Trump's shark/electrocution anecdote was not a sign of deterioration. Trump is actually getting better at communicating a solid message in a carnivalesque atmosphere—and he's reaching people outside of MAGA. Plus, when Republicans talk about a message of unity, they are referring to the party, not the country. Jeff Sharlet joins Tim Miller from New Hampshire, while Joe Perticone checks in from Milwaukee. show notes: The Andy Kroll piece about J.D. Vance that Jeff mentioned Joe's Press Pass dispatch from the convention on Tuesday We’re heading to Dallas on September 5 for An Evening with The Bulwark. For more information and tickets go to TheBulwark.com/events.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.