NEWS AND OPINION:

Current media coverage suggests that former President Donald Trump may be eyeing a certain North Dakota resident as his vice presidential running mate. That would be Gov. Doug Burgum — who with his wife Kathryn — accompanied Mr. Trump to a jumbo-sized campaign rally Saturday in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Mr. Burgum ended his own bid for the White House in December. He also joined Mr. Trump on stage during the Republican National Committee’s annual spring meeting in May.

The ever-interested and eager press, meanwhile, is busy connecting the dots to suggest we could see some bumper stickers reading “Trump/Burgum 2024”  in the near future. Here are just a few headlines from the last 48 hours:

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“Donald Trump flies VP contender Doug Burgum with him to massive rally in Wildwood, NJ” (New York Post); “Doug Burgum emerges as an unlikely candidate to be Trump VP” (Politico); “North Dakota governor, former presidential candidate Doug Burgum front and center at Trump New Jersey rally” (Fox News); “VP contender Doug Burgum joins Trump at campaign rally in New Jersey” (NBC News); “Potential VP pick flies with Trump to wild Jersey rally” (The Independent); “North Dakota Gov. Burgum emerges as a potential VP pick for Trump, may be able to draw moderates” (Just the News); “Will Donald Trump pick Doug Burgum as VP? All about the North Dakota Gov” (The Hindustan Times); and “As the veepstakes intensify, North Dakota’s economy may be a stumbling block for Doug Burgum” (HuffPost.com)

A GOVERNOR’S UPDATE

Texas continues to counter the constant arrival of illegal immigrants in the Lone Star State. Here’s the latest official report on that effort.

“Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry,” the governor’s office said in an update released Friday.

It offered an insight into “Operation Lone Star,” a multi-agency push within the state to secure the border, stop the smuggling of “drugs, weapons and people into Texas” and interdict transnational criminal activity. The effort itself was launched on March 6, 2021. There are some results of note.

“Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 510,600 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 42,500 criminal arrests, with more than 37,700 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized enough lethal doses of fentanyl to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico combined during this border mission,” the update said.

Mr. Abbott himself also had a say.

“President Biden inherited the most secure border with the lowest illegal immigration since last century. With the stroke of a pen, he proudly ended those secure border policies and opened the border to more than 11 million illegal immigrants from more than 150 different countries — including known terrorists, murderers, and rapists. Now, desperately grasping to salvage his failed presidency, President Biden attempts the most minimal action possible, hoping to mask the crisis he created,” the governor said in a written statement.

WHAT A SENATOR TOLD THEM

Not every college campus is in turmoil at the moment.

Sen. Tim Scott delivered the keynote address at Liberty University’s commencement ceremony on Friday for the school’s 51st graduating class.

“During the speech, Senator Scott encouraged the new graduates that failure isn’t fatal if you don’t quit, you can stand out in life by standing up for those who can’t stand for themselves, and if you want to walk on the water, you have to get out of the boat,” the South Carolina Republican’s office said in a summary of the event.

The lawmaker had some advice for his vast audience as well.

“I believe there are a lot of graduates sitting here today, with tears welling in their eyes and a heart full of gratitude. Because if we all knew what God had to do to get you to your seats, we would all stand up and give you a standing ovation,” Mr. Scott told his enthusiastic audience.

“And I thank God Almighty we live in a country where we are free to praise the living God. Let us be the generation of believers who believe in the impossible — God has a plan for every single graduate in the house. My only question is this: Will you answer his call? God bless you,” he concluded.

MEANWHILE IN MANHATTAN

The New York Young Republican Club — established in 1911 — reveals that its membership will all gather around some stylish libations to start the week off at an undisclosed location in the Big Apple.

“The return of Margarita Monday: Step into the elegant ambiance of a classy uptown brownstone for an unforgettable evening,” the organization advised its membership.

“We’ll also be serving complimentary snacks so don’t miss out,” the group also noted.

The club also has an ongoing regular speaker series — and soon will also welcome broadcast analyst, political columnist, podcaster and author Monica Crowley, who also served as assistant Treasury secretary for public affairs during the Trump administration.

POLL DU JOUR

• 48% of registered U.S. voters say the U.S. is “much worse off” now than it was four years ago when it comes to inflation.

• 25% of voters say the U.S. is “somewhat worse off” now than it was four years ago when it comes to inflation.

• 13% say the U.S. is “somewhat better off” now than it was four years ago when it comes to inflation.

• 8% say the U.S.  is “much better off” now than it was four years ago when it comes to inflation.

• 6% don’t know where they stand on the issue.

SOURCE: A Morning Consult/Politico poll of 1,074 registered U.S. voters conducted April 27-28.

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