08/07/24

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, August 7th.

Regatta Day.

Ah yes, Regatta Day. A holiday for everyone.

And now, the news.

Introducing… Tim Walz!

-via AP News and Washington Post

The big story is, of course, the Veep’s Veep! That’s right, Kamala Harris has chosen her running mate, so let’s meet our future vice president…

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz!

First thing you need to know about him – he’s adorable.

On Twitter, Lynda Carter (aka literal Wonder Woman) very accurately described him as having Ron Swanson finesse and Jerry Gergich energy. And because Parks and Rec is 90% of my personality, all I can say is – that is correct.

This is also how I learned that Wonder Woman is a Parks and Rec fan and I did love learning that.

If you’re on the internet, specifically Twitter and TikTok, you are going to see so many things about the general vibe of Walz. He’s extremely memeable. Before the news broke, the way I learned that he was the VP pick was from seeing a picture of him joyously holding a piglet.

This past weekend, when Kamala Harris was Mama Mia’ing all of her final VP picks, the plans that Walz canceled to go see Kamala included square dancing.

He just seems like such a genuinely good dude. Nice guy, good family man. Good human.

But what about his policies?

Prior to politics, Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years before becoming a high school teacher and football coach. He got his start in politics in 2006 reportedly after learning, two years earlier, that students in his class were denied entry to a W Bush campaign event because they were democrats.

In his first race, he flipped a rural, previously Republican, House Seat.

He won re-election five times and, while in the House, got an A rating from the NRA.

In 2018, when he ran for governor, he won that election by more than ten points.

After more than a decade of an A-rating from the NRA, the 2018 Parkland High shooting prompted his then-17-year-old daughter to push him to do more on gun safety. He gets Fs from the NRA now and when asked how he feels about that Walz said, “I sleep just fine.”

Walz’s governorship has seen abortion rights enshrined, undocumented immigrants being allowed to obtain a driver’s license, background checks for gun transfers expanded, recreational marijuana legalized, and the creation of protections for folks in need of gender-affirming health care. All of that plus - free meals at schools and free college tuition for students from low-income families.

Sounds good to me! But what about that magical it factor? How will he be on camera?

Well, you know how everyone’s talking about how weird the MAGA Republicans are? That’s from Walz!

In an interview with MSNBC last month, he said: “Yes, they’re weird. They prove that every day. It’s an observation.”

In short – this guy most of us had never heard of before three weeks ago? He’s a hidden gem. This campaign is going to be so fun and so midwestern. And then, at the end of it all, he’s going to be a truly great Vice President.

I have done absolutely zero research on this but may be the first great-grand VP. As in he is Barack Obama’s VP’s VP’s VP.

I could go on and on about what a great choice this is. I won’t. I could! But I won’t.

I want to! But I won’t.

Markets Rebound

-via CNN

After an all-out freakout over the market on Monday, Tuesday saw a bounce back of 294 points.

Proving that every rich person with stocks listens to this podcast and realized if we all just chilled, the market wouldn’t dip more.

Again… I have no stocks or money.

Come to me for any and all financial advice.

Florida Crash

-via ABC News

Nine people are dead, including six children, and one survivor is in the hospital after hit a guardrail and sunk into a canal in Palm Beach, Florida.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

I… don’t even know what to say here. Just the absolute worst kind of story.

Maryland’s Assault-Style Weapons Ban

-via Washington Post

On Monday a federal appeals court ruled that assault-style weapons, such as the AR-15, can be banned in Maryland.

The ruling cited a 2008 case that upheld the Second Amendment’s right to possess a firearm at home but notes that it does not guarantee “a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”

In other words, and hear me out… those weapons will be well-regulated.

What a concept!

Though I will say the ruling lost me when they also noted: “Our nation has a strong tradition of regulating excessively dangerous weapons once it becomes clear that they are exacting an inordinate toll on public safety and societal wellbeing.”

Arguably, famously, it does not.

But otherwise – great ruling!

And that’s it. That’s the news.

Quick medal update! Team USA leads with 86 medals overall. China has 59 and France has 48. We also lead in gold, silver, and bronze medals with 24 gold and 31 each silver and bronze.

With 35 total medals, Australia does not lead in that count however, there is a controversy about how to rank the medal count and who’s in first place. Apparently it’s supposed to go by gold medals, not total medals. In that case, Australia is actually in third place, with 14 gold medals.

I’m proud of Australia, for sticking up for themselves about this whole medal thing.

Also Regattas, I guess.

But more than that – more than a boat racing through the water, because you’re top knot and top-notch… I’m proud of you.