Vice President Kamala Harris expected to name running mate within hours
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to make her pick for running mate within hours. And White House spokesperson John Kirby is pressed about the sudden reversal of a plea deal with the alleged 9/11 mastermind. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.
VP Kamala Harris expected to name running mate soon
Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough votes from state delegates to officially become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. And people are expected to find out who she will choose as her running mate by Tuesday, Aug. 6.
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Harris reportedly spoke with some top VP contenders on Sunday, Aug. 4, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
She’ll make her choice shortly because following her pick, she’ll hit the road on a seven-state battleground tour, with the first top in Philadelphia.
A new CBS poll has Harris ahead of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump by one point nationally and tied with Trump across battleground states.
Over the weekend, Trump officially scrapped the ABC debate that was planned on Sept. 10 when President Joe Biden was still the Democratic nominee.
Trump said he’s still willing to debate Harris but wants a venue change; posing a new date with Fox News moderating. Trump is also in litigation with ABC News, so he said there’s a conflict of interest in using that network.
Harris’ campaign said Trump is “afraid to debate” and shot down his proposal of a venue and date change. So, as of now, there’s no clarity on if we will see the two share a stage ahead of the November election.
Kirby questioned on the president’s involvement in 9/11 plea deal
Many questions remain after it was announced last week the U.S. had reached a plea agreement with the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and his co-conspirators that would have them avoid the death penalty, then that deal was quickly rescinded. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a memo Friday, Aug. 2, saying the decision should’ve been his to make.
Now, many Americans want to know how the original plea deal could have even been an option and what the president has to say about it.
White House spokesperson John Kirby was questioned about it during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”
“This was a decision made by the Secretary of Defense,” Kirby said. “It was an independent decision by him, certainly within his authorities, as in the chain of command at the Defense Department.”
A White House National Security Council had previously said President Biden did not play a role in taking the death penalty off the table for the three alleged 9/11 masterminds. He also rejected a proposal last year that would also have spared them the death penalty.
Hurricane Debby barrels toward Florida’s Big Bend
Hurricane Debby is taking aim at Florida’s Big Bend, with storm making landfall in Steinhatchee, the National Hurricane Center said in a Monday, Aug. 5 morning update. Debby is packing a punch with strong winds and the potential for record rainfall, leading to catastrophic flooding and dangerous storm surge.
Already, tens of thousands in Florida are without power.
According to the National Hurricane Center, once it makes landfall, Debby is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and southern Georgia. The Hurricane Center said the storm is likely to strengthen before it makes landfall, but it’ll weaken as it moves inland.
Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine deploying new F-16 fighter jets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that new F-16 fighter jets have arrived in Ukraine. These are the first to be added to their fleet, which is significant since Zelenskyy has long been asking countries to supply this type of fighter jet for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Zelenskyy spoke about the jets during a special Armed Forces Day event on Sunday, Aug. 4. The jets, decorated with Ukraine’s symbols, were on display at the event and two flew overhead as he spoke.
Zelenskyy said they will help protect Ukraine’s skies from Russian missiles and aircraft, however, they won’t be near the frontlines as there are too few of them and Russian defense systems can shoot them down.
Zelenskyy also mentioned Ukraine is working with neighboring countries and NATO to find other ways to better defend against Russian missiles. He hopes this will lead to a coalition of western countries working together against Russia.
With the delivery of such high-power vessels, some have warned it could escalate tensions between Russia and the west.
Ukraine has suggested it may store these F-16 fighter jets in other countries to protect them from being targeted if held in Ukraine. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already said Moscow would consider launching strikes at facilities in NATO countries if they host the F-16 fighter jets used in Ukraine.
Violent protests erupt in UK, Bangladesh
Chaotic protests have formed in the U.K. in what’s being called “the worst disorder seen in the country in years.” The protests sparked over a false rumor spread online, claiming that an “asylum seeker” was responsible for a stabbing attack at a dance studio that left three young girls dead.
As a result, rioters have targeted hotels used to house asylum seekers — who are largely of Muslim faith coming from Middle Eastern countries. They have also targeted libraries, attacked a mosque and damaged a statue of Winston Churchill.
