Former President Donald Trump is getting back on the campaign trail Tuesday, July 9, with a rally in Florida as the deadline to announce his pick for vice president nears. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday night, Trump did confirm Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum are under consideration.
But as to when we’ll find out who the official pick is, it seems even the former president isn’t quite sure.
“I think probably within the next week, week and a half, probably sometime — I’d love to do it during the convention,” Trump told Hannity. “My people say that’s a little complicated. You know, in the old days, they would announce the vice president during the convention. Today, with modern day technology you can’t do things that you could’ve done 50 years ago very easily. But probably a little before the convention but not much. It could even be during the convention that we’ll do it. I’d love to do it during the convention. I think it would be a very interesting build up and important for the convention and would make it even more exciting.”
The Republican National Convention kicks off next Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s expert visits
President Joe Biden’s physician releases a letter as questions surround a Parkinson’s expert’s repeated visits to the White House. And former President Donald Trump’s deadline to pick a vice president nears with the Republican National Convention just days away. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Biden’s physician responds to reports on Parkinson’s disease expert visits
Ever since President Joe Biden’s self-described “bad night” at the presidential debate, he and his team have had to field questions about his health. That was no different on Monday, July 8, when the concerns centered on a Parkinson’s disease expert who had recently visited the White House on several occasions.
According to public visitor logs, Dr. Kevin Cannard — a neurologist and “movement disorders specialist” from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — visited the White House eight times in the eight-month span between July 2023 and March 2024, including a visit with the president’s personal physician.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked repeatedly about the visits during Monday’s press briefing. Jean-Pierre said Biden has seen a neurologist three times as part of annual physicals but would not confirm much else, saying the White House medical unit serves multiple personnel along with the president.
“I can tell you this — just going back to Parkinson’s for a little bit, so, to give you some answers here: Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No. So those are the things that I can give you full-blown answers on but I’m not going to confirm a specialist, any specialist that comes to come comes to the White House, out of privacy.”
Hours later, White House physician Kevin O’Connor released a letter addressing the issue, saying Dr. Cannard was “the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals,” including one in February that showed no signs of any neurological disorders. O’Connor also confirmed the president has not seen a neurologist outside of those physicals.
The president himself wrote a letter earlier in the day to Democrats in Congress amid growing calls for him to step aside, saying he is “firmly committed to staying in the race.” He added he “wouldn’t be running again if” he did not “absolutely believe” he was the “best person to beat Donald Trump.”
A defiant Biden joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe shortly after sending the letter, saying it’s the voters who chose him as the Democratic nominee, and he is not concerned about those calling for him to drop out of the race.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites — not you guys — the elites in the party, oh, they know so much more,” the president said. “Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”
Biden to host NATO summit, will take questions from media
President Biden will look to answer critics’ calls for him to step aside as he welcomes world leaders to Washington, D.C. for the NATO summit that begins Tuesday, July, 9. Leaders from more than 30 NATO countries, as well as partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the European Union and Ukraine, will join the president to mark 75 years of the global alliance.
The summit will focus on supplying additional military and financial aid to Ukraine, including new steps to strengthen its air defenses. During the week, Biden will host an event with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and two dozen other leaders. He’ll also take part in his first bilateral meeting with new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
On Thursday, July 11, the president will hold a press conference where he will take questions from the media.
Trump’s vice president search enters final days
Former President Trump is getting back on the campaign trail with a rally in Florida as the deadline to announce his pick for vice president looms. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday, July 8 night, Trump did confirm Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R, are under consideration.
But as to when we’ll find out who the official pick is, it seems even the former president isn’t quite sure.
“I think probably within the next week, week and a half, probably sometime — I’d love to do it during the convention,” he told Hannity. “My people say that’s a little complicated. You know, in the old days, they would announce the vice president during the convention. Today, with modern day technology you can’t do things that you could’ve done 50 years ago very easily. But probably a little before the convention but not much. It could even be during the convention that we’ll do it. I’d love to do it during the convention. I think it would be a very interesting build up and important for the convention and would make it even more exciting.”
