‘Pizzagate’ gunman dies after being shot by police during traffic stop
The man who fired a gun inside a Washington, D.C. restaurant in 2016 allegedly motivated by a conspiracy theory called “pizzagate” is dead. Authorities said he police in North Carolina killed him on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Officials said the shooting happened in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Police said they pulled over a car in which Edgar Maddison Welch was the passenger.
One of the officers said they noticed the vehicle belonged to Welch. Officers said they’d arrested Welch in the past. He also had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest for a felony probation violation.
When officers went up to the car to arrest Welch, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at one of the officers, according to authorities.
Officers said they shouted orders for Welch to drop the handgun. However, he refused and was shot.
Welch died a couple of days later from his wounds. No other people were hurt in the shooting, according to police.
Law enforcement confirmed on Thursday, Jan. 9, that Welch is the same person sentenced to four years in prison for the “pizzagate” incident.
In 2016, Welch fired his gun inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington D.C. pizza shop, after a slew of false internet claims accused the pizzeria of holding children as sex slaves as part of a child-sex abuse ring led by Hillary Clinton.
Police said that Welch drove six hours from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. to investigate the unfounded allegations, bringing several guns with him.
As Welch entered the restaurant armed, people fled from the scene. Welch then reportedly shot at a locked closet. After he realized no children were being held captive, he surrendered to police.
The shooting death of Welch is under investigation and the officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave as part of protocol, according to North Carolina officials.
Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton received the award.
Actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and advocates for research, also received the Medal of Freedom.
Basketball star turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson was also a recipient.
Biden called them “truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort to shape the culture and cause of America.”
The awards were not without controversy.
Biden awarded a Medal of Freedom to Jewish billionaire George Soros. The 94-year-old Hungarian survived the Holocaust. Soros’ son accepted the medal on his behalf.
Many conservatives have often criticized Soros for being a mega-donor to liberal causes. X owner Elon Musk called the award to George Soros “a travesty.”
The president also gave out four medals, posthumously. They went to former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, American activist Fannie Lou Hamer and former U.S. Attorney General Robert Francis Kennedy.
Democratic senators want to amend Constitution to abolish Electoral College
Three Democratic senators are pushing to abolish the Electoral College as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. The group argues the system is flawed and doesn’t represent the voice of every American.
The idea is to amend the Constitution, using an amendment that would see presidential elections solely rely on the majority vote of Americans. As it stands, the Constitution enshrines the Electoral College system.
A state’s legislative delegation, both senators and the amount of congressional districts a state has, determine how many electoral votes they get. Presidential candidates are then tasked with securing 270 of the 538 electoral votes.
Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., are using November’s election as an example. Trump won each of the seven battleground states, a key factor in deciding the next president.
Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are considered to be battleground states, all places that can swing in favor of either candidate.
The senators argue the current system helped prior presidents snag victory even if they didn’t capture the popular vote. They point to two cases, George W. Bush in 2000 and Donald Trump in 2016.
Schatz said a single vote shouldn’t weigh more based on where a person lives.
“The Electoral College is outdated and it’s undemocratic,” he said.
If the Electoral College wasn’t used in the 2024 presidential election, Trump would have still won over Kamala Harris based on the popular vote. The group said 17 states and the District of Columbia are backing the move to remove the Electoral College, and instead declare a winner based on the nation’s popular vote.
Hillary Clinton tried to abolish the Electoral College following the 2016 presidential election. She secured the popular vote but lost many key electoral votes.
According to Pew Research, a 2024 study found 63% of Americans want to see a winner based on the candidate who wins the most votes.
Trump brings trash truck to rally as Harris distances from Biden’s comment
Former President Donald Trump donned an orange vest and took a ride on a trash truck after President Joe Biden’s recent comments. And Subway is being sued over what some customers say is not in their sandwiches. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Trump brings trash truck to rally as Harris distances from Biden’s comment
With the presidential election just now five days away, the candidates are visiting as many states as possible to reach undecided voters and make sure their supporters get out to vote.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Republican nominee Former President Donald Trump canvassed North Carolina and Wisconsin while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hit those two states as well as Pennsylvania.
