Bodycam video released of police response to Trump assassination attempt
It’s been nearly a month since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Since then, questions have been swirling leading to multiple investigations and hearings on Capitol Hill and a change in leadership at the Secret Service.
Butler Township Police Department
Now we’re getting new information directly through the lens of Butler police bodycam showing officers responding to the reports of a threat on top of the unsecured building where the shooter positioned himself.
Newly released body camera video shows the moments leading up to the shooting, but it’s the audio in the immediate aftermath that is providing further confirmation of a major security lapse.
The incident left one rallygoer dead and Trump shot in the ear in a near-fatal hit.
The public search for accountability has led to agencies across local, state, and federal levels to finger-point and shift the blame. There are still several ongoing investigations into how it happened in the first place and how to prevent it from happening again.
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more
The debate is on. Former President Donald Trump has agreed to the ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and proposed two more. And bodycam footage has been released showing the police response to the assassination attempt during the former president’s rally in July. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris, proposes 2 more debates
Former President Donald Trump has recommitted to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris after initially requesting a change of time and place given the change at the top of the Democratic ticket. Trump made the announcement during a news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday, Aug. 8.
ABC News has confirmed Trump and Harris have agreed to debate on Sept. 10, setting up what is likely to be a high-stakes showdown in an already contentious election season.
His decision to debate on ABC marks a notable change of heart given it was just five days ago he announced the agreement with ABC was terminated. Trump originally suggested he would only debate if Harris appeared on Fox News on Sept. 4.
Trump is requesting Harris accept two additional debate proposals; one would be held on Fox and the other on NBC.
When asked by reporters if he will still do the ABC debate even if Harris turns down the idea of multiple debates, Trump said he didn’t know how that’s going to work and reiterated the need for multiple debates with a new Democratic presidential nominee.
As we saw in June, presidential debates have high stakes. President Joe Biden’s performance at his debate with Trump set in motion calls for his withdrawal and the eventual end to his re-election campaign.
The ABC debate was originally slated to be the second and final debate between Biden and Trump.
Harris released a statement saying she’s glad Trump committed to meeting her on stage.
Harris will be in Arizona for a campaign rally on Friday, Aug. 9. Trump will be in Montana for a rally of his own and fundraiser event.
Bodycam video released of police response to Trump assassination attempt
It’s been nearly a month since the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Within that month, questions have been swirling leading to multiple investigations and hearings on Capitol Hill and a change in leadership at the Secret Service.
Now, there is new information directly through the lens of Butler police bodycam. It shows officers responding to the reports of a threat on top of the unsecured building where the shooter propped himself up to take aim.
In newly released body camera video, there is footage of the moments leading up to the shooting, but it’s the audio in the immediate aftermath of the shooting that is providing further confirmation of a major security lapse.
The incident left one rally goer dead and Trump shot in the ear in a near-fatal hit.
The public search for accountability has led to agencies across local, state, and federal levels to finger-point and shift the blame. There are still several ongoing investigations into how it happened in the first place and how to prevent it from happening again.
U.S., Egypt, Qatar call for renewed Israel-Hamas ceasefire discussions
The U.S., Egypt and Qatar are calling for Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire talks, calling them “urgent.” Fears are growing over a widening Middle East war following high-profile assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been mediating cease-fire discussions since they began.
They want the talks to take place in either Doha or Cairo next Thursday, Aug. 15.
Early Friday, Aug. 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Israel will take part in those discussions. Hamas’ newly chosen leader has not indicated if the terror group is willing to join.
Columbia University COO’s home vandalized with antisemitic imagery; 3 top admins resign over antisemitic texts
Inverted triangles, which have been used by Hamas to identify Israeli targets and Nazis to tag prisoners during the Holocaust, were painted on the entranceway to Cas Holloway’s apartment building.
Columbia confirmed the resignations of the school’s dean of undergraduate student life, associate dean for student and family support, and vice dean and chief administrative officer after it came to light they exchanged antisemitic messages during an on-campus event about Jewish life at the school.
Paramount laying off 15% of U.S. workforce
Media conglomerate Paramount is laying off 15% of its U.S. workforce. The layoffs, which will impact around 2,000 staffers, are part of Paramount’s bid to cut $500 million in annual costs ahead of its merger with SkyDance Media.
