- President and VP Mike Pence to be formally nominated by RNC this morning
- Kellyanne Conway set to leave White House at end of month
- Wisconsin protests after video appears to show police shooting black man in back
- 446 deaths and 32,340 new cases of Covid-19 reported in US on Sunday
- Pompeo to meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem
- Sign up to our First Thing newsletter
11.16am BST
Here’s a little bit more on that police officer-involved shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has sparked protests overnight. Local media have identified the man shot as Jacob Blake, who is currently in a “serious condition at a Milwaukee-area hospital”. Reports state:
More than 60 people were gathered following the shooting at the scene with several saying that the Black man was trying to break up a verbal altercation between two women shortly after 5pm
At least a half dozen witnesses said that the man had tried to break up a fight between the two women outside a home at 2805 40th St. and that police had attempted to use a Taser on the man prior to the shooting. Then, they heard at least seven gunshots ring out.
Hours after Blake was shot at close range by a Kenosha Police officer, a different law enforcement officer in Kenosha was reportedly hit with a brick during unrest. Video from the scene shows the officer walking next to a police vehicle when the officer suddenly falls to the ground, and multiple other officers move quickly to aid the downed officer. Shouts of “Officer down!” were heard on the police scanner.
On scene of an officer-involved shooting in Kenosha. We’re at 28th ave & 40th street working to gather more information. pic.twitter.com/8OpEqK7vtK
11.05am BST
We’re up for four days of the Republican national convention. Social media may have already had fun with the sheer number of Trumps appearing on the speaker list, but David Smith in Washington has a proper scene-setter for us this morning, about the Republican task ahead of defending the indefensible.
Organisers of the Republicans’ first virtual national convention face an uphill task, and not only because the Democrats’ technically slick version last week is a tough act to follow. They must pitch Trump to the American public during a pandemic that has ripped 170,000 lives from families and communities. In an era of negative partisanship, they will also seek to whip up fears that Democratic nominee Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris pose an existential threat to the American way of life.
“The problem is what the Democrats did last week, and I think did very effectively, is confirm that this election is a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency,” said Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican national committee. “Trump now has to beat that narrative back and then give them a reason why it’s a choice election between what he’s done – tax cuts, et cetera – and what Biden will do, and I just don’t get the sense that the voters are going to buy that.”
Related: ‘Four days to defend the indefensible’: Republicans seek to sell Trump to the nation again
Continue reading…President and VP Mike Pence to be formally nominated by RNC this morningKellyanne Conway set to leave White House at end of monthWisconsin protests after video appears to show police shooting black man in back446 deaths and 32,340 new cases of Covid-19 reported in US on SundayPompeo to meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in JerusalemSign up to our First Thing newsletter 11.16am BSTHere’s a little bit more on that police officer-involved shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has sparked protests overnight. Local media have identified the man shot as Jacob Blake, who is currently in a “serious condition at a Milwaukee-area hospital”. Reports state:More than 60 people were gathered following the shooting at the scene with several saying that the Black man was trying to break up a verbal altercation between two women shortly after 5pmAt least a half dozen witnesses said that the man had tried to break up a fight between the two women outside a home at 2805 40th St. and that police had attempted to use a Taser on the man prior to the shooting. Then, they heard at least seven gunshots ring out.Hours after Blake was shot at close range by a Kenosha Police officer, a different law enforcement officer in Kenosha was reportedly hit with a brick during unrest. Video from the scene shows the officer walking next to a police vehicle when the officer suddenly falls to the ground, and multiple other officers move quickly to aid the downed officer. Shouts of “Officer down!” were heard on the police scanner.On scene of an officer-involved shooting in Kenosha. We’re at 28th ave & 40th street working to gather more information. pic.twitter.com/8OpEqK7vtK 11.05am BSTWe’re up for four days of the Republican national convention. Social media may have already had fun with the sheer number of Trumps appearing on the speaker list, but David Smith in Washington has a proper scene-setter for us this morning, about the Republican task ahead of defending the indefensible.Organisers of the Republicans’ first virtual national convention face an uphill task, and not only because the Democrats’ technically slick version last week is a tough act to follow. They must pitch Trump to the American public during a pandemic that has ripped 170,000 lives from families and communities. In an era of negative partisanship, they will also seek to whip up fears that Democratic nominee Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris pose an existential threat to the American way of life.“The problem is what the Democrats did last week, and I think did very effectively, is confirm that this election is a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency,” said Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican national committee. “Trump now has to beat that narrative back and then give them a reason why it’s a choice election between what he’s done – tax cuts, et cetera – and what Biden will do, and I just don’t get the sense that the voters are going to buy that.” Related: ‘Four days to defend the indefensible’: Republicans seek to sell Trump to the nation again Continue reading…