Nearly 30% of Americans still undecided after CNN debate
Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have been public figures for decades. The 2024 election is a rematch from four years ago, and they’ve already debated. So how could nearly 30% of Americans not know who they’re voting for in November’s presidential election? According to a new Harvard/Harris poll, it’s true.
The pollsters found that 28% of voters remain undecided while 72% have made up their minds. The survey was conducted after the CNN presidential debate on June 27.
It’s also worth noting that, according to the poll, the Republican and Democratic parties’ approval ratings sit at 44% and 41% respectively. That’s important because the candidate at the top of the ticket can often impact congressional races beneath him. However, the poll shows that both parties will need to work hard to win over voters.
During a recent episode of America Speaks with Frank Luntz, undecided voters explained why they still haven’t made up their mind.
“I’m looking to see what’s going to be different for the next four years, other than the same stuff we’ve seen for the past eight that has been horrible,” Georgia resident Howard Giambrone said.
“I have serious issues with both candidates, age being one of them,” Jon Herman of Arizona said. “And Trump, obviously, I’m tired of hearing all the stolen election bulls—t for the last four years, it wasn’t stolen. And Biden is like every day I see a gaffe or I see something out of his administration that makes me cringe, and it’s like, oh my god, is there anyone else?”
“I don’t have confidence in either of the candidates,” Emily Murphy of Georgia said. “To be honest with you, I feel like I’m choosing between a circus and a nursing home, and that’s not the perception that I want our country to convey.”
The candidate’s favorability ratings shed more light on that attitude. Just like their parties, more people view the candidates more unfavorable than favorably. Donald Trump has a slight edge in this category, coming in at 46% over Joe Biden’s 39%.
Polls also indicate Biden’s debate performance is dragging him down.
A new CNN poll asked: “Do you think Democrats have a better chance of winning the presidency in 2024 if Joe Biden is the party’s nominee, or do they have a better chance of winning with someone else as the party’s nominee?”
About 75% said Democrats have a better chance with someone else. Biden’s approval rating is also at a new low according to the poll, at about 36%.
If Democrats were to replace Biden, their new challenger wouldn’t necessarily beat Trump. The CNN poll found that California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are all behind the presumptive Republican nominee.
Supreme Court to issue ruling on Trump’s immunity claim
The Supreme Court will deliver its long-awaited ruling on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from being prosecuted. And after his debate performance last week, President Joe Biden’s future as the Democratic nominee remains a topic of discussion within his party. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, July 1, 2024.
Supreme Court to issue ruling on Trump’s immunity claim
There will be a ruling on whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution today, Monday, July 1. That is one of the opinions left as the Supreme Court wraps up its current term, extending its rulings into July.
Chief Justice John Roberts announced on Friday, June 28, the highly anticipated decision concerning the former president and all remaining opinions will come down starting at 10 a.m. EST Monday.
The court will decide if the former president is immune from being prosecuted in the federal election interference case where he’s accused of conspiring to obstruct the 2020 presidential election. Trump has argued he should be immune from any official acts taken while in office, saying future presidents would not be able to function without immunity.
Without Presidential Immunity, a President of the United States literally could not function! It should be a STRONG IMMUNITY, where proper decisions can be made, where our Country can be POWERFUL and THRIVE, and where Opponents cannot hold up and extort a Future President for… pic.twitter.com/QurlpNbBoK
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 30, 2024
A federal appeals court rejected Trump’s claim in February. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case a few weeks later. During arguments in April, the court focused in on deciding which acts are private and which are considered part of the role of president.
In a decision on Friday, the Supreme Court limited obstruction charges that have been brought against Jan. 6 rioters. Former President Trump is also charged with obstruction in this federal case.
The justices will also issue a ruling on when it comes to states passing laws to regulate how social media companies moderate content on their platforms.
Biden’s future as candidate being discussed after debate performance
The fallout from last week’s presidential debate continued to make headlines over the weekend, with President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate being questioned following his debate performance. NBC News released a report on Saturday, June 29, that said the Biden family would discuss the future of the president’s reelection campaign during a previously planned weekend family gathering at Camp David.
Biden’s campaign said the report was false, calling it “100% media-fabricated” and said Biden will be the Democratic nominee.
