Someday when we look back, this will be seen as the start of all the other schools clamoring for Whartexit.

Jake Tapper on Twitter

Best typo ever: “Even some of rump’s most prominent boosters have had moments of doubt about the campaign’s ground game.”

(Also, I’ll believe that a state organization alone is somehow magically better than state + actual campaign when I see it.)

(Also also, Bob Asher is my fraternity brother as well as the guy my family bought its chocolate from, and right now I’m annoyed about both connections.) Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania operation unlike past presidential campaigns

I just went from “they’re doing WHAT?” to “this is frickin’ AWESOME.”

The LEGO Batman Movie – Comic-Con Trailer [HD]

Jesus Christ. Read this through to the end for the kicker. “The employee booking her into Harris County Jail identified her as a “defendant in a sexual assault case, rather than the victim.” That impacted her treatment from jail staff, as the complaint reads:

“The Harris County Jail psychiatric staff tormented Jane Doe and caused her extreme emotional distress and mental anguish by further defaming her, falsely insisting to her that she was being charged with sexual assault, and refusing to acknowledge her status as an innocent rape victim.”” NPR

There’s been some interesting buzz recently about what would normally be a crackpot conspiracy theory: the idea that Trump is actively working with Putin and is supported by Russia in his presidential campaign. We’ve already seen the quid pro quo: Trump backs off the US commitment to NATO and scares the hell out of Russia border countries.

Josh Marshall at TPM has written a few posts on this, concerning potential connections through Manafort and an obvious lack of reluctance working with dictators. But no smoking gun.

This, however, is the start of one: the timing of the release of DNC emails seems targeted at reopening the Bernie/Hillary rift in advance of the DNC, and forensic legwork points to Russia as the source.

Franklin Foer on Wikileaks and the DNC (with tweets) · DemFromCT

I was unthrilled by Kaine over the past few weeks due to various progressives saying how much his pick would be a fuck you to us.

Within an hour of the announcement, I see this on Twitter: Planned Parenthood, “we’re cool”, Human Rights Coalition: “okay by us”, Mother Jones: “decent guy”, NRA: “fuck him”.

So alright by me. Next issue?

Hillary Clinton’s likeliest VP pick is the person most similar to her

This is pretty badass: Governor of VA issues executive order restoring the voting rights of all felons.

VA Supreme Court overturns the order.

Governor says: okay, then I’m just gonna issue 200,000 individual orders restoring rights one-by-one, and the guy who wrote the state constitution says I can do that.

Governor – Newsroom

We’re at the point where the only thing that’s unbelievable about this is that Trump would use his own money.

Trump Would Fund Super-PACs Aimed at Taking Down Cruz, Kasich

Every time I read or hear someone say “the Trump Organization”, I think of this:

5 Disturbing Things I Learned in Scientology’s ‘Space Navy’

So Bill was the “bridge” to the 21st century, and Hillary is “no Trump”? What’s Chelsea’s slogan, “a grand slam”?

Hillary Clinton on Twitter

Brian Greenberg: this pretty well covers the distinction I was trying to make earlier.

Donald Trump’s nomination is the first time American politics has left me truly afraid

Excellent. (And if $5 million in riot insurance is an issue, sue for $10 million on the grounds that less isn’t punitive.) Philly police approach to DNC in stark contrast with combative stance during last convention

I completely believed this was a real retweet from March until I read the headline. Trump Accidentally Fires Off ‘Boring Mike Pence’ Tweet During VP Speech Before He Can Stop Himself

This transcript of the NYT interview with Trump is a must-read. It’s worse than we thought. I could critique for 4,000 words… but better you read it for yourself. Transcript: Donald Trump on NATO, Turkey’s Coup Attempt and the World