 Meanwhile, over in the other half of the country, in red state America, at the Republican National Convention, people who had changed their minds and reconsidered firmly held convictions were a big part of the festivities. Donald Trump picked his vice president, a man who once said about him, my God, what an idiot, J.D. Vance. Nikki Haley, who at once called Trump unhinged, and other former Trump rivals. People who once seemed like they hated Trump and spoken out against him.