Democrats more than double GOP fundraising in Senate battleground states
The battle for control of the U.S. Senate is turning into a massive financial effort on both sides. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on political ads with Democrats out-raising Republicans by about 2.5 times in the top 10 battleground races. According to Politico, Democrats raised $203 million in the most recent quarter, versus $83 million by the Republicans.
Democrats currently control the Senate by a 51-to-49 margin. Republicans are hoping to flip two seats in November 2024 and have all their incumbents win reelection and thus take control of the lawmaking body.
Pundits believe Republican candidates winning in West Virginia and Montana are their best bets where Democrats are vulnerable.
However, in Montana, incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester raised more than $30 million last quarter. His Republican opponent Tim Sheehy raised roughly $10 million.
In Ohio, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is trying to beat back a challenge from Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown out-raised Moreno by a $30.7 million to $6.5 million margin in the third quarter.
In Pennsylvania, incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is attempting to hold on to his seat. He pulled in $16 million last quarter while Republican Dave McCormick raised less than half that, $7.6 million.
Other Democrats raising huge sums for Senate races include: Rep. Colin Allred in Texas, Rep. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan and Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin. Big money is also being spent in Nevada, Nebraska and Florida.
The onslaught of political ads is expected to continue until Election Day as Republicans are now running commercials out of joint fundraising committees, which have fewer rules and allow for larger contributions.
2024 election projected to be most expensive ever, $15.9 billion in spending
The 2024 election will be the most expensive ever with an overall price tag of $15.9 billion. According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan organization that tracks money in U.S. politics, this year’s elections will break the $15.1 billion record set in 2020.
“There may be a saturation point where elections can no longer get more expensive, but we haven’t reached it yet,” OpenSecrets Deputy Research Director Brendan Glavin said in a statement. “Super PACs and billionaires continue to spend more and more hoping to select our elected officials. And right now it is looking as though there isn’t a ceiling to how much an election in the U.S. can cost.”
According to OpenSecrets’ research, the top 10 individual donors in the country have contributed $599 million or about 7% of the total federal election fundraising. Small donors, who give under $200, account for about 16%.
Outside groups, including super PACs, have spent $2.6 billion up to this point and are projected to spend $5 billion by Election Day.
“Spending on the 2024 election cycle started slowly but ramped up significantly when Vice President Harris took over the Democratic nomination,” OpenSecrets Director of Research and Strategy Sarah Bryner stated.
Elon Musk offers $47 incentive for swing state voters to sign petition. Is it legal?
Elon Musk is asking his followers on X to sign a petition supporting the Constitution, and in return, earn some cash. The petition was started by America PAC, a pro-Trump group founded by Musk.
“Earn $47 for every person you refer to sign the petition if they’re in a swing state,” Musk posted on X. “The goal is to get 1M voters in swing states to show support for free speech & right to bear arms.”
Federal law prohibits paying or offering to pay someone to vote or register to vote, but it is legal to pay people to encourage others to vote. It is also legal to compensate individuals who gather signatures for petitions, although some states have laws making it illegal for campaigns to pay based on reaching a target number of signatures.
America PAC is based in Texas, where there are no specific laws regarding pay-per-signature compensation, making Musk’s financial incentive legally valid for garnering more signatures.
The petition is described as pledging support for the First Amendment and Second Amendment, which grant freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.
The petition is only open to registered voters in swing states, and the line for the $47 referral credit is located just above the “Sign Petition” portion.
If half of the 1 million signature goal comes from referrals, the financial incentive would cost America PAC more than $23 million.
This push comes at a crucial time as campaigns for former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris ramp up in these battleground states. Recent polls show a tight race, with Harris leading Trump by just 3.4 percentage points, 49.8% to Trump’s 46.4%.
Eric Adams case: Phone locked, next in line for mayor donations in question
Federal investigators said they still can’t get in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ cellphone, nearly a year after they took it. According to charging documents, Adams claimed in November 2023 that he changed his password after he found out about the corruption investigation.
