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Harris-Walz Ticket Hits The Ground Running

Your unbiased daily news brief

Author

James Kratch
August 07, 2024

Good Wednesday morning. Most of us just want to keep our refrigerators clean and relatively organized. But some people are now decorating inside them. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

  • Florida: Fatal accident

  • Gaza: Hamas promotion

  • Missouri: ‘Squad’ member ousted

  • Markets: Bounce back

  • Charles Barkley: Staying put

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Deck the Walz

The Democratic presidential ticket is set.

  • The pick: Vice President Kamala Harris tabbed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate yesterday morning, picking him over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. The duo then debuted at a lively campaign rally in Philadelphia to kick off a tour of battleground states this week.

  • Get to know: Walz, 60, is a former teacher, high school football coach and Army National Guard serviceman. He spent six terms in the House before being elected governor. Walz entered the VP discussion in recent weeks thanks to colorful takedowns of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Here is a rundown of his policy record.

  • The logic: Walz reportedly edged out Shapiro due to his chemistry with Harris and concerns about Shapiro's career aspirations. He also demonstrated he can be an aggressive surrogate who will not upstage Harris’ spot atop the ticket. Some Republicans suggested Shapiro, who is Jewish, was the victim of antisemitism in the Democratic Party. The GOP blasted Walz for his progressive record; his response during the 2020 riots after George Floyd's police-involved death is expected to be a significant focus for Trump's campaign.

  • Big picture: Harris and Walz won the initial rally appearance; the selection has been heralded by the party's left flank and has energized the party. But a poll found over 70% of Americans do not know who he is and analysts were skeptical he will have a dramatic impact in the critical Midwest states that will likely decide the Electoral College.

2) Scheme thwarted

A Pakistani national with Iranian ties allegedly tried to helm a plot to assassinate Trump and other U.S. politicians.

  • The news: Asif Merchant is charged with planning to kill current and former government officials. He entered the U.S. in April and tried to hire a contract killer; that person then contacted the FBI and became an informant. He also sought to contract other hitmen. Trump was believed to be among the potential targets.

  • The bust: Merchant was arrested on July 12, a day before Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The Department of Justice said Merchant's case is not related. He was arrested on that date because he was trying to leave the country.

  • Big picture: The U.S. government has repeatedly said Iran is trying to assassinate current and former government officials on American soil. Trump, as well as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton, are at risk for their role in the assassination of military leader Qasem Soleimani. DOJ said it believes it has disrupted the plot entirely..

3) Emergency order

The Environmental Protection Agency issued an abrupt hold on a potentially dangerous pesticide. 

  • What happened: The EPA order calls for a halt on dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, also known as DCPA or Dacthal. The substance is used to combat weeds on several common crops, including broccoli, onions and strawberries.

  • The reason: DCPA can harm unborn children. Research has found fetal thyroid hormone levels change when pregnant women are exposed to the pesticide. That can cause impaired brain development, low birth weight and other issues.

  • Big picture: The EPA has not taken this emergency action in several decades, so it is a significant move that speaks to the severity of the potential harm. A study last year concluded pregnant women may have been exposed to 20x the safe amount of the pesticide; DCPA's lone manufacturer failed to provide requested safety data to the EPA.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

  • Nine people died after a vehicle overturned in a canal near Belle Glade, Florida. One person survived; six children were killed in the accident, which happened after the car missed a curve and flew off the road (More)

  • A federal judge dismissed most claims in a lawsuit filed by a Black student against a Texas school district. The student said school officials committed gender and racial discrimination by punishing him for a hairstyle that did not conform to a school rule (More)

  • NASA has delayed a crewed SpaceX mission until late September. There is speculation the spacecraft may be neededto transport the stranded Boeing Starliner astronauts on the International Space Station (More)

World News

  • Yahya Sinwar was named Hamas' new top political leader. The Gaza chief and the alleged planner of the Oct. 7 attack will become a lead negotiator in ceasefire talks; Israel has indicated it is working to assassinate him (More)

  • Lawmakers in Colombia may ban the sale of merchandise depicting late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Vendors who cater to tourists are pushing back against the proposal; advocates say it would help the country end negative stereotypes (More)

  • Four Tunisian presidential candidates were banned from running and jailed on vote-buying charges. Critics said the sentences were an effort to ensure President Kais Saied's re-election; he has ruled by decree since 2021 (More)

Campaign News

  • Missouri Rep. Cori Bush lost her Democratic primary in the state's 1st Congressional District. She is the second member of the progressive "Squad" to be ousted this cycle; St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell was supported by pro-Israel groups (More)

  • Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles said the FBI seized his cellphone as part of a campaign finance investigation. The Republican said filing mistakes are being probed; he pledged to cooperate and said no rules were knowingly broken (More)

  • Former President Trump said he will conduct "a major interview" with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Monday night. No details were provided; the billionaire has endorsed the former president and created a pro-Trump super PAC that is under investigation in several states (More)

Business & Markets

  • Major indexes finished higher yesterday as Wall Street bounced back. Analysts believe the Federal Reserve could make a significant interest rate cut next month to protect against a recession (Dow +0.76%, Nasdaq +1.03%, S&P 500+1.04%).

  • Super Micro Computer announced a 10-for-1 stock split after underwhelming earnings results. The server company, which specializes in data centers, has been considered an artificial intelligence play as a key Nvidia vendor (More)

  • X is suing several companies, alleging an illegal boycott conspiracy. The social media company formerly known as Twitter said CVS Helth, Mars, Unilever and other businesses and groups deprived it of billions in advertising revenue (More)

Entertainment & Sports

  • Charles Barkley will finish his TNT contract. The Basketball Hall of Famer previously said he would retire as a television analyst if the network lost league broadcast rights; Warner Bros. Discovery is suing to retain its media rights (More)

  • Dan and Eugene Levy are in talks to host next month's Emmy Awards. The father-son duo co-created Schitt's Creek; they have previously co-hosted a talk show together and presented awards (More)

  • At least two athletes who competed in the Seine River at the Paris Olympics have been hospitalized. The polluted water was controversially used for the men's, women's and mixed relay triathlons; the river is scheduled to host swimming events tomorrow and Friday (More)

Quick Hitters

  • Feel Good: When a customer returned home from a yard sale, they discovered rare coins in a box. They returned the valuable finds to a group of unknowing brothers who had just moved their elderly father out of the family home.

  • Take Note: Yes, it does hurt to think sometimes. A new study at a Dutch university found that mental exertion can cause frustration, irritation and other negative feelings.

  • Go Deep: New York may never sleep, but it and most other cities have a last call at some point. But can keeping bars and nightclubs open at all hours create economic transformation?

  • Pet Tip: Let your dog sniff around the next time you take a walk. It is critical for your best friend's mental stimulation, especially if they are older.

  • Life Hack: Cleaning your dishwasher filter is important. If you just learned you have a dishwasher filter, here is what you should do.

Why Taiwan is called "Chinese Taipei" at the Olympics.

Looking Ahead …

Bulgaria will have its seventh parliamentary election since 2021. The country, the poorest in the European Union by GDP per capita, has been racked by political instability in recent years. Three parties failed to form a governing majority after June's elections.

Question of the Day

The tickets are set. Who will you likely vote for in November?

Let us know!

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