TSA whistleblowers say agency targeted Tulsi Gabbard, legal action announced
Former Democratic U.S. Representative and current U.S. Army Reserve officer Tulsi Gabbard announced she is taking legal action against the Biden administration on Monday, Aug. 12, after she discovered she has been put on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) terror watchlist. Gabbard said she learned of being on the TSA’s Quiet Skies watchlist — a TSA program for monitoring “elevated risks to aviation security”— from two TSA whistleblowers after an appearance on Fox News in July.
In the interview on Fox News with Laura Ingraham, Gabbard criticized U.S. intervention in Ukraine, calling it a “proxy war.” After, Gabbard said she began to be subject to more frequent and tedious searches at the airport.
The TSA whistleblowers reportedly acknowledged Gabbard is being trailed by agents but the reason for the enhanced security around her is still unclear.
“Of course, there’s no explanation given, which is why we are taking legal recourse,” Gabbard said.
However, Gabbard said she believes her criticism of the Biden administration may be the reason behind the inclusion on the Quiet Skies terror watchlist.
“Obviously, I’ve been very outspoken about the dangers of the Biden-Harris administration to our democracy and to our freedom and to our national security,” Gabbard said. “This is what happens as a result.”
Gabbard’s learning prompted outrage among Hawaii state lawmakers, which is the state Gabbard represented in Congress. Four state representatives sent a letter to the TSA demanding answers and calling the move “harassment.”
Reports said several agents and two explosive detection canine teams followed Gabbard and her husband in the airport in July.
“My own government, my president, my commander-in-chief is targeting me as a potential domestic terrorist. The closest word that comes to mind is a complete sense of betrayal,” Gabbard said.
The TSA is reportedly investigating the identity of the whistleblowers, who leaked “sensitive information” in Gabbard’s case.
The agency declined to comment on the alleged retaliatory probe but said that Quiet Skies “uses a risk-based approach to identify passengers and apply enhanced security measures on some domestic and outbound international flights.”
The agency did not confirm or deny Gabbard’s inclusion in the program.
The TSA Quiet Skies program is also reportedly being used to monitor people at the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C.
Third teen arrested in foiled Taylor Swift concert terror plot
A third teenager has been arrested in connection with a foiled terror plot on a Taylor Swift concert, according to Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Friday, Aug. 9. The artist’s shows in Vienna, Austria, were canceled after authorities learned of an ISIS-inspired plot planned for one of them.
The Iraqi teen is “not currently linked directly to the planned attack” but was arrested under the “broad scope” of the investigation, according to the ministry.
Authorities have also released new information about the other two suspects who they say made big life changes in preparation for the attack. The 19-year-old quit his job and the 17-year-old broke up with his girlfriend.
Police said explosive devices and detonators were found at the 19-year-old’s home, along with ISIS propaganda material, 21,000 euros in counterfeit money, machetes, knives and anabolic steroids.
Karner said a 15-year-old was also interrogated in connection with the plot but was not arrested.
Getty Images
Organizers of the Vienna leg of Swift’s massively popular Eras Tour canceled all three shows after the planned attack was discovered.
Taylor Swift terror plot suspect wanted to kill ‘as many people as possible’: Officials
Authorities are investigating a plot involving two suspects who intended to carry out a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert in Austria. The threat led to the cancellation of three shows.
New details have emerged about materials found at the home of a 17-year-old second suspect. Authorities discovered “Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda material” there. The 17-year-old was recently employed by a company that provides services at the concert venue, according to Austria officials.
The initial suspect, a 19-year-old, was found to have chemical substances and technical devices at his home. Computer evidence showed he had uploaded a video pledging allegiance to ISIS leaders.
According to his confession, he planned to attack the area outside the stadium, intending to “kill as many people as possible using knives or homemade explosives.”
Austria’s Interior Minister has described the situation as serious and a tragedy averted. Earlier reports had suggested that police were searching for additional suspects, but authorities have since confirmed that no other suspects are being sought.
Both suspects were arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 6. In compliance with Austria’s privacy laws, their names have not been released.
Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ US policy
With a month to go until Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial, prosecutors are making new allegations the president’s son accepted payments from a Romanian businessman to influence U.S. policy. And new details are emerging about the terror plot that resulted in the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Austria. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
Prosecutors say Romanian businessman hired Hunter Biden to ‘influence’ U.S. policy
New details are coming out of Hunter Biden’s federal tax case. While the trial doesn’t begin until September, there’s a new court filing from the special counsel laying out a new allegation the prosecution plans to bring up.
Federal prosecutors allege the president’s son was compensated by a Romanian businessman who was trying to influence U.S. policy and end a local investigation of him in Romania.
According to the Wednesday, Aug. 7 filing, the special counsel intends to go after Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings even more, including his association with Burisma — a Ukrainian natural gas company — and an energy company in China.
The prosecution said it evidence will show he “performed almost no work in exchange for millions of dollars” from these entities and will speak to Hunter Biden’s “state of mind” and “intent” during the years in question.
Hunter Biden’s team had requested certain evidence be omitted from trial, questioning its relevance to the federal tax charges, which include failing to pay taxes, failing to file, and filing a fraudulent form.
He’s charged with three felonies and six misdemeanors in the tax case. The president’s youngest son is accused of failing to pay more than a million dollars in taxes between 2016 and 2019. Prosecutors allege he used the funds to live lavishly, including spending millions on drugs, escorts and luxury cars. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty in the case.
This is separate from Hunter Biden’s federal gun case where he was convicted in June of lying about his illegal drug use while filling out a form to purchase a gun. He has not been sentenced yet in that case.
Biden ‘not confident’ in peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses election
We’re getting a preview of President Joe Biden’s one-on-one interview with CBS News. While the full interview will air on Sunday, Aug. 11, there’s a clip that is getting a lot of attention Thursday morning, Aug. 8.
CBS News reporter Robert Costa asked the president if he’s confident there will be a peaceful transfer of power in January.
“If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all,” Biden said. “He means what he says, he means it, all the stuff about if we lose there will be a bloodbath.”
He added, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Trump’s “bloodbath” comments came during a rally in March. The former president has said he was referring to a “bloodbath” in the economy and auto industry if he loses the 2024 election.
Three months later, Trump was asked during the presidential debate on June 27 whether he would accept the 2024 election results. He said as long as it’s a “fair and legal” election, he’ll accept whatever the results are come November.
Taylor Swift shows in Austria canceled over foiled terror plot
Three of Taylor Swift’s concerts set for Vienna, Austria have been canceled after authorities say they foiled a terror attack planned for that leg of her Eras Tour. Austrian police said they’ve arrested two suspects who they say are ISIS sympathizers and became “radicalized by the internet.”
Police chemical substances and technical devices were found at the home of a 19-year-old suspect and are being evaluated. Authorities also said they’ve made “further detentions” but didn’t give any more details.
The concert’s promoter said all tickets for the canceled shows will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
Family of French explorer killed in Titan catastrophe files $50M lawsuit
The family of French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet who died when the Titan submersible imploded during a deep dive to the wreckage of the Titanic is suing for more than $50 million. They said the crew of five people on board experienced “terror and mental anguish” before the disaster and accuse OceanGate, the sub’s operator, of gross negligence.
After the June 2023 incident when the vessel imploded due to catastrophic pressure loss, it was revealed that industry experts had raised serious safety concerns about the project years earlier.
The lawsuit also alleges OceanGate failed to disclose the Titan’s flaws and purposely concealed any issues from French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet. It also saysNargeolet — who had taken part in 37 dives to the Titanic wreckage, more than anyone else in the world — would not have taken the voyage if he’d known about the Titan’s issues.
The implosion killed four other people, including OceanGate’s CEO. This is the first lawsuit to be filed in connection with the disaster.
Intel shareholders sue after stock plunges over job and dividend cuts
Intel’s shareholders are suing a chip maker. Intel said the company hid problems with its manufacturing business ahead of announced layoffs and poor earnings.