He said he wanted to stop his staff from deleting anything from the phone. Adams then told investigators he forgot the password he set two days prior.
At Adams’ federal court hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, Prosecutor Hagan Scotten said the fact that the government still can’t get into Adams phone is “a significant wild card” in the case.
Adams is facing five federal counts of bribery, corruption, wire fraud, and soliciting and accepting donations from foreign nationals.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and said he did nothing wrong.
Meanwhile, public advocate, Jumaane Williams, the person who is next in line to become mayor if Adams resigns or is forced out by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, reportedly accepted political contributions from Uzbek businessman, Tolib Mansurov.
Mansurov is the same man accused of orchestrating illegal donations to Adams.
City campaign records show Williams received $5,000 in January from Mansurov. The contributions appear to have similarities to the straw donations allegedly made to Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
Mansurov also donated $10,000 to Williams’ 2022 campaign for governor.
A spokesperson for Williams told the Wall Street Journal that Williams met Mansurov as part of his engagement with the Uzbek community and had no reason to believe there was anything wrong with the contributions.
The spokesperson went on to say they would closely review the donations.
At least 3 dead as Helene barrels through southeastern US
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida overnight as a major Category 4 storm, leaving at least 3 people dead and leading to massive power outages. And the Oakland A’s have played their final home game after 57 years. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
At least 3 dead as Helene barrels through southeastern U.S.
The storm brought the anticipated life-threatening storm surge, strong winds and heavy rains. Meteorologists say just because the storm has weakened significantly, does not make it less dangerous.
Authorities in Pasco County, Florida rescued people trapped by heavy flooding. One person was killed on Interstate 4 near Tampa when a sign fell on their car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Authorities in Wheeler County, Georgia said two people were killed when an apparent tornado overturned a mobile home. Two others died in Laurens County, according to emergency officials.
As of early Friday morning, more than one million people in Florida were without power, as were hundreds of thousands more in Georgia. Power outages linked to Helene have also been reported in South Carolina and North Carolina.
The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm conditions will be felt throughout the southeast throughout Friday, with strong, damaging winds likely to “penetrate as far inland as the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.”
Trump says he will meet with Zelenskyy to hear ‘victory plan’
The decision comes after there was some doubt whether the meeting between the two would occur — after both Trump and Zelenskyy have been critical of each other.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian president met with both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris separately to discuss his plan to defeat Russia. Biden pledged to send billions of dollars more in missiles, drones, weapons, and supplies.
Meanwhile, Harris told Zelenskyy recent calls for Ukraine to give over some of its land to Russia are “dangerous and unacceptable,” referring to recent suggestions by Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Both have suggested Ukraine should cut a deal quickly to end the war that’s been going on for almost three years now.
Trump has stated that if he wins the November election, he will end the Russia-Ukraine war even before he takes office.
Zelenskyy also met with members of Congress Thursday in an effort to shore up American support for the ongoing war.
DOJ expected to announce charges in alleged Iranian hack of Trump campaign
Investigators said Iran gained access to Trump campaign emails and sent files to various media outlets and the Biden-Harris campaign this summer, before President Biden dropped out of the race and Vice President Harris took over as the Democratic nominee.
Reports said multiple Iranian hackers will be charged. Sources told ABC News the Trump campaign has been informed of the charges.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams to appear in federal court
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to make an appearance in federal court Friday. He will be arraigned on charges including bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national.
It marked the second time this year the state has employed this controversial method.
Miller was sentenced to death in 2000 for a 1999 shooting that killed three men he had worked with, after he accused them of spreading rumors about him.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said the procedure involved Miller being fitted with a mask and nitrogen gas flowing into his system for about 15 minutes.
According to the Associated Press, Miller’s final words were, “I didn’t do anything to be here.”
The game had plenty of emotion as well as some interruptions. Somebody threw a smoke bomb onto the field at one point, and a fan ran onto the field and made a dash for it, as well.
In the end, A’s fans soaked up all the memories, staying well past the final out.
