The Conversation -- July 23, 2024

Nicholas Fandos & Tracey Tully of the New York Times: "Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey announced on Tuesday that he would resign from Congress effective in late August, bowing to intense pressure from Democratic colleagues who had pushed him to step down after his conviction in a vast international bribery scheme or face an expulsion vote. Mr. Menendez has maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal a guilty verdict returned last week by a federal jury in Manhattan. But with his own party fast-tracking a vote to expel him, he chose to spare his party an ugly fight and avoid becoming the first senator ousted since the Civil War by quitting with months to go in his term. The senator made his intention to resign official in a letter to Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, shortly after he shared the news with what remained of his staff. Mr. Murphy, a Democrat, is expected to quickly appoint a replacement who would serve until January."

Hamed Aleaziz, et al., of the New York Times: "The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly A. Cheatle, resigned on Tuesday, after security failures surrounding the attempted assassination of ... Donald J. Trump and calls for her to step down from prominent Republican lawmakers. According to an email sent to Secret Service agents on Tuesday, Ms. Cheatle said that one of the Secret Service's foremost duties is to protect the nation's leaders and that the agency 'fell short of that mission' during the assassination attempt.... The resignation is a rapid fall for the agency veteran who protected Dick Cheney and Joseph R. Biden Jr. in their vice-presidential tenures and was publicly supported by Biden administration officials after a gunman shot at Mr. Trump at a rally on July 13. The glaring security mistakes before the shooting, however, and the heated criticism that Ms. Cheatle faced in the days since had left her position increasingly in doubt."

Here are the New York Times' live election updates for today. Following are some reporters' updates and observations: ~~~

Maya King: "Actor George Clooney said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday morning that he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential candidacy, just shy of two weeks after writing a scathing essay calling on President Biden to step aside."

Nicholas Nehamas: "President Biden just said on X that he will address the nation from the Oval Office tomorrow night on 'what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people.'"

Peter Baker: "President Biden has tested negative for Covid and his 'symptoms have resolved,' according to the White House physician.&"

Catie Edmondson: "The two top Democrats in Congress -- Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic leader -- just jointly endorsed Harris as their party's nominee at a news conference on Capitol Hill."

Reid Epstein: Harris is speaking at a "rally in West Allis, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee...."

Simon Levien: "She is delivering her remarks with confidence, and the crowd is eating it up."

Katie Rogers: "As someone who has covered campaign events led by Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden and now Kamala Harris, the enthusiasm of her crowd looks and sounds much like what I saw in high school gyms in the Midwest back in 2008. It's much later in the cycle, of course, but this energy was missing for much of the time Joe Biden was campaigning."

Tim Balk: "Vice President Kamala Harris leads ... Donald J. Trump by two percentage points, 44 percent to 42 percent, in a Reuters/Ipsos poll published Tuesday. The survey was conducted Monday and Tuesday -- a relatively short period -- and Harris's lead was within the margin of error, according to Reuters. But the survey may be welcome news to Democrats looking for early signs that Harris has a better chance than President Biden of defeating Trump."

Michael Gold: "... Donald J. Trump, who often calls himself the staunchest ally of Israel to ever sit in the Oval Office, will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Friday in Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Trump said on Tuesday."

Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan of the New York Times: "Allies of [Vice President] Harris have already telegraphed that she will run a campaign framed around a 'prosecutor versus felon' theme.... The ... approach ... may ... goad Mr. Trump, who reacts strongly to criticism, into resurrecting the language he has used against other Black female prosecutors, such as Letitia James in New York and Fani Willis in Georgia.... Over many years, he has turned off a sizable proportion of college-educated voters and suburban women with his rhetoric on gender and race.... Mr. Trump has a long history of attacking female rivals and critics in personal terms, usually describing them as mentally unstable or worse.... Publicly, Mr. Trump has described [Harris] as 'nasty,' 'crazy' and 'disrespectful,' mocked her laugh, mispronounced her name and promoted a false claim that Ms. Harris is constitutionally ineligible to serve as vice president, echoing his racist 'birther' campaign against Barack Obama....

"On Sunday, Mr. Trump, who has insisted he would debate [President] Biden anytime and anywhere, appeared to try to change the terms of the second debate. On Truth Social, he posted that the debate should be moved to Fox News, a channel on which he receives favorable coverage, from the agreed-upon ABC."

It's been the saddest part of this entire drama to see a man of great integrity and competency and almost heroic political engagement put in this position.... I want to see him regaled as an American hero, not an American tragedy. So it's really hard. -- Dean Phillips, on President Biden ~~~

~~~ ** Peter Baker of the New York Times: "For Dean Phillips, the modern Cassandra of American politics, this I-told-you-so moment brings no joy. A little vindication, yes. Sadness, too, and sympathy for a man who gave his life to public service and deserved a better finale.... 'Vindication,' he said, 'has never felt so unfulfilling.'... His decision to challenge Mr. Biden had its roots in the president's visits to Capitol Hill in 2021 to push for his domestic program. What Mr. Phillips saw was what much of the country would see three years later in the disastrous debate that doomed Mr. Biden's campaign: an aging politician who had trouble articulating his own agenda." MB: I found this piece surprisingly interesting, including the parts about Dear Abby & Talenti gelato.

Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "Speaker Mike Johnson and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, have struck a deal to form a bipartisan task force to lead the congressional investigations into the attempted assassination of ... Donald J. Trump. The two leaders planned to announce their deal for the task force, which would be led by Republicans who control the House but would be nearly evenly divided between them and Democrats, later Tuesday morning. 'The security failures that allowed an assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life are shocking,' Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, and Mr. Jeffries, of New York, said in a joint statement. 'The task force will be empowered with subpoena authority and will move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and make certain such failures never happen again.'" ~~~

~~~ Leanne Abraham, et al., of the New York Times: "The New York Times used drone photography to build a 3-D model and recreate the lines of sight for both the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and three teams of countersnipers -- two federal and one local. The analysis shows that Mr. Crooks, 20, who appears to have flown a drone to survey the site the morning of the rally, exploited one of the few blind spots within a rifle's range of Mr. Trump, raising questions about serious lapses in security planning for the event.... The gunman was largely concealed by two trees and the slope of a warehouse building roof, which he used as his perch." Lots of graphics.

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Presidential Race

Toluse Olorunnipa of the Washington Post: "The Democratic Party largely coalesced around Vice President Harris as its likely new presidential nominee on Monday, as she kicked off her campaign by promising to prosecute a forceful case against Republican nominee Donald Trump and defend the legacy of President Biden.... 'Over the next 106 days, we are going to take our case to the American people, and we are going to win,' Harris said during a visit to campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., where she was greeted by a group of energized staffers for Biden's now-abandoned candidacy.... [Full remarks embedded below.] Biden dialed into the impromptu meeting, using his first public remarks after dropping out of the presidential race Sunday to thank his staff and ask them to support Harris with 'every bit of your heart and soul.' [Full remarks embedded below.]