Biden advisers told CNN the president’s family at Camp David, including the first lady and son Hunter, encouraged him to stay in the race.
Those advisers said there were talks about whether the aides who helped prepare the president should be fired, after some Democrats blamed Biden’s performance on his prep for the event.
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said it was a case of “preparation overload” and the president should continue to run on his record.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., meanwhile, has admitted there are ongoing serious conversations in the party following the debate.
“I mean, this is what a real political party looks like, and this is what a real political party does,” Raskin told ABC News. “Obviously, there was a big problem with Joe Biden’s debate performance, and there is also just a tremendous reservoir of love for Joe Biden in our party. So, this makes it a difficult situation for everybody, but there are very honest and serious and rigorous conversations happening at every level of our party, because it is a political party, and we have differences in point of view.”
Raskin said whatever Biden decides, the Democratic party will be unified.
Biden himself has spoken out about his debate performance. At a rally in North Carolina on Friday, June 28, he said he doesn’t debate as well as he used to but knows how to get the job done. And then he told supporters during a campaign fundraiser in New Jersey over the weekend, “I understand the concern after the debate. I get it. I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder.”
DOJ offers Boeing plea deal in connection with 2 deadly plane crashes
The Justice Department is giving Boeing the chance to avoid trial in connection with two 737 Max crashes that left a total of nearly 350 people dead. The DOJ has offered Boeing a deal that would include three years’ probation, a fine and a corporate monitor to ensure safety compliance in exchange for a guilty plea to criminal charges.
Families of the victims of two fatal Boeing crashes are tonight furious at the prospect of a "plea deal", between the U-S Justice Department and the aviation giant. #9Newspic.twitter.com/yYG6cPTdcM
The potential plea deal comes after repeated safety failures at Boeing that have resulted in multiple federal investigations. The DOJ said in June the safety failures were a breach of the terms of a 2021 agreement in which the company avoided criminal charges for two fatal crashes.
If Boeing agrees to plead guilty, a judge will have to sign off on the deal.
The lawyer who represents 15 families of those killed in the plane crashes called this a “sweetheart deal” and said they will object to it.
U.S. military bases in Europe on alert amid possible terror threat
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) July 1, 2024
According to the Army, Charlie “applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely.”
One U.S. Official told Fox News that intelligence points to an attack on U.S. bases over the next week or so.
Hurricane Beryl barrels through Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl is now a major Category 3 storm after it picked up power and speed on Sunday, June 30, over the Caribbean. It was previously a Category 4 hurricane, becoming the earlier Cat 4 in the Atlantic on record.
The storm is expected to make landfall in the Windward Islands Monday, July 1, morning. The hurricane’s eye is forecast to track just south of Barbados with 130 mph winds, bringing up to six inches of rain.
And while it’s too soon to know for sure — Beryl, or remnants of the storm, could reach southern Texas by the weekend, bringing heavy rain to the area.
Biles returned to competitive gymnastics last year after withdrawing from the team final and individual all-around at the 2020 Olympics. Biles said she was suffering from the “twisties” — a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose their body position — and taking an extended break to prioritize her mental health.
At 27 years old, the four-time Olympic gold medalist who’s also the most decorated gymnast ever, will be the oldest female American gymnast to compete at the Olympics in 72 years.
After Trump-Biden debate debacle, what happens to RFK Jr.?
One caused despair and panic, the other had relentless attacks and falsehoods. The reviews are in, the critics have spoken, and it’s clear that Americans did not like what they saw during the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“Both these men should be using performance enhancing drugs,” comedian John Stewart said on “The Daily Show” after the debate was over.
There was another event on Thursday, June 27, that received less attention.
Robert F Kennedy Jr. hosted what he called “The Real Debate” on X. He live streamed the CNN debate and paused it to answer the same questions that major party candidates were asked. Millions of users watched his stream.
“I think abortion should be the choice of a woman and I worry about state involvement until the baby reaches viability,” Kennedy said on the topic of abortion. “And then I think the states have an increasing, viability, outside the womb, I think the states have an increasing interest in protecting that child.”
Kennedy also spoke on immigration.
