* Given the most recent, excruciating reminder that the U.S. is still dealing with rogue policing of African-Americans, the pressure has only ratcheted up for Joe Biden to choose a black woman for the ticket. That could likely mean Sen. Kamala Harris, whose back story includes being bused for integration–as well as a prosecutorial background that will be heavily scrutinized. And, yes, the racial unrest in Minneapolis complicates the veep prospects of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
* “The most disloyal, actual retard that has ever set foot in the Oval Office. A complete blithering idiot.” That was conservative author (“In Trump We Trust”) and commentator Ann Coulter, riffing on Trump. Count on seeing that Coulter quote again in Biden ads.
* The AFL-CIO has endorsed Joe Biden. No surprise, but no less helpful to have the country’s largest coalition of labor unions behind your candidate–and “playing hard,” as AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka put it.
* Because there will be a female on the Dem ticket, there’s still talk of Trump matching that–think Nikki Haley, not Sarah Palin–and dropping Mike Pence. But if Pence stays on the ticket, he may become a bigger presence on the campaign trail. Maybe even get his own hat with a theme that could complement Trump pandering. Perhaps “Make America Straight Again.”