Paramount says it also plans to write down $6 billion worth of its cable television networks.
Steph Curry leads Team USA to rally past Serbia; Noah Lyles wins bronze in 200-meter after testing positive for COVID
The U.S added to its Olympic medal count on Thursday, Aug. 9. Team USA now has a total of 103 medals so far as the Paris games wind down.
The men’s basketball team will be hoping to bring home gold against host France in the final. Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James led the team to a come-from-behind victory over Serbia on Thursday after being down 17 points, winning 95 to 91.
On the track, it was not the result American sprinter Noah Lyles was hoping for in the men’s 200-meter final. Lyles, who won his first Olympic gold on Sunday, Aug. 4, in the 100-meter, finished third this time behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and USA teammate Kenny Bednarek.
Lyles was taken away in a wheelchair after crossing the finish line. It was later revealed he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 two days earlier.
The USA track and field organization said it followed all Olympic protocols to allow Lyles to compete.
The track star said he is proud of himself to have been able to still win a bronze medal. He posted on Instagram, “It is not the Olympics I dreamed of, but it has left me with so much joy in my heart.”
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.
3 in 10 Americans trust Secret Service to protect candidates: Poll
Less than a month after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, Americans expressed skepticism about the United States Secret Service’s ability to protect presidential candidates. According to a new poll published by AP-NORC on Friday, Aug. 2, only three of 10 U.S. adults have high confidence in the agency’s ability to keep presidential candidates safe.
The poll also found that when it comes to what’s to blame for the attempt on Trump’s life, Americans do not let the agency totally off the hook. More than 70% of those surveyed said that the Secret Service bears moderate responsibility for the attack.
However, not all blame is directed at the agency. More than three quarters of Americans blame political divisions in the country for the violence at the Trump rally last month. Additionally, nearly 60% said that both the availability of guns and the media were to blame for the attack.
Breaking it down further, half of those polled said that political divisions bear a “great deal” of responsibility for the attempted assassination of Trump. When it was broken down along political lines, 60% of Democrats pointed to gun accessibility for the attack, and half of Republicans faulted the Secret Service.
In the wake of the attempt on Trump’s life at the Pennsylvania rally, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned and admitted that the incident was the “most significant operational failure” for the agency in “decades.”
New Acting Director Ronald Rowe said that he was ashamed and called it “indefensible” that the roof used by the gunman was not secured, during testimony to U.S. Congress.
Meanwhile, the poll also revealed skepticism over the ongoing investigation into the shooting. Only one-third of Americans were extremely confident or very confident in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security conducting a full and fair investigation.
FBI investigating extremist and violent posts believed to be from Trump shooter
The acting director of the Secret Service said he cannot defend why the roof the shooter used in an attempt to assassinate former President Trump was not better secured. During a Senate hearing on the incident, Acting Director Ronald Rowe said he has lost sleep over multiple failures that took place that day.
Rowe released new pictures that show the view local law enforcement had from their post. The image also show the view of the U.S. Secret Service sniper who neutralized the shooter.
Photographs documenting the perspective of U.S. Secret Service counter snipers had during the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Source: Getty Images)
“I could not, and I will not, and I cannot understand why there was not better coverage, or at least somebody looking at that roofline when that’s where they were posted,” Rowe told senators.
Rowe appeared to place part of the blame on local law enforcement, which senators pushed back on.
“The person in charge of the entire operation is the Secret Service, not the local police,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said.
“You’re correct, sir, this is a failure of the Secret Service,” Rowe conceded.
Rowe also testified that the agency’s counter-drone platform was not working for much of the day due to connectivity issues. He believes had it been operational, agents may have been able to identify the shooter and prevent the shooting. From now on, the Secret Service will use a dedicated network, rather than relying on a local network.
“That has cost me a lot of sleep because of the eventual outcome of the assailant. That what if we geolocated him because that counter UAS platform had been up,” Rowe said. “It is something that I have struggled with to understand, and I have no, I have no explanation for it.”
