Today’s Big Story

Day One of the RNC

Trump and his newly minted running mate, J.D. Vance, were officially nominated

Not since he descended the golden escalator at the start of his first presidential campaign has Donald Trump made an entrance as memorable as Monday night. Just 48 hours after a bullet nicked his ear in a failed assasination attempt, he entered the Republican convention hall to roaring applause, his right ear bandaged, and holding his fist aloft.

But Trump himself was uncharacteristically subdued and visibly emotional, reports the Washington Post. Acknowledging the crowd with waves and fist pumps, and occasional thumbs up as he repeatedly mouthed “Thank you,” Trump slowly climbed the stairs to the suite where his family and several friends stood waiting. The former president then shook hands with his newly named running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

The selection of Trump's running mate electrified the crowd inside the convention hall, where delegates hailed his nomination as a tribute to the “America First” movement. It was also considered a shrewd move, to pick a onetime critic who became a loyal ally. Vance famously told NPR in 2016 that he “can't stomach Trump,” and that he was “leading the white working class to a very dark place.” Vance is also the first millennial to join a major-party ticket at a time of deep concern about the advanced age of America’s political leaders.

Of course, it wasn’t all sweet solidarity. When Senator Mitch McConnell walked out on stage Monday at the Republican National Convention to officially nominate Trump for president, he instantly got showered with a host of boos. Most speakers stuck to the night’s theme—“Make America Wealthy Again”—but interspersed through the night were mentions of the shooting and rhetoric that, at times, contradicted Trump’s own calls for unity.

According to NBC News, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example, spoke out against transgender rights. And Charlie Kirk, an outspoken Trump ally, urged Republicans to “fire the Biden-Harris regime.” And Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, told the crowd “today’s Democratic agenda—their policies—are a clear and present danger to America,” but later told PBS that his speech was not the one he intended to give, that the teleprompter was loaded with an old version, not a new one that called for unity.

What’s Known About the Shooter Thus Far

New details (but no clear motive or manifesto) emerge in Trump assassination attempt

FBI investigators said Monday that they were able to gain access to the phone and computer of the 20-year-old who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Technicians at the bureau’s lab in Quantico, Va., sifting through the gunman’s texts, emails and other data, did not immediately find clear evidence of a potential motive, or significant new details about possible connections to other people.

However, agents cautioned that the investigation was still in the early stages. According to Department of Homeland Security bulletin, two improvised explosive devices were found in Thomas Matthew Crooks’ car and one in his home. Officials said he did not have a history of mental illness or any record of criminal activity.

Records show that Crooks, a nursing home employee, registered to vote as a Republican. But people close to him have told investigators that he rarely spoke about politics, and even then did not seem to voice easily definable positions, according to a person briefed on the investigation. What’s confirmed is that the gunman was a member of a local shooting club, the rifle used in the assassination attempt was legally purchased by his father in 2013, and he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition prior to going to the rally in a gun shop in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

A Tipping Point in Antarctica?

Rapid changes, increased sea levels and the Earth spinning more slowly … not great

It’s not news that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been melting faster than predicted—that’s been happening for years, right? But it wasn’t always understood why … until now. A new study published by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey found that previously hidden ground-based ice melt (caused by warm water seeping between the land and ice sheet) could be the explanation they’ve been looking for.

The scientists told Popular Mechanics that this previously unaccounted-for piece of the ice melt puzzle is likely why we’ve seen an acceleration of ice melt in both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. It’s important that scientists get a nuanced and accurate understanding of the rate of ice melt, as coastal communities around the world will be devastated by the subsequent sea level rise. Previous research into this type of wedge-like melting estimated that it could double the rate of ice melt in some areas of the Antarctic Ice Shelf, and Bradley says, in an interview with The Guardian, that this could be the missing piece that explains the unexpected rise in ice melt.

What’s more, another study out Monday shows that the melting is now causing our planet to spin more slowly, increasing the length of days at an “unprecedented” rate.

The Rise of Casual MRI Scans

The rich are getting $2,000 full-body scans to learn about their health. Should you?

What if there was a way to peer into your body and spot early signs of cancer and other life-threatening ailments before they became serious? That’s the pitch from a new cluster of companies selling high-tech scans to healthy people interested in learning more about their wellness. But these whole-body scans aren’t cheap.

Startup companies like Prenuvo charge between $1,000 to $2,500 for various scanning options. Available in over a dozen U.S. cities now, the scans commonly rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), supported by artificial intelligence, to assess major organs for hidden disease. The scans, which are not covered by health insurance, take about an hour. They are then reviewed by radiologists before results and suggested next steps are shared with the customer.

But many in the medical community aren’t sold on it. At least, not yet. In April, the American College of Radiology released a statement saying that there was “no documented evidence that total body screening is cost-efficient or effective in prolonging life.” And one chronic disease doctor told NPR that “if we could re-direct this enthusiasm to evidence-based—albeit less glamorous—methods to detect and prevent disease, we could avoid a lot of sickness and death.” So if you’re feeling FOMO, don’t worry. You’re probably better off just getting a physical at your regular doctor’s office.

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