Meet Tim Walz, Democratic VP Candidate

GREETINGS!

Has anyone tried unplugging the nation then plugging back in again?

We live in such interesting times, especially this election year. We brought you a breakdown of Governor Tim Walz, the new VP pick for the Harris campaign, so hopefully you are informed of who he is after reading.

Happy Wednesday!

🔔In today’s email:

✅ Kamala Harris Chooses Her VP Pick
🚨 Hamas Has New Leader
🎮 Streamers Interview Presidential Candidates Now

-Mike

KEY STORY

Who is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' VP Pick?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is stepping into the national spotlight as Kamala Harris' pick for vice president. Tim Walz’s policy record and leadership, which has been described as progressive, are now under national scrutiny as he joins Kamala Harris on the 2024 ticket. Here’s a closer look at his record and what’s driving the national conversation:

Immigration

🚗💳 Driver’s Licenses for Illegal immigrants: Walz signed a bill in Minnesota granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in March 2023.

🌟🛡️ Sanctuary State Advocacy: He's championed making Minnesota a sanctuary state, providing greater protections and support for illegal immigrants.

🏢🤝 Office of New Americans: Established under his leadership, this office is designed to assist immigrants and refugees in integrating into American society and accessing vital resources.

Education & Healthcare

🎓📚 Tuition-Free College for Illegal Immigrants: Walz backed legislation to offer free college tuition to illegal immigrants, promoting higher education opportunities regardless of immigration status.

🏥✨ Expanded Healthcare Access: Under Walz’s governorship, MinnesotaCare was broadened to include illegal immigrants.

📈🤔 Diverse Ratings: The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) awarded Walz a perfect score for his immigration-related votes. Conversely, NumbersUSA gave him a D rating overall and an F- for his actions during the 115th Congress, citing his support for the American Promise Act and votes to limit family separations and increase refugee admissions.

👩‍⚕️🩺 Abortion: In January 2023, Walz signed the "Protect Reproductive Options Act," which guarantees Minnesota residents unrestricted access to abortion, a direct response to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

🌈🩹 Transgender Policies: Walz issued an executive order supporting transgender surgical procedures for minors, including access to irreversible surgeries and hormone treatments.

Climate Change

🌎💡 Clean Energy Commitment: He’s set Minnesota on a path to 100% clean energy by 2040.

Public Safety

🚔✊ Police Reform Initiatives: Following the death of George Floyd, Walz signed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act, which bans chokeholds, increased data collection on police incidents, and implemented new training practices.

😷📞 Pandemic Response: Walz implemented a mask mandate and created a hotline for reporting people who violated social distancing rules during the pandemic, leading to significant controversy and legal challenges over his authority.

🔫🚫 Gun Control Measures: Signed legislation that includes universal background checks and a red-flag law, both of which faced strong opposition from the National Rifle Association.

🚨🚫 Republican Criticism: His immigration, education and healthcare policies have sparked significant debate, with critics accusing him of overly generous benefits for illegal immigrants.

KEY STORY

Squad' Rep Cori Bush Loses Highly Contentious Primary Against Pro-Israel Democrat

Voters in Missouri's 1st Congressional District made a strong statement on Tuesday by voting out Rep. Cori Bush, a well-known progressive, in favor of a more moderate candidate, Wesley Bell.

• Bell, a St. Louis County prosecutor, received significant support from pro-Israel groups who opposed Bush's criticism of Israel.

• This shift mirrors another recent primary where Rep. Jamaal Bowman, another progressive, lost to a moderate Democrat.

Bush, part of a progressive faction critical of the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, continued to align herself with these views even after Bowman’s loss.

• Despite facing investigations for allegedly misusing campaign funds to pay for personal security services, she doubled down on her progressive stance, holding a rally with fellow progressives before Election Day.

• Bell, though also running as a progressive, sharply disagreed with Bush’s comments on Israel, calling them offensive. He is now favored to win the House seat in the upcoming November election.

KEY STORY

Hamas Names Mastermind Behind Oct 7 As New Leader After Haniyeh Assassination

Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as the successor to Ismail Haniyeh, who was recently assassinated in Tehran.

• Sinwar, a key figure in the devastating October 7 attack on Israel, has been in hiding in Gaza, evading Israeli attempts to kill him.

• The announcement of his appointment was marked by rocket attacks from Gaza, indicating a continued hardline stance.

Sinwar's appointment solidifies Hamas' radical approach and complicates ceasefire negotiations.

• His history as a ruthless leader and his role in the October 7 attack have made him a significant target for Israel.

• This move is likely to toughen Hamas' position in ongoing talks, with Israel committed to continuing its campaign in Gaza.

• The region remains on edge, with both sides entrenched in their positions and the prospect of a broader conflict looming.

HEADLINES
Quick Bite Stories

🎮 Popular Kick streamer Adin Ross interviewed former president Donald Trump on Monday, reaching up to 100 million views live on stream. Ross had Trump walk out to 50 Cent's song "Many Men." During the conversation, Trump made bold promises, stating he would stop the Ukraine war immediately if he becomes president and vowed to save TikTok. He also shared that his son Barron, a fan of Ross, had encouraged him to do the interview. Ross gifted Trump a Cybertruck wrapped with an iconic photo of Trump raising his fist after an assassination attempt.

🎮 Popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat recently had a surprising reaction on stream after receiving calls from Kamala Harris' campaign and the Secret Service. They reached out about a potential collaboration following Donald Trump' appearance on Adin Ross' stream. Cenat's reaction was a mix of shock and excitement as he processed the unexpected outreach from such high-profile political figures. This highlights the growing influence of Twitch and online personalities in political engagement.

🎤 Republican VP pick Sen. JD Vance criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for avoiding unscripted moments and questions from the media, contrasting it with his and Donald Trump’s openness to talk to anyone. The last time Kamala Harris gave anything approaching an extended sit-down interview with a major news outlet was on June 24, when the vice president spoke to MSNBC's Morning Joe. Trump is scheduled to sit down with Elon Musk Monday evening.

FROM THE EDITOR

If you live in California, yes there was an earthquake. Don’t worry, we shall recover.

-Mike