Harris Seeks to Continue Campaign Momentum Following DNC, CNN Interview

The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago concluded with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party's presidential nomination, capping a drama-filled effort to replace Biden of the ticket following his June debate performance. The four-day event featured speeches from prominent Democrats and supporters, aiming to energize the party base and appeal to undecided voters.

Notable speakers included Oprah Winfrey, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Each emphasized their party's vision for the country while critiquing Trump and Republican policies.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris's running mate, addressed the convention on the third day, highlighting his background as a teacher and governor.

In her acceptance speech on the last day, Harris sought to introduce herself to the American people by highlighting her personal background and career experiences. While she provided a broad overview of policy goals, such as strengthening the middle class, combatting climate change, and ending the war in Gaza, she largely avoided detailed policy changes in her speech.

According to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregates, the race between Harris and Trump remains competitive. National polls show a tight contest, with Harris holding a slight edge. In battleground states, the margins are narrow. Pennsylvania, a considered a must-win state by both campaigns, shows Harris leading by just 0.5 points. Trump continues to lead narrowly in Georgia and North Carolina.

Harris did sit down for a joint interview with CNN that included Walz this past week, the first she has given since Biden’s withdrawal. In the interview, she said that her values have not changed since her 2019 campaign, but that she did change her position on banning fracking (from for to against such a ban during the 2020 campaign). She also said she had no regrets for her comments supporting Biden’s fitness to run for reelection following Biden’s widely panned debate performance.

Both campaigns are expected to focus heavily on battleground states in the coming months ahead of the September 10th debate with ABC News.

Joe Biden Exits Presidential Race, Endorses Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21 upended the general election campaign with just months to go until Election Day. His endorsement of Kamala Harris has allowed the Democratic Party to rally around Harris, who has largely united the party around her candidacy.

Biden’s decision came after sharply declining support from his fellow Democrats, lagging poll numbers against Trump, and concerns about his health. The 81-year-old president faced increasing pressure following a lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump on June 27, which heightened concerns about his capacity to lead for another term.

In a letter posted on social media, Biden expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his duties for the remainder of his term. "While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down," Biden wrote.

The general reaction from fellow Democrats has been a mix of praise for Biden’s service and enthusiasm for Harris’s candidacy. Prominent Democrats, including potential presidential contenders California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, quickly echoed Biden’s endorsement of the vice president.

Harris has since clinched the presumptive nomination based on pledges from the delegates attending to the Democratic National Convention in August.

 

Paris Olympics 2024: Controversy Amid Athletic Glory

The Paris 2024 Olympics began with its opening ceremony along the Seine River on July 26. Athletes arrived by boat, passing landmarks like Notre-Dame and the Louvre, with performances by Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, as the Olympic flame lit the Olympic Cauldron, which is shaped as a hot air balloon.

The event faced challenges, however, with acts of sabotage targeting the French high-speed rail network and causing travel disruptions. The weather also posed issues, with rain starting just as the ceremony began, leading to a scramble to shelter equipment and attendees.

Reactions to the ceremonies have been mixed. While some praised the innovative artistic approach, others were frustrated by logistical problems, including long waits and overcrowding.

Controversy arose from one part of the ceremony that some viewers perceived as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper." This segment, which featured drag queens and dancers arranged along a long table, was interpreted by some as mocking Christianity. The event organizers said the scene was intended to parody the Greek myth of the Feast of Dionysius rather than the Last Supper.

Security was tight in the lead up to the games, with heavy police patrols and multiple security checks along the Seine.

Some athletes have complained about uncomfortable beds and the lack of air conditioning at the Olympic Village, with some booking hotel rooms instead.

  

Republican National Convention Concludes with JD Vance as VP Nominee

Republicans held their national convention earlier this month in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following the attempted assassination of Trump, the convention featured more subdued rhetoric, aiming to demonstrate unity in preparation for the general campaign.

In a break with recent tradition, Trump announced Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate while the convention was underway, rather than in the days leading up to it. Vance, a 39-year-old political newcomer and author of the bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," has completed a transformation from staunch Trump critic (once referring to Trump as “reprehensible” and “cultural heroin” to a trusted ally who can carry on Trump’s vision after a possible second term.

Trump’s announcement, made via Truth Social just as the convention was kicking off, praised Vance as "the person best suited" to be his potential vice president. The former president highlighted Vance’s Marine Corps service and his memoir, positioning him as a champion for hardworking Americans, particularly in key swing states. 