“President Biden, when he became president, ordered a stop on the construction of the wall,” he said. “That’s the problem.”
Additionally, Kennedy addressed foreign policy like the war in Ukraine.
“The two of them are equally culpable in the provocations that led to this war. And I’m not excusing Putin,” Kennedy said. “Putin didn’t need to go into Ukraine and he should be held responsible too.”
Kennedy did not qualify for the CNN debate because he failed to reach the polling requirements or qualify for the ballot in enough states to have a chance at winning.
So what’s his path forward now?
RFK Jr. is on the ballot in 24 states, making him eligible for 348 electoral votes. He has submitted the necessary paperwork in Nevada and is working to meet the requirements in 25 other states and the District of Columbia.
According to the RealClearPolitics average, Kennedy is polling at about 7.5% compared to Trump and Biden who are at 42% and 39%, respectively.
The next debate is hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. It is possible that by then, Kennedy has qualified for the ballot in a sufficient number of states and increased his poll numbers to earn a spot on the stage.
Reports: Some Democrats calling for Biden to step aside after debate
The response to the first presidential debate has been swift on both sides. Fact checkers have issued corrections for statements made by both candidates, but it’s President Joe Biden’s performance getting the most attention. His performance on the debate stage has put in question his future ability as president, as some Democrats are reportedly calling for him to step aside.
News outlets in their recaps of the debate describe Biden as stumbling and seeming to ramble during his responses. The Biden campaign acknowledged the president came into the debate with a cold, admitting he had a slow start. Vice President Kamala Harris appearing on news programs following the debate to vouch for the president.
At one point, former President Donald Trump questioned whether Biden understood his own response to a question on the border.
Trump replied, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
David Axelrod, a top adviser to former President Barack Obama, spoke of the concerns from Democrats during CNN’s post-debate coverage.
“There is a sense of shock at how he came out at the beginning of this debate,” Axelrod said. “How his voice sounded; he seemed a little disoriented. There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”
On Friday, June 28, Biden campaign spokesperson Seth Schuster texted The Hill, “Of course he’s not dropping out.”
The Trump campaign declared victory after the debate, issuing a statement saying Biden was unable to defend his “disastrous record on the economy and the border.”
Biden, Trump tout their records in first presidential debate
The first presidential debate is in the books. We have a full recap, as well as what the reaction has been like. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, June 28, 2024.
Biden, Trump tout their records in first presidential debate
Per CNN’s rules, there was no live audience and the candidate’s mics were muted when the other one talked. But that did not stop both from firing back at one another while discussing topics like the economy, abortion, immigration, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and their overall aptitude.
Thursday’s debate began with the presumptive nominees walking on stage, forgoing the traditional handshake.
The first topic was on the economy, with Biden focusing on Trump’s record as president, but seeming to lose his train of thought as his response went on.
“We’d be able to help make sure that all those things we need to do — childcare, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system, making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do — with the COVID — excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look…we finally beat Medicare,” Biden said.
When it came to immigration, Trump highlighted the crisis on the border, calling the Biden administration’s recent legislation limiting asylum access a “nothing deal” and “insignificant.”
“He decided to open up our border, open up our country too,” Trump said. “People that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylum, terrorists. We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now. All terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, all over the world. They come from the Middle East, everywhere, all over the world. They’re pouring in.”
President Biden fired back, “I’m not saying that no terrorist ever got through but the idea they’re emptying their prisons, where we’re welcoming these people, that’s simply not true, there’s no data to support what he said. Once again, he’s exaggerating. He’s lying.”
On the subject of abortion, Trump commended the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade while Biden vowed to reinstate it.
“You had Roe v. Wade, and everybody wanted to get it back to the states,” Trump said. “Everybody without exception — Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, conservatives. What happened is we brought it back to the states and the country is now coming together on this issue. It’s been a great thing.”
“It’s been a terrible thing once you’re done,” President Biden rebutted. “The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe was decided support it Roe that was this idea that they were all against it. It just ridiculous.”
As for American veterans, Trump claimed he took care of them during his presidency, as Biden took exception to reported comments made by Trump — which the former president denies.
“Our veterans are on the street,” Trump said. “They’re dying because he doesn’t care about our veterans. He doesn’t like the military at all, and he doesn’t care about our veterans. Nobody been worse. I had the highest approval rating for veterans taking care of the VA he has the worst he’s gotten rid of all the things that I approved.”
Biden responded, “I was recently in France for D-Day and I spoke at all about those heroes had died. I went to the World War II cemetery, World War I cemetery, refused to go to he was standing with his four-star general and he told me said, ‘I don’t want to go in there because they’re bunch of losers and suckers.’ My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You’re the sucker. You’re the loser.”
Trump denied Biden’s claim, calling that a “made-up quote.”
On foreign policy, Trump argued Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan showed America was weak and inspired Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine. Biden called that “malarkey” and warned that Putin must be stopped.
To the war in Gaza, Trump said, “Let Israel finish the job.” Biden remarked that the U.S. is providing Israel with “all the weapons they need and when they need them.”
And while hearing the difference in policies was the goal of the debate, the two presidential candidates did not hold back on personal attacks.
“The only person on this stage who’s a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden said. “And the fact of the matter is he is what he’s telling you is simply not true.”
Trump responded, “When he talks about a convicted felon, his son as a convicted felon at a very high level, his son has convicted going to be convicted probably numerous other times should have been convicted before, but his justice department let the statute of limitations laps. And the most important things. But he could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office, you could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he’s done.”
When discussing their abilities to handle the presidency at their respective ages — Biden 81 years old and Trump 78 — the two began arguing over their golf game.
As the debate ended, Trump said he would accept the results of the election if it’s “a fair and legal and good election.” In his closing statements, Trump said America is a failing nation under Biden and he’ll make it great again in a second term. Biden, meanwhile, said he made significant progress after what he called was a debacle left by Trump.
The two are set to debate again in September.
Reports: Some Democrats calling for Biden to step aside after debate
The response to the first presidential debate has been swift on both sides. Fact checkers have issued corrections for statements made by both candidates, but it’s President Biden’s performance getting the most attention.
News outlets in their recaps of the debate describe Biden as stumbling and seeming to ramble during his responses. The Biden campaign acknowledged the president came into the debate with a cold, admitting he had a slow start. Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on news programs following the debate to vouch for the president.
At one point, former President Trump questioned whether Biden understood his own response to a question on the border.
Trump replied, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
David Axelrod, a top adviser to former President Barack Obama, spoke of the concerns from Democrats during CNN’s post-debate coverage.
“There is a sense of shock at how he came out at the beginning of this debate,” Axelrod said. “How his voice sounded; he seemed a little disoriented. There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”
The Trump campaign declared victory after the debate, issuing a statement saying Biden was unable to defend his “disastrous record on the economy and the border.”
Former Uvalde schools police chief facing charges in deadly shooting
In a historic move, the former Uvalde school police chief has been indicted over his role in the slow police response to the 2022 mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of felony child endangerment or abandonment.
He was briefly booked into the county jail before he was released on bond Thursday, June 27.
A former school officer at Robb Elementary was also indicted on similar charges.
More than two years later, they’re the first officers to face criminal charges in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department released a report that said law enforcement officers had many opportunities to reassess their response.
More than 300 law enforcement officers responded to the school that day, some waiting in the hallway outside the classroom, even as the shooter could be heard firing shots inside. It took them 77 minutes to shoot him and put an end to the killing.
Oklahoma’s top educator orders the Bible be taught in schools
Oklahoma’s top education officials have ordered schools to teach the Bible and have a copy in every classroom. In a memo, the state superintendent of public schools said effective immediately, the Bible must be added as part of the curriculum in grades five through 12.
The directive was immediately condemned by civil rights groups and supporters of the separation of church and state, with some calling it an abuse of power and a violation of the Constitution.
Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and lets teachers use them in instruction. It’s not clear if the state has the authority to mandate that schools teach it.
This is the latest church versus state case in public schools. On June 19, a Louisiana law was passed requiring the Ten Commandments be shown in all public school classrooms, another action civil rights groups are looking to stop.
NFL fined $4.7 billion in ‘Sunday Ticket’ anti-trust case
The NFL has been ordered to pay nearly $5 billion in damages after a jury found it broke anti-trust laws. The jury said the league conspired with DirecTV and network partners to increase the price of the exclusive “Sunday Ticket” package.
