Nicole Lafond
Where Things Stand: A TPM Piñata 
TPM reporter Matt Shuham has been on the story surrounding the “We Build The Wall” project for months. At one point during the bluster of breaking news this morning he likened covering the story of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s arrest, and all the absurd developments surrounding it, to “hitting a TPM piñata” — every time you smack it with a bat, something better falls out.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Where Things Stand: It’s Ladies’ Night
You might not have noticed because we are good at hiding it, but some of the TPM staff is a bit sleep deprived this week.
Where Things Stand: The Sideshow
An approaching full week in the spotlight is not enough to satiate President Trump’s attention appetite.
Where Things Stand: We’re On This
The news surrounding the USPS last week was grim. Out of all of President Trump’s rhetorical bellyaching about the 2020 election, this thread appears like it could have tangible ramifications.
Where Things Stand: Concrete Plans To Challenge The Election
Like any good manipulator, President Trump has been signaling for weeks that he plans to be very mad about the election. The preemptive complaints about mail-in voting, the race-baiting, the showy displays meant to signal law-and-order — he’s building a sturdy base narrative to stand on when things don’t go his way in November.
Where Things Stand: The Love Letters
Here’s something to look forward to as we attempt to distract ourselves from the fact that COVID-19 is still very much our reality: Reading the contents of pen pals President Trump and Kim Jong Un’s letters to one another.
Where Things Stand: Early Speculation On Harris Senate Replacement
Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) appointment as Joe Biden’s running mate represents a wealth of necessary firsts for our nation and is the culmination of months of political maneuvering from both Biden and Harris’ teams and the Democratic Party as a whole.
But why float in the breeze for a few hours after months of speculation when we can dive into a plethora of “what’s next?” inquiries. That is the media’s job after all.
Where Things Stand: This Could Get Really Dark
It appears President Trump is attempting to take his war against immigrants to a new level, and he’s using COVID-19 as an excuse to do it.
Where Things Stand: VP Watch
The former VP has kept us waiting for some time. We’re expecting to know sometime this week who his vice president will be.
Where Things Stand: Shortened Dem Convention Makes For Tough Decisions On Who Gets To Speak
We already knew that GOPer and ex-Ohio governor John Kasich would have a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention in a few short weeks.
But a new report out of Politico this morning takes a look at some of the behind-the-scenes about how Democrats will cast their convention, and provides details on who a few more high profile convention speakers might be — the Obamas, the Clintons, Jill Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). But it may be who ends up left out of the coveted speaking gigs that’s more intriguing.