The Republican National Convention kicks off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee.
At least 6 dead in Texas after Beryl, millions without power
At least six people have been confirmed dead and millions are without power after Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm on Monday, July 8. Dozens of people across the state also had to be rescued from flood waters after Beryl dropped up to ten inches of rain in some areas and tornadoes could be spotted across the state.
Officials in Texas said it’ll take “several days” to restore power, but they should be getting a clearer timeline at some point Tuesday.
Since making landfall, Beryl has weakened to a tropical depression. It’s now moving toward Arkansas, but rain from the storm is expected to hit as far north as Detroit by Tuesday night then dump heavy rain in Vermont by Wednesday, July 10.
Jury selection begins in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial
On Monday, a judge ruled jurors will not hear evidence related to his status as a producer on the film, only his role as an actor in the movie.
Baldwin admitted he was holding a prop gun when a live bullet discharged. He’d previously stated that he did not intentionally pull the trigger and that the gun “went off.”
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
Price of Forever stamps to increase starting next week
The price of stamps is going up again. Starting on Sunday, July 14, one Forever stamp will cost 73 cents — up five cents from its current price.
Where does the 2024 election stand after New Hampshire primary?
The New Hampshire primary is in the rearview mirror as the South Carolina primary approaches in February. Currently, the contest is strongest between two key candidates: Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden and Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump. So, where does the 2024 presidential election currently stand?
On Tuesday night, Jan. 23, in New Hampshire, Biden secured a significant victory through a write-in campaign, despite not appearing on the ballot due to new Democratic National Committee rules acknowledging South Carolina as the first Democratic primary race. However, he didn’t collect any delegates.
With 94% of the vote counted, Biden garnered nearly 54.8% of it, while his closest challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., only received 19.6%.
On the Republican side, Trump won with a double-digit lead over his rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump got 54% of the vote and Haley got 43%.
“And, you know, we have to do what’s good for our party,” Trump said in a speech after winning New Hampshire. “And [Haley] was up, and she was doing like a speech like she won. She didn’t win, she lost. And then I looked at the polls. She was talking about most win-ability, who is going to win. And I had one put up. I don’t know if you see it, but I had one put up. We’ve won almost every single poll in the last three months against crooked Joe Biden. Almost every poll. And she doesn’t win those polls!”
After suffering back-to-back losses to the former president, Haley acknowledged she lost New Hampshire but said she’s not throwing in the towel just yet.
“This race is far from over,” Haley said after acknowledging Trump’s win. “There are dozens of states left to go. And the next one is my sweet state of South Carolina! At one point in this campaign, there were 14 of us running, and we were at 2% in the polls. Well, I’m a fighter, and I’m scrappy, and now we’re the last one standing next to Donald Trump. And today we got close to half of the vote. We still have a way to go, but we keep moving up.”
Haley is hoping to move up to a firs-place win in her home state when South Carolina holds its Republican primary on Feb. 24. Democrats will hold their first primary of the season in South Carolina on Feb. 3.
In a recent state poll highlighted by the Wall Street Journal, Haley is trailing Trump by 30 percentage points.
Several prominent Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, whom Haley appointed to the U.S. Senate while she was governor of South Carolina, are both endorsing Trump. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is also endorsing Trump.
However, according to a memo sent out by Haley’s campaign, the team is banking on staying in the race until at least Super Tuesday, which will take place on March 5 this year. Sixteen states will hold their primaries, and 874 delegates are up for grabs.
“After Super Tuesday, we will have a very good picture of where this race stands,” the memo stated.
President Biden stated Tuesday night that it was “clear” Trump would be the Republican nominee.