"Less than 36 hours after Biden abruptly exited the race and endorsed Harris as his successor, hundreds of state delegates, the majority of Democratic lawmakers and governors, a group of state party chairs, and several influential interest groups threw their support behind Harris, as other potential candidates said they would not challenge her. Top congressional leaders followed suit, with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressing support for Harris on Monday." ~~~

~~~ Monday evening, (1) President Biden calls in to his former campaing staff (and he sounds great -- he really needed some rest!); (2) Doug Emhoff speaks of his admiration for President Biden and introduces his wife, the Vice President:

     ~~~ Skip Harris in the video above, because it truncates her remarks. But her fairly short speech, embedded below, is also worth hearing, and it should terrify Trump. She sounds like a winner. It's a whole new race now. Yes, She Can! ~~~

[As a prosecutor and state attorney general,] I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump's type. -- Vice President Kamala Harris, in remarks Monday ~~~

Dustin Gardiner, et al., of Politico: "Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday she had secured enough verbal commitments from delegates to the Democratic National Convention to clinch the party's presidential nomination -- with her home state of California putting her over the threshold less than two days into her presidential bid. More than 300 California delegates voted Monday to back Harris during a private Zoom call, after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged party activists to unite in solidarity, calling for the entire delegation to support Harris for nomination.... Delegations in more than a dozen states held meetings since then to formalize their support -- including in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Nebraska, Alaska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana, Massachusetts and New Jersey. More states' delegates are expected to follow." The New York Times story is here.

Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "The Democratic Party will choose its presidential nominee in an online vote by Aug. 7, Jaime Harrison, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said Monday on a call with reporters. A date for that vote has not yet been set. His proclamation follows the party's rapid consolidation behind Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Biden. Minyon Moore, the chair of the party's convention, said the nominating process would be 'swift, transparent and fair.' She added that a contested nominating fight with voting at the convention was not possible given the constraints of state ballot deadlines."

Lisa Kashinsky of Politico: "All of the nearly two-dozen Democratic governors have now endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party's presidential nominee."

Lauren Gurley of the Washington Post: "Major labor unions that had been staunch President Biden backers are jumping to declare their support for Vice President Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest federation of labor unions, representing about 12.5 million members, announced they are endorsing Harris on Monday night.... The United Steelworkers with about 850,000 workers in metals, mining and other industries, also endorsed Harris.... Labor experts say Harris is a natural pick for organized labor to rally behind, because as vice president, she played a key role overseeing relations with labor groups during an administration considered the most pro-union since the New Deal."

Kamoola! Shane Goldmacher of the New York Times: "Vice President Kamala Harris raised $81 million in the first 24 hours since announcing her bid for president, her campaign said, a record-breaking showing as Democrats welcomed her candidacy with one of the greatest gushers of cash of all time. Her campaign said that 888,000 donors had contributed in her first day, 60 percent of whom were making their first contribution of the 2024 contest. The campaign signed up 43,000 of those donors to make recurring donations, it said.... ActBlue, the digital donation portal for Democrats up and down the ballot, had processed more than $90 million in the same 24-hour period, according to a New York Times analysis of the platform's online ticker of contributions." ~~~

     ~~~ Steve Peoples of the AP: "Harris' campaign said it was the largest single-day total in U.S. history.... Hours earlier, Future Forward, the largest super PAC in Democratic politics, announced it had secured $150 million in commitments over the same period from donors who were 'previously stalled, uncertain or uncommitted,' a senior adviser said."

Jeff Mason & Jarrett Renshaw of Reuters: "Former Attorney General Eric Holder and his law firm, Covington & Burling LLP, will conduct vetting of potential running mates for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign...."

A different kind of presidential campaign? ~~~

     ~~~ Molly Roberts of the Washington Post has more on some Harris memes that fusty old Republicans think are cringe-worthy but that the kids like.

Igor Bobic of the Huffington Post: "In the 24 hours since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris..., the right has struggled to mount a unified response ― whipsawing between different strains of messaging that have veered from angry to conspiratorial to downright racist.... Donald Trump ... seemed far more focused on Biden's decision to leave the race.... By Monday morning, Trump had posted on Truth Social more than a dozen times about Biden.... House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) claimed Sunday that replacing Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee would be 'unlawful,' suggesting that Republicans would file legal challenges to prevent him from leaving the 2024 race.... Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.)..., said Sunday that some members of the Democratic Party feel pressure to rally around Harris because of her 'ethnic background.'... Another ugly attack launched against Harris seemed to focus on her having no biological children."

Kiera Butler of Mother Jones: "On Monday morning..., far-right influencers took to social media to hurl racial epithets at the first mixed-race, female presidential candidate in history." Butler provides a sampling. MB: I promise the racist remarks are not only coming from Trump "supporters." When I say the U.S. has become a "banana republic" or a "third-world country," I mean leaders are corrupt, criminal or dictatorial. When Trump says it, he means, in large part, that people of color -- i.e., from "shithole countries" -- are in positions of power, and that's what's ails us. J.D. Vance said at a rally yesterday that Harris didn't show enough "gratitude" to the U.S.; that is, she should be on her knees thanking the Great White Man for letting her breathe free.

Allie Feinberg of the Tennessean: "On the same day..., U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett [R-Tenn.] dismissed the qualifications of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and Vice President Kamala Harris, calling both women 'DEI hires.'... Burchett called Cheatle a 'DEI horror story,' referring to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to expand opportunities for women and people of color in workplaces and create more inclusive organizational cultures.... He used the same language to a CNN reporter [Manu Raju] about Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and first person of Black and Asian heritage to occupy the office and now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president."

David Moye of the Huffington Post: "Former Vice PresidentMike Pence managed to put Donald Trump's most rabid followers in a tizzy on Monday after he made a social media post that was, well, reasonable. In his post, Pence thanked President Joe Biden for making 'the right decision' and 'putting the interests of our Nation ahead of his own' by ending his presidential campaign. He also said Biden's departure from the campaign and the assassination attempt on Trump suggests that it's time for 'leaders in both parties to project calm and send a message of strength and resolve to America's friends and enemies.'... As might be expected, Pence's reasonable statement caused some of Trumps MAGA fans to have F-bomb-filled meltdowns over his graciously thanking Biden for his service to the country."

