Gov. Walz accepts VP nomination, tells Democrats to ‘leave it on the field’

Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) Thursday, Aug. 22 night, just hours after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the party’s nomination for vice president. And former President Donald Trump appeared behind bulletproof glass in his first outdoor rally since his attempted assassination. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024

Gov. Walz accepts VP nomination, tells Democrats to ‘leave it on the field’

Thursday, Aug. 22, is the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president during a primetime speech.

On Wednesday night, Aug. 21, her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, officially accepted the nod for vice president. During his keynote speech, Walz introduced himself to the American people with what he described as a “pep talk” like those he used to give during his time as a high school teacher and football coach.

“It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball,” he said of Harris’ campaign. “We’re driving down the field, and boy, do we have the right team…There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead. We’re going to leave it on the field.” 

In his address, Walz spoke of his record as Minnesota’s governor, comparing his policies to that of Republican-led states. 

“Other states were banning books from their schools; we were banishing hunger from ours,” Walz said. “We also protected reproductive freedom, because in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. Even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: Mind your own damn business.”

Before Walz took the stage Wednesday, some of the biggest A-listers and veteran party leaders gave speeches to rally up the base. Former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Oprah Winfrey were among those who addressed the crowd.

“Let us choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to any individual because that’s the best of America,” Winfrey said. “And let us choose optimism over cynicism and let us include inclusion over retribution.”

Harris will close out the convention Thursday, Aug. 22 night, with the last night’s theme being “for our future.” 

Meanwhile former President Donald Trump will visit the border in Arizona on Thursday. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will campaign in Georgia.

Trump appears behind bulletproof glass for outdoor rally in North Carolina

On Wednesday, Aug, 21, former President Trump held his first outdoor rally since the assassination attempt on his life in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. The appearance came with an added layer of security. 

A wall of bulletproof glass surrounded the podium as Trump and Vance addressed supporters in the battleground state of North Carolina. Their focus was on national security.

President Trump leaves the bulletproof glass protecting him to check on a supporter in the crowd who passed out.

FEARLESS. pic.twitter.com/4QW1r9nmFI

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 21, 2024

At the same time, lawmakers continued their search into what went wrong on July 13 when Trump was shot in the ear during that assassination attempt. A bipartisan congressional task force met remotely with the FBI to discuss progress in the agency’s investigation.

RFK Jr. expected to drop out of 2024 race, endorse Trump

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to suspend his campaign by the end of the week. Kennedy is set to give a speech Friday, Aug. 23, on his “path forward” in the 2024 election during an event in Arizona. 

This comes just days after his running mate said Kennedy has two options left: stay in the race or drop out and back former President Trump. It’s speculated Kennedy will announce his endorsement of Trump during the same speech on Friday — possibly in a joint appearance with the former president, who will also be campaigning in Arizona that day. 

JD Vance has confirmed there’s been “a lot of communication back and forth” between the campaigns but nothing is set in stone.

5 bodies recovered after yacht sinks off coast of Sicily

Divers have now recovered five bodies in the wreckage of the luxury yacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily during a storm on Monday, Aug. 19. Their identities have not been confirmed.

One person remains missing. Fifteen people were rescued in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

Crews are using the help of underwater drones in their search efforts at the wreckage site.

2nd US Navy aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East amid Iran threat

A second U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, has arrived in the Middle East. It joins the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which was stationed in the area after Iran threatened to attack Israel in retaliation for a deadly strike on a top Hamas leader in Tehran on July 31. 

The U.S. military’s Central Command shared video of F-35 jets taking off from the Lincoln’s deck on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), equipped with F-35C and F/A-18 Block III fighters, entered the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, is accompanied by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 and… pic.twitter.com/RKoJQshigR

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 21, 2024

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Lincoln, as well as the guided missile submarine the USS Georgia, to the region earlier this month as tensions remain high over an expected attack by Iran on Israel following the killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. The Lincoln and Georgia add to the U.S. ships already in the area, including eight destroyers. 

These military moves come as President Joe Biden stressed on a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday the urgent need to conclude talks on a cease-fire and hostage release plan. The White House said the president pointed to the upcoming discussions in Cairo as “crucial.”

Taylor Swift breaks her silence on canceled Vienna shows

Taylor Swift has broken her silence following the foiled terrorist plot that resulted in the cancellation of her Eras tour shows in Vienna, Austria. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Swift reflected on the end of the European leg of her tour.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

She posted several images from various shows in Europe along with a caption which read in part, “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.” 

Swift went on to say, “Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows. In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that.” 

Swift added she was heartened by the love and unity she saw in her fans who banded together.