However, it was the words of President Joe Biden that had both campaigns reacting throughout the day. During a virtual call with Voto Latino on Tuesday, Oct. 29, President Biden said, “Just the other day, a speaker at his [Trump’s] rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
“That’s like ‘deplorable’ for Hillary. This is the ‘deplorable’ for Hillary and I think this is worse, actually. For Joe Biden to make that statement, it’s really a disgrace.,” Trump said during an impromptu press conference. “This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”
Trump then continued to wear his orange safety vest while addressing the crowd in Green Bay during a rally that featured former Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
“I have to begin by saying 250 million Americans are not garbage,” Trump said.
Earlier in the day, the White House press secretary looked to explain Biden’s comments beyond a statement released by the president. Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden was responding to remarks made by a comedian about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, Oct. 27.
“Just to clarify, he was not calling Trump supporters garbage,” Jean-Pierre said, “which is why he wanted to make sure that we put out a statement that clarified what he meant and what he was trying to say.”
She added, ”[The president] does not view Trump supporters or anybody who supports Trump as garbage. That is not what he views.”
On her way to her campaign events Wednesday, Vice President Harris was asked about where she stands on the matter.
“Listen, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” she told reporters. “You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people whether they support me or not.”
Thursday, former President Trump is set to hold a rally in New Mexico, then head to Nevada and Arizona, while Vice President Harris will hold a rally in Las Vegas with entertainer Jennifer Lopez.
As of Wednesday night, about 59 million Americans had cast their 2024 ballots, with 31 million voting early in-person and nearly 28 million returning their mail-in ballot.
Elon Musk to attend court in Philadelphia over $1M voter lottery lawsuit
Pig tests positive for H1N5 bird flu for first time in U.S.
For the first time in the U.S., a pig has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA also said it’s awaiting results for two other pigs from the same farm in Oregon, while another two tested negative.
Officials said the pig that tested positive did not show any signs of illness. They added the five pigs were tested for H5N1 out of an abundance of caution after other animals from the same farm had tested positive for the virus.
Officials said while there are no concerns about the safety of the U.S. pork supply, the positive test is concerning because pigs can get bird flu and human viruses at the same time, which might create strains of the virus that infect humans more easily.
A class-action lawsuit filed Monday, Oct. 28, claims the restaurant chain’s ads show customers getting at least three times more meat than they do. It argues the commercials lead customers to buy the food when they would not have if they’d expected to get less meat than shown.
The lawsuit specifically mentions Subway’s steak and cheese sandwiches, saying the company’s ads make it appear the sandwich “contains at least 200% more meat than the actual sandwiches that customers receive.”
Grammys moving to ABC in 2027 after 50+ years on CBS
After five decades on CBS, the Recording Academy announced Wednesday, Oct. 30, it signed a 10-year deal with Disney. The new deal also means the awards show will be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.
With this addition, ABC will now host three major television events in 2027: the Grammys, the Oscars, and the Super Bowl.
Dodgers win World Series in Game 5 comeback victory over Yankees
Trailing at one point 5-0, LA scored five runs in the fifth and then took the lead for good in the eighth defeating the New York Yankees 7-6. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who homered in each of the first four games, was named World Series MVP.
This is the second championship for Dave Roberts as a manager — he also won as a player — and the first for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers’ last championship came during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Where do former presidents stand on candidates in the 2024 election?
President Joe Biden is slated to vote in his home state of Delaware on Monday, Oct. 28. He dropped out of the race for president in the summer of 2024 and announced his support for his Vice President Kamala Harris. Come late January, he will be the former president. The other former presidents recently announced their decisions on who to endorse, or not endorse, during the 2024 election.
There are five living former presidents, four of which are not currently candidates. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, are both two-term Democrats and very popular within the Democratic Party. They are strongly supporting Kamala Harris, even going out on the campaign trail with her.
Fellow Democrat and former President Jimmy Carter, who recently turned 100-years-old, is in hospice care in his native Georgia. He recently voted by mail and told family members he was trying to live long enough to vote for Harris.
As for Republican former President George W. Bush, his office has said the former president does not plan to endorse a candidate for president in this cycle. Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump blasted Bush in various debates for starting the war in Iraq. Bush supposedly did not vote for either major party candidate in 2016 when Trump was opposed by Democrat Hillary Clinton.
