Not Joe Bidens DNC: 6 takeaways so far. Plus, new COVID-19 vaccines on the way – NPR

Up First briefing: Tim Walz DNC speech; COVID-19 vaccines Tim Walz stepped into the spotlight last night at the DNC giving the crowd a pep talk. Here are five other takeaways from the convention so far. And, new COVID-19 vaccines are on the way.

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NPR's senior political editor/correspondentDomenico Montanaro joins the newsletter today to break down the DNC so far:

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Kamala Harris' vice-presidential pick, stepped into the spotlight on night three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and he gave the crowd a pep talk, as Democrats tried to make a broad appeal. Here are six takeaways from the DNC so far:

Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reacts with his daughter Hope Walz after accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Harris will close out the DNC tonight, formally accepting the Democratic Partys presidential nomination. Shell also lay out her vision for the country. Harris short campaign has allowed her to build momentum while saying less than most candidates have about how they would govern. Over the last four years, as vice president, President Bidens policy agenda has also been hers. Now, she has the ability to navigate major issues with a little more authority.

New COVID-19 vaccines that might combat the latest virus strains are expected to be approved any day now by the Food and Drug Administration. The new vaccines have been reformulated to stay up to date with the virus, which keeps evolving to evade our immune systems. The Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines target the K-P-2 variant. The Novavax vaccine targets an earlier strain called JN.1. Both target strains have already been overtaken by newer variants, but the hope is the vaccines are close enough to boost immunity and protect people through the rest of the summer wave and the surge expected this winter. Dr. Peter Marks, who runs the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, tells NPR the new vaccines could cut the risk of getting COVID by 60% to 70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80% to 90%.

The federal investigation into Diamond Shruumz products hasn't yet pinned down what's responsible for the illnesses. Preston Gannaway/for NPR hide caption

Dr. Michael Moss couldnt explain why an ICU patient was convulsing after eating a mushroomed-infused candy bar. Moss, a toxicologist at the University of Utah Hospital, began contacting poison centers across the country for help. He discovered similar cases were popping up: Patients with nausea, vomiting, agitation, seizures, loss of consciousness and other symptoms. There are now 130 documented illnesses including two suspected deaths all tied to the same brand of mushroom edibles, called Diamond Shruumz, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The edibles maker said it has ceased production and distribution of the products, citing toxic levels of muscimol, the compound found in Amanita muscaria, the mushroom used to make the edible. But its still not clear that the mushroom is to blame for the illnesses.

Abby Ingwersen works on a client at Nice Try Tattoo in New York. Mengwen Cao for NPR hide caption

Young tattoo artists are challenging the traditional ways of running a business and how they poke ink into skin. Theyre working to leave a permanent mark, from forming independent collectives to reviving the stick and poke method that uses a singular needle to etch designs. Independent studios like these rose during the pandemic, pushing styles and tastes to evolve, but the goal has remained the same: To create distinctive, meaningful, permanent art.

Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced attorney, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan to the Kennedy campaign as his vice presidential running mate during an event in Oakland, Calif., on March 26. Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced attorney, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan to the Kennedy campaign as his vice presidential running mate during an event in Oakland, Calif., on March 26.

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Not Joe Bidens DNC: 6 takeaways so far. Plus, new COVID-19 vaccines on the way - NPR