Kathleen Culliton of the Raw Story: "... Donald Trump's campaign is seriously concerned about running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) now that President Joe Biden has opted to step aside from the 2024 election, the Atlantic reported Monday. 'The selection of Ohio Senator J. D. Vance as Trump's running mate, campaign officials acknowledged, was something of a luxury,' writes staff writer Tim Alberta, 'meant to run up margins with the base in a blowout rather than persuade swing voters in a nailbiter.... "For the first time in a long time, Trump does not control the narrative of 2024.'"

Jazmine Ulloa of the New York Times: "Long before ... Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were barreling toward a potential presidential showdown in November, Mr. Trump was one of her donors. Mr. Trump donated $6,000 to Ms. Harris's campaign after she had begun her career in statewide politics as California's attorney general, taking office in January 2011. Mr. Trump's first donation, for $5,000, came in September 2011, and he made an additional $1,000 contribution in February 2013, according to state records. His daughter, Ivanka, also gave Ms. Harris's campaign $2,000 in 2014, according to records first reported by the Sacramento Bee."

Sickly Old Trump. Michael Kranish of the Washington Post: "After weeks of intense focus on President Biden's health and age that ended with his withdrawal from the campaign on Sunday, the script has flipped: ... Donald Trump is now the oldest presidential candidate in history -- and one who has been less transparent about his medical condition than his former opponent. Trump, a 78-year-old with a history of heart disease and obesity, according to experts, has not shared any updated bloodwork results or other specific information during this campaign to help experts assess his ongoing medical risks.... Seven days after the attempted assassination against him on July 13, Trump released a letter from his former White House physician, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.), who described treating a two-centimeter-wide wound to Trump's right ear and said he had a CT scan of his head and other tests but did not release the results."

Luke Broadwater, et al., of the New York Times: "The Secret Service director, Kimberly A. Cheatle, faced bipartisan calls for her resignation on Monday, after a disastrous hourslong congressional hearing in which she declined to answer basic questions about the attempted assassination of ... Donald J. Trump. Ms. Cheatle declined to say how many agents were protecting Mr. Trump when a gunman shot at him at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, or who decided to leave a nearby rooftop out of the event's security perimeter. Nor would she tell members of the House Oversight Committee why Secret Service agents were not aware until the last seconds that people in the crowd had seen a gunman on that roof. At times, Ms. Cheatle seemed less informed than the lawmakers quizzing her.... By the hearing's end, many of the committee's Democrats -- usually defensive of their party's appointees -- had also swung sharply against Ms. Cheatle. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the committee's top Democrat..., joined the committee's Republican chairman, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, in calling for her resignation." See also yesterday's NYT liveblog of the hearing, linked & excerpted in yesterday's Conversation.

Yo, Bob! Get Out! Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "The bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Monday to advance an inquiry into Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, signaling that it was moving swiftly to lay the groundwork to potentially expel him after his federal bribery conviction last week. In a statement, the committee said its work had progressed to an 'adjudicatory review,' meaning that its members had found 'substantial cause' to believe Mr. Menendez had violated the law or Senate rules. The vote will almost certainly increase pressure on Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, to resign, by showing that his colleagues are serious about threats to hold an expulsion vote if he does not step down voluntarily."

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Mizz Harris Regrets.... Annie Karni of the New York Times: "Vice President Kamala Harris has declined to preside on Wednesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is scheduled to address a joint meeting of Congress, staying away from a gathering that is likely to highlight the deep divisions among Democrats about his conduct of the war with Hamas. An aide to Ms. Harris said her absence on Wednesday should not be construed as a change in her commitment to Israel's security, but was merely a conflict with a previously scheduled event in Indianapolis. She is scheduled to speak at a convention of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., one of the nation's oldest Black sororities, and will meet with Mr. Netanyahu this week at the White House, the aide said. Typically, the vice president ... sits on the House rostrum beside the House speaker during joint meetings to receive a foreign leader.... But this week, Democrats are turning instead to Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee...."

Matthew Bigg & Iyad Abuheweila of the New York Times: "The Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate part of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday and bombarded the area, killing scores of people and wounding hundreds, local health officials reported, adding to the misery of a city already deeply scarred by nine and a half months of war. The military said it was moving further into Khan Younis because Hamas was trying to regroup there and had used part of what was designated a humanitarian zone to fire rockets toward Israel."

The Conversation -- July 22, 2024

From today's New York Times live election updates: ~~~

Robert Jimison: "Representatives Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, two members of the Democratic leadership in the House, both endorsed Kamala Harris this morning in a pair of statements."

Eduardo Medina: "Speaking on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, widely viewed as a strong contender to be Harris's running mate, said he had spoken with the vice president on Sunday.... Cooper also said that he had spoken with [President] Biden on Sunday and told him that 'he had cemented his legacy among the greatest of presidents.' He added that two of Biden's character traits were on display yesterday: 'fighting through adversity and doing the right thing.'"

Katie Glueck: "Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, has endorsed Harris, saying in a social media post that he received a call from her. Walz is sometimes mentioned as a potential running mate."

Reid Epstein: "Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin, a key battleground state, has also endorsed Harris for president.... Six key Democratic governors endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, choking off what was perhaps the last prospect for a serious challenge to her claiming the party's presidential nomination."

Annie Karni: "On a Zoom call with reporters, Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, praised President Biden's record and said a match-up between Harris and Trump would be a 'very, very exciting race.' He said it would be 'a contrast between the past and the future,' and called Trump 'yesterday's chaos.'"

Nicholas Nehamas: "Former Vice President Mike Pence thanked President Biden for 'putting the interests of our nation ahead of his own' in a statement posted on social media. 'Now is a time for leaders in both parties to project calm and send a message of strength and resolve to America's friends and enemies,' wrote Pence...."

Ken Vogel: "Maryland's delegation voted Monday morning to endorse Vice President Harris for president, joining several other state delegations that did so on Sunday."

Michael Gold: "Biden is out of the race. Trump is still attacking him.... 'It's a new day and Joe Biden doesn't remember quitting the race yesterday!' Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site...."

Patricia Mazzei: "The Florida Democratic Party said on Monday morning that 236 of its 254 delegates to the Democratic National Convention had pledged their support to Vice President Kamala Harris so far. The state's congressional delegation has endorsed Harris, too."

Zolan Kanno-Youngs: "Vice President Harris takes the lectern in the South Lawn of the White House at a ceremony for N.C.A.A. champions, her first public remarks since President Biden endorsed her to lead the Democratic ticket." ~~~