The team will now relocate to Sacramento for the next three seasons before moving to their new permanent home in Las Vegas in 2028.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with taking bribes, wire fraud and more
A newly released and historic indictment sees charges come against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Documents reveal that he was indicted on five charges, following a federal corruption investigation. He’s the first sitting mayor in the city to face criminal prosecution.
The 57-page indictment detailed a decadeslong trail of alleged crimes. Adams was indicted with one charge each of bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two charges relating to receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals. He’s also charged with wire fraud.
The indictment happened after months of Adams being under federal investigation over his alleged connection to Turkish officials and businessmen.
The indictment revealed Adams allegedly “solicited and demanded” bribes that totaled over $100,000. Those included luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official as early as 2016. The Turkish official was allegedly seeking Adams’ help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
The indictment alleged wealthy donors used other people called “straw” donors who claimed they were contributing their own money to get around the cap placed on how much money one person can donate.
Adams took the podium Thursday, Sept. 26, following the unsealing of the indictment and was met with protesters calling for him to resign.
Adams said, “We are not surprised. We expected this. This is not surprising to us at all, the actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing.”
He said his attorneys will take care of the case so he can continue to take care of New York City.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, can force him out, which would lead to a special election. She is reportedly monitoring the situation.
New York City’s current public advocate Jumaane Williams would assume the position of acting mayor if Adams were to be suspended by Gov. Hochul or if he were to end up stepping down.
Williams is a former city council member and he ran for governor against Hochul in 2022.
Israel strikes Hezbollah site in Lebanon; both sides claim victory
Israel and Hezbollah are both claiming victories after their biggest exchange of fire yet. And two NASA astronauts stuck aboard the International Space Station will have to stay there a few more months. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.
Israel strikes Hezbollah site in Lebanon; both sides claim victory
There are new concerns over the war in the Middle East expanding into a larger conflict after Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon had their biggest exchange of fire since the conflict broke out in the region ten months ago. Both sides are claiming victories.
On Sunday, Aug. 25, Israel launched what it described as “a preemptive strike” against a major attack that Hezbollah was planning to launch on Israeli soil. Israel said 100 of its military planes successfully took out thousands of “rocket launcher barrels,” and six Hezbollah fighters were killed.
Hours later, Israel’s missile defense system intercepted 300 rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah toward Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said one navy officer was killed after being hit by shrapnel when the Iron Dome was intercepting the drones.
In a televised address, Hezbollah’s leader called this a victory for their side, saying the attack was in retaliation for the recent assassination of one of its founders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this attack “will not be the final word.”
ISIS claims responsibility for deadly Germany stabbing attack
ISIS has now claimed responsibility for a deadly stabbing attack in Germany that happened during a festival Friday night, Aug. 23. A 26-year-old man from Syria has been arrested in connection with the attack.
Police said the man turned himself in for the knife attack that left three people dead, and eight others injured. Officials say the man has “radical Islamist beliefs” and “wanted to kill as many people as possible.”
ISIS said in a statement Saturday, Aug. 24, the man is “a soldier for the Islamic state” who was “targeting Christians” in his attack.
The festival was commemorating the 650th anniversary of the western German city of Solingen.
Harris, Trump campaigns to focus on battleground states this week
On the campaign trail, the 2024 candidates are focusing on battleground states this week. Vice President Kamala Harris will be launching a bus tour in southern Georgia and former President Donald Trump will hit multiple swing states.
On Monday, Aug. 26, Trump is set to address the National Guard Association’s conference in Detroit. He’s also slated to hold a rally in Michigan, a town hall in Wisconsin, and a rally in Pennsylvania.
This comes after both campaigns had big weeks last week.
Harris officially accepted her party’s nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, Aug. 22. The Harris campaign said they’ve raised $540 million in only a month since it launched.
While she hasn’t yet done a sit-down interview with the media since emerging as a presidential candidate, that will soon change. She is expected to sit down with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to record their first joint interview next week.
