SPECIAL FEATURE

Harris' VP pick: Tim Walz

When the United States Studies Centre (USSC) hosted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his trade delegation in November, after a private meeting with Gov. Walz, USSC CEO Dr Michael Green said, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name on a national ticket.” Less than a year later, this prediction has come to fruition. Dr Green identified his affable charm paired with intellectual rigour as a winning combination, which has been evidenced in his adept messaging against Donald Trump and JD Vance. Read more on the visit here. 

Analysis

• COMMENTARY | From folksy Midwestern teacher to ‘cool dad’ meme machine: who is Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ VP running mate? by USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein
   
• INTERVIEW | What Governor Tim Walz represents to voters with USSC Non-Resident Fellow Victoria Cooper
   
• COMMENTARY | Why Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz over Josh Shapiro by USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe
   

• INTERVIEW | What does Tim Walz bring to the Democrat's campaign? with USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe

NEWS WRAP

Secretary Austin pulls rank on 9/11 case

• 9/11 plotters back on death row | US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has effectively cancelled a plea deal for 3 accused plotters of the September 11 attacks, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Negotiated by the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, the deal would have granted the trio life in prison, allowing them to avoid the death penalty. Secretary Austin – who was reportedly blindsided by the decision – said in an order that given the significance of the case, “responsibility for such a decision should rest with me.” READ MORE HERE
   

• Three Americans released from Russia | In the largest prisoner-swap since the Cold War, Moscow freed 24 prisoners, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovic, retired marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. In exchange, Russia secured the release of numerous criminals – including Kremlin hit man Vadim Krasikov – leading to criticism that the swap will incentivise Russian hostage-taking in the future. READ MORE HERE
   

• US could lose war with China | A congressional commission has warned that the US military could lose a war with China and Russia if the United States does not change its defence strategy. “China is outpacing the United States and has largely negated the U.S. military advantage in the Western Pacific,” said a report from the Commission on the National Defense Strategy. It a conflict with China, it warned that the United States would likely exhaust its munitions “in as few as three to four weeks.” READ MORE HERE
   

• Rocket attack on US base in Iraq | Several US personnel have been injured in a rocket attack on the al-Asad base in Iraq, US defence officials confirmed. The incident is one of a string of attacks on US bases in the region by Iranian-backed militias and comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, following Israel’s suspected assassinations of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and a Hamas’ leader in Iran last week. READ MORE HERE
   

• GOP senators baulk at Trump tariffs | Several Republican Senators have expressed concern about the potential economic fallout from Donald Trump’s pledge to impose a blanket 10% tariff on all imports. "I think ultimately tariffs result in higher prices for consumers," Texas Senator John Cornyn told Axios. Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina questioned whether Trump would ultimately implement them: “I know what he’s stumping on, but I don’t believe as a matter of policy that’s exactly how we’d implement it.” READ MORE HERE

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Did you USSC?

• COMMENTARY | How Kamala Harris’ meme-fied campaign is leveraging social media and Gen Z culture
  USSC Research Associate Ava Kalinauskas on Kamala's 'brat' appeal. READ HERE
   
• USSC PODCAST | The Harris 2024 Campaign is official: DC insiders on what's next
  USSC's Non-Resident Fellows Bruce Wolpe and Lester Munson talk to the USSC Briefing Room about Kamala Harris' chances. LISTEN HERE 
   
• COMMENTARY | What a Kamala Harris presidency could mean for the world – and where she differs from Joe Biden
  USSC Research Associates Ava Kalinauskas and Sam Garrett on Kamala Harris' foreign policy outlook. READ HERE

BY THE NUMBERS

Kamala Harris’ uphill battle in Pennsylvania

Before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on 13 July, a Times/Siena poll showed Kamala Harris with a 42% approval rating in Pennsylvania, compared to Donald Trump at 46%. While Harris has since experienced a bump in the polls, the Times/Siena poll is a warning of the challenge she faces in the critical swing state, which President Joe Biden only narrowly won with 50% of the vote in 2020. Her choice in folksy Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is being seen as an attempt to broaden her coalition, but is a gamble rather than choosing Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to help her clinch this must-win state.

Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are viewed as central to any presidential election victory. Pennsylvania specifically has 19 electoral votes – the most out of all the ‘Blue Wall’ rustbelt states – making it a campaign prize. In recent election cycles, Pennsylvania has flipped on narrow margins, going to Donald Trump with only 44,292 votes in 2016, and to President Joe Biden with 80,555 votes in 2020.

THE WEEK IN TWEETS

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