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Views expressed in this U.S., World, and Geopolitical News update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 18 July 2024, 0127 UTC.
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Russ Roberts (https://trendsingeopolitics.blogspot.com).
Good afternoon. Here’s what you should know today, July 17:
| - Big names in Silicon Valley pivot to Trump
- Scientists are studying how much alcohol you can drink without raising health risks
- Country-music fans are no longer so lonesome they could cry
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By Zlati Meyer
| Thanks for reading What’s News! Look for the 🔐 to enjoy a free article on us—and share the link with a friend (or forward the whole newsletter!). |
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What to Watch
|  | GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance greeting the crowd Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. PHOTO: GABRIELLA DEMCZUK FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
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1. JD Vance will speak at the Republican National Convention tonight as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential choice—and likely heir-apparent as leader of the GOP.
| With Trump only able to serve one term if elected in November, Vance is effectively Trump’s anointed successor (🔐 read for free) for MAGA conservatives. Donald Trump Jr. was influential in pitching the Ohio senator, citing his potential appeal to younger voters and working-class voters in key states. The former president was considering going with another choice until the last minute. Still, Vance’s presence on the ticket is unsettling Europe, because he’s a leading critic of U.S. support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump’s near-death experience has electrified the RNC, infusing an otherwise formulaic political event with religious fervor. He also has boosted his Latino and Black support—by ignoring party advice. And bigwigs in traditionally liberal Silicon Valley are backing Trump, too, prompted by Vance’s stint as a venture capitalist, Elon Musk’s support of the candidate, and their dislike of the Biden administration’s stance on artificial-intelligence regulation and crackdowns on big-tech acquisitions. |
| Follow live updates and analysis (Read) Rep. Adam Schiff Says Biden Should Leave Presidential Race (Read) Usha Chilukuri Vance Steps Into a Harsh Spotlight (Read) Peter Navarro, Now Out of Prison, to Speak at RNC (Read) |
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2. A House panel subpoenaed the director of the Secret Service to testify on Monday about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
| The House Oversight Committee wants Kimberly Cheatle to answer questions about the security failures that allowed a gunman to fire shots at the former president during a rally on Saturday. Separately, incorrect information about the shooting surfaced on Grok, the AI model accessible through the X platform. X’s owner, Elon Musk, wants people to get news from Grok, but its limitations were on display after the attempted assassination, with headlines saying that Vice President Kamala Harris had been shot, etc. The Grok items essentially elevated jokes, rumors and confusion into some news bulletins, though the summaries carry a disclaimer. |
| 🎥 The Scramble to Shift Political Messaging Post-Trump Attack (Watch) Heightened Iranian Threat Against Trump Prompted More Security Ahead of Assassination Attempt (Read) |
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3. Two top Fed officials suggested an interest-rate cut could be warranted in the coming months if a recent inflation slowdown continues.
| The Fed could consider lowering its benchmark short-term interest rate when central bankers gather again in mid-September, though not at the central bank’s meeting at the end of the month. The Fed’s overarching goal? Win the fight on inflation without causing a deep economic slump. The central bank last raised its benchmark federal-funds rate in July 2023 to around 5.3%, the highest in more than two decades. Meanwhile, investors want in on the U.S. battery storage boom, tech shares logged their worst day of 2024, and mounting defaults in a favorite Wall Street mortgage-bond investment are raising new concerns about the future of U.S. offices and malls. |
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4. Drinking more than one alcoholic beverage a day could pose risks to your health.
| That amount significantly raises the risk of half a dozen types of cancers, including breast and colorectal, as well as heart and liver disease, alcohol researchers warn. A federal dietary committee is considering recommending no more than two drinks a day for men and no more than one for women. The U.S. defines a standard drink as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits. Women are in greater danger due to their body composition and lower levels of an enzyme that breaks down alcohol. |
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🗨 Follow coverage of detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich
| The WSJ’s Evan Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained in Russia after he was arrested while on a reporting trip and accused of espionage—a charge the Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny. Follow the latest coverage, sign up for an email alert, and learn how you can use social media to support Evan. |
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| MEMBER MESSAGE: BUY SIDE FROM WSJ | | Prime Day Picks |  | Prime Day is here! Shop the best sales, handpicked & curated by Buy Side editors. SHOP | |
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The Numbers
| 98,000 | The number of new in-ground residential pools built in 2022, down from 117,000 the previous year, according to Pkdata and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. The drop continued in 2023; exact figures haven’t been released. During the pandemic, homeowners couldn’t install pools fast enough, but now the tide might be turning, with high-end swimming spots keeping the construction market afloat. |
| 23.5% | The increase in country-music streaming last year across U.S. music services—nearly double the growth rate of the industry generally, according to data-tracker Luminate. The genre is booming, fueled by younger and more geographically diverse fans, the incorporation of other styles from rap to hard rock, and the rise of new Black, gay and nontraditional artists. |
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Quoted
“You don’t need an AI model that knows the entire cast of ‘The Godfather,’ knows every movie that’s ever been made, knows every TV show that’s ever been made.”
| —Robert Blumofe, a technology executive. Businesses are increasingly using small and midsize generative AI models, which cost less than the flashy biggies. The modest models are trained on less data and often designed for specific, often repetitive, tasks such as classifying documents. |
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Catch Up
| - Cyanide Blamed for Mysterious Deaths in Luxury Thai Hotel (Read)
- Canada’s Wildfires Are Back After $10 Billion Economic Blow (Read)
- Israel’s Undercover Forces Emerge as Gaza’s Newest Battlefield Player (Read)
- Covid Cases Are Rising Again, but Your Chances of Long-Term Complications Are Lower (Read)
- What Could Conquer the Superweeds? Bayer and Others Turn to AI (Read)
- The 146-Year-Old British Open Venue That Still Drives the World’s Best Players Nuts (Read)
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Live Better
|  | A summer vacation can quickly turn into an endurance test. ILLUSTRATION: NATHAN HACKETT |
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How to stay cool and safe while traveling this summer
| Heat waves are becoming more common, but with the right coping strategies, there’s no reason to sweat them. Schedule outdoor activities for early morning and evening, and pack light-colored, loosefitting clothes and beat-the heat accessories such as a rechargeable hand-held fan, suggest travel and climate-tech experts. Use a fitness tracker to check for symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and download apps for local weather and directions to the closest water fountains. |
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What Do You Think?
| How do you deal with the heat when you’re on vacation? Let us know at whatsnewsletter@wsj.com or reply to this newsletter. Include your full name and location, and we may publish your response in an upcoming issue. |
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Take a Break
| | U.S. towns are rebelling against megamansions. |
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Beyond the Newsroom
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Welcome to my geopolitics blog site. This is a Hawaii Island news site focusing on geopolitical news, analysis, information, and commentary. I will cite a variety of sources, ranging from all sides of the political spectrum.