Rowe announced new operational procedures in the wake of the assassination attempt. The procedures include expanding the use of unmanned aerial systems, or small drones flying over events, and the use of the maximum personnel requested to secure protective sites.
In a hearing filled with revelations, the deputy director of the FBI described newly discovered social media posts believed to be from the shooter that date back to 2019 and 2020.
Investigators are currently combing through more than 700 comments that share extremist views and talk of political violence.
“Some of these comments, if ultimately attributable to the shooter, appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes to espouse political violence and are described as extreme in nature,” Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate said.
Despite the answers and admissions of failure, senators were not satisfied with some of the explanations they received.
For instance, a local sniper saw the shooter using a rangefinder before the assassination attempt, took pictures of him and sent it up the chain of command.
“What is the purpose of a range finder? And once this assassin was identified as using a rangefinder, wasn’t that proof positive that he was a dangerous individual?” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., asked.
“I believe it was, it was a recreation or sports related I thought I had read that it was a golf range finder, nonetheless, it still would have provided him the ability to provide the distance that he was away from his intended target,” Rowe said.
“Wasn’t that enough? As far as raising suspicion,” Durbin pressed.
“Yes, I think he was identified as being suspicious by local law enforcement and nothing happened,” Rowe replied.
Senators on both sides of the aisle said more people need to be held accountable and lose their jobs for the failures that day. The acting director said he wants to take his time and avoid making a rush to judgment about anyone involved.
Acting Secret Service director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new acting director of the Secret Service is set to answer questions from lawmakers about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. And McDonald’s reports its first sales decline in more than three years. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Secret Service acting director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new head of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, will be on Capitol Hill Tuesday, July 30, testifying over the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, as security questions remain to be answered. It comes one week after the former Director Kimberly Cheatle’s testimony that led her to step down from the position.
According to excerpts of Rowe’s testimony reviewed by news outlets in advance, the new acting director is expected to tell lawmakers what he saw in Butler, Pennsylvania made him “ashamed” and that he “cannot defend why the roof where the gunman opened fire was not secured.”
Tuesday’s hearing comes as newly released police text messages show that officers were aware of the gunman, Thomas Crooks, at least 105 minutes before he opened fire. That’s more than half an hour earlier than previously known.
The local SWAT team also said they never spoke to Secret Service until after the assassination attempt.
Trump will sit down with the FBI on Thursday, Aug. 1, for a victim interview where he will describe what he experienced.
It’s been 17 days since the Republican presidential nominee nearly lost his life at that rally. While Congress will look to learn about security lapses in Tuesday’s testimony, there are long-term efforts to obtain answers, as well, including the newly launched House panel which will also have subpoena power.
Arizona voters head to the polls Tuesday; Tennessee holds primary on Thursday
There are still some high-profile primary races taking place in several states. Voters in Arizona will head to the polls on Tuesday, July 30, and Tennessee will hold its primary on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent earlier in 2024, is not running for re-election, so there are new candidates for that highly sought after open seat.
The top Democratic candidate is Rep. Ruben Gallego. That means his House seat is up for grabs, along with several other House seats.
On the Republican side of the Senate race, it’s former TV anchor Kari Lake leading over her opponent.
In Tennessee, controversial Republican Rep. Andy Ogles facing a challenge and potentially close race when voters head to the polls Thursday. Ogles secured a major endorsement from former President Trump ahead of the primary.
Biden proposes Supreme Court changes, end to presidential immunity
The ethics code proposal comes after a review of the justices’ undisclosed personal and business dealings, namely those of conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. It also comes in the wake of some controversial rulings, like the 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the ruling on presidential immunity.
President Biden is also suggesting a constitutional amendment to change that.
Biden gave his case for reform in a speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas on Monday, July 29.
“The Supreme Court established in Trump v. The United States a dangerous precedent,” Biden said. “They ruled, as you know, as the president of the United States has immunity from — for potential crimes he may have committed while in office. Immunity. This nation was founded on the principle there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law. And for all practical purposes, the court’s decision almost certainly means that a president can violate their oath, flout our laws and face no consequences.”
He added, “This decision is a total affront to the basic expectations we have for those who wield the power of this nation. That they are expected to be wholly accountable under the law.”
