Is That—Is That—Optimism We Feel?  —  What a week, huh?  Thanks for staying with us through it.  Happy Friday.  —  She Nailed It  —William Kristol  —  Success.  —  Kamala Harris's acceptance speech last night was a success.  It capped a Democratic convention that was a success.

Trump Is Going to Lose.  (Probably.)  —  No Secret pod today.  Sorry.  People are in transit.  Next week the world goes back to normal.  —  1. Strategery  —  This convention attempted to establish the following strategic positions:  — The Democratic party as a broad and diverse, but wholly unified, front.

Disaffected Republicans and former Trump officials spoke at the DNC.  Fox News didn't air a second of any of their speeches.  —  Fox News did not air a second of the speeches from alienated GOP leaders and former Trump officials who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris at this week's Democratic National Convention.

Democrats Find Confidence Without Complacency  —  It's a balance they didn't strike well in 2016, with tragic consequences  —  The lead Kamala Harris built over Donald Trump through the first month of her campaign was palpable in the thematic content of the Democratic national convention.

Trump's spectacle is no match for Harris's substance  —  This election isn't just another political match — it's a reckoning.  —  For years, Donald Trump has masqueraded as the champion of the working class, a man of the people with a golden touch for business and so-called “common-sense” solutions.

Harris Crushes Trump by 22% in Convention Speech Ratings  —  MUCH BIGGER  —  The former president—who angrily posted throughout Harris' Thursday night speech—lost badly in the ratings contest that matters so much to him.  —  Newly-released TV ratings for Kamala Harris' speech at the DNC will likely have Donald Trump seething.

Fox Cuts Off Ranting Trump Then Mocks: 'He's Still Talking!'  —  SIGN OF THE TIMES  —  Minutes later, he called in to another show on Newsmax to continue his gripes.  —  Fox News unceremoniously dumped out of an interview with Donald Trump while the former president was mid-rant Thursday following the Democratic National Convention.

Robert F. Kennedy suspends his independent presidential campaign and backs Trump  —  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is suspending his long-shot independent presidential candidacy.  He announced Friday that he is seeking to remove his name from ballots in battleground states, and is instead asking supporters …

RFK Jr. says in court filing that he's endorsing Trump as he ends presidential campaign  —  Kennedy had dropped in the polls in recent weeks.  He did not announce an endorsement but is expected to back Trump, according to two people with knowledge of his intentions.