Hundreds of people have been arrested.
And in Bangladesh, just to the east of India, multiple sources say Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, Aug. 5, and fled the country after at least 100 people killed during violent anti-government protests.
This latest wave of violence from over the weekend follows a month of turmoil in July that saw another 200 people killed when students protested job quotas.
In response, the country is on a severe lockdown and a curfew has been implemented and courts, schools and universities closed.
The now-former prime minister also cut off mobile internet and access to social media apps like Facebook and WhatsApp to “prevent further violence” and “control the situation.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, according to army chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman.
Report: Candy giant Mars in talks to acquire snack food maker Kellanova
The Wall Street Journal reported candy giant Mars, known for its chocolates like M&Ms and Snickers, is in advanced talks to acquire the snack company Kellanova. Kellanova, which spun off from Kellogg last year, is behind brands like Pop Tarts, Pringles, Cheez-Its and Eggo waffles.
The deal would be one of the largest in packaged foods and the journal saying it could come together soon — if the talks do not fall apart.
Team USA sets swimming records, Noah Lyle wins gold in photo finish
Team USA has picked up 34 more Olympic medals since Friday, Aug. 2. That brings our total to 72 — the most of any country.
The U.S. added 10 more gold medals over the weekend, including gymnast Simone Biles’ seventh and swimmer Katie Ledecky’s ninth.
On Sunday, Aug. 4, the final night of swimming at the Paris Olympics, Team USA set two world records.
Bobby Finke won the 1,500 meter freestyle with a record time of 14 minutes and 30.67 seconds. In the women’s 4×100 meter relay, Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske won with a record time of 3 minutes, 49.63 seconds.
It was a photo finish in track for sprinting star Noah Lyles. He just barely edged out Jamaica and his USA teammate to take home the gold in the men’s 100 meter final. It was so close, the commentator announced the wrong winner at first.
Entering the Summer Games, Lyles said his goal was to leave Paris with four gold medals — and he’s now well on his way to achieving that!
Tags: 2024 Elections, 9/11, ABC, asylum seekers, Atlantic Ocean, Bangladesh, candy, CBS News, debate, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, Democrats, Department of Defense, Donald Trump, Election, F-16 fighter jets, Facebook, flooding, Florida, Fox News, Georgia, hurricane, Hurricane season, India, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris, kellogg’s, Libraries, Lloyd Austin, Mark Kelly, missiles, Muslim, National Hurricane Center, NATO, Olympic Games, Olympics, Paris, Plea deal, Power Outage, Protests, Republicans, Russia, Simone Biles, Social Media, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, United Kingdom, Universities, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Wall Street Journal, War, WhatsApp, White House, White House National Security Council
[KARAH RUCKER]
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SECURED ENOUGH VOTES FROM STATE DELEGATES TO OFFICIALLY BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
AND WE’RE EXPECTED TO FIND OUT WHO SHE WILL CHOOSE AS HER RUNNING MATE BY TUESDAY.
THE V-P REPORTEDLY SPOKE WITH SOME TOP V-P CONTENDERS ON SUNDAY — INCLUDING MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY, AND PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO.
SHE’LL MAKE HER CHOICE EARLY ON THIS WEEK BECAUSE FOLLOWING HER PICK — SHE WILL HIT THE ROAD ON A “SEVEN STATE BATTLEGROUND TOUR.”
A NEW CBS POLL HAS HARRIS AHEAD OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BY ONE POINT NATIONALLY. AND TIED WITH TRUMP ACROSS BATTLEGROUND STATES.
MEANWHILE OVER THE WEEKEND — TRUMP OFFICIALLY SCRAPPED THE ABC DEBATE THAT WAS PLANNED NEXT WEEK WHEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS STILL THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.
TRUMP SAYS HE’S STILL WILLING TO DEBATE HARRIS — BUT WANTS A VENUE CHANGE. POSING A NEW DATE WITH FOX NEWS MODERATING.
TRUMP IS ALSO IN LITIGATION WITH ABC NEWS — SO HE SAYS THERE’S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN USING THAT NETWORK.