The lawsuit claimed the NFL broke antitrust laws by selling its “Sunday Ticket” package at an inflated price and restricted competition by only offering it on a satellite provider.
Candidates, media are already fact-checking ahead of debate
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle is taking place on June 27, and fact-checking began before the debate even started. This year, it isn’t just the media preparing their fact checks — both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump also have their own approaches for fact-checking each other.
Trump’s campaign launched a new website, factcheckbiden.com, where people can subscribe to get live updates during the debate.
“[Biden’s] performances are often filled with lies — about himself, about statistics, about his record, and about events that never took place,” the website says. “We are holding Joe Biden accountable for his long track record of lying.”
The Biden campaign released a fact-checking memo for the media on the day of the debate. The memo details the campaign’s “rapid response strategy,” with a look at what it calls the “lies, misstatements and exaggerations” it believes Trump will say on stage.
According to NBC, the memo states Biden’s team will also be sending out “fact-check emails” to the news outlets during the debate.
The media has already started fact-checking.
The Associated Press has laid out context to controversial takes the candidates are likely to have. Other news outlets are encouraging debate watchers to follow their live fact-checking blogs on one screen with the debate on another.
CNN is hosting the debate and has previously said its moderators will not be fact-checking the candidates during the debate. However, senior reporter Daniel Dale will be posting live fact-checks on X, providing a running fact check online.
The New York Times will have 60 staff members on hand, 29 of which will be fact-checking live. Other cable networks’ websites will be doing the same.
PolitiFact, a site dedicated to fact-checking politicians, said they will have 27 staff members available to update the website’s fact-check tally.
American’s opinions about fact-checking is fairly partisan. Pew Research found that 70% of Republicans believe fact-checkers are biased. About 29% of Democrats and 47% of Independents felt the same.
Multiple polls have shown that trust is hard to come by. Fact-checking was originally meant to serve as a tool in building trust, however, even that has a partisan divide as two candidates’ conflicting policies and personalities take center stage.
CNN hosts first presidential debate between Biden, Trump tonight
Hours away from the first debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, we’re breaking down what you need to know about the event hosted by CNN. And two giant pandas from China are on their way to the U.S. in a big step for “panda diplomacy.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, June 27, 2024.
CNN hosting first presidential debate between Biden, Trump tonight
Thursday, June 27, is debate day in the U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will take the stage at CNN’s studios in Atlanta tonight.
The cable news network is hosting the debate with anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating.
Join CNN as President Biden and former President Trump meet for their first highly anticipated debate of this election season. Thursday, June 27 at 9p ET on CNN and streaming on Max. pic.twitter.com/TUDfIFiG4B
Both Biden and Trump have agreed to CNN’s rules, including no live audience and muting microphones when it’s the other candidate’s turn to speak.
Podiums are eight feet apart, which is closer than the last time Biden and Trump met on a debate stage in 2020. The podiums were positioned 12 feet apart during the pandemic.
President Biden won the coin toss, choosing to stand “stage left” — which shows as the right side of viewers’ television screen. Biden choosing podium position gave Trump the final word of the night.
The event is 90 minutes long with two commercial breaks. The candidates will not be allowed to speak with their respective teams during the breaks.
Though CNN is the host for the evening, other networks will be allowed to air it at the same time.
This will be the earliest a general election debate has ever been held, with weeks to go before both parties hold their national conventions to officially secure their party nominations.
There will be a second debate in September hosted by ABC on Sept. 10.
Texas man executed for 2001 abduction and murder of 18-year-old
A Texas man who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and fatally shot an 18-year-old woman in 2001 was put to death Wednesday night, June 26, on what would have been his victim, Bridget Townsend’s, 41st birthday. Ramiro Gonzales was pronounced dead just before 7 p.m. at the state prison in Huntsville.
Bridget Townsend was just getting her start in life as a young woman in the small Texas town of Bandera when Ramiro Gonzales raped and killed her. https://t.co/vSsWqIduc8
— Times Record News (@timesrecordnews) June 26, 2024
The Supreme Court denied a defense plea to intervene less than two hours before the execution. Gonzales used his final words to apologize to Townsend’s family.
Gonzales was also serving two life sentences for kidnapping and raping another woman.
This execution was the second this year in Texas and the eighth in the U.S.
It was also the first of two scheduled this week in the U.S. Oklahoma is scheduled to execute Richard Rojem on Thursday for the 1984 abduction, rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl.
U.S. and Israel clear up ‘misunderstandings’ over weapons shipments
The White House said the U.S. and Israel have worked through so-called “misunderstandings” about weapons shipments. Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, is in the U.S. this week meeting with top defense officials to broker a solution to the war in Gaza.
The meetings come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video last week, saying the U.S was slowing weapons shipments promised to Israel. The U.S. denied the accusations.
However, there has been pause on sending large bombs that’s been in place since May, when President Biden voiced concerns about their potential use in populated areas. The concerns are still under review, so those shipments will not be going out yet.
Gallant released a video statement after a meeting on Wednesday, June 26.
— יואב גלנט – Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) June 26, 2024
“In every family — and we consider the American people as our family — disagreements may arise,” Gallant said. “Yet, like all families, we discuss our disagreements in-house and remain united. Looking at the future, we stand firmly behind the president’s deal, which Israel has accepted, and now Hamas must accept or bear the consequences. We are committed to bringing the hostages home, with no exception. We are committed to defending our people.”
Also on Wednesday, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., traveled to Israel to meet with Netanyahu. Fetterman has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the war with Hamas began — a position that’s isolated him from many of his progressive supporters.
In a video, Netanyahu thanked Fetterman for his unwavering support saying, “Israel has had no better friend.”
Bolivia defense minister: Situation ‘under control’ after attempted coup
After ramming the doors to Bolivia’s government palace with armored vehicles, soldiers pulled back in the country’s capital of La Paz the night of June 26, and an army general was arrested. Bolivia’s president slammed the “coup” attempt against the government and called for international support.
— PAME Greece International (@PAME_Greece) June 27, 2024
In a rebellion that lasted just three hours, Bolivian troops seemed to take control of the government, until the president named a new army commander who immediately ordered the troops to stand down.
Late Wednesday night, Bolivia’s defense minister said, “everything is now under control.”
The apparent coup attempt came as the country has faced months of tensions and political fights between its president and former president over control of the ruling party and a severe economic crisis.
2 giant pandas from China headed to the U.S.
It’s the beginning of a new era in ‘panda diplomacy.’ The San Diego Zoo’s newest giant pandas are on their way from China, marking the first time Beijing is loaning pandas to the U.S. in two decades.
Chinese state media reported the two pandas left China Wednesday, June 26, night for a chartered flight to their new home in California.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance leaders joined esteemed dignitaries and conservation leaders in China for a farewell ceremony honoring Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the two giant pandas coming to San Diego Zoo. pic.twitter.com/u16ujsIjU0
— San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) June 26, 2024
Zoo officials said the pandas won’t be viewable to the public for a few weeks as they get used to their new surroundings.
The panda loan marks a step forward for relations between the U.S. and China as they try to repair ties strained by disputes over trade, technology, the status of Taiwan and other issues between the world’s two largest economies.
French basketball player goes No. 1 for second year in a row
For the second year in the row, a basketball player from France was selected first in the NBA draft. Several other rising stars from the country shortly followed.
“With the first pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher from Leon, France and France’s JL Bourg in France,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
The complete draft board for the 1st round of the 2024 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
Supreme Court to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
The Supreme Court is set to issue rulings on several high-profile cases. And the closed-door trial for a Wall Street Journal reporter begins in Russia. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
SCOTUS to deliver rulings on presidential power, abortion, social media
It’s decision time at the Supreme Court. Over the next three days, the high court is set to deliver rulings on 14 argued cases — including high-profile ones on subjects like presidential power, abortion care and social media.
As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump prepare for the first presidential debate on Thursday, June 27, the court is poised to deliver a ruling on Trump’s claims of “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution. With Trump facing federal charges accusing of him of attempts to overturn the 2020 election, the court will decide if a former president can be prosecuted for “official acts” taken while in the White House.
During oral arguments in April, the justices seemed open to the idea of some immunity for presidents when conducting official acts, while questioning what exactly falls under that category.
