• The RNC adopted Trump's platform, consisting of 20 key issues he'd prioritize as president.
• The platform pledged to "end inflation" and preserve Social Security and Medicare. 
• Biden and Trump clashed over economic issues at the first presidential debate.

Americans got some new insight into the issues former President Donald Trump will prioritize should he win the presidential election.

On Monday, Trump's campaign announced that the Republican National Committee adopted the former president's platform for the Republican Party. Consisting of 20 principles, the platform is likely the first clear outline voters have seen of what Trump is thinking as the country inches toward the November election.

"America needs determined Republican Leadership at every level of Government to address the core threats to our very survival: Our disastrously Open Border, our weakened Economy, crippling restrictions on American Energy Production, our depleted Military, attacks on the American System of Justice, and much more," the platform's preamble stated.

"To make clear our commitment, we offer to the American people the 2024 GOP Platform to Make America Great Again! It is a forward-looking Agenda that begins with the following twenty promises that we will accomplish very quickly when we win the White House and Republican Majorities in the House and Senate," it said.

The platform addresses a range of economic issues, including a pledge to "end inflation" and "make America affordable again." It also promised to preserve Social Security and Medicare benefits without any cuts, including no efforts to raise the retirement age to receive federal benefits.

The platform said the GOP would address inflation by ending illegal immigration and lifting restrictions on American energy production, which it said would allow access to more affordable energy. Still, the president has limited power to actually address overall prices, with the issue primarily in the hands of the Federal Reserve.

During the first debate between Trump and President Joe Biden at the end of June, the two candidates clashed with each other over who is to blame for the high prices Americans continue to face. Trump falsely claimed that Biden inherited "the greatest economy in the history of our country," adding, "If I'm given another four years, I will be the best. I think I'll be the best. Nobody's ever created an economy like us."

Prior administrations, like former President Bill Clinton, had greater economic growth than Trump, and Biden has overseen a lower unemployment rate than Trump.

On the issue of Social Security, Biden said he would ensure the program's strength by making "the very wealthy begin to pay their fair share right now," while Trump accused Biden during the debate of planning to "destroy" the program. The latest Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees report found that the program will only be able to pay out full benefits for the next 11 years, after which 83% of the benefits will be available.

Biden's administration has previously accused Republican lawmakers of planning to cut Social Security and Medicare, but Trump himself has pushed back on GOP discussion to alter the programs or raise the retirement age.

The platform said that "Trump has made absolutely clear that he will not cut one penny from Medicare or Social Security. American Citizens work hard their whole lives, contributing to Social Security and Medicare. These programs are promises to our Seniors, ensuring they can live their golden years with dignity."

The platform also addresses immigration, abortion, and ending "Left-wing gender insanity" like keeping "men out of women's sports." The RNC is expected to take a final vote on the platform next week.

• Jeff Bezos gave some advice years ago that's still relevant in the AI boom today.
• While CEO of Amazon, he said he was often asked what would change in the future.
• However, he says you build a winning business strategy around "the things that are stable in time."

A piece of business advice Jeff Bezos shared years ago is as relevant as ever in the AI age.

When he was CEO of Amazon, Bezos was repeatedly asked for his predictions on how the future would look. And while it's a bit of a side-step, he instead prefers to flip the question on its head.

"I very frequently get the question, 'What's going to change in the next 10 years?' And that is an interesting question, it's a very common one," he said in an interview years ago. "I almost never get the question, 'What's not going to change in the next 10 years?' And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two because you can build a business strategy around the things that are stable in time."

Bezos went on to explain how that applied at Amazon.

"In our retail business, we know that customers want low prices, and I know that's going to be true 10 years from now," he added. "They want fast delivery, they want vast selection. It's impossible to imagine a future 10 years from now where a customer comes up to me and says, 'Jeff, I love Amazon, I just wish the prices were a little higher,' or 'I love Amazon, I just wish you delivered a little more slowly.' Impossible."

Bezos has repeated variations of this sentiment over the years, dating back at least as far as this Harvard Business Review interview from 2007. His advice takes on new meaning in the context of the growth and VC money pouring into the burgeoning AI industry lately.

CEOs like Meta's Mark Zuckerberg have made big bets on generative AI, generally with massive investments and little profit to show for it so far. But with any longer-term play, business leaders must balance trying to skate to where the puck will be while assuaging any concerns from antsy shareholders looking for more immediate returns.

And, of course, applying Bezos' advice in the AI boom also means expecting artificial intelligence to stick around for good, and preparing for that now.

The Amazon cofounder seems bullish on the technology.

"If you're talking about generative AI, large language models, things like ChatGPT, and its soon successors, these are incredibly powerful technologies — to believe otherwise is to bury your head in the sand — soon to be even more powerful," Bezos said in a December podcast interview.

While there are important safety risks associated with the technology, AI is "much more likely to help us and save us even than to unbalance, hurt us, and destroy us," he said later in the interview.

• David Ellison's Skydance Media finally struck a merger deal with Paramount Global on Sunday.
• Founded in 2006, Skydance has produced hits including "Top Gun: Maverick" and "True Grit."
• Ellison is the 41-year-old son of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, who is worth almost $160 billion.

David Ellison is set to become CEO of Paramount after Skydance Media finally agreed a deal late Sunday after months of talks.

The 41-year-old founded Skydance back in 2006 with some help from his father Larry Ellison, the Oracle cofounder who's now worth almost $160 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Since then Skydance has enjoyed considerable success with films including "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" and "Baywatch," and a total box office haul of more than $8 billion. The merger deal values Skydance at $4.75 billion.

Its biggest hit has been "Top Gun: Maverick," which became the second-highest-grossing film of 2022 after making almost $1.5 billion worldwide.

After seeing the original "Top Gun" as a child, David Ellison became obsessed with flying. His billionaire father bought him a plane at the age of 13 and they took flying lessons together. By 17, Ellison had begun competing in air shows performing aerial acrobatics.

He gave up flying competitively after starting a film degree at USC that he later dropped out of, Ellison told Kara Swisher in an episode of The New York Times' "Sway" podcast.

Before becoming an entertainment executive, though, Ellison had a brief foray as an actor.

In 2006, he appeared in a Skydance film called "Flyboys," about American pilots who flew for the French Air Force in World War I.

The movie cost about $65 million, but flopped after taking just $18 million or so, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Since moving behind the camera, Ellison's company has had a relationship with Paramount that dates back to 2011 when Skydance co-financed Joel and Ethan Coen's "True Grit" with the studio.

The film was both a critical and commercial success, winning 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and taking about $200 million at the box office.

Ellison's sister Megan is also in the movie game. Her production company Annapurna Pictures was behind releases including "Zero Dark Thirty," "Her," "American Hustle," and "Phantom Thread," all of which received Oscar nominations.

The Paramount deal is still subject to a 45-day "go-shop" clause and possible Federal Trade Commission scrutiny, but hurdles aside Ellison will become one of the youngest chiefs of a major entertainment company.

He said he's committed to "energizing the business and bolstering Paramount with contemporary technology, new leadership and a creative discipline."

However, with the headwinds facing Hollywood Ellison may find reviving Paramount's fortunes even more difficult than finally striking a takeover deal with controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.

• Jenn Tran gets another shot at love on season 21 of "The Bachelorette."
• Tran described her season of the reality TV show as adventurous, emotional, and surprising. 
• She said the season 21 ending is shocking and one she never saw coming. 

"The Bachelorette" star Jenn Tran promises that fans are in for plenty of shocking moments during her season of the long-running reality franchise, particularly at the end of her journey.

"It's adventurous, emotional, and very surprising," Tran told Business Insider ahead of the season 21 premiere.

"Of course, there's going to be some crying, some dramatic moments. And it's adventurous because I was really pushed outside my comfort zone," she added.

Bachelor Nation was first introduced to Tran earlier this year on season 28 of "The Bachelor," where she was eliminated just before hometowns. Now, Tran gets another shot at love as the leading lady of "The Bachelorette."

In addition to making history as the first Asian-American Bachelorette, Tran's season has other changes — like ditching the Bachelor Mansion for a brand new residence and immediately traveling abroad after night one.

Being the star of her own show was an adjustment for Tran, who had never been in a serious relationship that was headed toward a commitment. Figuring out what a serious relationship could look like on "The Bachelorette" was a learning experience.

"There were a few instances in which I think I had a lot of fun and good banter with the guy, but I wasn't sure if there was more there," Tran explained. "And as we got to have more and more conversations with each other, I realized that there was so much depth there and that we had so much more in common than just our ability to laugh with each other."

Given that the franchise has been around for more than 20 seasons, it's hard to imagine anything happening this season that could break the mold. But Tran recently teased in an interview with former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe that the ending of her season is "something that has never happened before."