HARRIS’ CAMPAIGN HAS SAID TRUMP IS “AFRAID TO DEBATE” —
AND SHOT DOWN HIS PROPOSAL OF A VENUE AND DATE CHANGE.
SO AS OF NOW — THERE’S NO REAL CLARITY ON IF WE WILL SEE THE TWO SHARE A STAGE AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
HURRICANE DEBBY IS TAKING AIM AT FLORIDA’S BIG BEND — WITH THE CENTER OF THE STORM EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL LATE MONDAY MORNING.
DEBBY IS PACKING A PUNCH WITH STRONG WINDS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR RECORD RAINFALL, LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC FLOODING AND DANGEROUS STORM SURGE.
ALREADY, TENS OF THOUSANDS IN FLORIDA ARE WITHOUT POWER.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER — ONCE IT MAKES LANDFALL, DEBBY IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS NORTHERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN GEORGIA.
THE CENTER SAYS THE STORM IS LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN BEFORE IT MAKES LANDFALL… BUT IT’LL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES INLAND.
DEBBY IS THE 4-TH NAMED STORM OF THE 20-24 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.
MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THE U.S. HAD REACHED A PLEA AGREEMENT WITH THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF THE 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS AND HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS THAT WOULD HAVE THEM AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY — BUT THEN THAT DEAL WAS QUICKLY RESCINDED.
DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN RELEASING A MEMO FRIDAY NIGHT SAYING THE DECISION SHOULD’VE BEEN HIS TO MAKE — AND RELIEVED THE OVERSEER IN CHARGE BRINGING THE CASE TO A CLOSE OF DUTY.
NOW — MANY AMERICANS WANT TO KNOW *HOW* THE ORIGINAL PLEA DEAL COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN AN OPTION… AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.
A WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN DID *NOT* PLAY A ROLE IN TAKING THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE FOR THE THREE ALLEGED 9/11 MASTERMINDS.
HE ALSO REJECTED A PROPOSAL LAST YEAR THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE SPARED THEM THE DEATH PENALTY.
A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR —
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT NEW F-16 FIGHTER JETS HAVE ARRIVED IN UKRAINE —
THE FIRST TO BE ADDED TO THEIR FLEET WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT SINCE IT’S BEEN YEARS OF ZELENSKYY ASKING COUNTRIES TO SUPPLY THIS TYPE OF FIGHTER JET TO THE COUNTRY.
HE BELIEVES THESE JETS WILL HELP UKRAINE IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA.
ZELENSKYY SPOKE ABOUT THE JETS DURING A SPECIAL ARMED FORCES DAY EVENT.
THE JETS, DECORATED WITH UKRAINE’S SYMBOLS, WERE ON DISPLAY, AND TWO FLEW OVERHEAD AS HE SPOKE.
ZELENSKYY SAYS THEY WILL HELP PROTECT UKRAINE’S SKIES FROM RUSSIAN MISSILES AND AIRCRAFT —
HOWEVER THEY WON’T BE NEAR THE FRONTLINES AS THERE ARE TOO FEW OF THEM AND TOO MUCH RUSSIAN DEFENSE SYSTEMS THAT CAN SHOOT THEM DOWN.
ZELENSKYY MENTIONED THAT UKRAINE IS WORKING WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES — AND NATO — TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO BETTER DEFEND AGAINST RUSSIAN MISSILES.
HE HOPES THIS WILL LEAD TO A COALITION OF WESTERN COUNTRIES WORKING TOGETHER AGAINST RUSSIA.
WITH THE DELIVERY OF SUCH HIGH-POWER VESSELS — SOME HAVE WARNED IT COULD ESCALATE TENSIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST.
UKRAINE HAS SUGGESTED IT MAY STORE THESE F-16 FIGHTER JETS IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO PROTECT THEM FROM BEING TARGETED IF HELD IN UKRAINE.
HOWEVER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADYMIR PUTIN HAS ALREADY SAID MOSCOW WOULD CONSIDER LAUNCHING STRIKES AT FACILITIES **IN NATO COUNTRIES IF THEY HOST THE F-16 FIGHTER JETS USED IN UKRAINE.