The amendment would face a difficult path to become a reality. It would first have to be passed by two-thirds of the House and Senate — which is unlikely, given the Republican majority — then ratified by three-quarters of U.S. states.
Park Fire now 6th largest in California’s history
California’s Park Fire has grown into the sixth largest wildfire in the state’s history. According to Cal Fire, it has now scorched more than 370,000 acres across four counties and is still only 12% contained.
It’s forced thousands to abandon their homes and contributed to poor air quality from coast to coast.
Authorities said the fire started when a man pushed a burning car into a dry ravine. He was officially indicted on arson charges Monday, July 29.
McDonald’s reports first sales slump since 2020
McDonald’s is reconsidering its pricing strategy after the fast-food giant reported its first sales slump since 2020 in the second quarter. Experts said budget-conscious Americans are eating at home more often due to higher prices at fast food chains.
This summer, McDonald’s released a $5 meal promotion to drive more foot traffic, though competitors have also launched similar deals.
The McDonald’s CEO said customers can expect more discounts in an effort to bring more people in and stop the sales decline.
Dragonflies swarm Rhode Island beach like “black cloud”
A swarm of dragonflies overtook a Rhode Island beach on Saturday, July 27, with video being posted online. Local media said the beachgoers reported the insects descending all of a sudden like a “black cloud,” forcing some to pack up and leave.
Experts said this is normal, as dragonflies are starting their annual migration south.
U.S. men’s gymnastics wins first Olympic team medal in 16 years
Olympic officials postponed Tuesday, July 30, morning’s men’s triathlon race after they said the Seine River remains contaminated. They said levels of E. coli are too high for the swimming portion of the competition. The event is now tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 31.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the big story for Team USA was not about gold medals, but bronze. The U.S. men’s gymnastics team earned the first Olympic team medal in the sport for America in 16 years.
Team USA’s Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik and Frederick Richard topped Great Britain for the third spot on the podium. Japan took the gold and China won silver.
The last time the U.S. men’s gymnastics team won a team medal was at the 2008 Beijing games.
Texts say police knew of would-be Trump assassin 100 minutes before shooting
Newly released text messages reveal former President Donald Trump’s would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, was on authorities’ radar nearly 100 minutes before he fired at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The New York Times received the text messages from the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and verified them.
The first text was sent from a local police counter sniper at 4:26 p.m. that day. That counter sniper was leaving after his shift ended and he texted other counter snipers saying he had noticed someone had “snuck in” and parked by law enforcement’s vehicles.
“I’m just letting you know because you see me go out with my rifle and put it in my car so he knows you guys are up there,” the text read. “He’s sitting to the direct right on a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit.”
That counter sniper confirmed the man he spotted was later identified as Crooks.
Forty-four minutes later, at 5:10 p.m., Crooks was no longer at the picnic table. One of the counter snipers who was upstairs in the AGR International warehouse took pictures of Crooks, who was below the counter snipers, outside the building.
At 5:38 p.m., those pictures were shared in a group chat among officers.
“Kid lurking around building we are in. AGR I believe it is,” the text said. “I did see him with a rangefinder looking towards stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out. I lost sight of him. Also a bike with a backpack sitting next to it in rear of building that was not seen earlier… call it into command and have a uniform check it out.”
At 6:11 p.m., shots rang out from atop the AGR International warehouse, where Crooks was able to position himself about 400 feet away from Trump and have a clear line of sight to the former president.
Several bullets flew past Trump’s head with one clipping him in the right ear. One person was killed and two others were critically wounded.
A Secret Service sniper team fired at Crooks, killing him just seconds after he opened fire.
Testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray and former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle also helps fill in some of the blanks, including that Crooks did research on President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination.
“On July 6, he did a Google search for quote ‘how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’” Director Wray said.
According to Wray’s testimony, on July 5, Crooks traveled about an hour from his home in Bethel Park to Butler, Pennsylvania, to scope out the site of Trump’s rally.
He also drove to the Butler site the morning of the rally and left after approximately an hour. Crooks then bought 50 rounds of ammunition from a sports store before returning to the rally site just before 4 p.m.
