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The Morning Roundup: As the Nation Mourns Again, the Republican Party Proceeds With Nationally Televised Suicide

Jul. 18, 2016

8:31 a.m.

Sigh.

It bears repeating — again, and again, and again:

Congress should have done something long ago about limiting access to military-style assault weapons that are "good" for one thing, and one thing only: killing lots of people — including cops — quickly.

Oh, and the #Trumpence Convention starts today in Cleveland. Let's talk about that.

But first:

1. Here's the latest on Sunday's Baton Rouge shooting spree.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Gavin Eugene Long, the gunman who killed three police officers and wounded three others in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, left a vast and angry online trail documenting his interest in black separatism and fury at police shootings of black men.

Long, whose identity was confirmed by a law enforcement official, was shot to death by police after opening fire on officers on Airline Highway, less than a mile from the city's police headquarters in Baton Rouge.

One law enforcement official described him as “a black separatist.” He carried out the shooting on his 29th birthday, and was from Kansas City, Mo.

Long, who was killed by police at the scene, is believed to have been the only shooter.

The three slain officers have been identified.

Sheriff's Deputy Brad Garafola, 45, was a father of four who had been with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for 24 years, a spokeswoman for the office confirmed Sunday night.

Officer Matthew Gerald, 41, had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for less than a year, according to the department's Facebook page.

Earlier on Sunday, officials named as a victim Officer Montrell Jackson, 32, who had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for about a decade.

The story is still developing.

2. The RNC Convention starts today, oh boy.

And according to The News & Observer, party unity among delegates from North Carolina is not exactly at an all-time high:

Some of North Carolina's delegates – elected by hundreds of local GOP activists from across the state – say they won't vote for him in November. Some are reluctantly supporting the billionaire after their favorites dropped out. And some North Carolina Republican leaders are skipping the convention altogether – including Gov. Pat McCrory, who endorsed Trump ahead of the Cleveland gathering.

Really? Pat's chickening out? Hard to believe, right?

Besides, what's not to like about the presumptive nominee and his newly announced running mate, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana?

Check out Trumpence on 60 Minutes last night.

The chemistry is palpable, no?

An excerpt:

Donald Trump: Now look, we are going to get rid of ISIS, big league. And we're going to get rid of 'em fast. And we're going to use surrounding states. We're going to use NATO, probably. And we're going to declare war. It is war. When the World Trade Center comes tumbling down, with thousands of people being killed, people are still— I have friends that are still—

Lesley Stahl: But we did go to war, if you remember. We went to Iraq.

Donald Trump: Yeah, you went to Iraq, but that was handled so badly. And that was a war— by the way, that was a war that we shouldn't have entered because Iraq did not knock down—excuse me

Lesley Stahl: Your running mate—

Donald Trump: Iraq did not—

Lesley Stahl: —voted for it.

Donald Trump: I don't care.

He doesn't care.

But:

Lesley Stahl: Yeah, but you've used that vote of Hillary's that was the same as Governor Pence as the example of her bad judgment.

Donald Trump: Many people have, and frankly, I'm one of the few that was right on Iraq.

Lesley Stahl: Yeah, but what about he—

Donald Trump: He's entitled to make a mistake every once in a while.

Lesley Stahl: But she's not? OK, come on—

Donald Trump: But she's not—

Lesley Stahl: She's not?

Donald Trump: No. She's not.

Lesley Stahl: Got it.

Yeah — got it.

Not all prominent Republicans are slinking away from standing in the shadow of Donald. Take Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, for instance, as reported by The Daily Beast:

Sen. Richard Burr in North Carolina, who was just outraised by his Democratic challenger last quarter, has said he will both support and campaign with Trump in the Tar Heel state.

“I think Donald Trump is Hillary Clinton’s worst nightmare,” he said. Burr also recently told his own state Republican convention that he hoped Trump would pick not just the next Supreme Court justice, but the next three.

(That Democratic challenger, of course, is Deborah Ross.)

Longtime contributor Barry Yeoman is covering the Republican Convention for The INDY, so expect compelling analysis of a political party that... well, could really use an analyst right now.

3. Reuters tells the world what we in N.C. already know about our new state voting laws. But it also bears repeating — again, and again, and again.

From Reuters:

A Reuters review of Republican-backed changes to North Carolina’s voting rules indicates as many as 29,000 votes might not be counted in this year's Nov. 8 presidential election if a federal appeals court upholds the 2013 law. Besides banning voters from voting outside their assigned precinct on Election Day, the law also prevents them from registering the same day they vote during the early voting period.

The U.S. Justice Department says the law was designed to disproportionately affect minority groups, who are more likely to vote out of precinct and use same-day registration.

What's at stake here, in the near future?

Republican-backed changes to North Carolina’s voting rules will eliminate voting methods used by tens of thousands of voters if a federal appeals court upholds two key provisions for this year’s presidential election

Now, a little refresher on those key provisions:

In 2013, North Carolina’s legislature passed a new law that invalidated voters’ ballots if cast outside their assigned precinct on Election Day. It also banned voters from registering the same day they vote during the early voting period. A temporary court injunction issued on May 5, 2015, allowed these methods to be used in March of 2016.

So how did we get here?

North Carolina’s Senate passed its new voting laws weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 in June 2013 to eliminate a requirement that nine states mostly in the South with a history of discrimination, including North Carolina, receive federal approval before changing election laws.

Hillary 2016, y'all.

4. That weekend weather was crazy.

From WNCN:

Clean-up is underway on Monday after weekend storms caused serious damage in Durham.

A state damage assessment team is expected to visit several areas after strong winds brought down trees and rain caused flooding.

Even though the rain has stopped for now, officials warn the damage may still continue. More downed trees are possible because the ground is so saturated.

Stay safe out there, folks.