Skip to main content
Unbiased Updates™

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.”

Musk has not yet commented on the interview. 

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.

Merchant was arrested on July 12 — one day before Trump was shot at the Pennsylvania rally.

5.2 magnitude earthquake rocks Southern California

California was rattled Tuesday, Aug. 6 night by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake near Bakersfield. The effects being felt all the way to Los Angeles.

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.” 

No significant damage was found by helicopter crews and no injuries were reported.

Hamas names Oct. 7 attack mastermind as new leader

Hamas has named its new leader following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyeh in 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. 

Israel’s killings of multiple senior officials in Hamas over recent months has led to rising tensions in the region.

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. 

However, it was a very close race, with Wesley Bell on track to win the Democratic vote with 51% of ballots cast.

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. 

Michigan is set to be a key Senate race the 2024 election, especially since it’s an open seat now that incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow is retiring.

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

[KARAH RUCKER]

WE START ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL — WITH BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES MAKING A SHOWING IN PHILADELPHIA ON TUESDAY. 

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND HER NEWLY-PICKED RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ HELD THEIR FIRST RALLY TOGETHER — 

AND A DUELING RALLY CLOSE BY — 

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RUNNING MATE JD VANCE MAKING HIS FIRST STOP IN PHILADELPHIA 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 PERCENT OF AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF HARRIS’ NEW RUNNING MATE. 

WALZ — GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF IN BATTLEGROUND TERRITORY — 

AND — TAKING AIM AT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TICKET. 

GOV. TIM WALZ | D-MI, DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE 

“Like all regular people I grew up with in the heartland, JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a bestseller (book) 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.” 

AND AT VANCE’S RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA — HE RESPONDED TO THE NEWS OF WALZ BEING HARRIS’ SELECTION FOR VICE PRESIDENT. 

SEN. JD VANCE | R-OH, REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE 

“Tim Walz’s record is a joke. 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 is 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 5 BATTLEGROUND STATES IN THE DAYS TO COME. 

AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION — IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS MONTH.

THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE — FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL BE SITTING DOWN WITH ELON MUSK FOR AN INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK. 

TRUMP MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON HIS TRUTH SOCIAL PLATFORM TUESDAY SAYING QUOTE “ON MONDAY NIGHT I’LL BE DOING A MAJOR INTERVIEW WITH ELON MUSK – DETAILS TO FOLLOW.” 

MUSK HAS NOT YET COMMENTED ON THE INTERVIEW. 

LAST MONTH – THE TECH MOGUL ENDORSED TRUMP FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT DURING A RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA.

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 SAY ONE OF THE MAIN TARGETS — WAS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. 

ASIF MERCHANT IS CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR HIRE — AFTER D-O-J OFFICIALS SAY HE FLEW FORM PAKISTAN TO THE U-S TO RECRUIT HITMEN FOR THE PLOT. 

THEY SAY ONE OF THE SO-CALLED “HITMEN” HE CONTACTED WAS A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT FOR THE F-B-I. 

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 PENNSYLVANIA RALLY — AND IS **UNRELATED TO THOSE EVENTS ACCORDING TO THE FBI. 

MERCHANT WAS ARRESTED ON JULY 12-TH — ONE DAY PRIOR TO TRUMP GETTING SHOT IN BUTLER PENNSYLVANIA.

CALIFORNIA WAS RATTLED TUESDAY NIGHT BY A 5.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE NEAR BAKERSFIELD — 

THE EFFECTS BEING FELT ALL THE WAY UP TO LOS ANGELES. 

OFFICIALS SAY THERE’S BEEN DOZENS OF AFTERSHOCKS — WITH MAGNITUDES MEASURING BETWEEN 2.5 AND 4.5 — FOLLOWING THE INITIAL RUMBLINGS THAT BEGAN AROUND 9 P-M LOCAL TIME. 

“SEISMOLOGISTS” CALLING IT “A PRETTY ACTIVE SEQUENCE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.” 

NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS FOUND BY HELICOPTER CREWS AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

HAMAS HAS NAMED ITS NEW LEADER FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF FORMER LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH IN IRAN LAST WEEK. 

YAHYAH SINWAR WILL NOW LEAD THE TERROR GROUP — WHO IS KNOWN AS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE OCTOBER 7-TH ATTACK. 

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 RESPONDING TO SINWAR’S APPOINTMENT — VOWING TO TAKE HIM OUT, AS WELL. 

ISRAEL’S KILLINGS OF MULTIPLE SENIOR OFFICIALS IN HAMAS OVER RECENT MONTHS HAS LED TO RISING TENSIONS IN THE REGION.

A QUICK RESULTS RECAP FROM A FEW CLOSELY WATCHED PRIMARY RACES. 

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN AND “SQUAD MEMBER” CORI BUSH HAS LOST HER PRIMARY RACE IN MISSOURI ACCORDING TO MEDIA PROJECTIONS. 

BUSH HAS BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF ISRAEL IN ITS WAR AGAINST HAMAS — 

WITH PRO-ISRAEL GROUPS SPENDING UPWARDS OF 10 MILLION DOLLARS ON EFFORTS TO UNSEAT HER. 

HOWEVER — IT WAS A VERY CLOSE RACE — WITH WESLEY BELL ON TRACK TO WIN THE VOTE WITH 51 PERCENT OF BALLOTS CAST. 

AND IN MICHIGAN — IN BATTLEGROUND TERRITORY — 

FORMER U-S REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ROGERS HAS WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR A U-S SENATE SEAT — SETTING HIM UP TO FACE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ELISSA SLOTKIN IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. 

MICHIGAN IS SET TO BE A KEY SENATE RACE THIS ELECTION — ESPECIALLY SINCE IT’S AN OPEN SEAT NOW THAT INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW IS RETIRING.

THE MAJOR 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 UNDER PERFORMING RESTAURANTS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A DOZEN LOCATIONS LAST MONTH ALONE. 

IT WILL ALSO “RESTRUCTURE” THE REST OF ITS 44 LOCATIONS — BUT SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ITS FAMILY-SIZE PORTIONS THAT HAS BEEN BUCA’S STAPLE.

THE US TOOK HOME TWO OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS ON THE TRACK IN PARIS ON TUESDAY – BRINGING THE TEAM’S GOLD MEDAL COUNT TO 24 AND THE OVERALL TOTAL TO 86. 

FIRST – COLE HOCKER WON THE MEN’S FIFTEEN HUNDRED (1,500) METER RELAY – COMING FROM BEHIND IN THE FINAL SECONDS TO SET AN OLYMPIC RECORD AT 3 MINUTES AND 27 POINT 65 SECONDS. 

AND THEN – GABBY THOMAS EARNED HER FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL – WINNING THE WOMEN’S 200-METER FINAL AFTER TAKING THE BRONZE BACK IN TOKYO. 

THOMAS CROSSING THE FINISH LINE IN 21 POINT 83 SECONDS TO GIVE THE US ITS FIRST GOLD IN THE EVENT IN 12 YEARS.