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Today’s headlines
Former President Donald Trump has chosen Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate in the presidential election. Vance, once an outspoken critic of Trump, has shifted gears in recent years and become one of the former president’s staunch allies. Here’s everything you need to know about Vance, who rose to fame with his 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy. Trump announced his vice presidential pick at the Republican National Convention, which opened yesterday. It was his first public appearance since an assassination attempt on Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- 🎧 NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben narrates first up There are two ways to look at Vance. On the one hand, he has criticized Trump in the past and even compared him to Hitler. On the other hand, he is now considered a convert. “Converts can be really powerful messagers,” Kutzleben said. As a former Never Trumper and relatively young, he could attract new voters.
- 🎧 Ohio Public Media’s Sarah Donaldson talks to people in Vance’s hometown On what they think of his vice-presidential nomination. Here’s what they had to say.
- ➡️ Meanwhile, local Republican leaders aim to return Wisconsin to Trump in November. They hope the Republican National Committee will provide resources. This is their plan to build their base game and attract new voters.
- ➡️ Get the latest updates on the 2024 RNC In Milwaukee, check out NPR’s live blog.
The Secret Service has faced questions and sharp criticism following the assassination of former President Donald Trump. The gunman took advantage of a security breach after officials failed to cover the building 130 yards – about the length of a football field – from where the former president was speaking. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees the Secret Service, said there would be an independent review of the incident. Some members of Congress are launching multiple investigations of their own.
- 🎧 “Many people are confused as to how this happened,” says NPR’s Claudia Grisales. Answers are expected soon, especially before the November election, she added. A Secret Service spokesperson told her the agency traditionally allocates interior and exterior areas when making outdoor gatherings safe. The building used by the shooter is located in an outlying area and is protected by local law enforcement. This morning, the agency issued a new statement saying any reports suggesting they were trying to pin blame on local authorities were false.
President Biden is about to return to the campaign trail. When gunfire disrupted Trump’s rallies this weekend, his campaign paused advertising and outreach. He resumes campaigning today in Nevada, where he is expected to speak about high rents and meet with black and Hispanic civil rights groups.
- 🎧 NPR’s Deepa Shivaram says the Biden campaign has long been trying to break “Trump amnesia” by reminding people of Trump’s words and actions during his presidency. But now “things are more complicated” as Biden’s language comes under greater scrutiny. In this close election, the president must contrast himself with Trump while calling for unity. A House Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity told Shivaram’s colleague Claudia Grisales that discussions about replacing Biden have come amid instability following the Trump assassination attempt and concerns about more political violence. Currently stopped.
Find all of NPR’s latest news and analysis about the Republican National Convention Elections tab of the NPR app. Download it today.
deep dive
Inmates in women’s prisons have less access to higher education than men’s prisons It’s happening across the U.S., according to the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit that tracks educational opportunities for incarcerated people. For many people behind bars, access to college courses depends on access to federal financial aid such as Pell Grants. Pell Grant-eligible courses are more readily available in men’s prisons, but money isn’t the only issue. Vera found that in 11 states there were no college programs at all in women’s prisons. Here’s why—and what can help:
- 📚 A law that took effect last July fully restored Pell Grant access to all incarcerated people This is the first time since 1994.
- 📚 In Maryland, two bills by state Representative Marlon Amprey were signed into law earlier this year. These laws require the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to help incarcerated individuals obtain federal Pell Grants. All 12 of the state’s public universities will also eventually offer bachelor’s degrees and credit-based certificates to incarcerated people.
- 📚 Many incarcerated students have full-time jobs, meaning they can only attend class later in the day. Classroom space is also limited. Goucher College in Maryland plans to build trailers at each prison they work with so classes can be held throughout the day. It also works with the Department of Corrections to make college a student mission.
Listened to it today
What do R&B music and heat pumps have in common? They’re hot and cool – and they somehow find themselves intertwined in a collaboration of sorts. Two musicians, Will Hammond, Jr. and Mike Roberts, release “(I’m Your) Heat Pump,” an uptempo jam filled with puns song.
- 🎶 This clever song makes it easy for listeners to learn about climate change With its sexy lyrics and old school vibe. Listen to the catchy tune here and find out why they wrote it. (via KQED)
3 things you need to know before you go
- Copenhagen announces a new initiative CopenPay, encourages visitors to adopt more sustainable behaviors such as walking, cycling and using public transport. Rewards range from free ice cream to free kayak rentals.
- ‘Forever’ stamp prices rise on Sunday From 68 cents to 73 cents. This is the sixth price increase since January 2021.
- So far this year, California’s wildfire season has burned about 20 acres more than this time last year. Since the beginning of 2024 through early July, more than 3,500 wildfires have burned across the state, resulting in approximately 207,000 acres of land burned.
This newsletter is sponsored by Suzanne Newyen.