“There was some history that was made tonight,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told Fox News after polls closed in New Hampshire. “We’ve never had a nominee in our party that has won without winning either Iowa or New Hampshire. Donald trump is the first, ever, to win both. I’m looking at the math and the path moving forward, and I don’t see it for Nikki Haley. I think she’s run a great campaign, but I do think there’s a message coming out from the voters which is very clear: we need to unite around our eventual nominee which is going to be Donald Trump.”
Trump says he aced cognitive test after confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi
Former President Donald Trump said he aced a cognitive test that his doctor gave him a couple months ago, hoping to quell questions about his mental fitness that arose after a gaffe during a campaign speech. Trump said he feels his mind is stronger now than it was 25 years ago.
“I’ll let you know when I go bad,” Trump said. “I really think I’ll be able to tell you, because some day we go bad. But, you know, I’ve had and they always say like, like Haley, she talks about, ‘Yeah, we don’t need an 80-year-old.’ Well, I don’t mind being 80, but I’m 77. That’s a big difference.”
The events began Friday night, Jan. 19, when Trump mixed up former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and his presidential rival Nikki Haley, R-S.C., while talking about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
“By the way, they never report the crowd on January 6,” Trump said in New Hampshire. “Like Nikki Haley is in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guard. So whatever they want, they turned it down.”
Trump’s error is similar to those he has frequently criticized President Biden for.
“He’s the most incompetent president we have ever had,” Trump said during a November campaign event after mocking times when Biden has been confused as to where he is supposed to enter or exit a stage.
Haley has made age a center point of her campaign from the very beginning, so she jumped on the opportunity to bring it up again. Haley has pitched herself as a younger alternative to both Trump and Biden.
Trump would be 78 at the start of a second term and Biden is 81.
“It’s the same reason why I said we need to have mental competency tests in Congress,”Haley said in New Hampshire Sunday. “I don’t care if you do it for every member of Congress. But the issue is these are people making decisions on our national security. These are people making decisions on the future of our economy. We all know seniors who can run circles around us. This is the most pressured job in the country. You can’t make a mistake on this.”
Haley needs all the help she can get for the upcoming New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries. While she is South Carolina’s former governor, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and current Gov. Henry McMaster, R, both endorsed Trump for the Republican nomination.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott ends bid for president during TV interview: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 13, 2023
In a surprise announcement, Republican candidate for president, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., ends his campaign during a TV interview. And the U.S. confirms it’s in “ongoing negotiations” to free the hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., suspends campaign for president
The field of GOP presidential hopefuls is now smaller after a surprise announcement by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. Speaking with Fox News on Sunday night, Nov. 12, the South Carolina Republican said he is dropping out of the race.
“When I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott said. “I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they are telling me, ‘Not now, Tim.’ I don’t think they’re saying, ‘No,’ but I do think they are saying, ‘Not now.’ So I’m going to respect the voters, and I’m going to hold on, keep working really hard and looking forward to another opportunity.”
The appearance came just minutes after his campaign sent a final fundraising email to supporters — with the subject line: “one last chance.”
Scott had canceled a weekend stop in Iowa. He told Fox News he was recovering from the flu.
Several GOP presidential candidates who remain in the race reacted to the news on social media. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said, “The Republican primary was made better by his participation in it,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he looks forward to Scott continuing to be a leader in the party for years to come.
Scott told Fox News he is not looking to endorse any other candidate and is not interested in becoming anyone’s vice president. “Vice president has never been on my to-do list for this campaign, and it’s certainly not there now,” Scott said.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., unveils two-step government funding plan
With just days to go for Congress to pass a plan to avert a government shutdown — Friday, Nov. 19, being the deadline — newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced a two-step government stopgap funding plan over the weekend.
The plan extends government funding for some agencies and programs until Jan. 19 and for others until Feb. 2.
The plan does not include budget cuts, or funding requested by President Joe Biden for Israel, Ukraine, or border security.
In a statement, Johnson said separating the plan from other funding debates would “place our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight over Ukraine aid, and meaningful policy changes at our southern border.”
The White House reacted to Johnson’s plan, calling it an “unserious proposal.”
