Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has resigned effective immediately. The decision announced on Wednesday, Aug. 14, comes months after student protests over the Israel-Hamas war turned destructive, leading to multiple arrests and widespread criticism over how the university handled the demonstrations. In April, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested, and an on-campus tent encampment was removed by New York…

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will make their first trip together since the president dropped out of the 2024 race. And Columbia University’s president becomes the latest Ivy League leader to step down following concerns of antisemitism on college campuses. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Biden,…

Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official, said the group is losing faith in the United States to act as a mediator for cease-fire talks with Gaza as pressure to end the war with Israel continues to increase. Hamdan said that Hamas will only participate in the cease fire conversations if the discussions focus on implementing…

As Israel continues its war against Hamas and faces the looming threat of an attack from Iran — the Middle East’s only democracy and staunch American ally — finds itself in a precarious position. Despite controversy, U.S. support for Israel remains strong, with a $20 billion weapons deal set to be delivered over the coming…

The U.S. State Department has approved $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel. This package includes 50 fighter jets, air-to-air missiles, tank ammunition, and tactical vehicles, aimed at bolstering Israel’s military capabilities over the coming years. Despite the urgency suggested by recent regional escalations, these weapons, including scores of F-15 fighter jets and advanced missiles,…

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) defends his military record in his first solo campaign event since being named Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. And an emergency declaration is approved for Puerto Rico as Tropical Storm Ernesto churns through the Caribbean. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Walz defends his military…

This week on Weapons and Warfare, the F-16s have arrived. After nearly two years of negotiations and intense training, Ukraine’s long hoped for F-16s have started arriving. Host Ryan Robertson takes an in-depth look at the road traveled to turn a dream into a reality, and what role experts say the fighter jets will play…

After pro-Hamas protests erupted on college campuses in the spring of 2024, some universities are implementing new rules on who can access their schools. Columbia University previously became the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests. The campus now faces the possibility of renewed demonstrations as student activists have vowed to escalate their activities in the new school…

Tensions in the Middle East have flared up again in the aftermath of several Israeli strikes against high-level targets in both Hamas and Hezbollah. One of those strikes violated Iranian sovereignty, and experts suggest that it could not have occurred without Iranian insider support. Iran has promised to respond with force, and Israel and Iran…

National Security Adviser John Kirby announced that the U.S. is bracing for potential “significant” attacks by Iran or its proxies in the Middle East, possibly occurring as early as this week. In response, the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the region, a move Kirby described as aimed at deterring Iranian aggression and de-escalating…