The Supreme Court will also tackle the legality of a felony obstruction charge used by the Justice Department against 300 people who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A former Pennsylvania police officer has challenged that charge — stemming from a law to prevent the destruction of evidence during financial crimes — which originated during the Enron accounting scandal.
The obstruction charge is one of four former President Trump faces in his federal election subversion case.
Then, for the first time since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the court will issue a ruling on state-level abortion restrictions. The question before the justices is whether doctors can perform abortions in medical emergencies despite a state’s strict near-total abortion ban.
The topic of social media is also on the docket. First, the Supreme Court will determine whether state laws restricting how social media platforms moderate content violate the First Amendment. In another case, the justices will decide whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution in its communication with social media companies to remove misinformation on COVID-19 and the 2020 election.
While the Supreme Court justices usually look to complete their work by the end of June, there is a possibility the opinions may continue to early July.
Wall Street Journal reporter’s espionage trial starts in Russia
The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is now underway in Russia behind closed doors. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom the morning of Wednesday, June 26, inside a glass cage before the proceedings began.
Falsely accused WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court as proceedings started in a secret trial that will offer him few legal protectionshttps://t.co/CnygQ1pxLJhttps://t.co/CnygQ1pxLJ
He is the first western journalist to be arrested on espionage in post-Soviet Russia.
Gershkovich was arrested while reporting for the Wall Street Journal in March 2023, just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accused of spying for the CIA.
The U.S. government, Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich himself all deny the allegations. The State Department has declared him “wrongfully detained.”
His trial is expected to last months. If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange free after guilty plea
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his home country of Australia on Wednesday, June 26, a free man. He was released from U.S. custody after pleading guilty to violating espionage law.
— Free Assange – #FreeAssange (@FreeAssangeNews) June 26, 2024
As part of the deal with the Justice Department, Assange will get no more prison time since he already spent the last five years in a London prison fighting extradition to the U.S.
He had originally been facing 18 criminal charges relating to WikiLeaks’ release of sensitive information into the public domain, but only had to plead guilty to one charge as part of the agreement.
Judge partially lifts Trump gag order from New York criminal trial
The judge in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal case has partially lifted a gag order put in place during the trial.
For the entire trial, Trump was barred from talking about potential witnesses, jurors, or court staff and their families. Now, the former president is allowed to comment publicly about witnesses and jurors.
The judge also left a separate order in place prohibiting Trump and his lawyers from disclosing the identities of jurors or their addresses.
In May, Trump became the first president to be convicted of a felony when the jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsified business records. He’s set to be sentenced July 11.
House committee to vote on holding Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt
The House Judiciary Committee plans to vote on a measure to hold President Biden’s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in contempt of Congress. The vote stems from Zwonitzer refusing to hand over documents and other materials tied to his work on the president’s memoirs.
The vote is set for Thursday morning, just hours before Biden and Trump’s debate.
The resolution to hold Zwonitzer in contempt is expected to advance on party lines.
The White House on Tuesday called the vote an attempt “to harass and intimidate a private citizen.”
Results for New York, Colorado, Utah primary elections
Results are in for several states that held primary elections on Tuesday, June 25. In the most expensive congressional primary in history, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman lost to George Latimer in New York’s 16th district.
While this race garnered a lot of headlines, tomorrow we turn a new page. We must come together, united to defend our Democratic values from MAGA extremism.
Bowman became the first member of the progressive group in the House known as “the squad” to lose in the primaries this year. During the race, a pro-Israeli lobbying group spent nearly $15 million in efforts to stop Bowman, who had been critical of Israel’s operations in Gaza.
In Colorado, after switching districts, Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert won the House primary in the state’s 4th district. Boebert has previously received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
And in Utah, Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, won the GOP primary to fill Mitt Romney’s open Senate seat. Curtis is favored to win in November since Utah has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1970.
Toys ‘R’ Us uses OpenAI’s Sora to create brand film
Toys”R”Us is known for the slogan “I don’t want to grow up,” but now the toy brand is growing with the times. It used AI to make its latest promotional video.
The retail toy company used OpenAI’s text to video tool called Sora to create the video.