~~~ Nehamas: "Although Harris spoke at a low-pressure event, her clear and clean delivery, in contrast to President Biden's shaky recent remarks, removes a serious vulnerability for Democrats in their fight to keep Donald J. Trump out of the White House. President Biden had increasingly slipped and stumbled while speaking publicly...."

Karni: "Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California and the former House speaker, has issued a statement endorsing Harris.... Speaking to reporters in the Capitol, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader, said that he and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, are set to meet with Harris today in person. Jeffries praised Harris for exciting the Democratic caucus and the country, but stopped short of offering his endorsement. Schumer has also not yet endorsed Harris.... The thinking among those top congressional leaders so far is that, for party leaders who hold great sway with members, an endorsement would make Harris's nomination look more like a coronation than an organic unification of a newly energized party."

Michael Shear: "President Biden's doctor said Monday that his symptoms from Covid are almost gone and that he has completed his final dose of Paxlovid. In a letter released by the White House, Dr. Kevin O'Connor said that Mr. Biden 'continues to perform all of his presidential duties.'"

Nehamas: "Vice President Kamala Harris just greeted her campaign staff at her headquarters in Wilmington for the first time since announcing she would seek the Democratic nomination.... The Biden campaign said that more than 28,000 people signed up to volunteer for the first time after President Biden dropped out and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. That is more than 100 times the daily average, according to the campaign. Combined with a one-day fundraising haul of $81 million, the surge in volunteers suggests Harris is rallying Democrats.... President Biden has called into a meeting of staff at what used to be his campaign headquarters in Wilmington...." Audio in tomorrow's Conversation.

Epstein: :Harris said she has asked Jen O'Malley Dillon, who has been running the Biden campaign, to remain in that role and run her campaign. O'Malley Dillon has accepted that offer, Harris said."

Nehamas: "Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, will also stay in her role, Harris said."

[Video of Harris' remarks in tomorrow's Conversation.] As Michael Shear & Peter Baker write in the item pinned @ 7:00 p.m. ET, "Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a spirited and aggressive assault on former President Donald J. Trump in her first campaign appearance on Monday, casting herself as a former prosecutor ready to take on a rival who is a convicted criminal and a defendant held liable for sexual assault."

Epstein: "The AFL-CIO, which represents 12.5 million unionized workers, has endorsed Harris for president.... The Democratic Party will choose its presidential nominee in an online vote by Aug. 7, Jaime Harrison, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said Monday on a call with reporters. A date for that vote has not yet been set."

Emily Cochrane: "The Arkansas Democratic Party just wrapped up a virtual meeting where its delegation voted unanimously to back Kamala Harris...."

Stuart Thompson: "Many conspiracy theorists and far-right commentators are spreading doubts that President Biden is alive after he posted a letter on Sunday resigning from his presidential campaign."

Shane Goldmacher: "A survey of delegates by The Associated Press has Kamala Harris on the cusp of securing the nomination based on delegate endorsements. According to The A.P., Harris has secured the support of 1,967 delegates and needs 1,976 delegates for the nomination."

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: President Biden's "opponents seemed not to know what to do. The Republican response was confused and weak.... But mostly they responded, in what was clearly a coordinated if illogical plan, by insisting that Biden resign immediately.... By that reasoning, Republicans also would have required the immediate resignation of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 -- and George Washington in 1796. But, of course, there is no logic. If Biden resigned, they'd get President Harris six months sooner.... Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) joined those calling for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office. Perhaps nobody told them that this decision would be up to Harris....

"Already, some Republicans are recognizing that whinin' about Biden isn't going to be a winning strategy. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), head of the House GOP conference, announced that she would introduce on Monday 'a resolution condemning Kamala Harris' role as Joe Biden's "Border czar"' -- a moniker Republicans invented for Harris. Good! Let's have that debate. Border crossings are down dramatically, and Trump killed the bipartisan legislation that could have fixed the problem permanently."

New York Times reporters are liveblogging the House Oversight Committee's interrogation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. MB: When I turned on the teevee, Mad Dog Jordan (R-Ohio) had his teeth into her, so I turned off the tube. Plus, it pains me when I find myself in a moment where I tend to agree with Jordan. Here's the pinned item:

Luke Broadwater: "The Secret Service director, Kimberly A. Cheatle, called the attempted assassination of ... Donald J. Trump her agency's 'most significant operational failure' in decades in testimony Monday morning on Capitol Hill, where she faced pointed questions and additional calls for her to lose her job. Ms. Cheatle, appearing before the House oversight committee, said that she took responsibility for the security lapses that allowed the would-be assassin to get close enough to open fire on the former president. But she provided few new details about the breakdowns and angered Republicans on the panel by refusing to answer some specific questions, citing the continuing investigation."

Luke Broadwater, in an updated pinned item: "The Secret Service director, Kimberly A. Cheatle, angered members of Congress on Monday by repeatedly refusing to answer specific questions about security failures that led to the attempted assassination of ... Donald J. Trump, prompting members of both parties to demand her resignation. Ms. Cheatle ... cited the continuing investigation when declining to answer queries about the would-be assassin's access to the warehouse roof from which he fired, how he had managed to bring a firearm to the event, why Mr. Trump was allowed to come onstage despite warnings about a suspicious person and many other details."

David Fahrenthold runs down some of the very basic questions Cheatle didn't answer.

Broadwater: "Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, calls for Cheatle to resign as the hearing is coming to a conclusion. He is the highest-ranking Democrat in Congress to do so." [Patrick wrote in today's Comments -- before Raskin's call -- "I suspect she's toast." Apparently so.] "Comer and Raskin, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House oversight committee, wrote a joint letter to Cheatle after the hearing calling for her resignation."

Shia Kapos of Politico: "It took less than 24 hours for Kamala Harris to all but clear the Democratic presidential field. Endorsements from a series of governors Monday morning -- JB Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Wes Moore of Maryland and Andy Beshear of Kentucky -- effectively ended talk of a serious contest for the party;s nomination after President Joe Biden's sudden decision Sunday to drop out of the race. Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), who also briefly flirted with challenging Harris, also said Monday morning that he wouldn't seek the nomination.... On Sunday, several [other] potential challengers -- Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gavin Newsom of California as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg -- all publicly backed Harris."

The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in the Israel-Hamas war are here.

Biden v. Bibi. Marcy Wheeler: "There are many things that explain the timing of President Biden's decision to drop out of the race. Most importantly, after staying reasonably steady with Trump in the polls, the combined weight of the Democratic firing squad, and -- probably -- some bounce from the shooting attempt on Trump had started a real hemorrhaging in Biden's polling. He had to drop when he did to stave off a collapse in the polls.... Biden almost certainly didn't base his timing on Bibi Netanyahu's visit this week (though he deferred explaining it for a few days, which may put that address after Bibi's). But the timing is wildly auspicious.... Biden's policies on Gaza were the primary thing that cut what otherwise might have been a natural lead on Trump.... Trump is so unpopular a Democrat should start out ahead. Or should have, before Israel started slaughtering Palestinian civilians.... Among Biden's most stubborn beliefs was ... that he could reason with -- that he could moderate -- Bibi. It was a foolish belief born of a lifetime of dealing with the man. It was perhaps a naive blindness to the way that Bibi has repeatedly shivved Democrats in the back.... I've long expected Bibi's visit to be part of some partisan attack on Biden, replete with a continued unwillingness to consider ceasefire deals because Bibi is less worried about Israeli and US hostages than he is about retaining power. I fully expect Bibi to yoke his own political future to that of Donald Trump."

