Welcome to The Best & The Brightest. I’m Tara Palmeri.

Another week, another guilty verdict. This time it was Hunter Biden up at bat. Next on the docket is the sentencing for a former president. In between, there are some casual campaign events like the first presidential debate, in two weeks, and then the Republican National Convention. But who can really keep up with it when the focus seems to be on the court houses?

🚨🚨Programming note: For more on the Hunter saga, and separating truth and fiction in the “Biden Crime Family” narrative, check out the latest episode of Somebody’s Gotta With with Biden family chronicler (and my partner on the story that launched the gun investigation), Ben Schreckinger. Earlier in the week, Michael LaRosa, a former communications director in the first lady’s office, came on the show to give his former colleagues some thoughts on how to deal with the press. Subscribe here.

In tonight’s issue, fresh reporting on why Doug Burgum, the aw-shucks centimillionaire governor, could be the next Mike Pence. But first…

• Trump prison scenario planning: Shortly after he was declared guilty in his New York hush money trial, Donald Trump mused on Fox & Friends, somewhat incredulously, that he was okay with the prospect of serving prison time. (Sure…) More recently, however, I’m told that the reality appears to be sinking in more forcefully, and the former (and perhaps future) president has been...