Other notable speakers included UN Ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who formally endorsed Trump following their heated primary rivalry; and Peter Navarro, a former Trump trade adviser. Navarro delivered his remarks just hours after being released from federal prison, where he was held following his contempt of Congress conviction.

The convention concluded with Trump formally accepting the GOP nomination, delivering an emotional recount of the assassination attempt and calling for unity, while also touching upon familiar talking points often heard in his campaign rallies. Trump’s 93-minute speech set the record for the longest acceptance speech by a presidential nominee.

 

Investigation Continues into Motive Behind Attempted Trump Assassination

Federal investigators continue to piece together the motives behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. Despite extensive investigative efforts, including over 200 interviews and a thorough review of Crooks’s digital footprint, his exact motivations remain unknown.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, has been described as an intelligent yet unassuming loner with an interest in guns. He did not openly express strong political views, leading investigators to speculate whether his motives were political. Crooks may have been targeting high-profile figures, with Trump being the most accessible target due to the rally’s proximity to Crooks’s home.

Crooks had visited the rally location twice before the day of the attack and had images of both Trump and President Joe Biden on his phone. His search history included dates for the Democratic National Convention and future Trump events, providing some evidence that he was looking for high-profile opportunities to target.

 

Kamala Harris Launches Campaign GOP Retools Their Strategy

Vice President Kamala Harris has launched her campaign for the White House following President Joe Biden’s stunning withdrawal from the race on July 21. With the political landscape dramatically altered, with both the Democratic and Republican parties scrambling to adjust their strategies and messaging.

Harris wasted no time in capitalizing on the momentum generated by Biden’s endorsement, with her campaign announcing a record-breaking fundraising haul of $200 million in the 10 days after Biden’s withdrawal. This massive influx of support, much of it coming from new donors, has energized the party’s base and signaled a potential resurgence of enthusiasm among voters who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with a Biden candidacy.

Harris does face headwinds, however, as she currently polls below Trump in general election polling, according to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregate. Harris’s supporters counter that the polling has not yet taken into account shifting voters’ attitudes now that she is the likely Democratic nominee, and they argue that she will overtake Trump as the campaign continues.

On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump and his newly minted running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, are recalibrating their approach. Trump’s recent rallies have signaled a departure from unity message that followed his assassination attempt two weeks ago, with the former president reverting to his more combative style as they seek to highlight Harris’s 2020 positions on crime and immigration. The GOP is eyeing traditionally Democratic strongholds, hoping to expand the electoral map in their favor.

Democrats are also adopting a new line of attack against the Republican ticket, characterizing Trump and Vance’s policies, as well as the men themselves, as “weird.” Harris herself has echoed this sentiment, describing Republican policies as “just plain weird” during a recent rally in Atlanta. Republicans have countered that this strategy distracts from real policy disagreements between the two candidates and from Harris’s record as vice president.

Harris has not yet selected a running mate, with possible contenders being PA Gov. Josh Shapiro, KY Gov. Andy Beshear, MN Gov. Tim Walz, and AZ Sen. Mark Kelly.

 

Supreme Court Rulings Target Federal Regulatory Apparatus

The Supreme Court issued several rulings this past week that curtails the federal regulatory system, attracting praise from conservatives and condemnation from progressives.

The most impactful decision was to overturn the Chevron deference doctrine in 6-3 decision along ideological lines, which required the federal judiciary to defer to the interpretation of regulatory agencies when interpreting ambiguous language in federal regulatory statutes passed by Congress, as long as their interpretation are reasonable.

The Chevron deference doctrine had been in force since a 1984 decision and has since been cited in thousands of cases. The Supreme Court in its majority ruling said that those case decision can stand, though the judiciary can no longer simply defer to the agencies’ interpretations in future cases and must interpret ambiguous statutes independently.

Critics of the decision says this ruling will lead to expertise being overruled by ideologically driven judges as well as leading to more regulatory uncertainty as agencies can later be overruled by judicial decisions.

Proponents of the decision dismiss the uncertainty argument, saying that regulatory interpretations are already changed as new administrations take office and that this will force Congress to use less ambiguous and tighter language when writing legislation.

The Supreme Court also ruled against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in another 6-3 decision, ruling that targets of civil enforcement can have their cases heard by a jury trial rather than by agency adjudication bodies. While in-house a judication had Congress’s approval, the majority opinion ruled that it violated the Seventh Amendment’s protection of right to trial by jury. Critics claim this ruling will stymie regulatory efforts, given the expense and length of jury trials.

 

Attempted Bolivia Coup Ends with General’s Arrest

Bolivia avoided a coup attempt last Wednesday that would have overthrown President Luis Arce, who has faced a political crisis within his ruling left-wing party and a looming financial crisis.