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There was some news yesterday afternoon, and you probably should read it.

Lisa Lerer, et al., of the New York Times: "Powerful leaders of the Democratic establishment quickly embraced Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday after President Biden's shocking exit from the race, hoping that a seamless succession could end a month of damaging chaos and transform a contest widely believed to be tipping toward Republicans. By Sunday evening, Ms. Harris appeared to have a glide path to the nomination: No other top Democrats announced plans to challenge her, though some stopped short of an endorsement, including the party's top congressional leaders and former President Barack Obama. With breathtaking speed, she took control of Mr. Biden's enormous political operation and contacted Democratic leaders in Congress and state houses to ask for their support. The Biden campaign formally renamed itself 'Harris for President,' giving her immediate access to an account that had $96 million in cash at the end of June."

Katie Rogers, et al., of the New York Times: "From [Saturday] afternoon and far into the night, [President Biden and two top advisors, Steve Ricchetti & Mike Donilon,] worked on one of the most important and historic letters of Mr. Biden's presidency == the announcement of his decision to withdraw from his re-election campaign after top Democrats, donors, close allies and friends had pressured him relentlessly to get out. He would not tell most of his staff until a minute before making the historic announcement to the world on social media on Sunday. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Mr. Biden went on to endorse, spoke to him earlier on Sunday morning, as did Jeff Zients, his chief of staff, and Jen O'Malley Dillon, his campaign chair. A handful of senior advisers at the White House heard directly from the president on a Zoom call. Others in the West Wing learned when they saw it pop on social media.... This account is based on interviews with people close to Mr. Biden...." This is an expansion of an item in yesterday's liveblog of developments in the presidential race. ~~~

     ~~~ Here's the Washington Post's account. Politico's story is here.

Here's President Obama's statement.

Jennifer Hassan & Anika Seth of the Washington Post: "World leaders expressed respect and admiration for President Biden on Sunday after he announced he was ending his reelection campaign, a momentous decision that reshapes the race for the White House and resonated far beyond Washington. Biden, a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before ascending to higher office, developed and nurtured relationships with many world leaders over the course of decades."

Colby Itkowitz & others at the Washington Post explain how Democrats will replace President Biden as their nominee.

New York Times Editors: "President Biden's decision to exit the 2024 presidential election is a fitting coda for a man whose life has been devoted to public service. Mr. Biden has served the nation well as its president. By agreeing to step down when his term ends in January, he is greatly increasing the chance that his party is able to protect the nation from the dangers of returning Donald Trump to the presidency.... Mr. Biden has now done what Mr. Trump never will: He has placed the national interest above his own pride and ambition.... Most of all, as president, Mr. Biden has stood on the side of the values that have long defined America: a commitment to freedom, a respect for the rule of law and a belief that pluralism is a fundamental source of the nation's strength. His administration, the most diverse in American history, embodies those values.... Mr. Trump is a felon who flouts the law and the Constitution, an inveterate liar beholden to no higher cause than his self-interest and a reckless policymaker indifferent to the well-being of the American people. His term in office did lasting damage to the people and the project of America and to its reputation around the world."

The Washington Post is keeping a running tally of Democratic members of Congress and governors who have endorsed Vice President Harris. MB: Sorta looks as if the presidential race is shaping up to be the Prosecutor v. the Felon.

Liz Goodwin & Amy Wang of the Washington Post: "Sen. Joe Manchin III (I-W.Va.) is considering re-registering as a Democrat to compete for the party's presidential nomination in the wake of President Biden's announcement Sunday that he will exit the campaign, according to a Manchin adviser. MB: Oh, what an exciting possibility. Oh, and Manchin is a year younger than Trump, so definitely the bright guy thing American voters are seeking in a president. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Miranda Nazzaro of the Hill: "Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) on Monday said he is not running for office in the wake of speculation that he would pursue the Democratic presidential nomination after President Biden dropped his reelection bid on Sunday. 'I'm not running for office,' Manchin told 'CBS Mornings' on Monday."

AND Speak of Confused White Guys.... Glenn Gardner & Ted Johnson of Deadline: "Aaron Sorkin is reversing course on his recommendation for what the Democrats should do if faced with the prospect of Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. 'I take it all back. Harris for America!' Sorkin said, via a message posted by Joshua Malina, one of the stars of The West Wing. A spokesperson for Sorkin confirmed the quote. Earlier today, Sorkin had published an op ed in The New York Times, recommending a new 'script' for Democrats: An open convention where they nominate Mitt Romney to be the party's standard bearer." MB: And, yes, Aaron, the Mittster is a year younger than Trump, too. Did I mention Mr. Corporations-Are-People-My-Friend used to be a professional corporate raider?