CHAOTIC PROTESTS HAVE FORMED IN THE U.K. IN WHAT’S BEING CALLING “THE WORST DISORDER SEEN IN THE COUNTRY IN YEARS”.
THE PROTESTS SPARKED OVER A FALSE RUMOR SPREAD ONLINE —
CLAIMING THAT AN “ASYLUM SEEKER” WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A STABBING ATTACK AT A DANCE STUDIO THAT LEFT THREE LITTLE GIRLS DEAD.
AS A RESULT — RIOTERS HAVE TARGETED HOTELS USED TO HOUSE “ASYLUM SEEKERS” — WHO ARE LARGELY OF MUSLIM FAITH COMING FROM MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES.
THEY HAVE ALSO TARGETED LIBRARIES, ATTACKED A MOSQUE, AND DAMAGED A STATUE OF WINSTON CHURCHILL.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
AND THEN IN BANGLADESH JUST TO THE EAST OF INDIA —
THERE’S BEEN AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE KILLED DURING VIOLENT ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS.
PROTESTERS ARE CALLING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO RESIGN.
THIS LATEST WAVE OF VIOLENCE FROM OVER THE WEEKEND FOLLOWS A MONTH OF TURMOIL IN JULY THAT SAW ANOTHER 200 PEOPLE KILLED WHEN STUDENTS PROTESTED “JOB QUOTAS.”
IN RESPONSE — THE COUNTRY IS ON A SEVERE LOCKDOWN.
A CURFEW, CLOSED COURTS, SCHOOLS, AND UNIVERSITIES.
THE PRIME MINISTER EVEN CUTTING OFF MOBILE INTERNET AND ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA APPS LIKE FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP TO “PREVENT FURTHER VIOLENCE” AND “CONTROL THE SITUATION”.
NOW TO A MAJOR MERGER THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO THE SNACK AISLE.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTING CANDY GIANT MARS – KNOWN FOR ITS CHOCOLATES LIKE M&MS AND SNICKERS — IS IN ADVANCED TALKS TO ACQUIRE THE SNACK COMPANY KELLANOVA.
KELLANOVA — SPUN OFF FROM KELLOGG LAST YEAR – IS BEHIND BRANDS LIKE POP TARTS — PRINGLES – CHEEZE-ITS AND EGGO WAFFLES.
THE DEAL WOULD BE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN PACKAGED FOODS AND THE JOURNAL SAYING IT COULD COME TOGETHER SOON – AS LONG AS THE TALKS DO NOT FALL APART,
SINCE FRIDAY’S MORNING RUNDOWN – TEAM USA HAS PICKED UP 34 MORE MEDALS – FOR A TOTAL OF 72 – THE MOST OF ANY COUNTRY. THE US ADDING 10 MORE GOLD MEDALS OVER THE WEEKEND – INCLUDING SIMONE BILE’S SEVENTH – AND KATIE LEDECKY’S NINTH.
AND ON SUNDAY — THE FINAL NIGHT OF SWIMMING AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS – TEAM USA SETTING TWO WORLD RECORDS.
BOBBY FINKE WINNING THE FIFTEEN HUNDRED METER FREESTYLE WITH A RECORD TIME OF 14 MINUTES AND 30 POINT 67 SECONDS.
AND IN THE WOMEN’S 4 BY 100 METER RELAY – REGAN SMITH, LILLY KING, GRETCHEN WALSH, AND TORRI HUSKE WINNING WITH A RECORD TIME OF 3 MINUTES, 49 POINT 63 SECONDS.
THEN MOVING TO THE TRACK – A PHOTO FINISH SAW SPRINTING STAR NOAH LYLES BARELY EDGING OUT JAMAICA AND HIS USA TEAMMATE TO TAKE HOME THE GOLD IN THE MEN’S 100-METER FINAL. IT WAS SO CLOSE – THE COMMENTATOR ANNOUNCED THE WRONG WINNER AT FIRST. ENTERING THE SUMMER GAMES – LYLES SAID HIS GOAL WAS TO LEAVE PARIS WITH FOUR GOLD MEDALS – HE’S NOW ON HIS WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT!
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