George W. Bush revealed that he wrote-in former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s name in the 2020 election when Trump and Biden ran against each other.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana, Francine is on the move. We have the latest track. And the mother of the 14-year-old suspect in last week’s deadly school shooting in Georgia apologizes in an open letter to the victims’ families. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
Francine weakens to tropical storm after making landfall as Category 2 hurricane
Francine has weakened to a tropical storm, hours after it made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The storm is now trekking over Mississippi.
Power outages have left more than 350,000 Louisiana residents in the dark and flash flood warnings are still in effect in parts of the state, as the storm batters parts of Mississippi with 70mph winds.
In Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, the powerful storm brought down power lines, snapped trees, and caused flooding. Partial 911 outages were also reported in areas impacted by the storm. Wireless companies have said they’re working on the issue.
High winds and a potentially dangerous storm surge from a now weakened Francine are expected to also continue into Mississippi and Alabama Thursday, Sept. 12, with the potential for deadly tornadoes and flash flooding as well.
According to the National Weather Service, Francine is expected to continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, downgrading to a tropical cyclone by Friday, Sept. 13, as it moves across the south.
Mother of Georgia school shooting suspect apologizes to families in letter
One week after a school shooting in Georgia left two students and two teachers dead, the 14-year-old suspect’s mother has now come forward. She penned an open letter apologizing to victims’ families that was first obtained by CNN.
Marcee Gray is the mother of 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been arrested and charged with murder in the Apalachee High School shooting. This week, we also learned she made a phone call to the school the morning of the shooting, just moments before the gunfire.
In her open letter, Marcee Gray said she is “sorry from the bottom of my heart” to the parents and families impacted. She also said if she could take the place of the two students who died she would “without a second thought.”
While offering her condolences, she also wrote that her son Colt is “not a monster. He is my oldest baby.” She asked the community for prayers while offering her own.
His mother’s letter comes after it was reported Colt sent her a text message the morning of the shooting, saying only three words: “I’m sorry, mom.”
Marcee Gray said she called the school to warn of “an extreme emergency” at 9:50 a.m. ET last Wednesday, Sept. 4, and asked school officials to go get her son. Thirty minutes later, police responded to reports of the school shooting.
Colt Gray’s father, Colin, has also been charged in connection with the deadly shooting. He faces two second-degree murder charges, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and eight counts of child cruelty. The next court hearing for Colt and Colin Gray is set for Dec. 4.
Trump, Biden, Harris come together for 9/11 memorial event
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump all marked 23 years since 9/11 together. Trump and Harris could be seen shaking hands ahead of the annual memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York on Wednesday, just hours after their first debate.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, was also in attendance.
After the Ground Zero ceremony, the candidates went their separate ways. Trump and Vance visited a New York City firehouse, and Biden and Harris went to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Trump also visited the memorial later in the day.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, marked the somber anniversary at a 9/11 volunteer event in his home state.
Secret Service to increase security for Jan. 6 electoral vote counting
As Election Day nears, the Secret Service has announced there will be increased security during Congress’ counting and certification of electoral votes. The beefed-up security is a precaution after the riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
The designation unlocks federal, state and local resources. The Secret Service will be leading the planning of the event.
The counting and certification of electoral votes will take place on Jan. 6, 2025.
67 million Americans watched Tuesday’s debate
More than 67 million Americans tuned in for the first debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris Tuesday. That was more viewers than the 51 million who watched the debate between Trump and President Biden in June.
However, it’s still far fewer people compared to modern general election debates, like the one in 2016 between Hillary Clinton and Trump that drew in 84 million viewers.
Tuesday’s debate marked the first time Americans got to see Harris and Trump go head-to-head. It’s still up in the air if there will be a second debate between the two.
Campbell Soup Company changing its name after 155 years
Campbell’s soup has been a staple in American kitchens for more than a hundred years. Now, after 155 years in business, the company is changing its name — slightly.
Its dropping “soup” from their official title and re-branding as The Campbell’s Company. That’s because instead of just soup, the company owns other iconic American eats like Goldfish, Cape Cod, and Pepperidge Farm.
Biden highlights his legacy, passes torch to Harris in DNC address
In a speech lasting nearly an hour on the first night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), President Joe Biden defended his record as he passed the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. And protesters took to the streets outside the DNC calling for an end to the war in Gaza. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Aug. 20, 2024.
Biden highlights his legacy, passes torch to Harris in DNC address
Former President Barack Obama is slated to be among the speakers on night two of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 20, as the party gears up for Vice President Kamala Harris to officially accept the nomination for president.
Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were in the building Monday night, Aug. 19 for the first night. The vice president gave a surprise speech on the stage thanking President Joe Biden for his “historic leadership.” She then spoke of unity within the party.
“People from every corner of our country and every walk of life are here, united by our shared vision for the future of our country, and this November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people, we are moving forward,” Harris said.
And while the convention is largely focused on Harris, the first night was centered on President Biden as the party paid tribute to his decades-long political career. The crowd chanted in support of the president, giving him a 4-minute standing ovation before his speech. Biden took a moment to thank his supporters before reiterating his endorsement of Harris.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you,” the president said. “For 50 years, like many of you, I have given my heart and soul to our nation … It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president.”
First lady Dr. Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke on the first night of the DNC.
“I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us,” Clinton said. “This is our time, America. This is when we stand up. This is when we break through!”
Harris and Walz will both be back on the campaign trail in Wisconsin Tuesday, Aug. 20. That’s also where the Republican vice presidential pick Ohio Sen. JD Vance will be as former President Donald Trump continues his blitz across battleground states. Trump was in Pennsylvania Monday, Aug. 19, and will hold a rally in Michigan Tuesday afternoon.
Protesters attempt to breach barricade at DNC
While the Democratic Party rallied in unison inside Chicago’s United Center, it was a different story on the outside. Protesters broke through a fence set up by police near the site of the DNC as thousands took to the streets to protest the war in Gaza.
As the larger group marched, a few dozen broke away and tore down pieces of the security fence. They chanted “end the occupation now” and then “the whole world is watching!” just as anti-Vietnam war protesters did during the 1968 convention in Chicago when police clashed with protesters on live television.
On Monday, Aug. 19, police in riot gear formed a wall and arrested at least four people. Large protests are expected to continue over the next several days outside the DNC.
U.S. government says Iran was behind Trump campaign hack
A joint statement on Monday from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the breach was part of Iran’s plans to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.
The FBI briefed former President Trump on their preliminary findings after news organizations reported receiving documents believed to have come from an account belonging to a senior Trump campaign official. Those turned out to be from a hacker.
Vice President Harris’ campaign said hackers were unsuccessful in their attempts against the Biden-Harris campaign.
Israel says bodies of 6 hostages retrieved in overnight operation
Israel said it has recovered the bodies of six hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attack. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s security agency said in a joint statement Tuesday the bodies were retrieved during an overnight military operation in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “hearts are aching over the terrible loss” and thanked those involved in the recovery efforts.
This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences that are preventing a temporary cease-fire and the release of an unknown number of hostages. Now the U.S. and other world leaders helping to mediate the negotiation talks are urging Hamas to accept the proposal.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, Blinken will be leaving Israel and traveling to Egypt and Qatar, where Hamas has a political office.
It’s unclear if Hamas will sign off on the deal, as one of their stipulations has been a permanent truce, not just a temporary pause in fighting.
The high-stakes talks come as fears rise that the war could escalate into a bigger regional conflict, potentially by an attack on Israel led by Iran and its proxy groups.
Santos pleads guilty to federal charges, faces 6 years in prison
Former New York Congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He’s agreed to pay more than $370,000 in restitution and could spend at least six years in prison for stealing from donors and using campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses.
The plea comes as his federal fraud case — which led to the Republican’s expulsion from Congress — was just weeks away from going to trial.
He’s now set to be sentenced in February.
Former head of Warner Music submits $4.3B bid for Paramount
Like any good TV show or movie, the saga of the sale of Paramount has a last-second plot twist. According to reports, billionaire media mogul Edgar Bronfman Jr., the former head of Warner Music Group, has submitted an offer of $4.3 billion to take control of Paramount Global — the parent company of CBS, MTV and Paramount Pictures.
Last month, Skydance Media entered a deal to purchase the conglomerate for $8 billion, but that deal came with a catch: a 45-day window where Paramount could field other offers. Bronfman entered the fray just as that deadline was about to expire on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
Now Paramount has the option to extend that period. If it does, that would be a sign Paramount is seriously thinking about Bronfman’s offer.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak tonight
The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago as President Joe Biden is among the names scheduled to speak the first night. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel preparing for what he calls a ‘decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
Day 1 of Democratic National Convention, Biden slated to speak
The stage in Chicago for the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that kicks off Monday. The four-day event will conclude with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepting the Democratic nominations for president and vice president.