The Bolivian Army’s chief general, Juan Jose Zuniga, failed to take control of the government even as his troops took control of several government buildings in the capital La Paz. Arce confronted Zuniga, ordering him to stand down, while also calling for street demonstrations to stand against the coup attempt. Zuniga’s troops began to stand down, and Zuniga was taken into custody.

Zuniga accused Arce of ordering him to plot a fake coup to boost his popularity, a charge Arce denies. Bolivia’s geostrategic importance has been heightened recently because of its massive lithium deposits, a key resource in the electric energy transition because of its role in high-capacity batteries.

 

Legendary Baseball Player Willie Mays Dies at 93

Willie Mays, the baseball great who captured the attention of millions for his strong batting and outfield abilities, died June 18th in Palo Alto, California, at 93. Known as ‘The Say Hey Kid,’ his cheerful demeanor and theatrics on the field delighted fans for his two decades of play in the major leagues.

Mays was born in 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. He began playing baseball as a young boy and started his professional career in the Negro Leagues, playing for the Chattanooga Choo-Choos and the Birmingham Barons.

In 1951, he joined the New York Giants, becoming National League Rookie of the Year. After being drafted to fight in the Korean War, he returned in 1954, helping the Giants win the World Series, most notably through the most famous play in his career, the ‘The Catch,’ in Game 1.

He went on to play until 1973, staying with the Giants when they moved to San Francisco in 1958 until his trade to the New York Mets in 1972, retiring as third in career home runs. He would make regular appearances at Giants games in his retirement.

 

Julian Assange Pleads Guilty as US Ends Legal Fight

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange pled guilty last Wednesday to one count of violating the Espionage Act at a US federal courthouse in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, capping a years-long fight against legal charges that threatened to send him to prison for decades. In exchange for the plea, Assange was sentenced to time served, crediting his time spent in a British prison awaiting extradition.

Assange, who launched Wikileaks in 2006, was accused of conspiring with hackers to steal US state secrets to publish on the site. Defenders of Assange called the charges attacks on the rights of journalists. Materials made public on Wikileaks over the years included video of US servicemembers killing Reuters journalists in Iraq and hacked DNC emails during the 2016 election.

After pleading guilty, Assange travelled to his home country of Australia. Assange had faced the threat of arrest and prison since 2010, first over sexual assault charges in Sweden. While those were dropped in 2019, the US charged him with Espionage Act violations in 2018. He had taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London from 2012 until 2019, when he was expelled and quickly arrested by British authorities.

 

Hurricane Beryl Becomes Earliest-Forming Category 4 in Atlantic Basin

Hurricane Beryl, only the second storm of what has been predicted to be a highly active Atlantic hurricane season, has become the earliest forming major hurricane in the Atlantic basin as well as the earliest forming category four storm in the basin, beating the record set by Hurricane Dennis in July 2007. Beryl, which only became a tropical storm on June 28th, rapidly intensified into a major hurricane, reaching category 4 status on Sunday.

The storm has the potential to reach category 5 strength, which would displace Hurricane Emily in 2005 as the earliest forming category 5 in the Atlantic.

Beryl will move through the Windward Islands this coming week, with major impacts expected in St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. Afterwards, the storm will head towards the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, where it faces an uncertain path forward through the Gulf of Mexico. The European model has Beryl heading into Mexico south of Tampico, while the US model takes Beryl on a more northerly path towards Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

Biden’s Debate Performance Prompts Calls to Drop Out, President Vows to Remain

President Joe Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump on Thursday some calling it one of the worst debate performances by a presidential candidate in American history. During the debate, Biden spoke in a low, hoarse voice, frequently delivering meandering answers and often confusing topics. During periods when Trump was talking, he appeared at times to close his eyes and have his mouth open. In one response to a question, he ended it by saying, “We finally beat Medicare,” which he did not later attempt to correct. 

During the debate, the White House reached out to media organizations, claiming a cold had been causing his voice issues.

His performance quickly led to calls by some fellow Democrats to drop out of the race or consider doing so, a sharp reversal from the previous stance from many Democrats that Biden was sharp and able to serve a second term. On Friday, The New York Times Editorial Board called on Biden to drop out. While praising his record in office, the board said he is “engaged in a reckless gamble” that could allow Trump a second term, which they call “a danger.”

Biden’s team has dismissed these calls so far, dismissing the New York Times editorial and trying to refocus the attention to Trump.