The lawsuit accuses Intel, its CEO, and CFO of making false and misleading statements that “artificially inflated” the company’s stock price prior to announcing a loss of more than a billion dollars between April and June of 2024.
American Quincy Hall comes from behind to win men’s 400-meter final
Team USA won more medals on day 12 of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The team picked up three more gold medals.
Team USA now tops the charts with 27 gold medals and 94 medals overall.
On Wednesday, the U.S. won wrestling, women’s cycling, and in track and field — even though it looked like sprinter Quincy Hall was out of the running with just seconds to go in the race.
Hall pulled off an amazing comeback with just a quarter of the 400-meter final to go. He fell into fourth place as the runners rounded the last bend but then picked up the pace and passed his competition to cross the finish line first.
Taylor Swift announces Vienna concert cancellations over alleged terror plot
Taylor Swift announced the cancellation of three concerts in Vienna after two men were arrested in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting the events. Police said one of the suspects is a 19-year-old who pledged allegiance to ISIS and both men became radicalized online.
“We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” a message from Barracuda Music said. “All tickets will be automatically refunded.”
A bomb squad reported finding chemical substances while taking the 19-year-old into custody at his home. Investigators are working to determine if they could be used to make a bomb.
The pair reportedly had detailed plans on how the attack would unfold.
Before the cancellation, the concerts were expected to draw 65,000 fans a day, with another 10,000 to 15,000 outside the arena.
The alleged terror plot comes after three children died after a stabbing attack in the U.K. during a Taylor Swift-themed class for kids.
Swift said the stabbings left her in “shock” and she was “at a complete loss of how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate while Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance spoke to supporters during separate rallies in Philadelphia. And U.S. officials say a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government has been arrested in connection with a plot to kill American politicians. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Both major political parties made a showing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly picked running mate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., held their first rally together. In a dueling rally nearby, former President Donald Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, made his first stop in the city since joining the Republican ticket.
Harris joined Walz on stage in front of thousands of people at a rally and in front of millions of voters across the country who tuned in.
Polls show 71% of Americans are not familiar with Walz. The Minnesota governor got the opportunity to introduce himself in battleground territory and took aim at the vice presidential pick on the other side.
“Like all regular people, I grew up with in the heartland,” Walz told supporters. “J.D. studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community. Come on. That’s not what middle America is. And I got to tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy.”
At Vance’s rally, he responded to the news of Walz being Harris’ selection for vice president.
“Tim Walz’s record is a joke,” Vance said. “He’s been one of the most far left radicals in the entire United States government at any level. But I think that what Tim Walz’s selection says is that Kamala Harris has bent the knee to the far left of her party, which is what she always does.”
Vance also criticized Harris for not doing a sit-down interview with the media since becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party 17 days ago.
Harris will be hitting at least five battleground states in the days to come as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches later in August.
Trump announces ‘major interview’ with Elon Musk
Former President Trump has announced he will be sitting down with Elon Musk for an interview on Monday, Aug. 12. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Aug. 6, saying, “On Monday night [Aug. 12] I’ll be doing a major interview with Elon Musk — details to follow.”
In July, the tech mogul endorsed Trump following the assassination attempt on the former president during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Pakistani national with ties to Iran charged in Trump assassination plot
The Department of Justice says it’s arrested a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government in connection with a plot to kill American politicians and officials. Multiple sources said one of the main targets was former President Trump.
Asif Merchant, 46, is charged with murder for hire after DOJ officials said he flew from Pakistan to the U.S. to recruit hitmen for the plot. They said one of the so-called “hitmen” he contacted was a confidential informant for the FBI.
Trump’s security was increased in June after authorities learned of an Iranian plot to kill him. This was before the assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally and is not related to those events, according to the FBI.
Officials said there’s been dozens of aftershocks ranging in magnitude between 2.5 and 4.5 following the initial rumblings that began around 9 p.m. local time. Seismologists called it “a pretty active sequence in such a short amount of time.”
