Good morning, and welcome to RedState's "Morning Minute" — a brief glimpse at which stories are trending at the moment and a look ahead at what the day may bring. Consider this your one-stop shop for news to kickstart your day. 

TOP O' THE MORNIN'

BREAKING: After a Week of Speculation, Kamala Harris Selects Her Running Mate

There are less than 100 days until the election, and current polling has the race in a dead heat.

Neil Gorsuch Decimates CBS News Reporter Pushing Left-Wing Talking Points

In the end, what this Gorsuch interview shows is that Democrats have no actual argument. 

The Atlantic's Cringeworthy Defense of Kamala, As Her Weird Woke Video Doesn't Go Over Well

Let's check the Merriam-Webster's synonyms for "oddball." In addition to "nut," "nutcase," "kook," "flake," and "freak," we find "weirdo."

WHAT'S ON TAP?

Today on Capitol Hill...

It's summer recess time, so not a lot of news emanating from the Hill. Most of the Congress critters are back in their home districts. Over the weekend, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) showed us he's no Chuck Schumer (D-NY). 

Grill baby grill. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/T80LbvRat9

— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) August 4, 2024

White House What's Up

Nothing. Nada. Zilch on President Joe Biden's Tuesday schedule. Karine Jean-Pierre will host a press briefing early afternoon, but that's it. 

The Homestretch

Introducing a new section here to highlight the final three months of the presidential race and what the campaigns are up to. 

Now that she's announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris will be appearing with him at a campaign event in Philadelphia (sorry, Josh) late Tuesday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance (OH), will also be making an appearance, styled as a press availability, in Philadelphia on Tuesday. 

Of Primary Concern

Today's the day in Missouri — and Kansas, Michigan, and Washington, but I'll be focused on Missouri for obvious reasons. As red a state as Missouri has been in recent years, the primary is the big race, and there are several hotly contested races for statewide offices that we'll be keeping an eye on. Perhaps the most intriguing, of course, is the race for the 1st Congressional District, where St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell is attempting to unseat Squad member Cori Bush in the Democratic primary. Can he do it? 

MORNING MUSING

Maybe it's naive to feel a sense of relief at Harris' choice of Walz as her running mate — and God only knows what the next three months will bring — but my initial reaction to the Walz selection is exactly that. I'm sure the campaign is privy to internals and such, and maybe those paint a different picture, but on the surface, this pick confirms to me that Harris has lousy political instincts. Then again, she's the current vice president and Democrat nominee, so what do I know? 

LIGHTER FARE 

Whee!

I can't stop watching this 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/9GKS9gaBLh

— Why you should have a cat (@ShouldHaveCat) August 4, 2024