Newsletter: Your Essential Politics guide to the final day of the Republican National Convention

I’m Christina Bellantoni, here with your Essential Politics guide to the Republican National Convention.

Tonight’s theme is Make America One Again. But the Republican Party, it seems, is not fully one, at least not yet.

Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday night fired the freshest shots yet in a war to define the party. As Cathleen Decker writes, that war is one that will persist through November and beyond, regardless of whether Donald Trump wins the White House.

Four hours after closing his speech, to boos, in Cleveland, Cruz had a message for his supporters: “Our fight goes on.” In a fundraising email, Cruz talked about “a return to freedom” and how Americans are “rightly” furious.

“We must make the most of our moment — to fight for freedom, to protect our God-given rights, even of those with whom we don’t agree, so when we are old, and our work is done, we will be able to say, ‘Freedom matters, and I fought to save it,’” Cruz wrote. “I promise to lead the fight for freedom and our liberty every day from the United States Senate.”

We’ll see who will prevail in this fight. For now, the focus is on Trump, and what he’ll say when formally accepting the party nomination tonight.

WHAT WILL TRUMP SAY?

We’ve gotten few hints as to how Trump will treat his moment, or if he even will stick to the tradition of a 45-minute, from-the-Teleprompter address delivered in the peak moments of prime time.

George Skelton has some advice for Trump in his Thursday column: Take a page from wife Melania’s book and look to the past. Trump would do well to imitate John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan when he delivers his remarks, Skelton writes. But if past is precedent, the Republican presidential nominee will go his own way.

We also asked convention attendees what they think Trump should say tonight. And they told us, saying it as if they were Trump.

Below is our quick look at what happened on Day 3. Or check out the video version. We’ll have you covered for the final day, with a gavel-to-gavel livestream that will go live here at 4:10 p.m. Pacific. and robust live coverage round-the-clock on Trail Guide. Don’t miss a moment.

I’ll present the best of the rest with a series of headlines.

YOUR GUIDE TO CONVENTION NEWS

— At a surreal GOP convention, Mike Pence brings the proceedings back to earth.

— Donald Trump really, really wants to win California.

— The Trump kids, making their national political debut, soften their father’s sharp edges.

— A “small business owner” who spoke Wednesday works for a multi-level marketing company.

— Eileen Collins, the first female U.S. space shuttle commander, urges investments in space exploration at the RNC but skips over a line endorsing Trump in her prime-time speech.

— In case you didn’t know, Mike Pence can bring it in a speech when he needs to.

— Illinois Republicans revoked the credentials of a Trump delegate who has used a social media handle of “whitepride” for “publicly made racist comments and threats of violence.”

— Wednesday’s convention theme was Make America First Again. Here are some areas where America already is first.

YOUR GUIDE TO CONVENTION SPEECHES

— Columnist Robin Abcarian’s take on the night: A dark star named Ted Cruz blots out the sun for Mike Pence.

— This California delegate from Fresno is one of many mad at Ted Cruz.

— WATCH: Ted Cruz’s full controversial speech to the Republican National Convention.

— WATCH: Newt Gingrich immediately tries to mend the Cruz rift at the Republican convention.

— WATCH: Mike Pence looks to America’s future in his convention speech.

— WATCH: Marco Rubio’s message to Republican delegates.

— WATCH: Gov. Scott Walker — a Trump critic, then backer, then skeptic — got the party memo on GOP unity.

— WATCH: Eric Trump lauds his father as a great leader.

— WATCH: Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham tells those with “bruised egos” it’s time to support Trump.

YOUR CONVENTION PROTEST GUIDE

— The FBI may have resumed controversial checkups on Cleveland-area activists, a legal group says.

— Video: Multiple arrests after demonstrators burn a flag outside the GOP convention.

— A burning flag and 18 arrests: Reporter Matt Pearce’s diary from outside the GOP convention.

YOUR CONVENTION BINGO CARD

From “lock her up” chants to making America great, we have you covered.

JOIN US TONIGHT!

Join me, Sacramento bureau chief John Myers and columnist Robin Abcarian at free convention watch parties tonight and again on July 28 in downtown Los Angeles. The free events will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Pacific. RSVP here.

TODAY’S ESSENTIALS

Javier Panzar reports that California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León’s daughter Lluvia Carrasco has landed a job with Encino-based political firm Shallman Communications, which counts De León and a number of other prominent California Democrats as clients.

LOGISTICS

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