💥 Axios PM: How Walz won

Plus: Uninsured Americans | Tuesday, August 06, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Aug 06, 2024 Good afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 323 words, a 1.5-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Why Harris picked Walz   Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gives an interview last month. Photo: Glen Stubbe/Minneapolis Star Tribune Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's ability to crystalize several Democratic lines of attack into one viral word — "weird" — helped catapult him to the top of the veepstakes over the past two weeks. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had seemed like the front-runner heading into Vice President Harris' one-on-one interviews this past weekend, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. But Walz's record in Minnesota along with his happy-warrior persona and facility with attacks like "weird" ultimately put him over the top. 🗳️ What we're watching: Harris is making a high-stakes bet that she can win Pennsylvania even without its popular Democratic governor on the ticket. Preparations for this evening's rally in Philadelphia. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters The party's left flank wanted Walz, and Republicans have already criticized him as a radical and Harris as captive to progressives. One GOP strategist told Axios the Walz pick is the "first break we've caught since the Biden switcheroo." But Democrats say they're confident that Walz's communication skills and Midwestern-ness can deflate those attacks. Go deeper.     2. 🏥 Mapped: Uninsured Americans   Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Estimated from administrative and survey data; Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Florida have the highest share of uninsured residents, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report. 🩺 How it works: Three of those four states — Texas, Wyoming and Florida — are among the small group of holdouts that never adopted Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. Massachusetts, D.C. and Hawai'i have the lowest uninsured rates.     A message from Amazon Amazon helps small businesses save time and money     Tamika started her family business out of her living room in Madison, Alabama. When it took off she turned to Amazon to help with shipping and logistics. Key number: Fulfillment by Amazon costs 70% less on average than comparable two-day shipping options. See more.     3. Catch me up   A flooded street in Cedar Key, Fla., yesterday. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images ⛈️ "This is a life-threatening situation," the National Weather Service said today of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby. It forecast "historic and catastrophic flooding through mid-week." Go deeper. 📱 X sued an advertising coalition and its member companies, saying they violated antitrust law when they pulled their ads from the platform. Go deeper. Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as its new political leader. Go deeper.     4. 📸 1,000 words   Photo: Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images Gabrielle Thomas competes in the women's 200m today, winning her first gold medal.     A message from Amazon "Selling in Amazon's store helped us expand our reach"     Lisa-Jae and Kammy used Amazon tools to take their local business national. "Amazon was a major turning point in our growth," they said. The impact: More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers, most of which are small to medium-sized businesses. More info.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, PO Box 101060, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: