“Trumpapalooza” is on in Dallas. Trump keys night one.

Republicans opened their first midterm convention in Dallas tonight, a two-night show the RNC chairman, Joe Gruters, has called a “Trumpapalooza.” The hall is the American Airlines Center. President Trump keys night one and speaks again Thursday. Vice President JD Vance keys night two. Tickets have been given away to fill a building that holds about 21,000. Donors who want a roundtable with the president are asked for $250,000. The Politics desk files a pep rally on a map that will not clap along.

Dozens of candidates in tight districts skipped. Association with a president whose approval sits in the 30s is a math problem, not a loyalty test. Decision Desk HQ still has the Senate as a 50–50 toss-up. Democrats need a net of four. Maine, Texas, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa remain coin flips. In the House, DDHQ gives Democrats a 67 percent chance of the gavel. Maggie Haberman reported the White House had not clocked that the NFL opener was the same night. Lumen Field is live. So is this building.

We have the best showman in politics in President Donald J. Trump.

Affordability is still the issue. Brent closed $101.21. The gallon is $4.22. A two-night convention does not lower the pump. It fills a hall. Whether it fills a ballot is the rest of the calendar — eight weeks.