The Lid: Intense Spotlight Now on Politics Top Showman

Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos… Ted Cruz defended his decision not to endorse Donald Trump by saying he is not a “servile puppy dog.” Because, you know, the cute and easily lovable Ted Cruz is just SICK AND TIRED of being compared to adorable animals.

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‘16 from 30,000

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

It’s showtime for the ultimate political showman tonight in Cleveland, and the stakes could not be higher. The nominee’s keynote address on the final night of the convention is always high pressure. But the many problems that have nagged the GOP convention thus far have only made the spotlight on Trump even hotter. On one hand, there is no one in politics who has proven he can put on a better show than Trump. On the other, Trump has come off as flat and -- dare we say -- low energy, when delivering scripted speeches in the past. So will a disappointing speech cap what has been a disappointing week for the GOP? Or can Trump become the GOP’s version of the Comeback Kid? You can follow all the action on our live blog here.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

POPPING ON NBC POLITICS

• NBC’s Benjy Sarlin asks: Will Donald Trump be able to salvage what’s been a trouble election?
• Defending his non-Trump endorsement to the Texas delegation, Ted Cruz said he is not “a servile puppy dog.” And he defended his speech in an interview with NBC’s Hallie Jackson.
• The Trump children are taking center stage.
• Ivanka Trump spoke to TODAY about having some stage fright introducing her father.
• And from First Read: Three nights of unforced errors in Cleveland.

FOR THE RECORD…

"That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you attack and slander Heidi, I'm going to come along like a servile puppy dog."

• Ted Cruz defending his non-endorsement of Trump to the Texas delegation Thursday.