During testimony, Wray said Crooks had purchased a 5-foot ladder the morning of the shooting. The ladder was not found at the shooting site and it was unclear how Crooks got onto the roof of the warehouse with a rifle.
“The weapon had a collapsible stock, which could explain why it might have been less easy for people to observe,” Director Wray testified. “Because one of the things we’re finding is that people have observed him. The first people to observe him with the weapon is when he was already on the roof, and we haven’t yet found anybody with firsthand observation of him with the weapon walking around beforehand. So that doesn’t mean he wasn’t, obviously, but the collapsible stock is potentially a significant feature.”
The local SWAT team out of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, who were stationed in the AGR building, also told ABC News they had zero communication with the Secret Service snipers the day of the shooting.
“We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service snipers whenever they arrived, and that never happened,” Jason Woods, lead sharpshooter for the Beaver County SWAT team, said.
Former Secret Service Director Cheatle told a congressional panel she was unaware which agency had jurisdiction over the AGR warehouse building.
Cheatle resigned on July 23, one day after testifying on Capitol Hill.
The FBI is still investigating the assassination attempt against former President Trump.
Netanyahu to meet with Biden following his speech to Congress
A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to Congress and President Joe Biden gave a primetime address on exiting the 2024 race, the two are set to meet in Washington, D.C. on July 25. And more details on what you need to know about breaking, the newest sport at the Olympic games. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, July 25, 2024.
Netanyahu to meet with Biden following his speech to Congress
Biden is expected to press Netanyahu in getting a hostage and ceasefire deal solidified. U.S. officials said it’s a critical moment in negotiations over the deal — something Biden said will be a priority with the time he has left in office.
Israeli negotiators were expected to travel to Qatar Thursday, but Netanyahu ordered them not to, saying he wanted to wait until after he meets with Biden before Israel goes back to the negotiating table.
After meeting with Biden, Netanyahu is expected to meet with Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. He’s set to meet with Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26.
In his address to Congress, Netanyahu thanked the U.S. for backing Israel’s war against Hamas with weapons support.
“The vast majority of Americans have not fallen for this Hamas propaganda,” Netanyahu said. “They continue to support Israel. And I want to say thank you America and thank you senators and House members who continue to support us, continue to support Israel, continue to support the truth and see through the lies.”
His speech was met with protests in and outside the Capitol building. Thousands of protesters gathered nearby, some burning an American flag and an effigy of Netanyahu.
Dozens of congressional Democrats also boycotted the address. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., held a sign reading “war criminal” while Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday, July 24.
President Biden addresses nation on decision to drop out of 2024 race
“The idea of America lies in voters’ hands,” Biden said about the 2024 election. “Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation.”
For the remaining six months of his term, Biden said he plans to focus on the job of the presidency, including plans to continue lowering costs for families.
In his address, President Biden also reiterated his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the ticket.
“I made my choice,” Biden said. “I’ve made my views known. I’d like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She’s experienced. She’s tough. She’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.”
Harris is reportedly vetting around a dozen possible running mates, including governors, members of Congress, current cabinet secretaries and some people who don’t currently hold public office. Her pick is expected to be made public sometime before Aug. 7.
FBI: Gunman Googled JFK shooting a week before Trump assassination attempt
Alarming new information has surfaced about the assassination attempt on former President Trump. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Wednesday, July 24, and revealed that a week before opening fire, Thomas Crooks, the gunman, looked up the shooting distance in the killing of President John F. Kennedy on the internet.
Specifically, Wray said Thomas Crooks Googled, “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”
The FBI director said these words are significant in terms of the shooter’s state of mind. An FBI analysis of Crooks’ laptop found he did the search on the same day he registered for Trump’s rally.
Wray also told lawmakers about a shocking security lapse in the sky. He said the gunman scoped out the ally site with a drone — possibly even live-streaming — just two hours before the former president took the stage.
A CBS News analysis found Crooks fired eight bullets in less than six seconds before being shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
House lawmakers have voted to create a new congressional task force in hopes of answering more questions about the events leading up to Trump’s near assassination. The legislation to approve the investigation passed by a vote of 416-0.