NASA astronauts to stay on ISS until February
Two NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station since June will have to stay there a few more months. On Saturday, the space agency decided it’s not safe enough for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth in Boeing’s Starliner.
Concerns linger over multiple helium leaks and degraded thrusters. Instead, Wilmore and Williams will wait until February when SpaceX already has a mission to the ISS planned and will pick them up.
“Spaceflight is risky even at its safest,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “And so, the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety.”
The decision means two of the four astronauts who were supposed to go to the ISS in February for the SpaceX mission will have to give up their seats so NASA’s astronauts can finally come home. They were originally only supposed to stay on the ISS for about a week.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is getting ready for a high-stakes mission Tuesday, Aug. 27. Private astronauts on the Polaris mission are set to attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk.
Long Labor Day weekend travel expected to break records
We’re just days away from the unofficial end of summer and this Labor Day travel weekend is gearing up to be a busy one. The TSA predicts it will be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.
AAA predicts the roads won’t be any less crowded, as gas prices are lower than last year.
If you are hitting the road, AAA said expect the heaviest traffic in the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, Aug. 30. For those traveling on Saturday, Aug. 31, AAA suggests departing in the afternoon for smoother traffic.
If you’re returning home on Sunday, Sept. 1, or Labor Day, Sept. 2, AAA said it’s best to leave as early as possible to avoid heavy afternoon traffic.
Babe Ruth’s 1932 ‘called shot’ jersey sells for record $24.12M
Almost a century after Babe Ruth called his shot during the 1932 World Series he’s made history again. More specifically, his jersey has.
Ruth’s famous “called shot” came as the Yankees and Chicago Cubs faced off in game three of the world series at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on October 1, 1932. In the fifth inning, Ruth made a pointing gesture while at bat and then hit the home run off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root, ultimately leading to the Yankees winning the World Series.
The jersey is now the most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold at auction, according to MLB.com.
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more
The debate is on. Former President Donald Trump has agreed to the ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and proposed two more. And bodycam footage has been released showing the police response to the assassination attempt during the former president’s rally in July. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more debates
Former President Donald Trump has recommitted to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris after initially requesting a change of time and place given the change at the top of the Democratic ticket. Trump made the announcement during a news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday, Aug. 8.
ABC News has confirmed Trump and Harris have agreed to debate on Sept. 10, setting up what is likely to be a high-stakes showdown in an already contentious election season.
His decision to debate on ABC marks a notable change of heart given it was just five days ago he announced the agreement with ABC was terminated. Trump originally suggested he would only debate if Harris appeared on Fox News on Sept. 4.
Trump is requesting Harris accept two additional debate proposals; one would be held on Fox and the other on NBC.
When asked by reporters if he will still do the ABC debate even if Harris turns down the idea of multiple debates, Trump said he didn’t know how that’s going to work and reiterated the need for multiple debates with a new Democratic presidential nominee.
As we saw in June, presidential debates have high stakes. President Joe Biden’s performance at his debate with Trump set in motion calls for his withdrawal and the eventual end to his re-election campaign.
The ABC debate was originally slated to be the second and final debate between Biden and Trump.
Harris released a statement saying she’s glad Trump committed to meeting her on stage.
Harris will be in Arizona for a campaign rally on Friday, Aug. 9. Trump will be in Montana for a rally of his own and fundraiser event.
Bodycam video released of police response to Trump assassination attempt
It’s been nearly a month since the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Within that month, questions have been swirling leading to multiple investigations and hearings on Capitol Hill and a change in leadership at the Secret Service.
Now, there is new information directly through the lens of Butler police bodycam. It shows officers responding to the reports of a threat on top of the unsecured building where the shooter propped himself up to take aim.
In newly released body camera video, there is footage of the moments leading up to the shooting, but it’s the audio in the immediate aftermath of the shooting that is providing further confirmation of a major security lapse.
The incident left one rally goer dead and Trump shot in the ear in a near-fatal hit.
The public search for accountability has led to agencies across local, state, and federal levels to finger-point and shift the blame. There are still several ongoing investigations into how it happened in the first place and how to prevent it from happening again.
