tuesday, pollster Tony Fabrizio, armed with new data showing Trump and Hillary Clinton statistically tied in Florida and Virginia, reportedly expressed his belief that retired Gen. Michael Flynn, a registered Democrat also on Trump's short list, would be a smart choice.”

-- “Gingrich is a vice-presidential finalist, but his last campaign is still millions in debt<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2dpbmdyaWNoLWlzLWEtdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwtZmluYWxpc3QtYnV0LWhpcy1sYXN0LWNhbXBhaWduLWlzLXN0aWxsLW1pbGxpb25zLWluLWRlYnQvMjAxNi8wNy8xMy9kYzNhNjQ4YS00ODRjLTExZTYtYWNiYy00ZDQ4NzBhMDc5ZGFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bf82e84b8>,” by Matea Gold and Rosalind S. Helderman: His 2012 campaign committee owes more than $4 million to about 100 vendors. "The charges echo a long pattern of leveraging political stature for personal financial gain that has characterized the career of the 73-year-old speaker-turned-pundit. That reputation, combined with Gingrich’s lingering campaign debt, could make for an awkward fit on the ticket as Trump seeks to capitalize on voter anger at the political elite."

* “After two decades in Congress, Gingrich did not follow the revolving-door tradition of lobbying … But his business empire relied on selling access to his celebrity … generating close to $100 million in revenue in the decade after he left. Among the ventures: a for-profit think tank that lured members with promises of ‘access to Newt Gingrich’ and ‘direct Newt interaction.’”
* “Like the Clintons, Gingrich has been active on the paid lecture circuit, earning as much as $60,000 per appearance, according to his speaker’s bureau posting. At one point, he was delivering 50 to 80 paid speeches a year."

-- Gingrich spoke at length about Trump during a closed-door speech to the Republican State Leadership Committee in February, candidly mixing admiration and skepticism for the mogul months before he began angling to be his V.P. ProPublica’s Robert Faturechi<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucHJvcHVibGljYS5vcmcvYXJ0aWNsZS93aGF0LW5ld3QtZ2luZ3JpY2gtcmVhbGx5LXRoaW5rcy1vZi1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B7f6ea319> got the audio: Gingrich said Trump “is not a conservative, speaks to voters ‘at the lowest level of any candidate in either party,’ and could lose in a landslide if he didn’t significantly change his approach to campaigning. [He] suggested Trump’s move from campaigning to governing would be challenging: ‘How we make the transition from, you know, language for fourth graders to real policy, I don’t know.’”

-- National Review Editor Rich Lowry makes the case for Newt<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vbWFnYXppbmUvc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNy90aGUtY2FzZS1mb3ItbmV3dC0yMTQwNDU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF9kYWlseTIwMg/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B59cb8754>: “Trump is going to need a wingman who can believe six impossible things before breakfast; who can defend the Muslim travel ban during those times when it is Trump’s position and skate away from it during those times when it’s not; who can take any new controversy of the hour, defend it and explain it away and look forward to the next one with relish … Pence is a stolid, respectable conservative who thinks running away and joining the carnival sounds alluring … But the carnival isn’t as much fun as it looks from a distance if you aren’t cut out for an itinerant lifestyle of operating the Tilt-A-Whirl or hawking dubious games of skill and chance.”

But Gingrich has real advantages, Lowry writes. He “loves the game and would relish his unlikely return to the top of it like, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, the saved and the thankful. … He can embed Trumpism in a larger, more sophisticated argument about the country than Trump can, and do it vastly more eloquently. Besides, if the GOP is committed to a brash, unpredictable and divisive candidate at the top of the ticket, it might as well go all the way. Pick Newt, and let her rip.”

-- Some conservatives, led by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, are trying to muster up an 11th-hour Stop Christie movement.

-- Inside Trump’s head: “I'm narrowing it down,” he told Bret Baier on Fox News last night. “I'm at three, potentially four. But in my own mind, I probably (at) two.” He didn’t specify who.

[https://palomaimages.washingtonpost.com/pr2/43e3afd5792e8e2c80c8466187d8e9a3-540-0-753370614853951488width540embedTypetwitter.jpg]<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9tal9sZWUvc3RhdHVzLzc1MzM3MDYxNDg1Mzk1MTQ4OD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B1597f3f1>

-- Trump is seeking $10 million in damages from fired campaign consultant Sam Nunberg, alleging that the once key aide “went out of his way” to make derogatory remarks about his former employer in violation of a confidentiality agreement. From Sean Sullivan<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA3LzEzL3RydW1wLXNlZWtzLWRhbWFnZXMtZnJvbS1mb3JtZXItY2FtcGFpZ24tY29uc3VsdGFudC1hbGxlZ2VzLW5vbmRpc2Nsb3N1cmUtdmlvbGF0aW9uLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAy/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778Bbe55d677>: Trump's arbitration claim accuses Nunberg of “willful, malicious and continuous disclosure” of confidential information to media organizations. The claim cites a Politico report stating that Nunberg “helped facilitate” a New York Post Page Six item about an argument between then-campaign spokesman Corey Lewandowski and campaign spokesman Hope Hicks. “Nunberg's petition … denies providing the reported information to Page Six. It accuses the Trump campaign of 'a misguided attempt to cover up media coverage of an apparent affair its former campaign manager was witnessed as having with a Trump Campaign female staffer." (Read the full confidentiality agreement Sam was forced to sign.<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/7153324.274996/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6emZlZWQuY29tL2NocmlzZ2VpZG5lci9oZXJlLWlzLXRoZS1jb25maWRlbnRpYWxpdHktYWdyZWVtZW50LXNpZ25lZC1ieS1hLWZvcm1lci10cnU_dXRtX3Rlcm09LmZ3dmRhNDgzUSZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX2RhaWx5MjAyIy5oc21vd1o0MUI/544d12dc3b35d04a528e2778B1572d969>)

-- Trump's suit highlights two very significant elements of his personality:

First, his penchant for secrecy. No serious campaign binds staffers with these sorts of onerous non-disclosure agreements. Trump has suggested he'd try to make his White