Newsletter: Today: That Awkward Moment at the RNC. Billion-Dollar Shave Club.
I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.
TOP STORIES
That Awkward Moment at the RNC
The third night of the GOP convention was supposed to be about party unity and Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence. Instead, Ted Cruz told the assembled to “vote your conscience,” drawing boos for his snub of the Republican nominee. It was hardly the way to move on from the dramas around Melania Trump’s speech and the many no-shows, and as Cathleen Decker writes, it hinted at the war over conservatism that goes far beyond this campaign season. What will Trump say to close out the convention tonight? We asked some attendees for their opinions, and now you can watch the Trump speech they want to hear.
A Quiet Riot So Far
Before the convention started, some had concerns about violent clashes on the streets of Cleveland. With the history of unrest surrounding Trump’s rallies and Ohio’s open-carry law, who could blame them? So far, save for one incident Wednesday, the protests have been vociferous but peaceful. (Knock on wood for the final day.) See how cops on bikes, among other factors, have kept things calm.
More Politics
-- A burning flag and 18 arrests: a reporter’s diary from outside the convention.
-- A speechwriter takes the fall for Melania Trump’s plagiarism.
-- Watch the convention with us live. And get our complete coverage here.
He Killed a Man, He Says, Because They Were Friends
The two men had been friends for more than three decades after meeting as schoolboys in Korea. Why did Beong Kwun Cho put a bullet in the head of Yeon Woo Lee on a roadside in Anaheim? Cho says his friend wanted him to kill him to avoid the stigma of suicide, but there’s also a complicated history. Prosecutors call it first-degree murder.
The Wolves of Kuala Lumpur?
Four expensive L.A. homes, including the former estate of Ricardo Montalban. A stake in the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.” A $35-million jet and works of art by Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. The Justice Department is moving to seize all of these and more, alleging that they were paid for by money embezzled from a public fund in Malaysia. Read on to see how authorities say the money flowed here.
Billion-Dollar Shave Club
The Dollar Shave Club was born out of a conversation at a holiday party in 2010. The idea: mail razors directly to consumers at a lower cost. Some years and a few quirky ads later, the company now has more than 10% of the razor market. That’s why Unilever is paying an estimated $1 billion to acquire one of the darlings of the L.A. startup scene.
CALIFORNIA
-- Brain-damaging lead levels near a closed Vernon battery plant are as high as 100 times above health limits, records show.
-- The death of a white teenager has Fresno pondering police shootings and Black Lives Matter.
-- UC Regents have approved a sweeping overhaul of board operations to focus more attention on critical issues.
-- A heat wave in Southern California is expected to peak Saturday and last through Wednesday.
NATION-WORLD
-- Hundreds of Southwest flights were delayed or canceled because of technical issues.
-- The black nationalist group Washitaw Nation distances itself from the Baton Rouge shooter, who had pledged allegiance to it.
-- A U.S.-backed coalition is looking into reports that an airstrike against Islamic State killed dozens of civilians in Syria.
-- An intersex person who was denied a passport over gender designation is suing the U.S. government.
-- Vigilante groups are beating and killing people to protect cows in India.
-- With smuggled sperm, Palestinians are siring children from behind Israeli prison bars.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
-- Remembering Garry Marshall, a creator of edgy, offbeat work and a spinner of modern-day fairy tales.
-- Don’t miss our live coverage of Comic-Con in San Diego.
-- Teflon minimalism: the surprisingly sleek architecture of the GOP convention.
-- Conservative lightning rod Milo Yiannopoulos says his “Ghostbusters”-related Twitter ban is “the most gigantic possible gift.”
-- Tom Morello on why activism in music matters: “Dangerous times demand dangerous songs.”
BUSINESS
-- If Roger Ailes leaves Fox News, who will replace him?
-- As Tesla deals with fallout over its autopilot, Elon Musk shares a “master plan” involving trucks, buses and ride sharing.
-- A U.S. consumer panned a Chinese product on Amazon. Then things got crazy.
SPORTS
-- The Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan, bound for the Olympics, earns raves from Team USA coaches.
-- The Angels’ Mike Scioscia takes a steady approach to winning and losing.
OPINION
-- The toxic politics of “Lock her up!” at the GOP convention.
-- Why the weasel word “problematic” should be banned.
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
-- Trump says he wouldn’t automatically defend NATO members like the Baltic states from attack. (New York Times)
-- How the Internet has changed the game for coup plotters. (Foreign Policy)
-- Kobe Bryant writes a “letter to my younger self.” The message: Invest, don’t give. (The Players’ Tribune)
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA
One lucky puppy: A Jack Russell-Chihuahua mix has found a new home after quite an ordeal. When Bubba’s owner was arrested in March, the puppy tested positive for heroin and methamphetamine. Authorities in Orange County cared for the dog for months until his test results were clean and he was put up for adoption. One of his new owners: a retired police sergeant.
Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
