Tim Walz’s DNC pep talk and new Covid vaccines expected: Morning Rundown

Tim Walz accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop his presidential bid and endorse Trump. And what to know about the upcoming new round of Covid vaccines.

Here’s what to know today.

Tim Walz accepts VP nomination with a high-energy pep talk

Tim Walz officially became the Democratic vice presidential nominee last night, delivering a keynote speech on the third day of the Democratic National Convention that hammered home the theme of “freedom.” 

“When Republican use the word ‘freedom,’ they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office, corporations free to pollute your air and water and banks free to take advantage of customers,” Walz said. He added that Democrats see “freedom” as the ability to “make your own health care decisions” and “kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot.” 

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Walz also touted his small-town roots and his experiences as a teacher, football coach, veteran and gun owner, highlighting the passage of gun safety laws, free school lunches and paid family leave while he was governor of Minnesota. 

And Walz didn’t skip the word that thrust him into the national political zeitgeist just a few weeks ago: weird. Taking aim at the right-wing Project 2025 plan, Walz asked the audience, “Is it weird? Absolutely. But it’s also wrong and dangerous.”

Read the full story here.

More Democratic National Convention coverage:

• Watch highlights from Night Three of the DNC in 3 minutes.
• Sixty years to the day that civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer delivered an iconic speech at the 1964 DNC, Harris is set to make history in her own address tonight.
• The final night of the convention will feature gun violence survivors.
• In a surprise appearance, Oprah Winfrey heaped praise on Harris and Walz while making a few digs at Trump and Vance.
• Former President Bill Clinton framed the election as a “clear choice” and slammed Trump as a narcissist consumed by concerns that have nothing to do with everyday problems.
• Nancy Pelosi may be a villain in President Joe Biden’s inner circle, but the DNC made clear she’s a hero to the rest of the party.
• The border was a major theme in multiple speeches, solidifying Dems’ shift to a tougher stance on immigration. 
• The parents of American Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin made an emotional plea for their son’s return that left many in the convention hall shedding tears.
• Meanwhile, the uncommitted delegates to the DNC said the Harris campaign denied their chief request to feature a Palestinian American speaker.
• What if Trump had said no to Biden’s early debate proposal a few months ago? NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd plays out what this week could have looked like instead. Read the full analysis.

RFK Jr. to set aside presidential ambitions in favor of another

Third-party presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop out of the race and endorse former President Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the plans said. Kennedy announced yesterday that he will give a speech tomorrow in Phoenix addressing the “path forward” for his campaign. Trump will also be in nearby Glendale, Arizona, for an event. 

A group close to Trump — including his son Donald Trump Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and business executive Omeed Malik — worked behind the scenes to pull Kennedy into their corner, the sources said.

Trump suggested in an interview this week that Kennedy would do an “incredible job” as a secretary of health and human services. Kennedy, a famous anti-vaccine advocate and conspiracy theorist, hasn’t shied away from floating his interest in a Cabinet position under Trump. But a position as an HHS secretary, by historical comparisons, would be an odd choice. For one, Kennedy has openly advocated for dismantling offices like the FDA and CDC and rebuilding them with like-minded fringe figures. Here’s what else Kennedy has advocated for.

More 2024 election coverage: 

• How RFK Jr.’s exit from the presidential race would help Trump, according to polls.
• Trump said his priority in November is making sure Democrats “don’t cheat,” echoing his previous efforts to undermine the election.

New Covid vaccines are expected soon

The FDA could approve a new Covid vaccine as early as today, two sources familiar with the agency’s planning said, which could see them become available in a matter of days. The updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are designed to target the KP.2 strain, while a third vaccine from drugmaker Novavax will target the JN.1 strain.

However, the CDC says both of those strains have largely faded from circulation. Millions of Americans have already had Covid during the ongoing summer wave, meaning their immunity is bolstered, at least for a while.

So who should get vaccinated and when is the best time to do it? The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get the new shots, but if you’ve been sick recently, you might want to consider delaying your vaccination. NBC News’ health reporters explain everything you need to know about the new vaccines.

Politics in Brief 

Hunter Biden: A federal judge presiding over Hunter Biden’s tax case laid out the schedule for the impending criminal trial of President Joe Biden’s son, starting with jury selection in two weeks. 

Election losses: Nearly half of the 23 DeSantis-backed school board candidates in Florida lost their elections, while six others were forced into runoffs. The results of Tuesday’s election indicate the Florida governor’s reputation is tarnished after a failed presidential bid.

Rule change: People with HIV can no longer be barred from enlisting in the U.S. military, a federal judge ruled, striking down the Pentagon’s last remaining policy limiting the service of those with the virus.

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Staff Pick: A poginant end for gay penguin ‘power couple’

Penguins are monogamous creatures, mating for life and “proposing” to their chosen partner with the gift of a pebble. So when Sydney aquarium staff noticed male penguins Sphen and Magic “flirting” and building a nest together, they gave the new couple an egg to raise.

The gay power couple was celebrated around the world.

So I was very sad to learn that Sphen, the older of the two penguins, had passed away. Staff at the aquarium brought Magic to see Sphen’s body so that Magic could process that his partner of 6 years was not coming home. Upon seeing Sphen, Magic started singing, and the 45-strong penguin colony joined him in his mourning song. Sphen may have passed, but the love lives on. — Fiona Day, social media editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Flying can be taxing on your body, especially your skin. These products can keep your skin from feeling dry and dehydrated when you’re traveling. And those with oily or combination skin might benefit from a gel moisturizer, which is thinner and more lightweight. Here are the best ones. 

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