NORAD intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers off Alaska coast
NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept.https://t.co/EKg3G30lmW
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) July 24, 2024
Officials said the bombers did not enter U.S. airspace but did get close enough that the U.S. and Canada sent fighter jets to intercept them. According to NORAD, the incident was “not seen as a threat.”
A U.S. defense official said this was the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
NBA signs 11-year deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon
The NBA has confirmed where viewers will be seeing its games next season. After rejecting a $1.8 billion offer to keep airing games with Warner Bros. Discovery, the NBA signed an 11-year agreement with Disney, NBC and Amazon.
The deal is reportedly worth an estimated $76 billion. However, the agreement is likely to bring a legal showdown between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery. The media company said it believes the NBA can’t reject its offer and said it will take “appropriate action.”
For anyone doubting breaking being a sport, USA Breakin’s Ricardo Fernandez Jr. told Straight Arrow News there’s no reason to question. Fernandez is credited with creating the blueprint for competitive breaking competitions and can talk about its rich history dating back to its origins in the Bronx in the 1970s.
“We were breaking to the break of the record, so now you see where the name comes from, the record has a break and that break is the percussion drum part that was longated by the DJ,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said breaking comes down to discipline and athleticism.
Some of the most athletic people in the world are Breakers. And in 2024 breakin’ culture will make its official debut as a sport at the Summer Olympic games in Paris, France. pic.twitter.com/wzWZ2K7xlj
“You take the athleticism and you put two individuals or a group to compete against each other constantly, you are already creating the atmosphere for it to become marketable,” he said. “Breaking, you have to be athletic to achieve what you see now.”
Team USA will be represented by four athletes called breakers: Jeffrey “B-Boy Jeffro” Louis, who wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to get breaking to be part of the games just a few years ago; Logan Edra, who started breaking at age 7, was given the nickname “Logistix” by her father; Sunny Choi who picked up the sport while a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania; and Victor Montalvo, the first American to qualify, whose father and uncle were breaking pioneers.
Fernandez, known in the breaking world as B-boy Speedy Legs, has seen the sport evolve from his days of teaching it to kids in 1980s Miami to showing off his power moves in New York in the 1990s.
“I dedicated my life to breaking, in every aspect, in the art form, in the athleticism, in the competitiveness and also helped create the platform that would take it to the Olympics,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez started the B-Boy Masters Pro-Am, one of the first breaking competitions, as he tried to grow the sport and everything that comes with it. That includes the moves like top rock, the music from the DJ and the overall hip-hop culture that inspires the art form.
“I put together the first elements of how to judge it cause it was really hard to judge breaking because if I talked to some of the guys with whom I was down with in the beginning I know that they thought I was probably corny about implementing something like that,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez created a 5-element judging system, one he said is very similar to how the breakers will be judged at the Olympics. In Paris, breakers will be judged on musicality, vocabulary, originality, technique and execution.
Though Fernandez said some heated politics between organizations emerged during breaking’s path to the Olympics, he knows his sport’s place on the world’s biggest stage will help it grow even more.
“I believe when it gets exposure in the next two to three weeks, it’s going to be phenomenal,” Fernandez said. “I believe it’s going to create more opportunities not only for the first four athletes from the United States to make history, but also to create new outlets for the youth.”
The footage shows moments where law enforcement officials were next to Crooks’ body on a rooftop, discussing prior sightings of Crooks acting suspiciously. It shows potential security missteps, including indications that local officials and the U.S. Secret Service might have been aware of Crooks’ presence before the attack.
NEW My office has obtained docs from law enforcement on July 13 assassination attempt of Pres Trump I’m writing Secret Service Acting Dir Rowe & DHS Scty Mayorkas AGAIN 2get badly needed answers/clarity pic.twitter.com/LyQMzYGCkD
In the footage, an officer is heard discussing how a sniper had previously spotted and sent photos of the suspect. Crooks was killed by counter-snipers after injuring Trump and killing a bystander.
Grassley stated that this new evidence indicates serious lapses in security protocols. In response to these failures and mounting political pressure, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for the oversight.
In related developments, Matthew Crooks, the father of Thomas Crooks, was seen in public on July 22 for the first time since the incident. When approached by reporters from Fox News Digital, he declined to comment.
