"We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage."
- Teddy Roosevelt
NO TIME TO BE PENCIVE: Donald Trump has delayed his decision to name his running mate until the weekend given the horrific terrorist attack in Nice. Speculation that IN Governor Mike Pence will be named is reaching critical mass now that high-level sources have leaked the news, but a final decision "has not been made" although Pence landed in NY last night and we don't think he had tickets to Hamilton. Pence appears to be the best option of those on the shortlist given his conservative credentials and boasting a resume that includes executive experience as Governor as well as strong ties to Congress. But, given his penchant for going off-script, Trump could very well move in a different direction. His hand may be forced sooner than later as Pence has to make a decision to file to withdraw for Governor by noon today further complicating the timing of the announcement.
REBOUND DATE: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (UT) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (TX) have introduced a resolution calling for the U.S. to quickly start trade talks with the U.K. Once divorced from the EU, the U.K. will lose access to a number of trade agreements and would have to renegotiate more than 50 trade deals forged by the EU with countries around the world. The pair intends to move what’s expected to be a popular resolution as quickly as possible, but not before Labor Day...
WRANGLING RULES: The Republican Convention Rules Committee began meeting yesterday to outline convention rules and procedures for next week’s big event. They’re expected to wrap up this evening, but not before they confront a movement to make it more difficult for Trump to be the automatic nominee by unbinding delegates from their state’s rules freeing them to vote as they choose. Although the effort is alive and kicking, it’s unlikely it will make it to the full convention, as Trump allies and the RNC have called in reinforcements to combat the insurgency.
HILLARY HOBBLING ALONG: As she prepares to accept her party’s nomination, Hillary Clinton has been hobbled from the aftermath of the investigations into her email practices while at State - and the issue of honesty looms large as she faces rising numbers of voters who continue to view her as dishonest. Even though the outcome of the investigations let her off the legal hook, significant damage has been done and may prove lasting as polling over the past week has shown.
I’LL KEEP HOLDING ON: Retaining the Senate remains a top priority for the 2016 Republican agenda, and so far, so good. Incumbent Republican senators have been posting strong numbers, leading Democratic challengers in FL, OH, and PA – all competitive swing states. The Republican party and its allies have been worried about down-ticket races being too connected to the toxic presidential race, but the strategy of running “local” races and the influx of funding and grassroots efforts appear to be neutralizing the issue.
FCC TO ADOPT 5G SPECTRUM RULES TODAY: Our Telecommunications-Media Policy Analyst Paul Glenchur shared his insight on how the new FCC rules will make 28 GHz and 39 GHz licenses more attractive, resulting in 5G vendors getting a boost. You can read his piece here.
REPLAY | HEALTHCARE THEMES CALL: Our Healthcare Policy Advisor Emily Evans hosted her 3Q16 Healthcare Themes Call with a comprehensive update of her #ACATaper and Healthcare #Deflation themes. You can listen to the replay here.
NOTE: We'll be back on Tuesday in time for the Republican National Convention.
