NEWS AND OPINION:

Republicans are determined to ensure that the 2024 presidential election is focused and fair. The Republican National Committee, in fact, has launched a “Protect the Vote” tour to ensure this happens.

“The launch of the Protect the Vote Tour marks a pivotal step in our mission to ensure a fair and transparent election. Led by committee chairman Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump, this nationwide initiative will recruit poll watchers, poll workers, and legal experts to mobilize during the 2024 election season. The Protect the Vote tour will champion election integrity, rally voters for President Trump, and train volunteers to ensure it is easy to vote and hard to cheat this November,” the committee said in a mission statement.

“Democrats across the country have promoted election systems that are open to fraud, encouraged non-citizens to vote, and used our tax dollars for their GOTV activities. Rather than fixing their failed policies, they have focused on dismantling election integrity efforts,” the statement said.  

The tour is part of what the committee describes as a “boots on the ground initiative to recruit 100,000 poll watchers, poll workers, and legal experts” ahead of the election on Nov. 5.  

“Election integrity is our top priority. Our unprecedented effort to secure our elections will build voter confidence across the country. The Protect the Vote Tour will be a critical campaign to ensure that elections are fair, accurate, secure, and transparent,” Mr. Whatley said.

Mrs. Trump added: “One of the foundations of the United States of America is that all citizens have faith in our electoral process. Chairman Whatley and I are proud to play a role in ensuring that every American knows that their legal vote matters and counts. No one can sit idly by during this election and we are excited to help every Patriot play a role in the most important election of our lifetime.”

This tour gets rolling on Friday in Michigan, and will continue in Pennsylvania on June 18, North Carolina on June 20, Georgia on June 26, and more dates will be announced.

TALK RADIO HAS A SAY

High-profile members of the talk-radio realm gathered for a noteworthy meeting of the minds this past Friday at Hofstra University.

“The power-packed, one-day agenda featured a roster of more than 60 speakers from all ends of the talk radio and related talk media industries including talent, station owners, CEOs, programmers, technical experts, journalists, syndicators, and a wide variety of visionaries,” reports Talkers, a news organization devoted to the talk-radio realm and official host.

Here are some examples of what the talkers talked about, according to an event program:

“Key discussions included ’Gaining Traction in a Noisy World,’ ’The Case for AM Radio,’ ’Generating News/Talk Revenue in the Digital Era,’ ’The State of Sports Talk Radio,’ and ’The Brave New World of Technological and Generational Change,’” the statement said.

The large, enthusiastic gathering also addressed “Programming News/Talk Radio,” “Perspectives on Hosting Television Talk,” “Philanthropy and Community Service,” “The Art of Storytelling,” “Talk Radio Programming Opportunities Beyond Politics,” “Meeting the Challenges of Being a Talk Talent,” “The Big Picture of Radio’s Role in a Rapidly Changing World” and “The State of the First Amendment,” among others.

And who was on stage? The many speakers included Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade; Sean Hannity, whose daily radio show is produced by Premiere Networks; WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg; WABC owner and CEO John Catsimatidis; Salem Radio Networks host Mike Gallagher; and Michael Harrison, publisher of the aforementioned Talkers.  

VEEPSTAKES UNDERWAY

“The Veepstakes are on,” wrote Shane Harris, a political consultant and contributor to Newsline, an online news site published by the Association of Mature American Citizens, a conservative alternative to AARP.

“With less than five months to go until Election Day, speculation is swirling about who Republican nominee Donald Trump might choose as his running mate,” Mr. Harris wrote.

“In the weeks ahead, the D.C. rumor mill will undoubtedly continue to swirl about who Trump will ultimately tap as his running mate. Although Trump has always had a penchant for surprising observers, and another frontrunner could emerge at the last minute, odds are his pick will be someone on this list,” he said.

Here are his top picks for the role: retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York. Find Mr. Harris’ rationale for each candidate at amac.us/newsline/.

FOR THE LEXICON

“Climate Ready Workforce.”

This phrase comes into its own on Tuesday when Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Jonathan Pennock, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program, will announce the selection of nine projects “that will train and place Americans in good-paying jobs to advance climate resilience” in their communities.

“Each of the nine Climate-Ready Workforce programs will focus on training and job placement of underserved and economically disadvantaged communities, people of color and Indigenous people, many who face disproportionate risks and impacts from climate change. Examples of potential jobs include water and wastewater specialists, electricians, hydrologists and construction workers trained to address climate impacts in their fields,” the announcement said.

POLL DU JOUR

• 62% of registered U.S. voters would favor the U.S. government starting a new national program to deport all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

• 88% of conservatives, 62% of moderates and 26% of liberals agree.

• 67% of Whites, 47% of Blacks and 53% of Hispanics also agree.

• 66% of men and 58% of women also agree.

• 38% overall would oppose a national program to deport all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

• 12% of conservatives, 38% of moderates and 74% of liberals agree.

• 33% of Whites, 53% of Blacks and 47% of Hispanics also agree.

• 34% of men and 42% of women also agree.

SOURCE: A CBS News/YouGov survey of 2,063 U.S. adults conducted June 5-7.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.

• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.