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.
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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
President Joe Biden laid out his plan to reform the Supreme Court on Monday, July 29. His proposal includes establishing term limits for the nine justices and creating an ethics code.
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.
Tags: Republican Primary, Republicans, SCOTUS, Summer Games, Fast food, evacuations, Kimberly Cheatle, Seine River, Abortion, Joe Biden, Japan, Kari Lake, Donald Trump, Roe v Wade, Capitol Hill, Kyrsten Sinema, Clarence Thomas, California, Supreme Court, Samuel Alito, Arizona, United States Secret Service, McDonald’s, Rhode Island, FBI, Pennsylvania, 2024 Elections, U.S. Senate, Election, U.S. Congress, Wildfire, Beijing, Olympics, Great Britain, Andy Ogles, United States, Tennessee, Constitution, shooting, Paris
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE NEW HEAD OF THE SECRET SERVICE WILL BE ON CAPITOL HILL TUESDAY TESTIFYING OVER THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP — AS SECURITY QUESTIONS REMAIN TO BE ANSWERED.
IT COMES ONE WEEK AFTER THE SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR’S TESTIMONY THAT LED HER TO STEP DOWN FROM THE POSITION.
ACCORDING TO EXCERPTS OF RONALD 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.”
TODAY’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 SAYS THEY NEVER SPOKE TO SECRET SERVICE UNTIL *AFTER* THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.
WE’VE ALSO LEARNING TRUMP WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE FBI ON THURSDAY FOR WHAT’S CALLED A “VICTIM’S INTERVIEW” — WHICH IS TYPICAL IN INVESTIGATIONS — WHERE TRUMP WILL DESCRIBE WHAT HE SAW AND EXPERIENCED.
IT’S BEEN 17 DAYS SINCE THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE NEARLY LOST HIS LIFE AT THAT RALLY —
AND WHILE CONGRESS WILL LOOK TO LEARN ABOUT SECURITY LAPSES IN TODAY’S TESTIMONY —
THERE’S LONG TERM EFFORTS TO OBTAIN ANSWERS TOO — INCLUDING THE NEWLY LAUNCHED HOUSE PANEL WHICH WILL ALSO HAVE SUBPOENA POWER.
THERE ARE STILL SOME HIGH-PROFILE PRIMARY RACES TAKING PLACE IN SEVERAL STATES —
VOTERS IN ARIZONA AND TENNESSEE WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TUESDAY.
SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA — WHO SWITCHED FROM BEING A DEMOCRAT TO AN INDEPENDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR ISN’T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION —
SO THERE ARE NEW CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THAT OPEN SENATE SEAT — A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER SEAT WITH THE MAJORITY HANGING IN THE BALANCE THIS NOVEMBER.
THE TOP DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IS RUBEN GALLEGO — CURRENTLY A CONGRESSMAN.
WHICH MEANS HIS HOUSE SEAT — IS UP FOR GRABS — ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER HOUSE SEATS.
AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE SENATE RACE IN ARIZONA — IT’S FORMER TV ANCHOR KARI LAKE LEADING OVER HER OPPONENT.
IN TENNESSEE — IT’S A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE — HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ANDY OGLES — FACING A CHALLENGE AND POTENTIALLY CLOSE RACE.
OGLES SECURED A MAJOR ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AHEAD OF TUESDAY’S PRIMARIES.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT — PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS LAID OUT HIS PLAN TO REFORM THE SUPREME COURT.
HIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES ESTABLISHING TERM LIMITS FOR THE NINE JUSTICES… AND CREATING AN ETHICS CODE.
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 20-22 DECISION OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE AND LAST MONTH’S RULING ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY.
NOW — PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ALSO SUGGESTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THAT.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“Then most recently and most shockingly, the Supreme Court established in Trump vs. the United States, a dangerous precedent. They ruled, as you know, as the president of the United States has immunity from for 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.”
“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 IS UNLIKELY TO BECOME A REALITY.
IT WOULD FIRST HAVE TO BE PASSED BY TWO-THIRDS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE — WHICH IS IMPROBABLE, GIVEN THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY… *THEN* RATIFIED BY THREE-QUARTERS OF U-S STATES.
CALIFORNIA’S PARK FIRE HAS GROWN INTO THE 6-TH LARGEST WILDFIRE IN THE STATE’S HISTORY.
ACCORDING TO CAL FIRE — IT’S NOW SCORCHED MORE THAN 370-THOUSAND ACRES ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES… AND IS STILL ONLY 12 PERCENT CONTAINED.
IT’S FORCED THOUSANDS TO ABANDON THEIR HOMES AND CONTRIBUTED TO POOR AIR QUALITY FORM COAST TO COAST.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE FIRE STARTED WHEN A MAN PUSHED A BURNING CAR INTO A DRY RAVINE.
HE WAS OFFICIALLY INDICTED ON ARSON CHARGES MONDAY.
MCDONALD’S IS RECONSIDERING ITS PRICING STRATEGY AFTER THE FAST FOOD GIANT REPORTED ITS FIRST SALES SLUMP SINCE 2020 IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
EXPERTS SAY BUDGET-CONSCIOUS AMERICANS ARE EATING AT HOME MORE OFTEN DUE TO HIGHER PRICES AT FAST FOOD CHAINS.
THIS SUMMER, MCDONALD’S RELEASED A 5-DOLLAR MEAL PROMOTION TO DRIVE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC, THOUGH COMPETITORS HAVE ALSO LAUNCHED SIMILAR DEALS.
MCDONALD’S CEO SAYS CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT MORE DISCOUNTS IN AN EFFORT TO BRING MORE PEOPLE IN – AND STOP THE SALES DECLINE.
HERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY — THANKFULLY.
A SWARM OF DRAGONFLIES OVERTOOK A RHODE ISLAND BEACH ON SATURDAY.
LOCAL MEDIA SAID THE BEACHGOERS REPORTED THE INSECTS DESCENDING ALL OF A SUDDEN LIKE A QUOTE “BLACK CLOUD” — FORCING SOME TO PACK UP AND LEAVE.
EXPERTS SAY THIS IS NORMAL — AS DRAGONFLIES ARE STARTING THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION SOUTH.
AN UPDATE FROM THE SUMMER GAMES IN PARIS – OLYMPIC OFFICIALS POSTPONING TUESDAY MORNING’S MEN’S TRIATHLON RACE – AFTER THEY SAY THE SEINE RIVER REMAINS CONTAMINATED WITH LEVELS OF E. COLI TOO HIGH FOR THE SWIMMING PORTION OF THE COMPETITION. THE EVENT IS NOW TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY.
MEANWHILE, ON TUESDAY, THE BIG STORY FOR TEAM USA WAS NOT ABOUT GOLD MEDALS – BUT BRONZE.
THE US MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM EARNING 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
TOPPING GREAT BRITAIN FOR THE THIRD SPOT ON THE PODIUM.
JAPAN TAKING THE GOLD AND CHINA WINNING SILVER.
THE LAST TIME THE U.S. MEN’S GYMNASTIC TEAM WON A TEAM MEDAL WAS AT THE 2008 BEIJING GAMES.
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