Hamas names Oct. 7 attack mastermind as new leader
Hamas has named its new leader following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyehin Iran. Yahyah Sinwar, known as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, is now leading the terror group.
The move is likely to provoke Israel, which has had Sinwar at the top of its most wanted list since that deadly attack ten months ago. The Israeli military responded to Sinwar’s appointment, vowing to take him out as well.
Cori Bush loses Missouri primary; Michigan Senate race is set
Media projections show Democratic congresswoman and “squad” member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost her primary race in Missouri Tuesday, Aug. 6. Bush has been a vocal critic of Israel in its war against Hamas, and pro-Israel groups spent upwards of $10 million on efforts to unseat her.
In Michigan, a battleground territory, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers won the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, setting him up to face Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin in the November election.
Restaurant chain Buca di Beppo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The restaurant chain Buca di Beppo has filed for bankruptcy protection. The privately owned company says revenue never fully recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of its bankruptcy, the three-decade-old business said it began closing underperforming restaurants this year, including a dozen locations in July alone.
It will also restructure the rest of its 44 locations, but said it will continue to serve its family-size portions that has been Buca’s staple.
Hocker, Thomas bring home gold for the US on the track
The U.S. took home two Olympic gold medals on the track in Paris on Tuesday. That brings the team’s gold medal count to 24 and the overall total to 86.
First, Cole Hocker won the men’s 1,500-meter relay, coming from behind in the final seconds to set an Olympic record at 3 minutes and 27.65 seconds.
Then Gabby Thomas earned her first Olympic gold medal, winning the women’s 200-meter final after taking the bronze back in Tokyo. Thomas crossed the finish line in 21.83 seconds to give the U.S. its first gold in the event in 12 years.
Hezbollah strikes northern Israel, warns the worst is yet to come
Hezbollah said it launched a series of drone and rocket attacks against Israel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, but maintained that the retaliation for Israel’s reported killings of a top Hezbollah commander and Hamas leader “has not yet come.” The attacks reportedly injured several people in Israel.
The Iranian proxy group’s bombardment targeted two military sites in northern Israel and an Israeli military vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that it struck two Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
Israeli forces also reportedly killed four suspected Hezbollah fighters in an earlier attack on Tuesday. The strike occurred at a Lebanese home just north of the border.
The escalating conflict is stoking fears that more intense retaliation is coming. Iran said that its response will be more “definitive and decisive.” Hezbollah has warned that its retribution for the killing of its military commander is still in the works.
The stream of steady attacks is also creating concerns about a potential widespread war across the Middle East.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged on Sunday, Aug. 4, that an Iranian attack is likely. However, Blinken is still encouraging de-escalation while the White House remains in crisis talks.
Israel’s and Hezbollah have been trading fire for 10 months now as the war in Gaza continues. However, until recently, skirmishes between Hezbollah have largely been along the border.
99 migrants on terror list released into US, some granted bond, asylum: Report
According to a report from the House Judiciary Committee, over the past three years, more than 250 migrants on the terrorist watch list entered the U.S. illegally at the southern border. At least 99 of those individuals were later allowed to stay in the country. The report states that many of these migrants came from countries known for having active terrorist groups, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
Nationals on the terrorist watch list who crossed the border came from 36 countries, the report said.
In June, eight individuals from Tajikistan were arrested for possible ties to ISIS. Three of them had entered the U.S. using the CBP One app, which is used to schedule border appointments.
Another individual from Uzbekistan, who was on the watch list, was vetted and released by officials. He lived in the U.S. for two years before being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April.
An individual from Afghanistan was released into the U.S. by border officials in March 2023. They spent nearly a year living in the country before being arrested by ICE in February. A judge had previously determined that the individual was “not a threat.”
The Judiciary Committee described the entries as an unsettling trend, highlighting issues with both border and court officials missing migrants on the watch list and releasing them. The report cites 27 cases where individuals on the list were granted bond by immigration judges. Four of them were granted asylum.
The report criticizes Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has claimed that illegal aliens are adequately screened and that those posing a threat to national security or public safety are detained. The committee argued that these claims do not reflect the reality of serious flaws in the current border policies.
