It’s Always Darkest Before the Don
Donald Trump capped off convention week with a speech that painted a bleak picture of modern day America, and in which he positioned himself as the one guy who can fix it. “I have visited the laid-off factory workers, and the communities crushed by our horrible and unfair trade deals. These are the forgotten men and women of our country. People who work hard but no longer have a voice. I am your voice.” For many Americans, he’s decidedly not their voice. (Among other things, it’s way too pitchy, dog.) But he’s tapping into the very real (and justified) anger of many Americans who have been left out of the economic upswing — and the national conversation. As Marc Ambinder explains, the speech wasn’t aimed at everyone. It was aimed at the five states that really matter.
+ While many were expecting a big shift to the center, in the end, Trump only plagiarized Trump. Here’s the speech.
+ Vox: Donald Trump described a dangerous American hellscape that doesn’t actually exist.
+ There was some groundbreaking done last night. Peter Thiel told the Republican convention he’s proudly gay — and they cheered.
+ Bloomberg: The 10 most jaw-dropping moments of the Republican Convention. (Editor’s note: At the average political convention, there are zero draw-dropping moments.)
+ Meanwhile, back on the trail, Trump questioned why the National Enquirer never got a Pulitzer.