Part of the agenda for day one includes special tributes planned to honor the opening night’s headline speaker, President Joe Biden. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also slated to speak at the DNC Monday night.
Other speakers you’ll see over the next few days include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former first lady Michelle Obama.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said Chicago is “prepared and ready” and security has been beefed up inside and outside the convention as thousands of Gaza war protesters are planning to descend on the city.
The Democratic Party has released some of its key policy points it expects to address over the next four days. Those include raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, making the child tax credit permanent and IVF and abortion protections.
Ahead of the DNC, Harris and Walz spent time in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump will be back in Pennsylvania Monday after also spending time over the weekend in the Keystone State.
A new ABC News poll has Harris leading Trump overall 50 to 45%. However, Trump is leading Harris on key issues for voters: the economy and immigration.
Former Congressman George Santos to plead guilty to federal charges
Former Congressman George Santos, R-N.Y., is expected to plead guilty to federal charges Monday, Aug. 19 afternoon. It’s a reversal of his previous plea of not guilty.
Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives, faces 23 felony charges, including defrauding donors, lying about his finances and needlessly accepting unemployment benefits, among other things.
A guilty plea would avoid a trial, which is scheduled to begin next month. Sources close to the matter told The New York Times Santos is expected to give a statement acknowledging the crimes he has agreed to plead to.
Blinken: ‘This is a decisive moment’ in cease-fire talks
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel Monday, meeting with top Israeli officials before traveling to Egypt for ongoing negotiations to reach a cease-fire and hostage release agreement. This is his ninth trip to the region since the Israel-Hamas War began.
“This is a decisive moment,” Blinken said at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “Probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed “cautious optimism” that a deal can be reached, while Hamas is accusing Israel of stalling efforts to reach a deal in order to continue striking inside Gaza.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for individuals requesting “parole in that place” that would allow migrant spouses without legal status to apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship.
To be eligible, the spouses must have been continuously in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat or have a disqualifying criminal history, and have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 17 — the day before the program was announced. They must also pay a $580 fee to apply and fill out an application explaining why they deserve humanitarian parole and providing a list of supporting documents proving how long they have been in the country.
The Biden administration says about 500,000 people could be eligible for “parole in place” plus about 50,000 of their children.
Egg prices on the rise again as bird flu impacts supply
Egg prices are on the rise — again. According to the Consumer Price Index, egg prices were up by nearly 20% in July, and economists say inflation is not the issue this time.
Rather, it’s believed to be the ongoing bird flu outbreak limiting the supply of eggs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the average rate for a dozen large, grade A eggs topped $3 in July for the first time in more than a year. July also marked the third month egg prices rose on an annual basis, a reversal after a year of relative decreases.
Perdue recalls over 167K pounds of chicken after wire found in packaging
The products are the Perdue Simply Smart Organic gluten-free breaded chicken breast nuggets, the breaded chicken breast tenders, and the Butcher Box organic free fully frozen-cooked breast chicken nuggets. All have a “best-if-used-by date” of March 23, 2025.
Elon Musk interviews Donald Trump for 2 hours on X after delay
Elon Musk sats down with former President Donald Trump in an interview on X that lasted two hours. And the impact of an earthquake in Los Angeles is caught on live TV. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
Elon Musk interviews Donald Trump for 2 hours on X after delay
Former President Donald Trump sat down with tech billionaire Elon Musk for a conversation that was livestreamed on X Monday, Aug. 12. However, the broadcast began more than half an hour late due to a glitch, which Musk later attributed to “a cyber-attack.”
Despite the rocky start, the conversation went on for over two hours. Trump and Musk delved into topics ranging from immigration and inflation to the assassination attempt on Trump’s life, and some of Trump’s top priorities if he should win the November election.
One idea the former president threw out there was potentially dismantling the Department of Education.
“Well, think of education, we’re ranked at the bottom of every list, 40, 38,” Trump said. “In other words, horrible. And we spend more per pupil, more than anyone in the world. And one of my first acts — and this is where I need an Elon Musk, someone who has strength and smarts — I want to close the Department of Education and move education back to the states.”
