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Today’s headlines
Vice President Harris introduces her running mate to the nation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, At a rally in Philadelphia last night. This marks the first time a Democratic candidate has appeared in person. In her introduction, Harris cited Walz’s experience as a National Guard member and teacher, as well as some of his progressive accomplishments as governor. Here are five highlights from the event.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz arrive for a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Joe Lamberty/AP
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Joe Lamberty/AP
- 🎧 "The time when he’s most effective at motivating a crowd is when he’s attacking," NPR’s Asma Khalid said from the floor first up. This is one of the reasons why Harris chose him. Republicans are working on a variety of ways to respond, but they don’t seem to have a clear answer yet. Khalid said they were trying to define Harris and Walz as liberal extremists.
- ➡️ Harris currently leads Trump 51%-48%. According to the latest NPR poll. Black voters, white women with college degrees and politically independent women are fueling her rise, though the race remains close.
- 🎧 Before Walz became governor, he ousted a longtime Republican lawmaker That’s what happened in southern Minnesota in 2006, says Minnesota Public Radio’s Dana Ferguson. After serving in the House of Representatives for more than a decade, he won gubernatorial elections in 2018 and 2022. Recently, he worked with the Democratic majority in the state Capitol to pass a series of progressive laws, including free school meals and legal protections for abortion. Republicans are likely to criticize his use of executive power to close schools, businesses and places of worship during the pandemic, as well as his timing in deploying the National Guard following the murder of George Floyd.
- ➡️ What happens to Minnesota politics now? It would not be in Walz’s interest to resign as governor before the election results are known. If he becomes vice president, the chips may be down. (via MPR)
Thousands more police officers flooded UK streets today after a week of race riots across the UK Far-right thugs attacked people, mosques and immigration law offices after three young girls were stabbed to death last week. There were rumors that the killer was an undocumented Muslim immigrant.
- 🎧 NPR’s Lauren Frayer is in the UK, where she says the atmosphere is full of “Hysteria, disinformation, people just repeating things they see online over and over again.” Far-right groups are exploiting existing prejudices and amplifying them online. Freire said Elon Musk played a role in that. When Musk bought Twitter, he reversed bans on some far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson, leader of the British Defense League. The pair have been sharing conspiracy theories, with Musk writing that “civil war is inevitable” in Britain. It has expedited the appearance of suspects in court, flagged social media posts that incited violence and arrested people for online hate speech.
Hamas announced yesterday that it has selected Gaza local leader Yahya Sinwar to take over as the leader of the Palestinian militant organization. new global political leaders. Sinwar fills the role left by Ismail Haniyeh after his assassination by Israel. Hamas’s 50-member council elects its leader by secret ballot. Sinwar is widely considered the toughest figure in the group and is believed to have helped plan the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
I’m really obsessed with
Team USA celebrates its bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics medal ceremony at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Tuesday.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images
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Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images
NPR’s Amy Morgan fell in love with the game of rugby when she was 19 and joined a club sport on a college campus. At first, she dropped the ball multiple times, was confused about the rules, and even sprained her ankle. Still, she persevered – eventually becoming captain, club president and coach. Morgan stopped playing after 16 years and started a family, but remains a fan. Watching the U.S. women’s Olympic rugby team make history in Paris, winning the United States’ first Olympic medal in rugby sevens, prompted her to reflect on her own experience in the sport. Here are some lessons that have served her well in rugby and life.
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life advice
Even if you’re not returning to the classroom, back-to-school season can still be an opportunity to rejuvenate.
Maria Konyeva/Getty Images/Moment RF
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Maria Konyeva/Getty Images/Moment RF
Remember what it felt like to go shopping for school supplies, pick out the perfect first-day outfit, and walk into class for the new school year? Well, just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t tap into that buzzy energy of back-to-school. Here are some activities you might have done as a child, updated for adults.
- 🏫 If you used to pack lunches for school, try meal prep. Cook up five dishes and mix and match to spice up your day.
- 🏫 spruce up your wardrobe And some shopping with a personal touch.
- 🏫 Create a fall reading list And set yourself up for success by reading in the morning.
- 🏫 Miss writing in a planner? Build better to-do lists by creating action items that are clear, short, and actionable.
- 🏫 Bring more play time into your life— Whether it’s hobbies like painting and playing board games, or just a new perspective.
- 🏫 Change the way you think about friendship. If you want to make new friends, assume that other people need friends too.
3 things you need to know before you go
Companies that make weighted baby pajamas say their products are safe and help babies sleep, but a growing number of medical experts, safe sleep advocates and government regulators are warning that these pajamas can be dangerous.
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- U.S. lawmakers want to ban weighted pajamas for babies There are concerns that these clothes may harm young babies. Federal data shows at least five infant deaths linked to these products, but the companies say their products are safe.
- 7-Eleven is expanding its U.S. menu to include Japanese food to promote sales. Japanese upscale mini-mart chain Famima!! tried and failed to bring similar fare to Los Angeles. (via LAist)
- Boston’s homicide rate has dropped significantly this year. This historic low represents one of the largest declines in fatal violence among more than 200 U.S. cities, which have also seen declines in fatalities. (via WBUR)
This newsletter is sponsored by Suzanne Newyen.