When BI asked her to elaborate, she offered a few more details. "I came into the journey kind of thinking that it would end in a certain way or a different way," Tran told BI.

"The ending of it all, I just never really saw coming," she added. "So it was a shocker for me, and it's going to be a shocker to my family, and I think it's going to be a shocker to a lot of people watching as well."

"The Bachelorette" season 21 premieres on Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.

• I went to Québec City, Canada, in August 2022. It's a historic French city with a European feel. 
• Then, I visited four European countries for the first time: Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.
• After visiting Europe, I thought Québec City felt much like it, with similar streets and buildings. 

With narrow, cobblestone streets, European-inspired architecture, and a primarily French-speaking population, Québec City, Canada, feels like a European paradise. 

I spent 24 hours in the 400-year-old French-Canadian city in August 2022. Back then, I hadn't explored enough of Europe to decide if Québec City felt like other countries across the Atlantic.

But after visiting Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in October 2022, I understood the comparison.

Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is 400 years old, making it the oldest city in Canada.

The city was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, according to the city's website.

Québec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Québec.

I traveled by train from Montreal to Quebéc City, but a flight from my home in NYC would take less than two hours — a lot shorter than a trip to Europe. My direct flight from NYC to Berlin was nearly eight hours long when I visited in October 2022.

I spent most of my time there in Old Québec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture, according to the city's website.

I spotted many of these simple, rectangular buildings with decorative shutters during my visit.

I wandered down old Québec's photogenic streets and spotted rows of colorful colonial-style buildings.

A few months later, in Zurich, I saw blocks I thought looked similar to those in Québec City.

Many of the streets in Old Québec were made of cobblestone.

They looked like the roads I saw in all four European countries I visited.

During my walk through Old Québec, I also noticed most signs were written in French.

That's because 85% of the population of Québec speaks French, according to the Government of Canada.

English wasn't the primary language spoken in any of the European countries I visited, either.

Most of the signs I saw abroad were written in German or Italian.

While some streets in Québec City were wide, others were quite narrow.

Later in Rome and Venice, Italy, I stumbled upon alleys that reminded me of the narrow streets in Québec.

After my trip to Europe, I also realized my hotel in Québec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I saw abroad.

I thought it was the most stunning building, which makes sense as it's known as the most photographed hotel in the world, according to World Atlas.

It was a dramatic castle-like structure.

The hotel opened in 1893 and was inspired by romantic architecture and French castles, according to the Québec City's website and the Canadian Encyclopedia.

I thought the hotel looked like a fairy tale with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.

I had a similar feeling while strolling through gardens next to historic buildings in Vienna, Austria.

Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.

I perched on the windowsill and marveled at the European architecture surrounding me.

I also saw Québec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.

It was built in a European style with prominent rooftops, according to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

I spotted the same style of architecture in Viennese buildings like Schönbrunn Palace.

This architectural style is known as Second Empire Baroque, according to Britannica.

Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Québec City, like Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral has a Neoclassical style, with towers and stained-glass detailing, according to Québec City's website.

I saw a lot of Neoclassical architecture all around Rome, too, like at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

After visiting both Québec City and Europe, I found that they're not exactly the same, but they're pretty close.

If you're looking for a European adventure that's closer to home without the jet lag, I think Québec City is a good alternative.

• President Biden leaned on his deep ties to Black voters during a Sunday appearance in Philadelphia.
• So far, no Black lawmakers in Washington have publicly asked Biden to forgo his reelection bid.
• It's a show of support that is helping Biden as he works to reassure Democrats that he can win in the fall.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden once again found himself in Philadelphia, a city that has played a crucial role in his political life.

As Biden spoke onstage at the Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, one of the most influential Black churches in Philadelphia, he was received warmly by the congregants.

It's a reception that Biden hasn't always gotten recently, as he continues his personal campaign to reassure Democrats that his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump remains viable following his disastrous June debate performance.

For over a week, Biden has been under pressure by Washington lawmakers and many rank-and-file Democrats to make the case that he can handle the rigors of the general election campaign, part of long-running concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's acuity and fitness for office in a second term.

But so far, no Black lawmaker on Capitol Hill has called on Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee, a show of support that may not hold but at the moment is appearing to give him some breathing room as he works to shore up jittery Democrats.

Why is this development so significant?

Pulse of the Hill

Since last week, at least five House Democrats have called on Biden to forgo his reelection bid and allow the party to select a new nominee.

But no member of the Congressional Black Caucus has made such a plea, and there is seemingly little appetite to do so.

