👋🏼 It's Cuneyt, back with Town Talker — my column on money and power.

Dems are celebrating their new Harris-Walz ticket — and a vibe shift is underway in deep-blue Washington.

Why it matters: In this political town, a bummer summer has evolved into meme-ified bar specials, thrilled consultants, and a palpable city buzz for a campaign perhaps not seen since Obama '08.

🍾 The big picture: Democrats who were in panic mode about President Biden's re-election chances are now exhaling — and drinking it in.

• Many locals "went from disappointment and despair to excitement and enthusiasm literally overnight," says Charles Wilson, chair of the D.C. Democratic Party.

Case in point: Earlier this year, it was like pulling teeth to fire up the usual civic leaders to raise their hands to become one of D.C.'s 19 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which starts on Aug. 19.

• "Nobody was really pumped," Wilson says. Then, after Biden dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, "all of a sudden I started getting phone calls from across the District wanting to be a delegate."

📣 What they're saying: "There's a lot more hope now," says Peyton Sherwood, owner of D.C. bar Midlands, which is brainstorming drink ideas in honor of vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

• Why didn't Joe inspire pub specials? "It was hard to come up with one for your loving grandfather," Sherwood adds.

On D.C. matters large and small, a Harris admin would be the polar opposite of a Trump one.

• Harris and Walz both signed onto statehood legislation in Congress. Former President Trump wants to "take over our horribly run" capital city.
• Harris called Mayor Muriel Bowser to congratulate her on her third-term victory. Trump feuded with Bowser.
• Harris is often spotted around D.C. Trump largely avoided D.C. outside the White House and his hotel.

⚡️ The intrigue: A uniquely D.C. operator led Harris' veepstakes: Eric Holder, who has deep bonafides in the federal and local worlds of Washington. (Holder was D.C.'s top federal prosecutor in the 1990s, and was often pitched as a potential candidate for mayor.)

Full column

The DMV's expensive rental prices continue to creep upwards, especially in Northern Virginia, according to a Washington Post analysis of CoStar Group rent data.

Why it matters: As the area's median home price sits at a record high of $640,000, many would-be buyers are forced to keep renting.

• This comes as another Washington Post study found that not enough homes are being built in the DMV to keep up with growth.

State of play: Average rents here all clock in higher than the national $1,712 average, per the report.

By the numbers: Northern Virginia has seen the DMV's biggest increases in rent over the last five years: Nearly 34% in Prince William County, 28% in Loudoun County, and 27% in Alexandria City.

Rent in Arlington County is clocking in at the DMV's highest average price: $2,562, a 4% increase since last year and a 16.5% jump since 2019.

The intrigue: D.C.'s average rent (currently $2,246) has increased by 1.6% since last year and almost 11% since 2019 — the lowest one- and five-year increases in the area.

The fierce competition...

D.C. liberals' newest status symbol might be a camo hat that says, "Harris-Walz."

Why it matters: A few hours after the news broke on Tuesday that Harris had selected Walz as her running mate, her campaign store dropped new swag. And one item emerged as an immediate internet favorite.

• The $40 camo hat sold out in 30 minutes, with 3,000 orders totaling almost $1 million in purchases, the campaign tells Axios. Now it's only available for pre-order, with an expected October release date.

Between the lines: The hat is a nod to the one Walz is wearing in the video in which Harris calls to ask him to be her running mate.

• It's also similar to a hat sold by the mega-popular singer Chappell Roan — and the very online wasted no time comparing the two "Midwest Princesses." (Former President Trump's got a camo hat too.)

More merch

🚆A Metro safety watchdog report is raising the alarm about exhausted and/or drunk train drivers. The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission is exploring changes to rules related to employee fatigue, as workers sometimes only have a few hours to rest between shifts. (Washington Post)

⚖️ A federal appeals court this week upheld Maryland's decade-old assault weapons ban. (NPR)

🚮 Arlington is rolling out new public food bins to encourage composting and divert waste from landfills. They've collected around 1,000 pounds of scraps so far. (ArlNow)

🐶 Free pet adoptions are available through Sunday during the Humane Rescue Alliance's "Adoption Pawlympics." Olympian Chantae McMillan and her HRA pup Zoolander are repping. (HRA)

🏛️ See who's hiring around DC.

1. Fall 2024 Internships - Bipartisan Policy Center at Bipartisan Policy Center.
2. Senior Program Manager, Human Rights & Freedom at McCain Institute.
3. Member Advocacy Strategist at American Academy of Family Physicians.
4. International Business and Policy Reporter at Devex.
5. Public Relations Account Executive/Media Specialist at Susan Davis International.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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The new Olympic sport of breaking debuts on Friday and Saturday, and hip-hop culture will be on full display.

Why it matters: For the first time in Olympic history, 32 breakers (16 B-boys and 16 B-girls) will compete in one-on-one battles.

• Each country has four breakers, and Team USA includes Victor Montalvo, Jeffrey Louis, Sunny Choi, and Logan Edra.

Originating during the 1970s in the Bronx, breaking pulls from a variety of urban dance styles and techniques.

What they're saying: Team USA B-boy Montalvo says it's important to remember the sport's roots in hip-hop, graffiti, and DJ/MC cultures.

• "A lot of people talk about how breaking is losing its essence over the years. I feel like it's up to the newer generation to dig into the roots and bring that essence back into the dance."

How it's judged