In the long American tradition of parties gathering to renew their sense of purpose, Republicans have convened in Dallas for a rare mid-cycle convention — not to choose a nominee, but to consolidate power and project unity ahead of November. President Trump anchors the event with a keynote address, while Vice President Vance and a constellation of ambitious figures use the stage to position themselves for a future the party has not yet formally begun to negotiate. What unfolds in Dallas is less a rally than a quiet reckoning with succession, loyalty, and the weight of a political coalition sti