Facing a government shutdown in September, Congress passed a 47-day funding bill, then just days later, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from his position, leaving the House unable to pass any new resolution. Johnson was elected the new speaker three weeks ago.
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The Pentagon announced that the cause of the crash is under investigation, but there is no indication that it was the result of “hostile activity.” Search and rescue teams were dispatched and worked into Saturday, Nov. 11, before being called off.
The Special Operations crew was in the area to assist if needed with American evacuations amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to officials familiar with the situation.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38 of Clarksville, Tennessee
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California
Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire
Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona
Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.
“While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan gave an update to ABC News on Sunday, Nov. 12, confirming that nine Americans are still missing, but would not confirm Israel’s account that over 230 hostages are still in Gaza, saying only the number of missing is known.
“There are ongoing negotiations involving the Israelis, the Qataris, and we, the United States, are actively engaged in this as well because we want to make sure that we bring home those Americans who have been taken hostage as well as all of the other hostages,” Sullivan said.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 11,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its airstrikes in response to Hamas’ attack.
Attention has turned to the condition of hospitals in the region amidst the fighting. The Palestinian Health Minister said a majority of medical facilities in Gaza are out of service, leading to the death of three newborns and 10 other patients at Gaza’s largest hospital.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said the United States carried another set of airstrikes in Eastern Syria on facilities connected to Iranian-backed groups on Sunday, Nov. 12, in response to repeated attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. The U.S. said the latest “precision” strikes targeted a training facility and safe house.
Scientists called the risk of an eruption in the southwest of the island “considerable,” sparking evacuations of a small fishing town with about 3,000 residents.
In the past few years, Iceland has seen several volcanic eruptions in unpopulated areas of the country. The latest seismic activity also resulted in the closure of the Blue Lagoon, a geo-thermal spa and one of the main tourist destinations on the island.
The North Atlantic island is one of the most seismically active areas on the planet.
Pond at Maui Wildlife Refuge turns pink
Scientists think they have the answer to a mystery in Hawaii that has resulted in a multitude of tourists flocking to a wildlife refuge after the pond there turned pink. Staff at the Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Maui want visitors to know that the bubble gum-pink pond is most likely not something to cheer about.
Scientists said Maui’s drought could be a contributing factor. The dry conditions and high salt levels allow single-cell organisms that thrive in bodies of water with high salt levels to surface.
The refuge’s staff warns visitors not to enter the water or eat any fish caught in it.
Staff at the refuge hope the tourists take a moment to learn about their mission of conserving nature and endangered birds while also looking at the pink water.
The big takeaways from the 3rd Republican primary presidential debate: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 9, 2023
Five Republican candidates took the stage Wednesday night, Nov. 8, making their case to be the next president in the third GOP primary debate. And Hollywood actors reach a tentative deal with the studios to put an end to the nearly four-month strike. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Nov. 9.
Recapping 3rd GOP presidential primary debate
For the third time, Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election faced off in a primary debate; this time, the field was down to five.
We’ve become a party of losers. At the end of the day, there is a cancer in the Republican establishment.
Vivek Ramaswamy
From the stage in Miami on Wednesday night, Nov. 8, the candidates spoke on a variety of issues, from China to funding Israel and Ukraine and their views on abortion. All while sparring with one another and even criticizing the Republican National Committee after the GOP lost key races the night before.
The candidates were also not shy this time to call out the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, for not showing up to the debate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) said Donald Trump is much different than in 2016.
“He owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance. He should explain why he didn’t have Mexico pay for the border wall. He should explain why he racked up so much debt. He should explain why he didn’t drain the swamp,” DeSantis said. “And he said Republicans were going to get tired of winning. Well, we saw last night, I’m sick of Republicans losing.”
Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy aimed his anger at the election results at Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the RNC.
“I think there’s something deeper going on in the Republican party here, and I am upset about what happened last night,” Ramaswamy said. “We’ve become a party of losers. At the end of the day, there is a cancer in the Republican establishment.”
