The political texts take a rest

Good morning, folks, and happy Thursday! And just like that, the miserable temperatures and humidity are gone—for now. And just in time for the NFL preseason to start this week! We’re not out of the woods yet, but we can all appreciate a little break from the heat. As they say in Missouri (and apparently in many other states), “If you don’t like the weather, wait a day.” Wait until we get in “False Fall”.

WEATHER AND SPORTS

AROUND TOWN
Ringing Victory: Wesley Bell unseats Cori Bush in Democratic primary

The “Squad” takes another blow this year as Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) was defeated by STL County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. Both ran as progressive democrats, however, they took a much different stance on Israel and the war in Gaza which played a pivotal role in Bell’s win.

Who is Cori Bush? Cori Bush is a politician, nurse, pastor, and Black Lives Matter activist who has represented Missouri’s 1st congressional district since 2021. She gained national attention by defeating 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay in the 2020 Democratic primary, marking a significant upset. Bush’s progressive platform includes Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and criminal justice reform, which earned her a place in “The Squad” of progressive Democrats. Her political career began as a Ferguson activist and triage nurse during the 2014 unrest. Despite her advocacy, Bush faced criticism for her anti-Israel positions. She has been a vocal advocate for defunding the police and reallocating funds to healthcare and low-income communities. Bush’s work in Congress includes fighting to extend the CARES Act’s eviction moratorium and securing federal funds for community projects in St. Louis. Her commitment to social justice and progressive causes has made her a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in U.S. politics.

Who is Wesley Bell? Wesley Bell is an attorney who has served as the prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri, since January 2019. In a major upset, he defeated long-time county prosecutor Bob McCulloch in the 2018 Democratic primary, becoming the first Black county prosecuting attorney in St. Louis County history. Bell was raised in northern St. Louis County and is the son of a police officer and a civil servant. His career includes roles as a public defender, professor, municipal judge, and prosecutor. As county prosecutor, Bell implemented progressive reforms such as not prosecuting marijuana cases under 100 grams and stopping the prosecution of criminal child support cases. He was also involved in high-profile cases, including the decision not to charge the officer who killed Michael Brown.

Three strikes and you’re out. Bush’s loss to 🔔 can arguably be attributable to three key factors:

1. Bush is currently under federal investigation for alleged misuse of campaign funds, specifically regarding payments made to her husband for security services. While she is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the fact that she is under federal scrutiny can negatively impact her public image.

2. In 2021, she was one of just six Democrats to vote “No” on President Biden’s infrastructure bill, a notable stance given his prominent role as the leader of the Democratic Party. This vote has alienated some of her initial supporters, showcasing her willingness to take a hardline position rather than compromising to achieve results.

3. And third, and probably the most influential of her loss, was her stance on Israel and the war in Gaza. Bush was one of only two members of Congress to vote against a bill that sought to bar entry to the U.S. for the Hamas terrorists responsible for the October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, igniting the conflict in Gaza. And although her campaign later walked back her statement, she declined to label Hamas as terrorists. In a quote to the NYT she said,

And while the third point caused some of her original supporters to sour, the biggest blow came in the form of donations to Bell’s 🐖 🏦 . Bush’s stance on Israel lit a fire under the super PAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and they donated $8 million to Bell’s campaign. It’s hard to say if Bell would have won regardless of the cash infusion, but it certainly didn’t hurt.

In a fiery concession speech aimed at AIPAC, Bush exclaimed,

It’s getting hot in here: Nelly’s casino jackpot turns into a legal showdown

Proving that in fact no one has immunity in STL, St. Louis treasure, Nelly 🩹 was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Gaming Division at Hollywood Casino. According to a letter from his attorney, Nelly had just won a large jackpot and was in the process of collecting his winnings when a Gaming Commission officer informed him that a background check was required due to the size of the jackpot. Nelly, who had previously won large jackpots without any issues, was skeptical of this requirement.

The letter further states that the officer revealed Nelly had an outstanding warrant for “no proof of insurance,” then proceeded to handcuff him and escort him through the casino. The letter also alleges that the officer searched Nelly without probable cause and reportedly found ecstasy pills.

Nelly’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, responded:“Under similar circumstances, assuming there was an old warrant without any notice to the individual for no proof of insurance, any other citizen would have been told to address it and allowed to go on their way.

WEEKEND WONDERS
What to do this week

Thursday

🦓 HullabaZoo at the STL Zoo: Focusing on the conservation of animals, the August 8 event focuses on the Lemur. Enjoy speciality food, and back by popular demand, the bubble bus! This is the second to last event of the year, so catch it while the weather is nice!

🌆 Sunset DJ Sessions on Four Seasons Rooftop: Every Thursday this summer from 6-10pm, enjoy panoramic views and craft cocktails on the Sky Terrace Rooftop Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel downtown.

Friday

🏙️ In the Heights at the Muny: A Muny debut! Before Hamilton, the visionary Lin-Manuel Miranda made a splash on Broadway with In the Heights. Set against the beats of salsa and hip-hop, the acclaimed musical tells the story of Usnavi, who longs to pick up his roots and move away from Washington Heights, the tight-knit New York City neighborhood that shaped him.

📽️ Movie Night at Westport Plaza: Catch a showing of Disney’s Moana this Friday on Westport’s new green space. Activities start at 6pm with the movie starting at 8:15pm. Food and drink will be available along with candy and ice cream!

Saturday

🎸 blink-182 at Enterprise Center: Catch the original trio this Saturday at Enterprise for their “One More Time…” tour in support of their newest album. Don’t miss a chance to relive your youth. Who would’ve guessed 20 years ago Limp Bizkit and blink-182 would still be packing venues and arenas?

🎵 Grub & Groove at Francis Park: Back for the 13th year! Free admission for all with food, drink, kids activities, and music from 2pm to 10:30pm at Francis Park. With a day’s worth of activities including a kids zone, retail village, and multiple bars, there is something for everyone.

Sunday

🐾 Brave Men Talk Celebration at BarK: Join Anton Nootenboom at Bar K on Sunday, August 11th, to celebrate a remarkable milestone in his journey to raise awareness for men’s mental health as he breaks the Guinness Book world record for barefoot walking. Anton, a Dutch Army veteran, is embarking on a Guinness World Record attempt, walking barefoot across America to prevent men’s suicides and support mental health organizations.

🐩 Dogs & Dawgs at Zoomies Pet Cafe: Beat the heat and say so long to summer before school starts! Dogs & Dawgs is an event to raise money for local rescues, this time featuring Speak St. Louis! This sun kissed summer day includes a grilled hot dog bar featuring delicious toppings, local beer, doggie ice cream, outdoor pools for the dogs to splash in, and bone broth flights for the doggies.

ARCHWAY ARCADE
Poll question of the week

Our polls are currently broken but will be back next week ☹️ 

Winner of last week’s poll question:

Salt + Smoke has the best sides. Can’t go wrong with the Cracker Mac.

Did you know?

7 Up was created by Charles Leiper Grigg, who launched his St. Louis–based company The Howdy Corporation in 1920. Grigg came up with the formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. It contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug, until 1948

Trivia

After graduating high school, Jon Hamm returned to John Burroughs School as a drama teacher, where he taught this famous actress: answer below

SHARING IS CARING
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Trivia Answer: Ellie Kemper.