Andrew Egger subs for the vacationing Mona, and A.B. occupies Damon's seat, as The Deseret News's Samuel Benson joins regulars Bill and Linda to discuss the unity and vibes at the Democratic Convention, while the panel weighs how RFK's exit from the race is likely to affect the November election.

Andrew: Highlight: Gov. Tim Walz's Speech, and his family's reaction.

A.B.: Highlight: Doug Emhoff's remarks on anti-semitism, and that protests did not disrupt the convention.

Linda: Lowlight: Systemic Test Racism in Chicago (WSJ)

Bill: The slow counting of ballots in Pennsylvania, and the failure to fix this glaringly obvious problem.

Samuel: Lowlight: The slowness with which anti-semitism was addressed at the Democratic Convention.

Highlight: A moment of prayer he witnessed by Jewish men at night outside of the convention hall.

MSNBC's Charlie Sykes joins the panel to discuss the rise of Harris, the decline of Trump (in more ways than one?), and the Iranian hack of Trump's campaign.

The regulars discuss Walz pick and shape of the race. David French joins to talk about Trump v. United States. 

 

Mona: The life of Penny Parker (1927-2024).

David: Highlight: The USA's Medal Count

Lowlight: China's Gold medal count

Linda: What’s better than calling Trump weird? (David Broockman and Josh Kalla, Slow Boring)

Damon: The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster.

Bill: Highlight: He's still on Cape Cod

Lowlight: Hamas names Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct. 7 attacks, as its new leader in show of defiance (AP)

A.B. Stoddard guest hosts for today’s discussion on Donald Trump’s NABJ interview. It was shocking and set the internet abuzz, but was that his intention all along? Plus, do VP picks actually matter?

Highlights / Lowlights

Bill’s highlight: Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich (WSJ)

Damon’s highlights: Pro-Wrestling Explains Why Trump Is Scared of Kamala, Donald Trump’s Cheap Heat (The Triad)

Linda’s highlight: The America of Yesterday (Yascah Mounk)

A.B.’s highlight: America’s New Political War Pits Young Men Against Young Women (WSJ)

Nick Grossman joins the group to discuss Biden's exit and Harris's rise, her strengths and weaknesses, VP possibilities, GOP blues, and Bibi's speech and protests.

Nicholas's highlight: Biden's address to the nation.

Nicholas's lowlight: Netanyahu's address to Congress.

Mona's highlight: The Olympics You Remember Are Back

Damon's highlight: The collective meltdown of right wing influencers who invented the "is Biden Dead?" conspiracy.

Bill's highlight: Harris steps out on Israel as she navigates Biden and Netanyahu (Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN)

Linda's highlight: Fireside Chat with Condoleezza Rice and Robert M. Gates

The New Yorker's Susan Glasser joins the group (with Andrew Egger) to discuss the aftermath of the assassination attempt, JD Vance, and Biden digging in his heels.

Mona: The Gunman and the Would-Be Dictator by David Frum in The Atlantic.

Damon: Sohrab Ahmari's reaction to Trump's reaction to getting shot at.

Ross Douthat's NYT column on Trump and Destiny.

Andrew: President Biden messed up a key policy detail in Las Vegas speech.

Linda: Are We Living in ‘Late Soviet America’? Niall Ferguson and Jonah Goldberg Debate.

A.B. Stoddard joins to discuss Biden's intransigence, the Democratic party's next moves, the pros and cons of anointing Harris, and more.

A.B.: Trump is Planning for a Landslide Win by Tim Alberta in The Atlantic

and her 2022 item: Why (and How) Biden Should Decline to Run Again

Mona: What Lessons Do the Stunning Results of the French Election Offer? (New Yorker)

Bill: Amid Doubts About Biden’s Mental Sharpness, Trump Leads Presidential Race (Pew)

Damon: Time to Go, Joe, by Marc Leibovich in The Atlantic

Linda: A Better Approach to Race in Medicine by Amy F.S. Lutz in Persuasion

For What It's Worth by Linda Chavez

Former Rep Adam Kinzinger joins the group (plus Chris Cillizza) to discuss the Court's worst ruling since Korematsu, opening the door to God know what if Trump wins. Also, what would an open convention look like?

Mona: Are We in ‘Soviet America’? Not Even Close. By Cathy Young, The Bulwark

Linda: Her trip to Israel, where she was recording.

Adam: Cara Mund, a sincere Never Trump candidate who ran (and lost, but got 19%!) in North Dakota. Adam joined her on her radio show to discuss the state of the Republican Party

Chris: Gabe Fleisher's Wake up to Politics. Gabe has been writing about politics since he was a child and is a politics prodigy. (Substack here)

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The Atlantic's David Frum joins to discuss the debate debacle and what comes next? Can Biden be persuaded to drop out? Also, a look at two Supreme Court cases.

David: Slain Gazan named as Doctors Without Borders staffer was Islamic Jihad rocket maker (Times of Israel)

Mona: Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas (WSJ)

Linda: 4.1 million migrants: Where they’re from, where they live in the U.S. (WaPo)

Bill: France is facing an election like no other. Here’s how it works and what comes next. (AP)

Damon: Same-Sex Relations, Marriage Still Supported by Most in U.S. (Gallup)

Will Saletan guest hosts as Tom Edsall joins the panel to discuss rising political polarization, Biden’s latest moves on immigration, and the crackdown on social media and kids using smartphones.

Tom: The book 'Wolves of K Street' by Brody and Luke Mullins and a story from 

his weekly poker game.

Linda: Experts Handicap the Trump-Biden Debate (Karl Rove, WSJ)

Damon: No, I Don't Want to Protest (Pamela Paul, NYT)

Why Activists Keep Failing the Causes That Fire Them Up (Sarah Isgur, NYT)

Bill: The Return of Peace Through Strength by Robert C. O'Brien (Foreign Affairs)

Biden and Trump tied in the Emerson Poll in... Minnesota.

Will: Louisiana Requires All Public Classrooms to Display Ten Commandments (NYT)

Bibi's shameful Biden attack video