Your Morning: Vance vs. Walz

Vance vs. Walz: The Republican and Democratic presidential tickets are stacked after Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Ohio Sen. JD Vance‘s nomination as former President Donald Trump’s vice president pits him against Walz, a former teacher and longtime politician. Here’s how Vance and Walz stack up against one another on the big issues > 

Walz shares IVF story: During his first joint campaign appearance with Harris, Walz shared personal experiences with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Speaking to a capacity crowd of 10,000 at Temple University, Walz criticized Republican stances on reproductive rights and health care decisions. The Minnesota governor spoke about his family’s struggle with infertility, recounting years of IVF treatments before welcoming his daughter. Everything you need to know about Walz > 

Debate: Vance said he “absolutely” wants to debate his Democratic counterpart Walz. Vance called Walz shortly after Harris announced he would be her running mate Tuesday to congratulate him. Still, Vance took a moment to take a swipe at Democrats during an event later that day in Philadelphia. He pounced on Walz’s political record, calling it a “joke.” Takeaways from the Harris-Walz ticket announcement > 

Polling: A vast majority of Americans aren’t familiar with Walz, according to a survey released Tuesday, before Harris made the announcement. The NPR/PBS News/Marist National poll found that 71% of respondents said they don’t know enough about Walz to have an opinion on him. Of the remaining respondents, 17% had a favorable opinion and 12% viewed him unfavorably. Walz’s selection ended the Democratic “veepstakes.” Here’s what happens next >

Recession: Stocks slipped Monday after last week’s underwhelming jobs report reignited recession fears, but experts say it’s not time to hit the panic button. “The market is never as good as it looks and it’s never as bad as it feels,” said Dan Roccato, clinical professor of finance at the University of San Diego. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,000 points or 2.6% to start the week — its worst day since 2022. By midday Tuesday the index had clawed back 550 points, returning to roughly where it was in early July. Read more > 

Economy: The tumultuous few days of trading come after gloomy economic data indicated the U.S. economy could be headed for a recession. The latest federal jobs report showed employers slowed their hiring in July, and at 4.3% the unemployment rate is the highest it’s been since October 2021. How will the economy affect Harris, Trump campaigns? >

Assassination plot foiled: A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate a U.S. politician, the Justice Department announced. Prosecutors say Asif Merchant was arrested in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. politician on U.S. soil, allegedly attempting to hire a hit man to do the job. Law enforcement officers stopped the plan before it could take place. Investigation details >

Psychedelics push: A Michigan congressman is leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers to pressure the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse its panel’s recommendation to reject the use of psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA took advice from a panel of 11 experts, 10 of which said not to allow the use of MDMA therapy, a setback for those hoping to increase access to the treatment. The FDA isn’t bound by the committee’s decision but often follows its recommendations. The lawmaker believes the panel members could have made a better call if they had looked into places like the Bronx Veterans Hospital he visited where veterans told him they wouldn’t be alive today if they hadn’t gone through therapy involving psychedelics. Full report >

‘The Devil’: A fugitive nicknamed “The Devil” who was wanted in Ohio in connection with a 2004 killing was taken into custody last week after being found in Mexico working as a police officer, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Antonio “El Diablo” Riano, who was listed as one of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office’s “Most Wanted” for the killing of Benjamin Becarra, was found in his hometown in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Read more >

Landowner sues: A landowner in rural Starr County, Texas, is suing the federal government, which is trying for the second time to take his property for new border wall construction. Latest on the lawsuit > 

Residents call secondary border wall ‘laughable’: The former mayor of Calexico, California, says “it’s laughable” that the Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector is building a second border barrier to prevent the flow of fentanyl in this small border town 120 miles east of San Diego. El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino recently told NewsNation that 25% of all the fentanyl coming into the U.S. is coming through the El Centro Sector, including the city of Calexico. What to know >

Rachel Morin case: Tuesday marked one year since Maryland mother Rachel Morin was found dead on a popular hiking trail. The 37-year-old was first reported missing Aug. 5, 2023, and her body was found the following day off the trail, sparking nationwide outrage over immigration policies after the suspected killer was identified as Victor Martinez Hernandez, an El Salvador native who entered the U.S. illegally. Police declared the mother of five’s death a homicide and said they believed she was attacked on the trail and dragged through the woods to the location where she was raped and killed. Where the case stands now >

Jeffrey Epstein: Two of Jeffrey Epstein‘s closest advisers can be sued by victims for allegedly aiding and abetting the financier in his sex trafficking crimes, a U.S. judge has decided. A lawyer for the victims shared that he is “thrilled” survivors will “proceed against Epstein’s right hand money men to hold them accountable.” Full report >