On Sunday, Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio told CNN's Eva McKend that Democratic lawmakers shouldn't turn against Biden.

"I don't think for Democrats so close to the majority, so close and being so united under Hakeem Jeffries, we shouldn't be going public, we shouldn't be going rogue against our own President," she said after an appearance at the Essence Festival in New Orleans.

During a Monday appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Beatty — a former CBC chair — said the group was firmly behind both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"We are 100% with the president," she reiterated. "We are standing with the Biden-Harris team because they have delivered."

And the current CBC chair, Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, said in a statement: "President Joe Biden is the nominee and has been selected by millions of voters across this country, including voters in Nevada."

While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York — the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress — held a Sunday virtual meeting with his caucus regarding Biden's candidacy, he has so far not publicly weighed in on how the Democratic nominee's campaign should proceed.

A huge "what if" for Biden is if a high-ranking Black lawmaker calls on him to exit the race. Such a move would be a huge blow for a campaign that relies on influential Black surrogates to engage with voters across the country.

Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, one of Biden's top Black allies in Washington, has voiced his continued support for the president. But Clyburn also said last week that should Biden step aside, he'd endorse a "mini-primary," arguing that it would be a fair process but also one that would likely give Harris a prime opportunity to prove her mettle.

Right now, Biden's most reliable legislative allies are giving him considerable political cover. But will it help him with Black voters in the coming weeks and months?

All eyes on the base

In 2020, Black voters buoyed Biden in the South Carolina Democratic primary, which paved the way for his robust Super Tuesday performance en route to him winning the party's presidential nomination.

That November, Biden won 92% of the Black vote, compared to Trump's 8% support, according to the Pew Research Center.

It was a dominant performance that contributed heavily to Biden's wins in states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

But over the past year, Biden has stumbled with his support among Black voters — namely those aged 18 to 29 — as Trump is aiming to siphon minority votes away from the Democratic ticket.

While Black voters are still largely behind Biden, his weaker numbers have contributed to some of his swing-state polling struggles, which have a direct impact on his ability to win against Trump in the fall.

Biden's increased visibility is undoubtedly bringing a sigh a relief to allies who have been privately worried about the president's post-debate electoral prospects.

As Biden leans on his most reliable base of supporters during the most turbulent period of his campaign, it'll be a huge test of his strategy for wooing Black voters as issues like the economy and health care continue to dominate the 2024 race.

• Tesla's rumored upcoming software update may introduce parental controls, including a "Night Curfew."
• The feature apparently notifies the Tesla app when the car is driven past a set curfew.
• Parents will be able to set maximum speed limits and limit acceleration, according to sites tracking Tesla software changes.

It sounds like Tesla parents are going to love an upcoming software update — although their teenagers may resent it.

The rumored update, version 2024.26, was released to employees on July 3, according to Not a Tesla App and Tessie, two websites that track Tesla software changes. The update includes new parental controls, with a range of features that can be enabled with a vehicle PIN, according to the reports.

That reportedly includes something called "Night Curfew," which could make it easier for Tesla parents to enforce their teenagers' bedtimes. The new feature apparently sends notifications to the Tesla mobile app when a vehicle is driven past a set curfew time.

For parents who worry their kid could be taking advantage of the extra zip and high top speed possible with a Tesla, there are also said to be new controls that give parents the ability to set a maximum speed limit and reduce acceleration.

If that sounds a bit familiar, you might remember that Tesla already has a similar option with "Valet Mode" — but the latest update will allow parents to set limitations for other drivers, according to the reports. Parents will also be able to limit the acceleration to "Chill," which restricts the EV's horsepower and torque, the reports said.

Other features within the parental controls reportedly include the ability to prevent a driver from disabling the speed limit and collision warnings, or automatic emergency braking.

While the rumored update could be helpful for parents trying to catch their teens sneaking out, it could also be useful for Tesla owners who rent out their vehicles or lend them to others.

If and when "Night Curfew" and the other parental controls are released publicly, they'll add to the other features that help Teslas stand out from other cars. Other Tesla-specific features include Sentry mode, which starts streaming a recording on the app if anything hits the vehicle.

While the new features may soothe some parents' concerns about their teen's driving, Tesla has made headlines in the past with incidents involving children. In 2018, two teens were killed after a Tesla Model S burst into flames following a crash. Most recently, a toddler had to be rescued from a locked Tesla after the car's battery died right after her grandmother stepped out of the vehicle to get her out of the seat.