U.S., Egypt, Qatar call for renewed Israel-Hamas ceasefire discussions
The U.S., Egypt and Qatar are calling for Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire talks, calling them “urgent.” Fears are growing over a widening Middle East war following high-profile assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been mediating cease-fire discussions since they began.
They want the talks to take place in either Doha or Cairo next Thursday, Aug. 15.
Early Friday, Aug. 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Israel will take part in those discussions. Hamas’ newly chosen leader has not indicated if the terror group is willing to join.
Columbia University COO’s home vandalized with antisemitic imagery; 3 top admins resign over antisemitic texts
Inverted triangles, which have been used by Hamas to identify Israeli targets and Nazis to tag prisoners during the Holocaust, were painted on the entranceway to Cas Holloway’s apartment building.
Columbia confirmed the resignations of the school’s dean of undergraduate student life, associate dean for student and family support, and vice dean and chief administrative officer after it came to light they exchanged antisemitic messages during an on-campus event about Jewish life at the school.
Paramount laying off 15% of U.S. workforce
Media conglomerate Paramount is laying off 15% of its U.S. workforce. The layoffs, which will impact around 2,000 staffers, are part of Paramount’s bid to cut $500 million in annual costs ahead of its merger with SkyDance Media.
Paramount says it also plans to write down $6 billion worth of its cable television networks.
Steph Curry leads Team USA to rally past Serbia; Noah Lyles wins bronze in 200-meter after testing positive for COVID
The U.S added to its Olympic medal count on Thursday, Aug. 9. Team USA now has a total of 103 medals so far as the Paris games wind down.
The men’s basketball team will be hoping to bring home gold against host France in the final. Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James led the team to a come-from-behind victory over Serbia on Thursday after being down 17 points, winning 95 to 91.
On the track, it was not the result American sprinter Noah Lyles was hoping for in the men’s 200-meter final. Lyles, who won his first Olympic gold on Sunday, Aug. 4, in the 100-meter, finished third this time behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and USA teammate Kenny Bednarek.
Lyles was taken away in a wheelchair after crossing the finish line. It was later revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days earlier.
The USA track and field organization said it followed all Olympic protocols to allow Lyles to compete.
The track star said he is proud of himself to have been able to still win a bronze medal. He posted on Instagram, “It is not the Olympics I dreamed of, but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.”
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation for the first time after dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. And the story of another American athlete heading to Paris hoping to bring their sport to the Olympics. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden will address the nation on Wednesday, July 24, to explain why he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. He’s also set to lay out what he will focus on in the six months remaining in his presidency.
Biden arrived back in Washington from his home in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, for the first time in six days since he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He answered only one question from reporters upon his return, saying he’s “feeling well” after now testing negative for the virus.
In Wednesday night’s address, President Biden is expected to also explain why he believes Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump in November.
Harris held her first rally in Wisconsin Tuesday, July 23, and she’ll address a historically Black sorority convention in Indianapolis Wednesday. On Thursday, July 25, she’s set to address a teachers union that endorsed her on July 22.
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied Democrats on Tuesday in Wisconsin, vowing to defeat Donald Trump by attacking him as a prosecutor. Harris listed her campaign pledges, which included expanding abortion rights and building a strong middle class. https://t.co/9nF2OMLKDQpic.twitter.com/Au3BeuipG0
Trump will rally in North Carolina Wednesday and then he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, will hold a joint rally in Minnesota on Saturday, July 27.
This comes as the first few polls conducted after Harris launched her presidential campaign have been released.
In a head-to-head matchup, an NPR poll found Trump at 46% and Harris with 45% of support among registered voters. However, a Reuters poll has Harris ahead with 44% compared to Trump’s 42%.
Trump’s campaign to hold indoor rallies in aftermath of assassination attempt
Former President Trump’s campaign will reportedly now stop holding outdoor rallies on the Secret Service’s advice after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. The campaign says current plans are to hold indoor events and maybe smaller outdoor ones, but only in more controlled settings.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down Tuesday, July 23, after calls for her resignation in the wake of the assassination attempt.
