Your roundup of this week’s most widely-read, shared, and discussed stories.

Oh great, its Mike Legislate Your Uterus Pence.
Oh great, it's Mike "I Will Legislate Your Uterus" Pence.


• Donald Trump, likely Republican nominee, announced his running-mate pick yesterday: Indiana Governor Mike Pence. It’s only been a day, but Stranger writers already seem not to like him. Science writer Ethan Linck pointed out that Pence doesn’t believe in climate change. Politics writer Matt Baume reminds us that it was Pence who signed Indiana’s turn-away-the-gays law. Megan Burbank at the Portland Mercury notes that he tried to defund Planned Parenthood before it was cool to do so. And in The Stranger’s internal group chats, there has been some gentle mockery of their logo.

• In music news, Sonic Boom Records, a Fremont record store that opened in 1997, will remain open. Their former owners, Jason Hughes and Nabil Ayers, wrote their patrons a thank you letter in this week’s issue—remembering notable moments in the store’s 19-year-long history. Then, we profiled Sonic Boom’s new owner, Mike Pitts. What changes does he have in mind for the store’s future? Nothing yet, Pitts says. We’ll keep our ears open.

The viral queen, protesting in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in Baton Rouge on Saturday.
The viral queen, protesting in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in Baton Rouge on Saturday. Photo by Jonathan Bachman for Reuters


• Jen Graves reviewed the iconic Baton Rouge protest photo—one of this week’s most popular stories. “The woman in this photograph is as much a captured subject as she is the co-artist of her own image.” Listen to her discuss it with Eli Sanders on this week’s Blabbermouth podcast.

• Remember the movie critic who insisted last month that he absolutely refused to watch the latest Ghostbusters film? Looks like he prematurely denounced it. According to Tricia Romano and Sean Nelson in their dialogue/review of the film, it’s the exact movie that America needs right now. Find showtimes for the movie, and other critics’ picks here.

VOTE! You have until August 2 to mail in your ballot.
VOTE! You have until August 2 to mail in your ballot. JAMES YAMASAKI

• For the August 2016 primary election, The Stranger endorses Patty Murray for Senate, Jay Inslee for Governor, and Cyrus Habib for Lt. Governor. But there’s more—you’ll have to read it all here. For the lazy, Rich Smith did a dramatic reading of our Pramila Jayapal endorsement. For the lazier, we have a cheat sheet at the bottom of this page.

• The Stranger is headed to the Republican National Convention. Follow reporters Heidi Groover and Sydney Brownstone on their GOP adventures in Cleveland, OH next week. They’ll be slogging, tweeting, Snapchatting, and Tindering.

Chinatown-International Districts Dragon Fest will bring together dragon and lion dances, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and other groups for non-stop cultural performances this weekend.
Chinatown-International District's Dragon Fest will bring together dragon and lion dances, taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, and other groups for "non-stop cultural performances" this weekend. Kelly O

• Need something fun and free to do today? Everything on our weekend Cheap and Easy listings will cost you no more than $10. Go to Bite of Seattle, watch outdoor movies, visit arts festivals, and more!

• Tomorrow is National Ice Cream Day. Lucky for everyone, there’s no shortage of ice cream options in Seattle. Find the best one for you here.

Enjoy the sun this weekend.