At times throughout the night, Ramaswamy focused on former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, who was almost at center stage, a reflection of her standings in the polls. While all candidates declared their support for Israel, Ramaswamy took issue with Haley’s foreign policy views.
“Do you want a leader from a different generation who’s going to put this country first,” Ramaswamy said. “Or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels?”
“Yes, I’d first like to say they’re five-inch heels, and I don’t wear them unless you can run in ’em,” Haley said. “The second thing that I will say is I wear heels; they’re not for a fashion statement; they’re for ammunition.”
The candidates were divided when it came to supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said supporting Ukraine is “not a choice,” saying, “It’s the price we pay for being leaders of the free world.” DeSantis was skeptical of some of the funding sent to Ukraine, saying, “We need the war to end” so the U.S. can focus on border security instead.
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The presidential hopefuls were also asked about the social media app TikTok, owned by the China-based company ByteDance. Christie said he’d ban the app in his first week as president. The issue turned personal when Ramaswamy brought up Haley’s daughter.
“In the last debate, she made fun of me for actually joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time,” Ramaswamy said. “So you might want to take care of your family first.” “Leave my daughter out of your voice,” Haley said.
“The next generation of Americans are using it, and that’s actually the point,” Ramaswamy said as the audience booed. “You have her supporters propping her up.”
After Ohio residents voted in favor of abortion access Tuesday night, Nov. 8, the GOP candidates were asked about their stance on the issue. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said he’d commit to a 15-week national ban. Haley said no Republican president will be able to find the votes to pass any kind of federal abortion ban.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump held a rally a half hour away during the debate. A senior Trump adviser said the debate was “a complete waste of time and money.”
Ivanka Trump testifies; Hunter Biden subpoenaed
Based on polling numbers, as of Thursday, Nov. 9, the 2024 presidential election looks like it would be a rematch of 2020 between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. However, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the focus was not on them but their family members.
The New York attorney general has accused Trump, his adult sons, and his organization of inflating his net worth on financial statements to banks and insurers in order to gain more favorable loans.
Ivanka told prosecutors she was not privy to her father’s personal financial statements.
When asked specifically by the state lawyer if she had any role in preparing Donald Trump’s statements of financial condition, Ivanka replied, “Not that I’m aware of.”
Following Ivanka’s five-hour testimony, the New York attorney rested her case. The defense is expected to begin theirs on Monday, Nov. 13.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee investigating President Biden and his connection to his family’s foreign business dealings subpoenaed Hunter and James Biden, the president’s son and brother, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, marking the first time that members of the Biden family have been subpoenaed since the impeachment inquiry was opened in September.
A representative for Hunter Biden responded, calling it a “political stunt,” but said, “Hunter is eager to have the opportunity, in a public forum, at the right time, to discuss these matters with the committee.”
US strikes Syria weapons warehouse in response to attacks on troops
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, calling it a self-defense strike, said the weapons facility in Eastern Syria was used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps along with affiliated groups.
Two F-15 fighter jets dropped bombs on the target on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in what Austin called a “precision self-defense strike,” adding that the safety of American troops is paramount.
“The president has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said in a statement.”
Those who qualified for the debate are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who participated in the last two debates, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who participated in the first debate, did not qualify.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has dropped out of the race since the last debate, and former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, said he would not attend the debate. Instead, he’ll be holding a rally just a half hour away simultaneously.
State of the GOP nomination race: Pence drops out; field could narrow again soon
A lot has changed in the Republican presidential primary. The field is narrowing and may continue to do so further in the next week or two.
Here are three things to know:
1. Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out
Mike Pence announced he is suspending his campaign. Polls show he was losing support; the Real Clear Politics average had him polling at 9% in July and just 3.5% as of Oct. 24.
“Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me, this is not my time,” Pence told the crowd at the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“Now I’m leaving this campaign but let me promise you, I will never leave the fight for conservative values, and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land. So help me God.”