CAMPAIGN CA$H: "Kamala Harris is in the process of committing the largest campaign finance violation in American history." Why the Trump campaign says the Harris campaign is violating finance laws: https://t.co/DeWSsaDYtDpic.twitter.com/qE22Rnf98f
The Trump campaign has also filed a complaint with the FEC in an effort to block President Biden’s campaign from transferring $91 million to Vice President Harris’ campaign. Trump’s team says Harris improperly took over the cash after the Biden campaign account changed its name to “Harris for President.”
Harris’ campaign spokesperson has dismissed the filing.
Mass protest at U.S. Capitol ahead of Netanyahu speech
Dozens of demonstrators showed up to the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, July 23, to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. The protest was organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
Tuesday’s demonstration had a similar message as other high profile war protests, with demonstrators chanting “free Palestine,” “not in our name” and “stop genocide.” They protesters staged a sit-in at a congressional office building. Capitol police arrested more than 200 people.
The protest came as Netanyahu is in Washington meeting with U.S. lawmakers. Multiple other protests are already planned for Wednesday as Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to Congress.
Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Joe Biden Thursday, July 25. He’ll also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris Thursday and former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26, as he looks to lock in support for Israel from both candidates ahead of November’s election.
Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East! DJT@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 10:06 PM EST 07/23/24 pic.twitter.com/duBKAOiFyD
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 24, 2024
The law originally passed last year but was then placed on hold. In June, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled there was no constitutional right to an abortion in the state, lifting the hold.
🚨 BREAKING: Iowa’s extreme 6-week abortion ban will go into effect on Monday, July 29 at 8 a.m.
Iowans will lose the ability to make private medical decisions even though most of us believe abortion should remain legal. We will never stop fighting for reproductive freedom.
Previously, abortion in Iowa was legal for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Iowa will now join three other states that ban abortions after about six weeks.
Menendez resigning from Senate after federal bribery conviction
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, D, will be resigning. He’s stepping down after his conviction earlier this month on 16 counts. The charges include including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.
Menendez’s resignation will take effect Aug. 20, giving his staffers time to find new jobs. The New Jersey lawmaker was facing mounting pressure to step down or face being expelled from the Senate.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, D, is expected to appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, which ends on Jan. 3.
Tesla earnings down amid weak electric vehicle sales
Tesla’s profit is down more than 40% for the second quarter of this year and that can mostly be attributed to weak auto sales. From April to June, the company’s revenue from its electric vehicles is down more than $1.3 billion compared to the same time last year.
Experts say Tesla is facing a double whammy of more competition from big automakers and an overall decline in EV sales.
However, Tesla owner Elon Musk is focused on the company’s future. He announced this week Tesla will have its humanoid robots “in production to be used within the company next year.”
Tesla has been working up robot models for several years as part of its efforts to expand into robots and artificial intelligence.
U.S. athletes hope showcase launches beach handball into Olympics
This is the third installment in our weeklong series taking a closer look at Team USA members and their sports ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics.
When the Olympic Games open on Friday, July 26, in Paris, viewers be able to watch beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
But for USA’s Christine Mansour, Ebiye Udo-Udoma and Drew Donlin, their attention will be on another beach sport 15 miles away — beach handball.
“It’s a dream come true,” Udo-Udoma told Straight Arrow News. “There are still some preparations. I don’t think the magnitude of playing in Paris has hit me because I’m still focused on training.”
Mansour, fresh off getting her MBA, means business when it comes to giving beach handball its due.
“I always view it as a startup sport,” Mansour said. “Not that many people know about it, especially in the States. It’s so interesting because once I explain this sport to people and show them a clip, the interest is immediately piqued.”
Just like the sport itself, Udo-Udoma is better known outside the U.S., often referred to internationally by his nickname “Handball Ninja.”