Colby Hall of Mediaite: "... Donald Trump reacted to the stunning news that President Joe Biden was withdrawing from the 2024 election with a tirade of insults and anger.... Trump's anger should come as little surprise, given his consistently aggrieved and divisive rhetoric -- despite multiple reports that he had somehow changed following the assassination attempt on his life a week ago." ~~~

~~~ Kipp Jones of Mediaite: "... Donald Trump called for the Republican Party to be reimbursed for funds spent campaigning against President Joe Biden Sunday evening after accusing Democrats of 'fraud' after the president dropped out of the race.... Trump spent Sunday launching attacks at Biden, complaining about debates, and otherwise commenting from his Truth Social account." MB: It's awful the way Democrats refuse to accommodate Donald Trump's peculiar notion of fair play.

Roberto Klemko & Maegan Vazquez of the Washington Post: "The embattled director of the U.S. Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, is facing new calls to resign from what has become a bipartisan group of lawmakers after news that top agency officials repeatedly denied requests for additional resources and personnel sought by ... Donald Trump's security detail.... Cheatle is scheduled to appear Monday morning at a House Oversight Committee hearing. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) ... chairs the committee.... Other congressional committees are investigating the shooting as well.... Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) on Saturday became the first Democrat in Congress to call for Cheatle's resignation."

    
Hamed Aleaziz & Zolan Kanno-Youngs of the New York Times: "The homeland security secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, on Sunday announced the members of a panel to conduct an independent review into security failures after a gunman was able to wound ... Donald J. Trump last weekend at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa.... The panel -- described by Mr. Mayorkas as bipartisan -- that will be conducting the 45-day review will be made up of Janet Napolitano, a former homeland security secretary; Frances Townsend, a former homeland security adviser to President George W. Bush; Mark Filip, a former federal judge and a deputy attorney general under Mr. Bush; and David Mitchell, a former secretary of the Delaware Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Mr. Mayorkas said he could invite additional experts to join the panel in the coming days."

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Israel's Military Doesn't Care About Civilians. Vivian Nereim & Shuaib Almosawa of the New York Times: "The Israeli bombing of a vital Yemeni port controlled by the Houthi militia is not expected to deter the group from further attacks but is likely to deepen human suffering in Yemen, regional experts said. Israeli officials said the barrage of airstrikes that hit the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah on Saturday was a counterattack after the Houthis launched a drone that struck Tel Aviv on Friday, killing one Israeli and wounding several others."

The Conversation -- July 21, 2024

Joe Biden Wrote American History Today

Peter Baker of the New York Times: "President Biden on Sunday abruptly abandoned his campaign for a second term under intense pressure from fellow Democrats and threw his support to Vice President Kamala Harris to lead their party in a dramatic last-minute bid to stop ... Donald J. Trump from returning to the White House. 'It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,' he said in a letter posted on social media. 'And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.' Mr. Biden then posted a subsequent online message endorsing Ms. Harris. 'My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,' he wrote. 'And it's been the best decision I've made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats -- it's time to come together and beat Trump. Let's do this.'" The Washington Post's main story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ President Biden's full letter announcing his decision not to run for re-election is here. His endorsement of Vice President Harris is here:

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it's been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

The New York Times' liveblog of developments is here. Here are some reporters' entries: ~~~

Michael Shear: "President Biden, 81, abandoned his bid for re-election and threw the 2024 presidential contest into chaos on Sunday, caving to relentless pressure from his closest allies to drop out of the race amid deep concerns that he is too old and frail to defeat ... Donald J. Trump. After calling Vice President Kamala Harris an 'extraordinary partner,' he endorsed her to take his place atop the ticket.... After three weeks of often angry refusals to step aside, Mr. Biden finally yielded to a torrent of devastating polls, urgent pleas from Democratic lawmakers and clear signs that donors were no longer willing to pay for him to continue....

"No sitting American president has dropped out of a race so late in the election cycle. The Democratic National Convention, where Mr. Biden was to have been formally nominated by 3,939 delegates, is scheduled to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago. That leaves less than a month for Democrats to decide who should replace Mr. Biden on the ticket and just under four months for that person to mount a campaign against Mr. Trump." This was the pinned item at about 2:30 pm ET.

Nicholas Nehamas: "President Biden just announced on X that he would not seek re-election, writing that it was in 'the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.' Biden said he would address the nation later this week and that he would 'focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president' for the rest of his term."

Theodore Schleifer: "On the afternoon that the news came in, Kamala Harris's donor allies were spending their weekend in close touch with one another about how they might push for her to become the next president if the situation were to arrive. Well, the situation has now arrived."

Jim Tankersley: "Biden ... oversaw a rapid rebound from the pandemic recession -- including record job growth and faster economic growth than any other wealthy country has experienced at the same time. Biden nodded to that growth legacy in his letter announcing he will end his campaign."

Jonathan Swan: "As Maggie Haberman and I reported yesterday, the Trump team has been preparing for an advertising onslaught against Kamala Harris, who they assume will be the Democratic candidate. They have also been paying close attention to Josh Shapiro, who governs a state -- Pennsylvania -- that the Trump team is focused on winning to block Democrats' path to the White House."

Catie Edmondson: "Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, says in a statement: 'Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being. His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first. Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.'"

Schleifer: "A huge part of why Harris has a major advantage over other Democrats is that she is likely to easily inherit the Biden-Harris campaign coffers. It would be much, much harder for other Democratic candidates to take over their campaign warchest, as we reported here."

Ken Vogel: "Democratic donors who had pushed for Biden to stand down praised his decision. Gideon Stein, who had become a leading figure in the donor community pushing for a new nominee, called Biden 'a true American hero.'..."

Lisa Lerer: "A letter has already begun circulating among D.N.C. delegates expressing their support for Kamala Harris."

Shawn McCreesh: "Bill and Hillary Clinton endorsed Kamala Harris, writing in a statement that they would 'do whatever we can to support her.'"

Vogel: "About 30 minutes before Biden's announcement, his campaign staff was still calling delegates, pushing them to declare support for him, according to one delegate who received such a call."

Eduardo Medina: "Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, a close ally of Biden who has been speculated to be a possible vice presidential running mate for Harris, praised the president in a statement on X, saying: 'Just as impactful as the laws he passed, though, is his ability to listen to everyday people, relate to their struggles, and give them hope. I'm deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden my friend.'"

Robert Jimison: "Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the former speaker, praised Biden in a statement, saying that 'his legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history.' She made no mention of Kamala Harris. Last week during a private meeting with colleagues, Pelosi said she would favor a 'competitive' process rather than an anointment of the vice president."

Steven Erlanger: "European politicians and analysts expressed gratitude and respect toward President Biden for withdrawing from the race, saying that he was putting his country first in an important battle for American democracy."

McCreesh: "In a lengthy statement on X, Senator Elizabeth Warren endorses Kamala Harris...."

Katie Glueck: "Harris gets a nod of support from Senator Mark Warner of Virginia -- a state that campaign officials had grown increasingly worried about, we reported last week."

Maggie Haberman: "Former President Barack Obama praises President Biden, who was his vice president, in a statement. But he doesn't endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, and appears to endorse a 'process' for picking someone. 'I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,' he wrote."

Edmondson: "Senator Patty Murray of Washington, a member of Democratic leadership, says in a statement: 'I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as our next President.'"

Reid Epstein: "Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who is facing re-election in a critical presidential battleground state, said she was 'proud' to endorse Kamala Harris for president."

Schleifer: "Democratic donors are immediately mobilizing around Kamala Harris as their party's next presidential nominee, offering Democratic elites something they have not felt in weeks. Optimism."

Katie Rogers: "'I need you and Mike at the house,' President Biden said late Saturday afternoon. Mr. Biden was on the phone from his vacation home in Rehoboth, Del., with Steve Ricchetti, one of his closest advisers. The president was referring to Mike Donilon, his chief strategist. Soon, both men were in Rehoboth, socially distanced from the president, who was recovering from Covid. From that afternoon and far into the night, the three worked on one of the most important and historic letters of Mr. Biden's presidency -- his decision to withdraw from his re-election campaign.... He would not tell most of his staff until a minute before making his announcement to the world on Twitter on Sunday. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Mr. Biden went on to endorse, also learned on Sunday, although it is unclear when."

Epstein: "Vice President Kamala Harris says she is running for president. 'I am honored to have the President's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,' she said. 'We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.'" ~~~