The FBI is now investigating attempted hacks into both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns. The investigation includes attempted hacks targeting three Biden-Harris campaign staffers and Roger Stone, a former adviser to former President Trump.
Stone told The Washington Post his email had been compromised, but it’s not clear if attempts to hack the Biden campaign were successful. A Harris campaign official said it does not appear to have been hacked.
On Friday, Aug. 9, Microsoft issued a report showing Iranian operatives had been trying to interfere with the 2024 election. Trump’s campaign confirmed over the weekend it appears to have been impacted by those efforts after news outlets were sent hundreds of confidential pages.
White House confirms Biden will speak at DNC
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden is set to speak at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Multiple media outlets are reporting other speakers will include former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The convention starts Monday, Aug. 19, and will go through Thursday, Aug. 22.
We're a week out from the start of the 2024 @DemConvention and content creators are getting excited to cover the convention from their own unique lens. @6figga_dilla talked to @saramachi at convention HQ last week about this historic moment for the city and the country. pic.twitter.com/oTxj8ro0Jy
Sources told ABC News the current plan is for Biden and Hillary Clinton to speak Monday night, then former President Obama on Tuesday, Aug. 20. On Wednesday, Aug. 21, it’ll be vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and former President Bill Clinton. Finally, Harris is set to address the DNC on Thursday, Aug. 22.
That is a tentative schedule and could still change.
U.S. preps for potential Iranian-backed attack on Israel this week
Security Adviser John Kirby said the U.S. is prepared for “significant” attacks by Iran or its proxies in the Middle East as soon as this week. Kirby said the U.S. has bolstered its forces in the region.
Secretary of Defense Austin has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike…
It’s a rare move to publicly announce such military moves; a tactic some say is meant to de-escalate tensions in the region and deter Iran from possibly attacking.
Concerns of an attack come after Iran and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran in July.
U.S. troops suffer minor injuries in Syrian drone attack
Defense officials said several U.S. service members suffered minor injuries in a drone attack in Syria on Friday, Aug. 9. The drone targeted a landing zone which hosts U.S. and partner forces in the global coalition to defeat ISIS
U.S. Central Command said it’s still evaluating the damage, but initial assessments show there was minor damage to one set of facilities.
This attack was the second within a week to injure U.S. personnel who are part of the coalition to defeat ISIS.
This latest California quake came almost a week after a magnitude 5.2 quake struck Bakersfield.
Team USA’s Jordan Chiles to lose bronze medal after appeal denied
The latest turn in the Olympic medal controversy involving gymnast Jordan Chiles did not go Team USA’s way. On Monday, Aug. 12, the USA Gymnastics Organization sent Olympic officials what it called time-stamped video evidence that showed Chiles’ coach requested a review of her score within the allotted one minute, meaning Chiles should be able to keep the bronze medal that was awarded to her following a score change.
However, USA Gymnastics released a statement later Monday saying the Court of Arbitration for Sport would not reconsider its ruling to strip Chiles of the medal.
But the twists to this saga may not be over just yet though.
USA Gymnastics said it will continue to “pursue every possible avenue and appeal process” including the Swiss Federal Tribunal to “ensure the just scoring, placement and medal award for Jordan.”
Sen. Manchin denies bid for president as new Democratic ticket questions swirl
In an unprecedented turn of events just weeks before Election Day, the Democratic Party finds itself in uncharted territory after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., a prominent political figure, confirmed on Monday, July 22, that he will not be seeking any office, prompting further discussions within Democratic circles.
The sudden vacuum at the top of the Democratic ticket has sparked speculation and uncertainty about who will now lead the charge against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
With less than a month remaining until the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for the week of Aug. 19, the party is under immense pressure to regroup and present a unified front.
Former President Barack Obama, along with other key figures within the party, has yet to officially endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, who has emerged as a front-runner for the nomination. While President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and several other prominent Democrats have thrown their support behind Harris, the absence of a full consensus highlights the challenges ahead in selecting a new front-runner.
Adding to the complexity is the question of who will join the ticket as the vice presidential nominee. Discussions are already underway, with a focus on selecting a candidate who can appeal to swing states that are crucial for electoral success.
The Democratic Party’s leadership must now navigate through a series of critical decisions with little time to spare.
All eyes are on the upcoming convention, where the new Democratic ticket is slated to be finalized.