“No comment,” Matthew Crooks said. “We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so. Until then, we have no comment. We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space.”
The Crooks family is reportedly cooperating with the FBI to help determine the motive for the shooting.
Hours before the attack, Crooks’ parents had contacted local police, concerned about their son’s whereabouts. It is unclear if they knew he had access to his father’s AR-15.
Investigators discovered Crooks’ cellphone and a transmitter near where he was neutralized. According to the FBI, the devices were connected to explosives in the vehicle he drove to the event.
Authorities are currently examining Crooks’ phone and social media activity as part of the ongoing investigation, but findings have not yet been released.
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation for the first time after dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. And the story of another American athlete heading to Paris hoping to bring their sport to the Olympics. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden will address the nation on Wednesday, July 24, to explain why he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. He’s also set to lay out what he will focus on in the six months remaining in his presidency.
Biden arrived back in Washington from his home in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, for the first time in six days since he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He answered only one question from reporters upon his return, saying he’s “feeling well” after now testing negative for the virus.
In Wednesday night’s address, President Biden is expected to also explain why he believes Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump in November.
Harris held her first rally in Wisconsin Tuesday, July 23, and she’ll address a historically Black sorority convention in Indianapolis Wednesday. On Thursday, July 25, she’s set to address a teachers union that endorsed her on July 22.
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied Democrats on Tuesday in Wisconsin, vowing to defeat Donald Trump by attacking him as a prosecutor. Harris listed her campaign pledges, which included expanding abortion rights and building a strong middle class. https://t.co/9nF2OMLKDQpic.twitter.com/Au3BeuipG0
Trump will rally in North Carolina Wednesday and then he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, will hold a joint rally in Minnesota on Saturday, July 27.
This comes as the first few polls conducted after Harris launched her presidential campaign have been released.
In a head-to-head matchup, an NPR poll found Trump at 46% and Harris with 45% of support among registered voters. However, a Reuters poll has Harris ahead with 44% compared to Trump’s 42%.
Trump’s campaign to hold indoor rallies in aftermath of assassination attempt
Former President Trump’s campaign will reportedly now stop holding outdoor rallies on the Secret Service’s advice after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. The campaign says current plans are to hold indoor events and maybe smaller outdoor ones, but only in more controlled settings.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down Tuesday, July 23, after calls for her resignation in the wake of the assassination attempt.
CAMPAIGN CA$H: "Kamala Harris is in the process of committing the largest campaign finance violation in American history." Why the Trump campaign says the Harris campaign is violating finance laws: https://t.co/DeWSsaDYtDpic.twitter.com/qE22Rnf98f
The Trump campaign has also filed a complaint with the FEC in an effort to block President Biden’s campaign from transferring $91 million to Vice President Harris’ campaign. Trump’s team says Harris improperly took over the cash after the Biden campaign account changed its name to “Harris for President.”
Harris’ campaign spokesperson has dismissed the filing.
Mass protest at U.S. Capitol ahead of Netanyahu speech
Dozens of demonstrators showed up to the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, July 23, to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. The protest was organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
Tuesday’s demonstration had a similar message as other high profile war protests, with demonstrators chanting “free Palestine,” “not in our name” and “stop genocide.” They protesters staged a sit-in at a congressional office building. Capitol police arrested more than 200 people.
The protest came as Netanyahu is in Washington meeting with U.S. lawmakers. Multiple other protests are already planned for Wednesday as Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to Congress.
Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Joe Biden Thursday, July 25. He’ll also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris Thursday and former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26, as he looks to lock in support for Israel from both candidates ahead of November’s election.
Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East! DJT@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 10:06 PM EST 07/23/24 pic.twitter.com/duBKAOiFyD
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 24, 2024
The law originally passed last year but was then placed on hold. In June, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled there was no constitutional right to an abortion in the state, lifting the hold.
🚨 BREAKING: Iowa’s extreme 6-week abortion ban will go into effect on Monday, July 29 at 8 a.m.
Iowans will lose the ability to make private medical decisions even though most of us believe abortion should remain legal. We will never stop fighting for reproductive freedom.