~~~ Zolan Kanno-Youngs: "She added, 'With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.'" ~~~

~~~ Nehamas: "In her statement, which was issued through the Biden campaign, Harris praised President Biden for his achievements in office, which she, of course, shares in, too. 'His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many presidents who have served two terms in office,' Harris wrote." Harris' full statement appears on the liveblog.

Anushka Patil: "Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who has been considered a potential contender to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket, has thrown his support behind Harris, saying in a statement that 'I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States.'"

[Marie: Throughout, the reporters cite some comments from Donald Trump and other Republicans. Let me just say that there are many ways President Biden's chief political rival could have been decent & presidential* in sending off his competition, but former President* Pond Scum chose to say things like, Joe Biden was "the worst president in the history of our country." It is not surprising that the guy who refused to give up the presidency* even when the American people tossed him out is too boorish to appreciate the sacrifice of a guy who gave up the presidency to save the nation. (At the end of today's thread, Akhilleus puts the contrast between Trump & Biden more forcefully.)]

Luke Broadwater: "Many influential Democrats on Capitol Hill quickly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday after President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, endorsing her as the party's nominee. But neither the party's top leaders nor Representative Nancy Pelosi ... mentioned the vice president in their statements praising Mr. Biden on his presidency and his decision to step aside."

Epstein: "On a call with the Biden campaign staff, Jen O'Malley Dillon, the campaign chair, and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the campaign manager, informed the staff that they were all now working for Harris for President.... The 77 Democratic National Committee delegates from Tennessee unanimously voted to endorse Kamala Harris for president during a conference call on Sunday afternoon...."

Shane Goldmacher: "Democrats greeted President Biden's departure from the presidential race with an avalanche of cash, donating more than $50 million online on Sunday and making it the single biggest day for online Democratic contributions since the 2020 election -- with hours to go."

Edmondson: "Senator Tammy Baldwin, Democrat of Wisconsin, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday as her party's presidential nominee, becoming one of the first politically vulnerable senators running for re-election to do so after President Biden had abandoned his own bid."

Tim Balk: "Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive New York Democrat, endorsed Harris for president.... The congresswoman had forcefully backed President Biden in recent days."

Alan Blinder: "North Carolina's Democratic delegates have unanimously endorsed Harris, according to the state party chairwoman."

Emily Cochrane: "In a statement, the Association of State Democratic Committees announced that an 'overwhelming majority' of 57 state party leaders had voted to back Harris as the party's nominee at the convention. None of the leaders voted to oppose, the organization said, although some abstained for what it described as 'in-state procedural reasons.'... I'm told that the Louisiana delegation just held a voice vote to commit to supporting Harris for president."

Nehamas: "The Biden campaign's rapid response account on X, which it uses to push out its message and respond to attacks, has been renamed 'Kamala HQ.'"

Politico's live updates are here. ~~~

Adam Cancryn: "President Joe Biden's announcement stunned White House and campaign aides, who up until this afternoon were insisting that he would stay in the race. Many of them, including some senior aides, first found out that was no longer the case by reading the letter that Biden posted on X. In a sign of the abruptness of Biden's decision, the campaign blasted out a fundraising email for 'Joe and Kamala' at 1:54 p.m. -- eight minutes after Biden announced he was stepping aside."

Eugene Daniels: "A source familiar with the discussions tells me that around 1:45 p.m. today, 'President Biden told the senior team that he had changed his mind. Last night, the message was to continue full speed ahead.'"

Michael Grynbaum: "Rachel Maddow tells MSNBC viewers: 'What a man. What a patriot. What an act of selfless devotion to your country.' Like other TV anchors, she has scrambled to the nearest studio on what would have been a lazy Sunday."

Tal Axelrod of ABC News: "Sen. Joe Manchin on Sunday called on Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign, the latest domino to fall in a broader Democratic upheaval over the president's ability to win this November. Manchin, I-W.Va., who caucuses with Democrats but left the party earlier this year, told 'This Week' co-anchor Martha Raddatz that he came to the decision 'with a heavy heart,' but that the swell of Democrats issuing similar calls after last month's debate made the current situation untenable for Biden."

Fake Doctor Treats Trump's Injury. Meagan Vazquez of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump shared a letter signed by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) on Saturday detailing the care he has received since last weekend's assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The letter, written by a political ally whose actions as a medical provider have come into question over the years, marks the most extensive medical information Trump's team has shared publicly about the care he received after the assassination attempt. Jackson wrote that he has 'evaluated and treated' Trump's wound on his ear daily.... Jackson told the New York Times in 2022, that he had allowed his medical license in Florida to expire.... But his medical license remains in 'military active' status until early 2025, which the Florida Department of Health states means that 'the licensed practitioner, serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, is only authorized to practice in a military facility.' Jackson stated that Trump sustained a 2 cm wide wound from the track of a bullet 'that extended down the cartilaginous surface of the ear.' No sutures were required for Trump's wound, Jackson said, but 'there is still intermittent bleeding requiring a dressing to be in place.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I'm no medical ethics and law expert, but my guess is that the services Jackson (or Johnson, as the cognitively-impaired Trump calls him) is rendering are those that a paramedic, nurse or other practitioner could provide. So the care he's given Trump is probably legal, but his assessment does not carry the weight a bona fide medical doctor's would. As he has done all of his adult life, Cadet Bone Spurs is hiding his true physical status.

David McAfee of the Raw Story: "Trump-endorsing billionaire Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and the owner of the ... [X], received criticism on his own platform on Saturday after sharing a video showing an animated Donald Trump killing Joe Biden. Musk over the weekend took to his own platform, now called X, to share what he deemed to be the 'best AI video to date.' The video shows Trump, as 'Neo' from The Matrix, stopping bullets in mid-air and then fighting an 'agent' AI-generated to look like Joe Biden. Trump then kicks Biden to the ground before jumping inside the president's body until he explodes. Trump-Neo is left standing and flexing afterward." Thanks to Forrest M. for the link. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: IMO, repercussions against Musk should be more serious than a few condemnations from members of the public. The Secret Service & FBI should haul him in for questioning and possible arrest for terrorism, and Congress should prevent him from having any control over content at X. If it's possible to rescind U.S. citizenship of naturalized citizens, that seems like a good idea. Musk's post goes far beyond "tasteless."

~~~~~~~~~~

Jonathan Greenberg in a Washington Post op-ed: President "Biden's inner ring of loyalists deny that polls show alarming weakness -- but they are reading the data the wrong way. By comparing Biden' position today with polls from four years ago, the president's weakness becomes plain. In the seven swing states where the election will likely be decided, Biden is trailing his 2020 numbers by margins of up to 14 points.... Given that Biden's 2020 electoral college victory came down to three states where his margin was less than one point, this double-digit erosion is a disaster in the making.... In 2020, national poll averages right before the election predicted Biden would win by 8.6 points. He won by only 4.4."