Young drivers as a group are also particularly at risk for crashes in general. Accidents were the leading cause of unintentional deaths in 2020 for people ages 15 to 24, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA Data also indicated that 2,116 drivers ages 15 to 20 years old were killed in 2021, and about 203,256 were injured in car crashes that year.

• Holiday travel broke records in July as severe weather forced disruptions at many airports. 
• Airlines oversell flights on normal days, and they're more likely to bump passengers during disruptions.
• Here's what you should do if you're bumped from a flight and how to lower the odds of it happening.

The Transportation Security Administration screened a record number of passengers over the July 4th holiday weekend as airlines continue to see booming demand for travel. Sunday alone saw over 3 million people — the most ever in a single day.

According to the aircraft tracking website FlightAware, there were about 900 cancellations and about 20,000 delays between Thursday and Saturday for flights flying to, from, or within the US. Hurricane Beryl forced thousands more on Sunday and Monday as it made landfall in Texas.

Airlines overbook flights on a good day to ensure planes are full, but it's even more likely during times of weather and operational chaos. Depending on the traveler, getting bumped from a flight can either be an easy way to make some cash ($10,000 in one rare case) or a nightmare scenario that ruins your vacation.  

Either way, there are a few things you should know if you're bumped from an oversold flight.

Voluntary and involuntary bumping

Denied boarding, or "bumping," happens when airlines overbook a flight. This means there are more passengers than available seats, and it's a perfectly legal strategy airlines use to optimize revenue.

According to the US Department of Transportation, when a plane is overbooked, airlines must first seek out passengers willing to volunteer to take a different flight in exchange for compensation.

This is considered a "voluntary" bump, where a passenger can essentially sell their seat back to the airline for anything from cash to a free ticket, per the DOT. There is no limit to the amount of money or vouchers that airlines can offer as compensation, and passengers can negotiate with the carriers.

If you accept the airline's compensation to give up your seat and take a later flight, the DOT recommends asking these questions to make sure you're aware of any restrictions: 

• When is the next flight on which the airline can confirm your seat? Will you be put on standby? The DOT warns that standby comes with risks because you could be left stranded if the later flights are also full.
• Will the airline provide other amenities such as free meals, a hotel room, transfers between the hotel and the airport, and a phone card?
• If you accept a free ticket or voucher, how long is it good for? Is the ticket or voucher unusable during holiday periods? Can it be used for international flights?

If not enough people volunteer, the airline will involuntarily bump customers. Most of the time, this occurs before the plane is boarded, and passengers cannot be removed from an aircraft after boarding unless for safety, security, or health reasons or if they're being disorderly.

According to the DOT, airlines must provide compensation for bumped passengers, as well as a written statement of their rights and how airlines select who and who doesn't get involuntarily bumped.

There are a few conditions and exceptions outlined by the DOT, including:

• Aircraft change to a smaller plane due to operational or safety reasons
• The aircraft holds fewer than 30 people
• Weight and balance concerns for planes with 30-60 seats
• The flight is departing from a foreign country and headed to the US

If none of these apply and you have a confirmed ticket, you met the check-in deadline, you were at the gate on time, and the airline could not get you to your final destination within an hour of your original arrival time, the DOT says you are entitled to denied boarding compensation, or DBC.

When you're entitled to compensation — and how much

According to the DOT, the DBC is based on the value of your ticket, the length of your delay due to the involuntarily denied boarding, and whether your flight was domestic or international. The agency said the airline might try to offer you a free flight or cash-equivalent voucher first, but you are entitled to cash or check if you prefer.

For domestic flights that arrive one to two hours later than scheduled, passengers receive 200% of their one-way fare, capped at $775. Arriving over two hours later entitles customers to 400%, capped at $1,550.

For international flights that arrive one to four hours later than scheduled, passengers receive 200% of their one-way fare, and anything over four hours is 400%. The same regulated minimum monetary caps apply, but the airline can decide at its discretion to offer more.

The DOT said compensation for non-fare tickets, like those paid for with points, is based on the lowest-priced ticket sold in the same class of the service on the same flight.

Passengers who booked a higher-fare class, like first or business, but were downgraded to a cheaper cabin must be refunded the difference in price, per the DOT. Customers can also receive a refund for extras they paid for but did not receive on their substitute flight, like a reserved seat.

How to lower the odds of getting bumped from a flight

There's nothing you can do to guarantee you won't get bumped from an overbooked flight, as one traveler who said he was bumped off an American Airlines flight learned the hard way.