2. Nikki Haley surges in Iowa
Donald Trump maintains a 27-point lead in Iowa, however former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley shot up 10 points and is now tied for second with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to an NBC News/Des Moines register poll.
The Democratic Party took notice of Haley’s rise.
As she officially filed for the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, the DNC war room sent out a memo that described her governorship as a “model for the MAGA Agenda.”
The memo criticized previous action she’s taken on abortion, Medicaid and her economic agenda.
3. Sen. Tim Scott qualifies for third debate
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., became the fifth candidate to qualify for the third primary debate on Nov. 8 in Miami. Earning a spot on that stage is important to donors, and a strong performance can help with polls.
Pence had not qualified and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum hasn’t either, so some expect the field will narrow even further over the next week or two.
“I think the field will consolidate, but it’s not my place to tell people when to get out,” N.J. Gov. Chris Christie said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Christie, Scott, Haley, DeSantis and pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy all met the threshold to participate.
Candidates need at least 70,000 unique donors and 4% support in two polls to earn a spot on the stage. Former President Donald Trump is not expected to be there.
GOP debate goes on, minus Trump: The Morning Rundown Aug. 24, 2023
The first GOP presidential debate is in the books, with former President Donald Trump as a notable absence. This story highlights the Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 24, 2024.
The eight candidates who took center stage on Wednesday night, Aug. 23, took hard stances on issues like abortion, the war in Ukraine and former President Trump’s indictments. The candidates aimed to focus on the future of the party, rather than distractions from the past.
All candidates took an anti-abortion stance into the debate. The contrast among candidates surrounded the role the federal government should play in the matter.
Some, including former Vice President Mike Pence said the government should ban abortion outright. He argued abortion is a moral issue, not a state one.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said he would enact a 15-week ban. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said he would enact a six-week ban at the national level, something he already did in Florida.
“You gotta do what you believe is right. I was proud to sign the heartbeat bill,” Gov. DeSantis said. “What the Democrats are trying to do on this issue is wrong to allow abortion up to the moment of birth.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, the only woman on the stage, said she does not support a national abortion ban. She asked her colleagues to find middle ground on an issue Republicans have lost ground on in swing states.
“Can’t we all agree we’re not going to put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion,” Haley asked. “Let’s treat this like a respectful issue that it is and humanize the situation and stop demonizing the situation.”
The candidates were asked about the U.S. funding Ukraine in its war with Russia. Both DeSantis and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said they oppose more funding, saying that money should be spent keeping America safe. Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ), former Vice President Pence and Haley disagreed.
“Anybody who thinks we can’t solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.
About an hour into the debate, moderator and Fox News anchor Brett Baier brought up “the elephant not in the room.” It was a reference to Trump, who is facing charges in four different cases.
“If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law would you still support him as your party’s choice. Please raise your hand if you would,” Baier requested. All candidates raised their hands except for former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) and former Gov. Christie.
Christie said “someone has to got to stop normalizing” Trump’s conduct, saying his alleged actions are beneath the Office of the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy called Trump the best president of the 21st century.
Former Vice President Pence defended his decision to not overturn the 2020 election despite alleged requests from Trump to do just that. DeSantis agreed former Vice President Pence did his duty on Jan. 6, 2021, but added that the 2024 election is about January of 2025 and it’s time to look ahead.
Trump, meanwhile, took part in a prerecorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was posted to the social media site X just before the GOP debate started. The interview has garnered more than 135 million views as of early Thursday morning. It should be noted that X measures every person who saw the video in their timeline, not how many people actually watched it.
Trump has said due to his poll numbers showing him ahead of all other candidates he did not need to participate in the GOP debate. In the 46-minute interview, Trump went into further detail on his reasoning to skip it.
“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president,” Trump asked. “Should I be doing that?”
Trump called former Gov. Hutchison “nasty,” said Christie is running “solely on the basis of ‘let’s get Trump’” and labeled DeSantis as “done-zo.”