The committee pointed out issues such as migrants using fake documents to bypass border checks and the “catch and release” system, where people who cross the border seeking asylum are allowed to wait in the U.S.
The report comes as the presidential election approaches in three months, with immigration being a key issue for both campaigns. Republicans are criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris’ record on border policies. However, Democrats are defending her, citing recent executive actions from the Biden administration that have reduced border crossings.
The committee’s report ends by suggesting “the worst could still be yet to come” and drawing a parallel to immigration patterns seen in the years leading up to 9/11.
Straight Arrow News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Blumenthal wants Khalid Sheikh Mohammed deal scrutinized
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is calling for the plea deal given to 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to be scrutinized very carefully. Blumenthal is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and said he has not received an explanation from the Biden administration.
“I think there are interests here that may not have been represented as fairly and aggressively as they should have been,” Blumenthal said. “I champion the 9/11 families in their legal action against Saudi Arabia. There is so much here that we don’t know. We have an obligation to tell the American people about the potential complicity not only of these defendants but of Saudi Arabia and other countries.”
On July 31, the Defense Department announced Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two of his accomplices are expected to plead guilty at the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. All three were jointly charged and arraigned in 2008 and 2012. Their lawyers had previously requested they receive life sentences in exchange for the guilty plea.
Mohammed conceived the idea of using planes in the attack and received approval from Osama Bin Laden to move forward with planning.
Mohammed was subject to waterboarding and torture while in custody. The evidence collected while he was being tortured is inadmissible in court, which contributed to the years of delays.
Blumenthal said the Biden administration owes both Congress and the victims’ families an explanation for why they entered the plea agreement. He expressed concern that the families may not have been represented fairly.
“When we fight terrorists and we have them in custody, we need to hold them accountable with the kinds of penalties that really do justice to the victims,” Blumenthal said.
Republicans also condemned the deal.
“The Biden-Harris administration’s weakness in the face of sworn enemies of the American people apparently knows no bounds,” Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. “The only thing worse than negotiating with terrorists is negotiating with them after they are in custody. The families of their victims and the American people deserve real justice.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the move was the wrong signal at the wrong time.
“When we give a plea deal to the mastermind of 9/11 that just encourages more attacks,” Graham said. “I think it was an ill conceived idea. He’s not going anywhere. I mean, he’s held as an enemy combatant.”
Congress is in August recess and will also be out of Washington for all of October. So, if there’s going to be a public hearing on the deal, it will be at least a month out.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind agrees to plea deal to avoid death penalty
The alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attack and two accomplices reached a plea deal with prosecutors. And former President Donald Trump sparks controversy with comments made about Vice President Kamala Harris at a conference of Black journalists. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind agrees to plea deal in exchange for life in prison
The alleged mastermind terrorist behind plotting the 9/11 attacks against the U.S. has pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. The Department of Defense said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his two accomplices accused of planning the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil have agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison.
The pre-trial agreement allows them all to escape being sentenced to death, something that is upsetting some families of 9/11 victims. Prosecutors first notified impacted families of the plea deal reached before it went public.
BREAKING: Pentagon announces that Guantanamo that three of the five 9/11 defendants, including mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, have reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Harris is running unopposed and has already been endorsed by most of the Democratic delegates. She also picked up the endorsement of the United Auto Workers on Wednesday, July 31, giving her the support of one of the country’s largest unions.
I am honored to receive the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. From walking picket lines to taking on big banks, I have spent my entire career fighting for unions and working families—and, as President, I will continue to deliver for organized labor. https://t.co/CQc4K0YOBW
Voting on the virtual roll call ends on Monday, Aug. 5. It’s the same day Harris is expected to announce her running mate. They will then start a series of side-by-side campaigning in battleground states, with their first official event together scheduled in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
On Thursday, Trump’s vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, will be touring the southern border, and Harris will speak at the funeral of Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Trump sparks controversy after questioning Kamala Harris’ racial identity
Former President Donald Trump attended a conference for Black journalists in Chicago on Wednesday, July 31, that’s creating the most buzz on the campaign trail Thursday, Aug. 1 morning. Trump made controversial remarks after being asked if he agrees with Republicans on Capitol Hill who have said the vice president was a “DEI hire.”
