What's Happening

Politics

Trump's Crowning Moment at the RNC

What's going on: Last night, none other than former President Trump closed out the fourth and final day of the Republican National Convention. But not before Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt to reveal some new merch: a Trump-Vance 2024 tank top. Or before Kid Rock belted out a remix of “American Bad A**” — yes, he’s talking about Trump. If the internet had thoughts, we wonder how Melania feels about all this (yes, she was there). Back to Trump: In his first speech since the assassination attempt, the former president accepted the GOP nomination and recounted the moment a gunman tried to take his life, saying “I had God on my side.” Trump outlined his vision for a second term and called out Democrats for “destroying our country.” Somewhere in between, he brought up The Silence of the Lambs…again. This comes weeks after Trump became the first former US president to be convicted (of 34 felonies to be exact), and marks the culmination of his efforts to go from being perceived as a loose cannon within the Republican party to becoming the face of it.

What it means: The 2024 RNC was arguably one of the GOP’s most successful and unified to date. Now that it has wrapped, the Trump-Vance ticket is ready to enter the next phase of the campaign. The pair will be hitting the campaign trail, with Grand Rapids, Michigan, as their first stop, and working to maintain Trump's lead in seven swing states. They’ll aim to win not only the White House but the majority in the House and Senate — a trifecta that hasn’t been achieved since Trump was in office. This time around, a Trump-led America would likely include mass deportations, tariffs coupled with tax cuts, and a level of support from his fellow Republicans that critics warn could leave Trump’s power unchecked. More on that in our explainer on Project 2025 below.

Related: Oops. JD Vance’s Venmo Account Is Public, and His Contacts List Is...Interesting (Wired)

Politics

Biden Could Bow Out of the Race As Early As This Weekend

What's going on: President Biden’s run as the presumptive Democratic nominee could be coming to an end, with reports suggesting he could exit the race as soon as this weekend. Former President Barack Obama became one of the latest top Democrats to tell allies that Biden seriously needs to reconsider his campaign for the presidency. Meanwhile, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has told some House Democrats she thinks Biden can be convinced to drop out of the race soon, according to The Washington Post. In a recent private chat with the president, Pelosi warned him that his choice to remain on the ballot could ruin their party’s shot of winning the House. Now, some Democrats say it’s not a matter of if Biden drops out, but when.

What it means: It’s not unprecedented for former presidents to call it quits on their reelection bids, as Harry Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson did. However, if Biden were to step aside, he'd be the first to drop out this late in the campaign cycle (less than four months before Election Day). If he ends his campaign before the DNC, his pledged delegates would be released to support another candidate. Things could get complicated if Biden doesn’t give an endorsement, and it could turn into a free-for-all to clinch the nomination. If he doesn’t pass the baton to VP Kamala Harris, their over $100 million from donors could be refunded or transferred to the DNC to support the next candidate.

Related: Why Kamala Harris Is Likely To Be Tapped To Run for President (Axios)

Sports

This WNBA Team Is Hiking Up Ticket Prices — Will Players See The Cash? 

What's going on: You gotta pay to see talent play. That appears to be the message the Chicago Sky sent to its season ticket holders earlier this week when it said prices are going up for next year’s season. By how much? The Chicago Tribune said courtside seats saw a nearly 150% increase in pricing (or from $4,500 to $11,000) for the entire 2025 home schedule. Lower-level seats nearly tripled in some cases. Meanwhile, the average ticket price was $88 this year — up from 2021’s $43 on average. It’s not the only team to raise prices. Front Office Sports says fans have called out similar increases in Phoenix and Las Vegas. 

What it means: Not everyone is happy to see these ticket prices, um, Sky-rocketing, but some folks say they wouldn’t mind paying more if the Sky shared where the money was going. But, so far the team hasn’t commented. It also didn’t give a reason for the price hikes. It could be great to see the players get a cut of this new cash (and a raise), especially with all the talk about how little WNBA stars make (compared to the men). In the meantime, with the WNBA’s popularity scoring points — thanks in part to rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — the hike seems to make sense as a game plan. It comes as the league sees greater investment too.

Related: LA Sparks Rookie Cameron Brink’s Update Post-Surgery Will Make You Laugh (People)