Toys”R”Us released the video at an advertising event in France, saying it is the first ever brand film created by the technology. While Sora is not yet publicly available, the toy chain partnered with an agency that is an early tester of the AI model.
As debate nears, ‘double hater’ voters are unhappy about their election options
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election is on Thursday, June 27, featuring President Joe Biden and former President Trump. Early on, the majority of Americans did not want these two candidates, and the majority of Americans remain dissatisfied with their choices.
According to a recent PBS poll, 55% of registered voters said they aren’t happy with the two major political parties’ 2024 presidential candidates.
In a recent Reuters poll, 20% of voters said they are either undecided, voting third party or won’t vote at all due to their dissatisfaction with Biden and Trump.
There is a group of voters known as “double haters.” These voters would hate it if either Trump or Biden wins the presidency. In six swing states, nearly 1 in 5 voters are double haters. That means how they vote could be a deciding factor in the election.
From the perspective of the double haters, this election is a choice between what they see as “the lesser of two evils.”
In response, both the Biden and Trump campaigns are looking to capitalize on the negative perceptions of their opponent. Ads from both camps are staying on the attack.
“Stoking the flames of division and hate, now he’s pouring gasoline,” Biden said of Trump in an ad referencing the Jan. 6 insurrection.
“Biden and the Democrats are the party of violence,” Trump said about Biden in an ad.
Another ad from Biden brought up Trump’s recent criminal trial, where he was found guilty on 34 felony counts.
“This election is between a convicted criminal and a president fighting for your family,” the ad for Biden said.
One ad from Trump highlights crimes committed by immigrants and blames Biden’s lack of action at the border for leading to the crimes.
“A murder on Grand Rapids southwest side yesterday,” the ad said. “He confessed that he committed the crime. Stop Biden’s border bloodbath.”
The ads also bring up controversial topics such as abortion, with Biden highlighting his pro-choice stance.
“Donald Trump doesn’t trust women,” Biden’s ad said. “I do.”
Trump attacked Biden’s impact on the economy with a focus on taxes. This is another key issue on voters’ minds, with tariffs being debated within the government now.
“The whole country is going to hell because of this guy,” Trump said in his ad.
The two candidates will meet on stage on June 27 and then again on Sept. 10. The results of the debates and the double haters reactions may have the election on the line.
Biden chooses right side of TV screen over final word at debate. Why?
CNN gave President Joe Biden an option ahead of the first presidential debate to choose between two debate advantages. He opted for stage positioning over a closing statement advantage that could shape how viewers perceive him in the critical showdown against former President Donald Trump.
Biden won the coin toss conducted by CNN. It allowed him to choose between the placement on the debate stage or the opportunity to deliver the final remarks of the evening. He chose to position himself on the left side of the stage, translating to the right side of the television screen for viewers at home.
Biden’s decision could be a calculated move to maximize visibility. It could potentially capitalize on some studies suggesting viewers’ eyes are naturally drawn to the right side of a screen. While the White House has not offered an official explanation, there may be psychological reasoning behind Biden’s choice.
In a similar context, late-night talk show hosts consistently prefer the “stage left” placement, aligning them on the right side of television screens. According to Slate Magazine, this positioning centers around the cultural tendency to read and watch from left to right. The right side of the screen commands more attention.
This is not unfamiliar territory for Biden. In the 2020 presidential debates against Trump, Biden also stood on the right side of the screen, maintaining a consistent strategy in televised confrontations.
With just days left before the debate and a significant portion of voters still undecided or leaning toward third-party options, the stakes are high. Recent polling from Reuters indicates 20% of voters remain uncommitted or are considering alternative candidates. That poll highlights the importance of the upcoming debate performances.
In the latest NPR/PBS poll, Trump and Biden are tied at 49% each among likely voters. The poll underscores the competitiveness of the race.
Financially, the campaigns also remain locked in a tight battle. Despite trailing in fundraising earlier this year, Trump closed the gap, surpassing Biden’s fundraising efforts in April and May. More notably, Trump raised tens of millions of dollars after a jury convicted him of falsifying business records.
Both campaigns are preparing for a fundraising push with hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank. With just months to go until Election Day, and days until the first debate, campaign season is in full swing.