“Do you believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is only on the ticket because she is a Black woman?” ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked him.
“Well, I can say no,” Trump said. “I think it’s maybe a little bit different. So, I’ve known her a long time indirectly, not directly very much, and she was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”
“She has always identified as a Black woman,” Scott interjected. “She went to a historically Black college.”
“You know what, I respect either one,” Trump said “I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t. Because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden, she made a turn and she went, she became a Black person.”
“We all here remember what those four years were like,” Harris said. “And today we were given yet another reminder. This afternoon, Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, and it was the same old show, the divisiveness and the disrespect. And let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better. The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts. We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us. They are an essential source of our strength.”
During her daily press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Trump’s comment, saying “it’s insulting.”
The former president defended his comments on his Truth Social platform, saying the questions he was being asked were “rude and nasty” and “often in the form of a statement” rather than question.
The questions were Rude and Nasty, often in the form of a statement, but we CRUSHED IT!@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 03:31 PM EST 07/31/24 pic.twitter.com/wetj11CoG0
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 31, 2024
Some Black Republican lawmakers have also jumped in to defend him — like Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt. Hunt posted a statement on his own Truth Social account reading in part, “He stood strong in the face of vicious attacks and gotcha questions, because that’s what leaders do.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also commented on the former president’s remarks in a post on X.
“Fostering tough conversations and debate is how we make America great again for all Americans,” Donalds said. “Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump is not afraid of going into any venue, any time, anywhere.”
Unlike Kamala Harris, President Trump is not afraid of going into any venue, any time, anywhere.
Today at the NABJ Convention, President Trump took the incoming fire from hostile reporters, held firm, and articulated his plan to Make America Great Again for ALL AMERICANS. pic.twitter.com/KNEw5yaLmi
Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother. She attended the historically Black Howard University and is a member of the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Meanwhile, a debate between the two remains up in the air. Trump has voiced wanting a venue change and said he “probably will” debate Harris, but could also “make a case for not.”
Report: Iran’s supreme leader issues order for Iran to strike Israel
Tensions are rising in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Iran. Hamas claims an Israeli missile hit the house of political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The New York Times reported that with the hit happening on Iranian soil, the country’s supreme leader has reportedly issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly, citing three Iranian officials briefed on the order.
Haniyeh was the Hamas negotiator for a possible hostage deal with Israel. Many fear that deal is now dead.
The strike on Haniyeh came just hours after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.
Breaking this morning: The Israeli military announced it had killed top Hamas military leader Muhammad Deif during a strike in Gaza earlier in July. Deif is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel.
‘Weapons and Warfare’ goes inside Lockheed Martin’s F-35 assembly facility
In 2001, the Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin the contract to develop the F-35 fighter jet to replace aging aircraft. The jet is manufactured in three different variants: one for the Marine Corps, one for the Air Force and one for the Navy.
In a special edition of “Weapons and Warfare,” Straight Arrow News’ Ryan Robertson recently got to take a tour inside the Fort Worth, Texas facility that makes these fighter jets.
You can find this special edition of “Weapons and Warfare” right here.
Katie Ledecky ties record for most gold medals by female swimmer
Team USA now has won five Olympic gold medals in Paris, adding one more to its count after Wednesday’s events — and it was a historic one. Swimmer Katie Ledecky won the women’s 1,500 meter freestyle. She finished more than 10 seconds ahead of her competition to win her eighth Olympic gold medal.
With the victory, Ledecky tied the record for most gold medals by a female swimmer. It was also her 12th Olympic medal of any kind, which tied yet another record.
Ledecky is not done yet. She has a chance to break those records. She’ll be competing in the 4×200 meter relay Thursday, Aug. 1, and the 800 meter freestyle later this week.