Previously, abortion in Iowa was legal for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Iowa will now join three other states that ban abortions after about six weeks.
Menendez resigning from Senate after federal bribery conviction
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, D, will be resigning. He’s stepping down after his conviction earlier this month on 16 counts. The charges include including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.
Menendez’s resignation will take effect Aug. 20, giving his staffers time to find new jobs. The New Jersey lawmaker was facing mounting pressure to step down or face being expelled from the Senate.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, D, is expected to appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, which ends on Jan. 3.
Tesla earnings down amid weak electric vehicle sales
Tesla’s profit is down more than 40% for the second quarter of this year and that can mostly be attributed to weak auto sales. From April to June, the company’s revenue from its electric vehicles is down more than $1.3 billion compared to the same time last year.
Experts say Tesla is facing a double whammy of more competition from big automakers and an overall decline in EV sales.
However, Tesla owner Elon Musk is focused on the company’s future. He announced this week Tesla will have its humanoid robots “in production to be used within the company next year.”
Tesla has been working up robot models for several years as part of its efforts to expand into robots and artificial intelligence.
U.S. athletes hope showcase launches beach handball into Olympics
This is the third installment in our weeklong series taking a closer look at Team USA members and their sports ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics.
When the Olympic Games open on Friday, July 26, in Paris, viewers be able to watch beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
But for USA’s Christine Mansour, Ebiye Udo-Udoma and Drew Donlin, their attention will be on another beach sport 15 miles away — beach handball.
“It’s a dream come true,” Udo-Udoma told Straight Arrow News. “There are still some preparations. I don’t think the magnitude of playing in Paris has hit me because I’m still focused on training.”
Mansour, fresh off getting her MBA, means business when it comes to giving beach handball its due.
“I always view it as a startup sport,” Mansour said. “Not that many people know about it, especially in the States. It’s so interesting because once I explain this sport to people and show them a clip, the interest is immediately piqued.”
Just like the sport itself, Udo-Udoma is better known outside the U.S., often referred to internationally by his nickname “Handball Ninja.”
“I remember shaking hands with an opponent,” Udo-Udoma said. “I said, ‘My name’s Ebiye.’ He said ‘Ninja, you don’t have to introduce yourself, we all know who you are.’ I just chuckled.”
Unlike the indoor version, beach handball is not yet an official part of the Olympics. But this year in Paris, beach handball is an exhibition sport played alongside the Olympic Games.
Mansour and Udo-Udoma are among 64 of the world’s best athletes from 18 different countries playing in a showcase with hopes for the sport to be granted a permanent spot.
“It’s very important to me that you have these mediums in life like sport where you can transcend barriers whether they are political, social or geographical,” Udo-Udoma said. “It’s nice to have something to connect you to other human beings independent of superficial restrictions.”
After playing Division 1 basketball at Harvard, Mansour found beach handball while living in California and excelled — becoming the top scorer in the 2022 World Championship, moving to the Netherlands and creating a dual-nation team. Now she is being named the only female player from North America for the showcase.
“We’re all entrepreneurs in the sense,” Mansour said. “We’re all doing our part to build this community and build this sport, build awareness, so we can continue to reach higher levels and with that the ultimate goal is reaching the Olympics.”
Mansour said one of the big differentiators setting this sport apart from others is the points for spectacular goals, including the alley oops and the spin shots.
It was those moves that first caught the attention of the future “Handball Ninja.” Udo-Udoma played at Oregon State University and joined the national team a decade ago.
“For really a couple decades worth of work to culminate into something like getting the opportunity to play under the rings, the flood of emotion that initially hit me was immense,” Udo-Udoma said.
Olympic gold is not the goal this year for these Americans. They are just out to prove beach handball belongs at the Olympics and they’re not going to miss their shot —spinning or not — to showcase that.
“So to have this opportunity as we shoot to get it on the program for Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032, and to be an integral part of the history of something; that’s something that has even more value on top of what I accomplish as an individual athlete or as a competitor — to be part of something bigger than me,” Udo-Udoma said.
“For me to be part of an Olympic showcase of a sport that I’m obsessed with, that I love, and I wish the whole world knew about is the greatest honor,” Mansour added.