Trump told Carlson he is disappointed in Pence for not sending the 2020 election results back to the states. Pence has said repeatedly he lacked any authority to do so.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had given Trump and 18 other co-defendants until noon on Friday, Aug. 25 to turn themselves in. Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani surrendered Wednesday.
He was booked and released with his bond set at $150,000. That’s just under the $200,000 bond set for Trump.
Attorneys Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell also turned themselves into the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday.
First 2024 Republican debate field set: The Morning Rundown Aug. 23, 2023
The field is set for the first 2024 Republican primary debate, and rescuers rushed to help a group of children dangling from a cable car. These stories and more highlight the Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
First 2024 Republican primary debate set for Wednesday night
Eight Republican candidates vying to become the next president of the United States are set to take part in the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 cycle Wednesday night. Those confirmed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to be on the stage in Milwaukee include:
Gov. Ron Desantis (R-FL)
Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley
Former Vice President Mike Pence
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND)
Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)
Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
The candidates all met the RNC’s polling and donor requirements to qualify for the debate. They all received at least 1% in three national polls, or a mix of national and early state polls. They also accrued a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.
Upon verification of those requirements, each candidate had to sign the GOP loyalty pledge expressing their commitment to the eventual Republican nominee. Four candidates were disqualified from participating based on these requirements, including:
Michigan businessman Perry Johnson
Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez
Former Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX)
Each of these candidates have voiced their disagreement with the RNC’s decision, with Johnson posting to X “the debate process has been corrupted, plain and simple.” Johnson and Elder have said they plan to sue the RNC over being left off the stage.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, chose to sit out the debate. He has reportedly recorded a sit-down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The interview was set to air as counterprogramming, with the debate being broadcast on Carlson’s former network.
Another top U.S. official is headed to China to discuss the two countries’ commercial relationship. Both countries confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 22 that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will visit China from Aug. 27-30. While China said the trip was at the invitation of the Chinese minister of commerce, the U.S. has not confirmed if that was the case.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Raimondo’s trip will be an opportunity for the U.S. to explain President Joe Biden’s recent executive order putting investment restrictions on some Chinese tech industries. Other U.S. officials who have traveled to China in the summer of 2023 include Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
The tentative deal avoided a significant strike. It includes significant pay increases over the lifetime of the contract, with a 48% increase for its part-time employees and a push to add more full-time workers.
Passengers rescued from suspended cable car in Pakistan
Cameras caught the terrifying moments as eight people, including six children, were left dangling inside a cable car nearly 1,000 feet above a river after one of its cables snapped. Rescuers were able to save all of those on board, despite a helicopter above producing high winds that threatened the rescue mission.
One child was airlifted to safety before officials suspended use of the helicopter. Hours later, officials were able to deploy a zipline to the car and pull everyone to safety.
These makeshift cable cars are meant to make transportation easier, especially for students heading to school. However, the cars are often made from scrap metal and can lack proper maintenance.
Study: Daily aspirin prevents second heart attack
Research shows taking a daily aspirin can prevent a heart attack in adults who have survived an earlier heart attack or stroke. But a new study suggests only about 40% of people worldwide who have previously suffered a heart attack are taking aspirin.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Because of this, the study recommends people with a history of problems to take aspirin as “secondary prevention” – reducing the risk of an additional heart attack or stroke.
Available research has showed the benefits far outweigh the risks, according to the study’s authors. Some countries have far less access, with only 16 percent of people with prior heart attacks taking aspirin in low-income countries. In the U.S., the percentage is closer to 65%, meeting the goal of the World Health Organization.
StubHub: College football ticket sales through the roof
Ticket exchange company StubHub has released its college football preview, with a list of the most in-demand teams and games for the 2023 season. Alabama, Michigan and Notre Dame round out the top three in-demand teams. The most in-demand game is a Sept. 23 meeting between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Nationally, college football ticket sales are up over 50% compared to 2022. Penn State football ticket sales are up 150% compared to 2022.