“I remember shaking hands with an opponent,” Udo-Udoma said. “I said, ‘My name’s Ebiye.’ He said ‘Ninja, you don’t have to introduce yourself, we all know who you are.’ I just chuckled.”
Unlike the indoor version, beach handball is not yet an official part of the Olympics. But this year in Paris, beach handball is an exhibition sport played alongside the Olympic Games.
Mansour and Udo-Udoma are among 64 of the world’s best athletes from 18 different countries playing in a showcase with hopes for the sport to be granted a permanent spot.
“It’s very important to me that you have these mediums in life like sport where you can transcend barriers whether they are political, social or geographical,” Udo-Udoma said. “It’s nice to have something to connect you to other human beings independent of superficial restrictions.”
After playing Division 1 basketball at Harvard, Mansour found beach handball while living in California and excelled — becoming the top scorer in the 2022 World Championship, moving to the Netherlands and creating a dual-nation team. Now she is being named the only female player from North America for the showcase.
“We’re all entrepreneurs in the sense,” Mansour said. “We’re all doing our part to build this community and build this sport, build awareness, so we can continue to reach higher levels and with that the ultimate goal is reaching the Olympics.”
Mansour said one of the big differentiators setting this sport apart from others is the points for spectacular goals, including the alley oops and the spin shots.
It was those moves that first caught the attention of the future “Handball Ninja.” Udo-Udoma played at Oregon State University and joined the national team a decade ago.
“For really a couple decades worth of work to culminate into something like getting the opportunity to play under the rings, the flood of emotion that initially hit me was immense,” Udo-Udoma said.
Olympic gold is not the goal this year for these Americans. They are just out to prove beach handball belongs at the Olympics and they’re not going to miss their shot —spinning or not — to showcase that.
“So to have this opportunity as we shoot to get it on the program for Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032, and to be an integral part of the history of something; that’s something that has even more value on top of what I accomplish as an individual athlete or as a competitor — to be part of something bigger than me,” Udo-Udoma said.
“For me to be part of an Olympic showcase of a sport that I’m obsessed with, that I love, and I wish the whole world knew about is the greatest honor,” Mansour added.
VP Harris secures enough delegate support to become Democratic nominee
The Democratic Party rallies around Kamala Harris, with the vice president securing enough delegate support to be the party’s nominee. And the story of a 21-year-old archer looking to make her mark at the Olympics. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
VP Harris secures enough delegate support to become Democratic nominee
Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the majority of Democratic delegates’ support across more than half of U.S. states — enough to potentially win the party’s nomination to become the presidential candidate. Harris will make her first campaign stop in Wisconsin Tuesday, July 23, as endorsements and donations continue to pour in.
She could become the party’s nominee by Aug. 7, when delegates vote in a Democratic National Convention “virtual roll call” well ahead of the actual convention on Aug. 19.
Harris has also secured another big endorsement — former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And in the first 24 hours of campaigning, Harris raised a staggering $81 million.
On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump’s newly announced vice presidential pick J.D. Vance made his first solo campaign appearance in Virginia on Monday, July 22, during which he said Vice President Harris “is a million times worse” than President Joe Biden at the head of the Democratic ticket.
Netanyahu visits the U.S. to meet with Biden, Harris, Congress
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in the U.S. for a visit with top political leaders. A meeting with President Joe Biden is reportedly to take place on Thursday, July 25, as the president recovers from COVID-19, with the White House saying he’s nearly symptom-free.
On Wednesday, July 24, Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to Congress. He’s expected to thank the U.S. for its ongoing support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
Netanyahu is focused on shoring up bipartisan support for Israel as the country continues to fight not only Hamas but is facing growing security threats from Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen.
Netanyahu says Israel will still be a “key U.S. ally” to whoever replaces lame-duck President Joe Biden.
The prime minister is also expected to meet with presidential candidate Kamala Harris during his visit. Reports show he has also reached out to former President Trump to potentially meet with him before departing the U.S., but it’s unclear if that meeting will take place this week.
