It's Officially Official: Trump Picks Sen. JD Vance To Be His VP
What's going on: After months of speculation, former President Trump tapped Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) to be his running mate. The news came on the first day of the Republican National Convention, where Trump made his first appearance — bandaged ear and all — since surviving an attempted assassination. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump said the Ohio senator is “best suited” for the VP role. Vance, who’s worked as a venture capitalist and is the author of the best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, hasn’t always been a fan of Trump. In 2016, Vance told NPR that he “can’t stomach Trump” and had described himself as a “Never Trump” conservative. But in 2021, he had a change of heart as he launched his Senate campaign and later received the former president’s endorsement.
What it means: Vance will be a key figure in Trump’s campaign for reelection, with Election Day less than four months away. Supporters say the 39-year-old could help the former president appeal to white working-class voters, especially in battleground states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Vance has already leveraged his Silicon Valley ties to help fundraise on behalf of the Trump campaign, which is receiving the support from billionaires like Bill Ackman and Elon Musk. If the Trump-Vance ticket wins in November, then Vance will be one of the youngest vice presidents in history. Meanwhile, some political analysts say the Ohio senator — who aligns with Trump on major issues like abortion, immigration, and trade — won’t do much to appeal to moderate or independent voters who aren’t sold on the former president.
A Federal Judge Dismissed Trump's Classified Documents Case
What's going on: Former President Trump got another legal win on Monday when a judge tossed the classified documents case against him. In her 93-page ruling, Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon focused on the “unlawful appointment” of special counsel Jack Smith. In 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Smith to oversee the classified documents case against the former president. Cannon said that appointing Smith without Senate confirmation violates the Constitution’s appointment clause and “effectively usurps” Congress’ power. This is the latest in a series of rulings from Cannon favoring 45.
What it means: Many experts believed that the classified documents case was one of the strongest legal challenges against Trump. Cannon’s decision ensures that the former president will not face any trials until after the November election. The Justice Department is already appealing the decision. Additionally, Cannon’s legal reasoning could undo nearly 30 years of precedent. The DOJ has been appointing special counsels to oversee cases (including Hunter Biden’s criminal cases) since the Clinton administration. As for Trump, he said the dismissal of the case “should be just the first step” in tossing out other legal challenges against him.
Saving Your Child’s Umbilical Cord Blood Might Not Be Worth It
What's going on: An investigation by the New York Times found that leading cord blood banks in the US have misled customers and doctors about the true benefits of freezing newborns’ umbilical cord blood. The top banks, including Cord Blood Registry and ViaCord, have sold the service to parents by promising that the stem cells could one day treat conditions like cancer, diabetes, or autism. There are over two million cord samples stored in suburban warehouses nationwide, but the report found that the cells are rarely useful. Some customers, who pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to store the cells, have found that their samples are often too small or contaminated when they try to use them.
What it means: The investigation could cause parents to think twice about investing into a cord blood bank. It also raises even more questions about the multibillion-dollar industry and practice that celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Drew Barrymore have touted. Since 2020, only 19 stem-cell transplants using a child’s own cord blood have been reported, according to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. The New York Times report said doctors rarely use cord blood and rely on adult stem cells instead.
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Let's Unpack This
As the Republican National Convention enters its second day, we reached out to Kathleen Dolan, a distinguished professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to ask…
Why are conventions like this important?
The conventions are more of a ratification. But they are still important places for party leaders and delegates from all over the country to come together, plot out strategy and campaigns for the fall,and get everybody motivated and excited. The conventions also are a good opportunity …for the campaigns to put out information about their candidates, not just the presidential and vice presidential candidates,but the candidates for governor and US Senate and House and even statewide office.We’ll see all of those people showcased at the convention. For the vast majority of people who are tuning in, they’re already politically aware, interested, and motivated, so I think [the event] is more like preaching to the choir.
Where does the Republican Party stand today?
Trump has secured an even tighter grip on the party, the leadership, and the platform. As an example … the platform that was introduced [earlier this month] was essentially a statement by Trump about a set of issues that he believes in and positions that he wants to espouse. The platform itself is much thinner, shorter, and lacking in detail — very different from platforms in the past … The party has become completely embodied by whatever former President Trump wants it to be.
What issues do you think the RNC will focus on?
From the Republicans, we’re going to hear a lot about the threats to our nation — from immigration and international relationships … They will certainly pivot to include a lot of discussion of why they see President Biden as incapable of doing the job … I think there’ll be a lot of negative framing … I think one thing we won’t hear very much about at all is abortion because the Republican Party is increasingly out of step with the majority of Americans in terms of their positions on abortion and reproductive issues … They’re not going to highlight a lot of that because they don’t want the public at large to hear them talking in a way that, some people would argue, is extreme.
PS: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Featured Expert
Kathleen Dolan
Distinguished Professor of Political Science at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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We’re calling it: It’s another pasta salad summer. And before you ask, we’re not talking about those mayo-filled macaroni dishes with random bits of carrots and celery. Instead, we’re making the fresh and inventive kind, complete with creative ingredients, the perfect ratio of dressing to pasta, and unconventional noodle shapes. Like How Sweet Eats’s Lemon Chicken Artichoke Pasta Salad. Not only does it taste like a ray of sunshine, but it also gets better as it sits — so it’s the ideal make-ahead dish for any cookouts or potlucks. That is, if you’re willing to share.
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