If Biden were to drop out of the race, his campaign cash could only be transferred to Harris presidential campaign. Should the party’s delegates choose not to proceed with a Harris nomination, the new nominee would need to raise new funds for the campaign against Trump.

While most of the post-debate focus has been on Biden, Trump’s performance has also been discussed. While Trump’s answers were far more forceful than Biden’s and he did not appear to lose his train of thought, he faced criticism for dodging questions on the environment, January 6th, and other topics, as well as providing misleading or false responses to other questions. His non-committal answer on whether he would accept the results of election (only if it is ‘fair and legal and good’), also attracted criticism.

A Morning Consult poll after the debate showed that 60% of respondents believe Biden should drop out of the race. A similar CBS News poll showed 54% of registered voters do not believe Trump should run for president, with 46% saying he should.

 

Trump Makes Unorthodox Stops in the Bronx and at LNC

Former President Donald Trump made two unorthodox stops as a Republican presidential candidate last week, holding a rally in the heavily Democratic Bronx in New York City as well as making a speaking appearance at the Libertarian National Convention.

Trump spoke to several thousand rallygoers in Crotona Park in the Bronx on May 23, making Trump the first Republican to campaign in the Bronx since Ronald Reagan. His speech’s content was standard fare for one of his rallies, with additional references to the struggles facing black and Hispanic families, which make up the majority of the Bronx’s population. His rally was also met with a number of counter protesters.

Trump also spoke Sunday to delegates at the Libertarian National Convention, the day after Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. also addressed delegates. Both men highlighted their agreements with the Libertarian platform, with Trump asking delegates to make him the nominee, a request met with jeers and boos. Trump promised to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbright, founder of dark net marketplace Silk Road, which was met with loud cheering. 

 

Trump Found Guilty on All 34 Charges in NY Hush Money Trial

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges in his hush money trial in Manhattan on Thursday, capping a weeks-long dramatic legal showdown that saw the testimony of his former lawyer Michael Cohen and former porn star Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford).

The convictions stem from 2016 payments made to Daniels by Cohen as part of a non-disclosure agreement over an alleged affair in 2006, which Trump later reimbursed. Prosecutors alleged that the payments were aimed at influencing the 2016 election and thus should have been labeled as campaign contributions rather than legal expenses. Because the false entries in business records were used to conceal another crime (federal campaign finance violations), it upgraded the violations to felonies and allowed the charges to be brought within the statute of limitations, which tolled when Trump left New York for Florida.

Trump is widely expected to appeal the verdict, with his team likely to claim a pro-prosecution bias by Judge Juan Merchan in his decisions during the trial and in his jury instructions.

President Joe Biden was expected to speak on the Trump verdict in an official White House address, but has since said he will address the verdict in answers to reporters during typical press questioning. His campaign communications director Michael Tyler released a statement saying, “In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law.”

Biden’s son, Hunter, will face his own trial on firearms charges in June over alleged false statements on federal firearms forms. He also faces pending federal tax charges in California.

 

Severe Storms Strike Texas and Other States, 25 Dead

At least 25 have been killed in severe weather over the Memorial Day weekend, with subsequent storms on Tuesday, downing power lines and leaving thousands without power in the North Texas region.

Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins warned his county’s residents that it could take days to restore power and that they should avoid downed lines.

The central US has been hammered with severe weather this month as cold fronts collide with hotter air masses, spawning severe thunderstorms and tornadoes as they push south.

 

Midwest Tornado Outbreaks Kill At Least 5

The Midwest endured days of severe weather last week and this past weekend, including tornadoes and strong wind. One of the tornadoes, an EF-4 which struck Marietta, Oklahoma, and killed 1, was the country’s strongest tornado in over a year, with its winds estimated at 170 miles per hour.

Another tornado hit Sulphur, Oklahoma, killing 5 and injuring over 100 others in the small town of just over 5,000. That tornado is currently rated as an EF-3, but could be upgraded as the damage it caused is surveyed further.

 

Universities Grapple with Unrest at Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations

Universities across the US continue to struggle to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations on their campuses.

Columbia University has emerged as one of the most prominent flashpoints in the ongoing unrest, with protesters occupying public spaces and blocking entrance to buildings. Reports of Jewish students being harassed drew condemnation, including from the White House.

Demonstrators have refused to abandon encampments as the university’s administration has threatened suspension. An order to abandon the camp by 2 PM EDT Monday went largely unheeded.

Similar demonstrations have occurred at Yale University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Berkeley.

At Northwestern University, protesters reached an agreement with the administration to largely dismantle their camp, with the university in turn funding two new Palestinian faculty members and funding scholarships for five Palestinian undergraduate students.