In their appeal Monday, July 22, Trump’s attorneys called the ruling “draconian” and repeated arguments they used during the bench trial The attorneys said allegations made by New York’s attorney general were outside the statute of limitations and revolved around deals that had “no victims and no losses.”
A spokesperson for the New York State attorney general said they are confident this appeal will go nowhere.
An appeals court says it will hear oral arguments in late September.
House Republicans want CrowdStrike CEO to testify over outage
Congress is calling on CrowdStrike’s CEO to testify over the July 19 outage that grounded multiple airlines, knocked banks and hospitals offline, and impacted millions around the world. Impacts from the software glitch are still being felt, especially by Delta Air Lines.
Delta saw hundreds more flight cancellations on Monday, July 22, due to its “crew-tracking software” still not working right after CrowdStrike’s disruption.
Republican leaders of the House Homeland Security Committee said they want CEO George Kurtz to explain what exactly went wrong.
So far, it has been revealed a glitched update to CrowdStrike’s security software caused computers powered by Microsoft Windows to crash. Microsoft said on Saturday, July 20, about 8.5 million devices were affected.
Lawmakers call on Secret Service director to resign during testimony
On Monday, July 22, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress. She answered questions surrounding Trump’s near assassination at a Pennsylvania rally.
Since her testimony, both Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their calls for the director to resign over what they call a “botched operation.”
“It is my firm belief, Director Cheatle, that you should resign,” Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told her.
“If you have an assassination attempt on a president, a former president or a candidate, you need to resign,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., added.
Cheatle responded, saying, “I think that I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time.”
Members were openly frustrated with Cheatle and demanded answers about the agency’s planning for the rally and the ongoing investigation into the shooting. She was largely unable or unwilling to provide information.
“I’m unable to answer details of exactly how the individual accessed the roof at this time,” Cheatle said. “I personally do not review security plans for events that take place across the country.”
You can read more in Ray Bogan’s full report here.
FAA investigating Southwest flight that flew just 150 ft. over Tampa waters
Federal investigators want to know why a Southwest Airlines jet flew as low as 150 feet above water while still five miles out from the Tampa Bay airport where it was set to land. The incident happened on July 14.
The Federal Aviation Administration says that far out from its designated landing spot, the plane should have been more than 1,000 feet above the water.
The flight from Columbus, Ohio was flying through stormy weather when it happened and ended up being rerouted to Fort Lauderdale as a result of the storms.
A similar incident happened last month in Oklahoma City, when a Southwest jet flew unusually low while still miles away from the airport. The FAA is still investigating that incident, as well.
21-year-old archer looking to make her mark at Olympic games
A 21-year-old archer is looking to make her mark at her first Olympic games as a member of Team USA. San Diego’s Catalina Gnoriega is on target for the Paris games.
“It’s a dream come true,” Gnoriega said. “There are so many people who dream of that for so long and work so hard. It’s really such a good feeling. It’s a dream come true to be able to say I made it. I’m going to go compete there.”
First picking up the bow and arrow at age 12, Gnoriega gravitated to the independence the sport provides an athlete and the opportunity to hone your craft while staying in the zone.
“It’s hard to pinpoint what it is exactly, but I like that it’s individual and like I’m able to focus on myself, I was always like that, especially when I was a kid, that drew me in,” Gnoriega said. “All I had to do was show up and shoot.”
Now 21, whether she’s competing as an individual or part of a team, Gnoriega will have her parents there in Paris to cheer her on. She says they’re the ones who supported her through it all, as she proudly represents her Mexican-American heritage as a member of Team USA.
“It’s crazy,” Gnoriega said. “It’s such an honor. It’s crazy to think that I’m on the same team as someone like Simone Biles and these other people who are incredible — I’m on that same team. That’s such an incredible feeling. I just can’t believe it.”
And she’s now on the hunt for her next target — Olympic medals.
“The goal would be to get medals, but overall, I just want to go have fun,” Gnoriega said. “Do what I know how to do. Just shoot and trust myself and enjoy it because it, hopefully, it’s not just once, but it’s kind of like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I just want to enjoy it.”