Abbie Cheeseman & Meagan Vazquez of the Washington Post: "Vice President Harris attended a sold-out campaign fundraiser on Cape Cod on Saturday, amid growing calls for President Biden to step aside as his party's 2024 presidential nominee.... At Saturday's event, Harris struck a ... tone of optimism for the campaign and support for the president.... Tickets for Harris's event in Provincetown -- a longtime hub for artists on Cape Cod that's a popular beach getaway for the LGBTQ community -- ranged from $150 to $150,000. The fundraiser, hosted by event planner Bryan Rafanelli, was announced before the presidential debate late last month.... Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and actor Jennifer Coolidge were among the attendees of the event." ~~~

     ~~~ Lisa Kashinsky & Kelly Garrity of Politico: "Harris, who could be a presidential candidate in her own right soon, touted the ticket as it stands: 'In this election, we know which candidate for president puts the American people first: our president, Joe Biden." She lauded Biden's legacy as 'one of the most consequential presidents in American history.' And she sought to reassure anxious donors that 'we are going to win this election.'"

Giselle Ewing of Politico: "Rep. Mark Takano [Calif.] joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling on President Joe Biden to step aside as the party's presidential nominee -- with several voicing strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him. In a statement released on Saturday morning, Takano said he felt that Harris is best suited to meet the 'demands of a modern campaign,' and that the vice president is in a position to 'seamlessly transition' into the Democratic Party's standard bearer."

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times: "It makes me sad that Biden doesn't see what's inescapable: If he doesn't walk away gracefully right now, he will likely go down as a pariah and ruin his legacy. The race for the Oval today is between two delusional, selfish, stubborn old guys, and that's a depressing state of affairs.... Shockingly, even as the Republicans roar out of Milwaukee, vibrating with joy, Biden's brain trust continues to run a lousy campaign, as though nothing has changed.... Really, what the Democrats need is a thrilling open convention, rather than a coronation." (Also linked yesterday.)

Michael Gold & Simon Levien of the New York Times: "At his first campaign rally since he survived an assassination attempt last week..., Donald J. Trump on Saturday launched a litany of attacks that suggested his call for national unity in the wake of the shooting had faded entirely into the background. Over the course of an almost two-hour speech in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Trump insulted President Biden's intelligence repeatedly, calling him 'stupid' more than once. He said Vice President Kamala Harris was 'crazy.'... Mr. Trump also joyously mocked Democrats as they contended with the viability of Mr. Biden's place as the party's presidential nominee. Mr. Trump called his rivals 'the enemies of democracy' because Democrats who call for Mr. Biden's replacement would have to answer to the millions of primary votes the president secured over other candidates.... 'They keep saying, "He's a threat to democracy,"' Mr. Trump told the crowd of thousands inside the Van Andel Arena. 'I'm saying, "What the hell did I do with democracy"? Last week, I took a bullet for democracy.'... Saturday's speech was the latest signal that the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump had done little to change his political message.... Before Mr. Trump spoke, his newly chosen running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, took the stage and marveled at the former president's resilience."

M. Gessen of the New York Times: "While one half of the electorate was being served [a] bland spectacle [at the RNC], the other half struggled to follow a dispiriting and confusing story in which the stakes in the presidential election are existential -- and the only man who can save American democracy is President Biden. Even as more and more funders, political operatives and ordinary Democratic voters said that he should withdraw his candidacy, the campaign told them to put their faith in a frail, diminished man -- worse than that, it insisted that he was neither frail nor diminished.... The president and his campaign have adopted the habits of the monster they promise to save us from."

Boyz Klub. Amanda Marcotte of Salon: "The GOP, already the party of sexism, is getting more gratuitous with its toxic masculinity. Everywhere one looked at the convention, Republicans were exalting maleness.... The boys club vibe spread throughout the convention. Women were welcome, but only as support staff.... They certainly aren't valued as leaders in a party where men live in a constant state of paranoia about being emasculated." (Also linked yesterday.)

Josh Dawsey & Carol Leonnig of the Washington Post: "Top officials at the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied requests for additional resources and personnel sought by Donald Trump's security detail in the two years leading up to his attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday, according to four people familiar with the requests. Agents charged with protecting the former president requested magnetometers and more agents to screen attendees at sporting events and other large public gatherings Trump attended, as well as additional snipers and specialty teams at other outdoor events, said the people.... Those rejections -- in response to requests that were several times made in writing -- led to long-standing tensions that pitted Trump, his top aides and his security detail against Secret Service leadership... The Secret Service, after initially denying turning down requests for additional security, is now acknowledging some may have been rejected. The revelation comes as agency veterans say the organization has been forced to make difficult decisions amid competing demands, a growing list of protectees and limited funding."

All My Judges. Kyle Cheney of Politico: "Donald Trump is on the cusp of emerging unscathed from his four criminal prosecutions -- thanks almost entirely to the decisions of four judges he appointed. Trump's three Supreme Court picks formed a decisive bloc to declare presidents immune from prosecution for official conduct -- freezing the charges he faces in multiple jurisdictions for trying to subvert the 2020 election and putting his New York conviction in doubt. Then his nominee to the federal court in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon, handed him another victory by dismissing the charges he faces for hoarding classified documents and concealing them from investigators." (Also linked yesterday.)

~~~~~~~~~~

Texas. Miriam Jordan & David Goodman of the New York Times: "... amid the heightened [Republican] rhetoric [about unlawful border crossings], the reality on the ground has recently changed. There were 83,000 apprehensions of migrants last month, according to official data, down significantly from 117,000 in May. The June numbers represented the lowest monthly total since January 2021, and a significant drop from the record 250,000 recorded in December last year. The decline has continued into July.... Here's the latest on what's happening at the border." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Here's a good example of what I meant in a comment yesterday when I said that Democrats don't have a good messenger. The presidential candidate who should be complaining about illegal border entry to the U.S. is Joe Biden. It was Donald Trump's who ordered his Senate lapdogs to vote against their own border protection bill, and it failed. Biden should be hammering Trump on this; I think he has mentioned it a few times, but not so as anyone would notice.

~~~~~~~~~~

Aaron Boxerman, et al., of the New York Times: "Israeli fighter jets bombed a port in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saturday in retaliation for the group's deadly drone attack in Tel Aviv a day earlier. It was the first time Israel has publicly struck the group following months of escalating Houthi attacks. The airstrikes targeted a power station as well as gas and oil depots in the area of the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, according to a Houthi spokesman and two regional officials...."