NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.
Editor’s note: War Notes will be off this Monday. Amid the sales and the barbecues, take a few minutes, stare at the flag and give thanks to those who “gave the last full measure of devotion.” At noon on Memorial Day, flags are officially raised from half-staff to full. I was once told by a Gold Star parent their fallen son would want everyone to take part in the morning of remembrance and then go have a great time celebrating the freedoms he died for.
- Our friend George Will offered his thoughts in a must-read edition of his column.
- Look forward: Will writes, “Remember this, and also the mostly young military men and women who this day, as every day, are in peril on the sea, and under it, and elsewhere.”
Thank God: American patriotism is not only allowed again, it’s celebrated. In Indiana, it never went out of favor, nor did they change the traditions of the Indianapolis 500. They call it the greatest spectacle in racing.
The Indy 500 pre-race is sports’ “greatest spectacle of patriotism.” Before the race, they celebrate America in a way unlike any other.
- They have performances of “Taps,” “God Bless America,” the national anthem and a 21-gun salute. In 2019, NBC took a minute and explained the Midwest tradition of love of country.
It’s only fitting and proper that the president and others gather Monday at Arlington National Cemetery. The old guard put a flag next to each grave for the occasion.
But Sunday’s Indy 500 traditions came from honoring the dead of World War I and World War II. They’ve been doing many of the same things since 1911. Back then and through the wars, patriotism wasn’t political.
Of course, it’s easy to look at America’s college campuses these days and think those times are gone, but there is reason for hope. Maybe not at Harvard, but how about this commencement address at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh by Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Axios:
- “This is an amazing place, and it’s full of possibility. It’s full of ambition. It’s full of freedoms. And others envy it. Why do you think people are trying to storm across our southern border? People yearn to be in this country. Don’t take that for granted. Don’t let the haters sap your faith. I’m living proof that you can do anything thanks to the freedoms of democracy and the animal spirits of capitalism.”
Unsurprisingly, VandeHei comes from Wisconsin — and not the urban part. There is something Midwestern about the humility of giving thanks to God and country — that it isn’t all about you.
Before the Indy 500, they will sing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” In 1946, the song took on special meaning when famed singer James Melton belted out the words:
“From the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about
the moonlight on the wabash
then I long for my Indiana home”
Most of the men listening in 1946 had longed for their Indiana home as Marines on Okinawa, as soldiers on Omaha Beach and as sailors during the battle for the Pacific.
One of them was my grandfather, who served with Eisenhower through Europe. He spoke so lovingly, reverently of the Sunday in May before Memorial Day, of the traditions, of the race and of Indiana.
Like so many of that generation, he knew what real sacrifice meant. He came home — so many others did not.
Many holidays mean many things. Memorial Day means one thing and this Sunday in Indiana, they will honor it again.
VP Nikki
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley made precisely no one happy with yesterday’s “half-pregnant” endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
- Trump supporters never liked her, but she certainly didn’t give the type of groveling endorsement given by other 2024 challengers like Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy or Tim Scott, which got them welcomed back to Mar-a-Lago.
- “Never Trump” Republicans think she sold out without even getting Trump to make an effort at winning over her voters.
- Democrats long held out Haley as an “acceptable” Republican. Now, Nicole Wallace on MSNBC thinks she needs a “cult” expert to help explain things.
- None of those people matter — the only person that matters is Trump, who said he “appreciated” her saying she will vote for him and that she’ll be on his team in “some form” in his first comments.
Look forward: The half-pregnant endorsement leaves open the possibility of a full-throated one in the coming weeks if Haley really is a contender for Trump’s running mate.
Be smart: As smart as it would be for Trump to pick Haley, he (likely) won’t.
Reagan Movie
Bias alert: I am an unabashed Reagan fan. Evidence: My dog, Dutch (see photo above).
Two things (of many things) are true about the now-beloved Gipper:
- Many that now love, revere and look back at his presidency with longing didn’t love him then.
- His policies, optimism and willingness to compromise would make it impossible to get the Republican nomination for dogcatcher, much less president.
Don’t believe me? Can anyone imagine Trump doing any of the following:
- Saying and meaning, “Mr. Putin, get out of Ukraine.”
- Making real and substantial deals with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
- Comforting Americans through a major crisis
In retrospect, 1980 was one of the most important elections of modern times, and finally, Reagan is getting his due: a full-length feature film.
- Imagine the pressure of playing a president who was a GREAT actor.
And there will be a NewsNation Reagan special. Set your DVRs to June 8.
Bloody Weekend Ahead
We likely know the headline on Tuesday out of Chicago. It will read similar to, or even worse than, last year’s from ABC, which read, “Memorial Day weekend mayhem leaves 53 shot, 11 fatally, in Chicago.”
At the time, Chicago’s newly elected ultra-progressive mayor said, “We have a lot of work to do.”
- In a cruel irony, much of the work by Mayor Brandon Johnson has made things in the city worse. This includes ending the city’s contract with ShotSpotter, the imperfect technology that listens for gunshots using microphones strategically placed in the most crime-ridden neighborhoods.
Johnson canceled the contract, and the city council got so upset they voted to keep it. To be fair, no executive likes to get vetoed, but he was especially upset, saying, “I canceled ShotSpotter. It’s canceled,” and that the vote will have no impact on him ending the contract.
To be fair: He’s had a year to do his “work,” and numbers don’t lie. We’ll let you know on Tuesday if Mayor Johnson’s “work” worked.
Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.