However, you can take some steps to decrease your odds of getting bumped, such as buying higher-class seats, checking in on time, and having frequent-flyer status. The DOT said among those in the same fare class, the last to check in are the most likely to be involuntarily bumped.

Some travelers may consider booking on an airline that doesn't have a reputation for involuntary bumping.

According to the DOT's 2023 consumer air travel data, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines involuntarily bumped 0, 3, and 5 people, respectively, over the entire year. On the other end of the spectrum, American Airlines and Frontier Airlines involuntarily bumped over 10,000 passengers each in 2023. 

"However, the criteria cannot subject a passenger to any unjust or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage," the agency notes. "For example, an airline could not lawfully use a passenger's race or ethnicity as a criterion." 

• Walmart is offering half off the price of a Walmart+ membership until July 18.
• That timing front-runs Amazon's Prime Day, which happens on July 16 and 17.
• Walmart has been stepping up its effort to woo customers over from the e-commerce giant.

Walmart's members-only sales event is in the rearview, and Amazon's Prime Day isn't for another week, but that doesn't mean the war between the two biggest retailers is on pause.

For a limited time until July 18, Walmart is offering new Walmart+ memberships for $49 per year, or half off the usual $98 fee.

If that date catches your eye, it's because the timing front-runs Amazon's Prime Day, which happens on July 16 and 17.

For 10 years now, Amazon's annual deals event for Prime members has become a fact of American retail life — and one that has helped drive new signups for the company.

Offering a discounted membership in the days leading up to Prime Day is another way that Walmart has been stepping up its effort to woo customers over from the e-commerce giant.

Look no further than remarks from Walmart CFO John David Rainey, who said the company's delivery orders have overtaken in-store orders in recent months.

He also said Walmart+ members are starting to make more frequent orders that have smaller item counts — acting a little more like Amazon shoppers.

Meanwhile, Walmart continues to aggressively expand its Marketplace of third-party sellers, following a strategy that has enabled Amazon to offer the mind-boggling range of products available on its website.

And as it turns out, Walmart's ongoing "store of the future" upgrades are helping too, as the company uses its fleet of 4,700 US locations to fulfill online orders.

"You would expect the in-store benefit," Rainey said last month, referring to a sales increase after a renovation."But we also see that there's an uplift in e-commerce sales in those areas where we've done a remodel."

Walmart is already making a lot of Target-style moves to win customers, and now it's taking even more pages from Amazon.

• Gretchen Whitmer vowed she won't run if Joe Biden exits the race.
• Whitmer has repeatedly backed the president and his 2024 run.
• Leaked polling shows Whitmer is popular among Democrats and outperforms Biden.

Since Joe Biden's awful debate performance, Democrats and voters alike have been speculating who could potentially replace him in the race.

But one of the top options, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, says not to count her in.

The two-term Democratic governor told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of the launch of her new book, "True Gretch," that she would not join the 2024 race if Biden stepped down.

"It's a distraction more than anything," Whitmer told the AP in a story published Monday. "I don't like seeing my name in articles like that because I'm totally focused on governing and campaigning for the ticket."

Whitmer, the national cochair of Biden's reelection campaign, has repeatedly reiterated her support of the president.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Whitmer wrote last week that she is "all in" on Biden and VP Kamala Harris, adding: "Help me elect Democrats up and down the ticket."

"Joe Biden is our nominee," she wrote in a follow-up post. "He is in it to win it and I support him."

Whitmer was also part of a coalition of 24 Democratic governors who met with Biden on Wednesday to discuss the fallout from his debate performance and his path to victory, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Though Whitmer says she will not replace Biden on the ticket, she might have a decent chance if she did, according to an internal Democratic polling memo leaked to Puck News.

The polling memo, conducted by OpenLabs 72 hours after the debate, shows that Whitmer was polling just behind Pete Buttigieg among voters in swing states. Biden was ranked last among the five options, and Harris second-to-last, according to the leaked poll.

While some polls show Biden losing ground since the debate, a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll showed Biden still polling ahead of Trump in Michigan — a must-win for the incumbent this November — and narrowing Trump's lead in other key swing states.

As for Whitmer's presidential prospects, she has for years said she doesn't want to ever run for president.

For example, she told the Free Press in 2022, "The lure of Washington, DC has not been something that has ever drawn my interest or attention."

But lately, she's been changing her tune. In a speech to hundreds of fellow politicians at a Washington event in March, Whitmer said, "See you in 2029," hinting at a potential 2028 run, The Washington Post reported.