RNC Day 3: JD Vance to accept nomination, GOP shifts focus to national security

Former President Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance will introduce himself to a national audience Wednesday as he addresses the Republican National Convention.

The Ohio senator’s headlining address will be his first speech as the Republican vice-presidential nominee. He’s a relative political unknown who rapidly morphed in recent years from a severe critic of Trump to an aggressive defender.

Vance, 39, is positioned to become the next potential leader of the former president’s political movement, which has reshaped the Republican Party and busted many longtime political norms. The first millennial to join a major party ticket, he joins the race when questions about the age of the men at the top of the tickets — 78-year-old Trump and 81-year-old President Joe Biden — have been high on the list of voters’ concerns.

President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas

President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing “mild symptoms” from the infection, the White House said.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will “self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.” The news had first been shared by Unidos US President and CEO Janet Murguía, who told guests at the group’s convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said in a note that Biden “presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.” After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, O’Connor said.

Biden was slated to speak at the Unidos event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election.

The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and was scheduled to have an interview with Univision.

Special counsel files notice of appeal in Trump’s classified documents case

Special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday filed an official notice of appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon’s order dismissing former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

Judge Cannon, in a surprising ruling Monday, dismissed the case on the grounds that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional because he was not appointed by the president or confirmed by Congress.

Wednesday’s filing by Smith indicated that he will appeal the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representatives with the special counsel’s office said they would not be commenting further.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 40 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information and took steps to thwart the government’s efforts to get the documents back.

Trump has denied all charges.

Maryland Board of Public Works approves nearly $150 million in cuts to state budget.

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $149 million in cuts to the state budget proposed by Gov. Wes Moore.

Chairing the Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore proclaimed that he’s managed budgets over his entire career. He added that reductions in the budget are necessary after stagnant economic growth over the last decade.

“When we took office 18 months ago our team realized that Maryland’s business model was broken,” Moore said. “That’s not politics. That’s math.”

Moore said the cuts will free up money for Medicare reimbursements and child care for low-income families. The cuts include $1.5 million to the state police forensic lab and a quarter of a million dollars for a drone security system at the Port of Baltimore.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey and Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready issued the following statement in response to the approved budget cuts:

“It is disingenuous for Governor Moore to call this $150 million a cut. When you look beyond the cleverly orchestrated headlines, you will not find a $150 million decrease in overall state spending. What you will find is a fund transfer and budgeting tricks akin to looking for coins in the couch cushions to make up a significant underfunding of Medicaid created by flawed projections. Also, what didn’t make the news cycle was the Moore Administration’s $190 million request to transfer additional money from the Rainy Day Fund to cover that same shortfall.  So, when Governor Moore was proclaiming $150 million in budget “cuts,” he was actually seeking authorization to spend an additional $190 million over the approved FY25 budget.”

“These hidden budget tricks are disappointing especially when you consider Maryland looming $3.7 BILLION budget deficit. This Medicaid shortfall is not going away, nor is the lack of funding for the Blueprint. Marylanders deserve better. Governor Moore’s Administration and Maryland Democrats must address these massive spending mandates that swamp us for the long term before asking for another dime from taxpayers. How does any of this fuzzy math grow our economy, build new pathways to work, wages and wealth for all?”

There are no layoffs, but several state agencies will keep unfilled positions vacant.

Second judge recuses herself from YSL, Young Thug RICO case citing former court deputy’s involvement

Two days after she was assigned to take over the case against Young Thug and his alleged associates, Fulton County Judge Shukura Ingram recused herself. Ingram said because her courthouse deputy had a romantic relationship with a co-defendant in the case, Christian Eppinger, it could create an “appearance of impropriety.”

She issued an order on Wednesday recusing herself and asking that the case be reassigned.

Ingram was randomly assigned to take the helm of the 19-month-old racketeering and gang case after after Judge Ural Glanville was removed. Eppinger’s case was severed from the rest of the YSL defendants last year after it was alleged the deputy tried to sneak contraband to him in jail with the help of one of his family members. RELATED: Judge recused in Young Thug, YSL trial, documents show Referring to that episode, Judge Ingram wrote the deputy “could be called as a witness in any future proceedings in this case” and so she might “be called upon to assess this deputy’s credibility, or rule on matters related to her criminal prosecution.” “This may undermine the public’s confidence in the impartiality of the proceedings,” Judge Ingram wrote. “While the Court does not regard the aforementioned situation as creating any actual bias for or against any party to this case, the Court does view this as a matter that could cause a reasonable person to question the Court’s impartiality and reasonably give rise to the appearance of impropriety should the Court remain on this case.”