Ted Cruz’s RNC speech had one goal

And Biden tests positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms, White House confirms [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Thursday, Jul. 18, 2024 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [JD Vance helps alleviate one of die-hard Republicans' biggest fears]( Anthea Butler [Sen. JD Vance of Ohio]( made his prime-time debut on Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. While a relative newcomer politically, it already seems clear that Vance will be an asset to former President Donald Trump’s third run for president because [his hard-line stance against abortion](, [coupled with his Catholicism](, will push back critics of [the Republican National Committee’s watered-down platform](. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, is "[good friends](" with Vance and [was reportedly elated]( that Trump had chosen him as his running mate. Besides running alongside Trump, Vance and former Vice President Mike Pence have one thing in common: both have adult conversion stories. [Pence was raised Catholic]( and converted to evangelical Christianity as an adult. Vance was raised Protestant and was [baptized into the Catholic Church in 2019]( by Dominicans. The similarities end there. Pence was of the Republican establishment, but Vance has embraced MAGA and Trump just like he has the Catholic Church. And he may ultimately [end up the vanguard of the next MAGA generation.]( This is a preview of Anthea Butler's latest article.Read the full column here.](     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [RADLEY BALKO]( [What makes Ted Cruz's fiery RNC speech wrong on so many levels]( Sen. Ted Cruz's RNC speech was totally divorced from reality. And I can prove it. [Read more.]( [WILLIE CARVER]( [Real hillbillies like me don't trust JD Vance. You shouldn't trust him either.]( In his bestseller memoir, JD Vance uses a wide brush to paint Appalachians as lazy, ignorant and unwilling to try at life. [Read more.]( [JACQUES BERLINERBLAU]( [Jon Stewart needs to ask himself some hard questions after his RNC special]( Stewart interviewed his longtime interlocutor, frenemy and sparring partner Bill O'Reilly, but failed to address the most important question of all. [Read more.]( [JORDAN RUBIN]( [There are at least two hurdles standing in the way of Biden's Supreme Court reforms]( Democrats' efforts to reform the Roberts Court could be stymied by the court itself. [Read more.]( TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [THE BEAT WITH ARI]( [White House: President Biden tests positive for COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms]( [WATCH NOW]( [2024 RNC SPECIAL COVERAGE]( [Rachel Maddow on the real reason JD Vance was chosen to be Trump's running mate]( [WATCH NOW]( [2024 RNC SPECIAL COVERAGE]( [Peter Navarro at the RNC: 'This morning I did walk out of a federal prison']( [WATCH NOW]( [2024 RNC SPECIAL COVERAGE]( F[ull speech: JD Vance accepts Republican vice presidential nomination]( [WATCH NOW](   DON'T MISS [Alternate text] On Saturday, Sept. 7, you can attend "MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024," our premiere fan event in Brooklyn, New York. Hear thought-provoking conversations about the most pressing issues of our time, and take part in a sit-down dinner for an insider’s view of this critical moment in our democracy. [Buy your tickets now.]( MSNBC INSIGHTS [Alternate text] Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! [Join the MSNBC Insights Community.](   Download the MSNBC App: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily)