Kamala Harris prepares for weekend campaign blitz as running mate hopefuls fan out across swing states

Vice President Kamala Harris has received the endorsement of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, with the former president and first lady declaring in a new video: “She’ll make a fantastic President of the United States.”

Meanwhile, a New York Times/Siena College poll has found Harris just one percentage point behind Donald Trump, narrowing the six-point gap between Joe Biden and his predecessor.

Another survey indicates she has put her party back into contention in the key battleground states since taking the reins.

Elsewhere, Harris trolled her Republican rival after he backed out of a proposed television debate with her, asking on social media: “What happened to any time, any place?”

Trump had previously used those words to lay down the gauntlet to Biden but now appears to have cold feet about taking on Harris, who accused him of “backpedaling” on his commitment to a debate provisionally scheduled for September 10 to be broadcast on ABC.

Trump’s campaign team subsequently confirmed that he would not face her – at least not yet – blaming Democratic instability for the U-turn.

The Harris team has a weekend campaign blitz planned with surrogates and potential running mates fanning out across swing states.

Key Points

• Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris: ‘She’ll make a fantastic President of the United States’

• Harris narrows gap on Trump in new poll

• Democrat now a threat to Trump in several major swing states, survey suggests

• Harris trolls rival as he backs out of debate: ‘What happened to any time, any place?’

• VP launches first presidential campaign ad: ‘We choose freedom’

Watch: Biden shows support for Team USA as he heads to Camp David

22:51 , Oliver O’Connell

Haley says Harris is Democrats’ ‘weakest candidate’ – but DEI attacks ‘aren’t helpful’

22:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Former GOP presidential candidate and one-time UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said Republicans trying to paint Vice President Kamala Harris as a “DEI” candidate are not helping Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Haley made the comments on Thursday during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.

She suggested that Republicans focus on Harris’s policies and her past as a politician in their criticisms, not her skin color or her gender. “It’s not helpful,” Haley said.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Nikki Haley says Harris is ‘weakest candidate’ – but DEI attacks ‘aren’t helpful’

Trump calls Kamala Harris’ Israel remarks ‘disrespectful’

22:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Former president Donald Trump hit out at Vice President Kamala Harris for her insistence that Israel should avoid civilian casualties and allow Palestinians access to humanitarian aid as he hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his self-styled White House in exile on Friday.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump calls VP Harris’ Israel remarks ‘disrespectful’ as he cozies up to Netanyahu

Shapiro and Whitmer to campaign for Harris next week

21:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will campaign together for Kamala Harris next week.

Whitmer and Shapiro both endorsed the vice president as the next Democratic candidate to face Donald Trump after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid on Sunday.

The duo is set to appear at a campaign event in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on Monday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. They are expected to speak out against Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term.

Katie Hawkinson has the details.

VP candidates Josh Shapiro and Gretchen Whitmer to campaign for Harris next week

Kamala Harris calls Sonya Massey’s family

21:43 , Oliver O’Connell

Per NBC News:

On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris called the family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was shot by a sheriff’s deputy in her Illinois home, according to Massey’s family members who spoke to NBC News.

Massey, 36, was killed July 6 after she called the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office because she was afraid there might be a prowler outside, according to an attorney for her family and Illinois State Police,

“It’s made me feel a lot better today,” said James Wilburn, Massey’s father.

Of Harris, Wilburn said, “She gave us her heartfelt condolences, and she let us know that she is with us, 100% that this senseless killing.”

Here’s our most recent coverage of the killing of Sonya Massey:

Sonya Massey killed by bullet to head less than an hour after calling 911: autopsy

21:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Listen: Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris in ‘historic’ phone call

Harris trolls Trump as he backs out of debate

20:57 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris has trolled Donald Trump by using his words against him after the Republican presidential nominee backed out of a proposed television debate.

“What happened to ‘any time, any place’?” the vice president posted on X late on Thursday night.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Harris trolls Trump as he backs out of debate ‘What happened to any time, any place?’

Second gentleman shares story of how he heard Biden had dropped out

20:39 , Oliver O’Connell

The Los Angeles Times reports that Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff shocked a couple of thousand gay and queer Black men backing Vice President Kamala Harris in her run for president when he made a surprise appearance on an organizing call on Thursday evening.

After telling the assembled supporters that Harris would “be there” for the LGBTQ+ community moving forward, as she has been in the past, Emhoff told the story of how he found out that President Joe Biden had stepped aside from the 2024 race.

Per The LA Times:

Emhoff also told a story of being caught by surprise by President Biden’s announcement that he was dropping out of the presidential race on Sunday, when he said he happened to be in Los Angeles with a gay couple — friends of his — after taking a one-hour SoulCycle class with them in West Hollywood.

“We’re out there having coffee, messing around and talking, and … people are coming up to me, so it’s now, like, after the announcement has gone out, and my friend’s partner said, ‘Um, you need to look at this,’ and I said, ‘What?’” Emhoff said.

What the friend was holding up was Biden’s letter to the country announcing he was dropping out.

“Of course I didn’t have my phone, so I ran and ran and got into our car, and of course my phone is just on fire, and it’s basically, ‘Call Kamala,’ ‘Call Kamala,’ ‘Call Kamala,’ from everyone,” Emhoff said. “And of course, the first thing she said was, ‘Where the … were you? I need you.’”

Since then, Emhoff said, it’s been a “whirlwind.”

Analysis: JD Vance’s ‘cat lady’ attacks are just the beginning of Republicans’ childbirth obsession

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

Before he became Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance called for higher taxes for childless adults and insisted their votes should count less. He said abortion should be “illegal” nationally, and that the “cat ladies” and the “Kamala Harrises” of the world want to “brainwash” other people’s kids.

Misogynist “cat lady” insults are nothing new, nor is an anti-abortion GOP official advocating nationwide bans on abortion access.

But recently resurfaced remarks from the next potential vice president — and his connections to influential right-wing voices with borderline conspiracy-mongering ideas about childbirth rates — have invited more scrutiny into the natalist movement gripping Republican politics.

Continue reading…

Vance’s ‘cat lady’ attacks scratch the surface of Republicans’ childbirth obsession

Polling shows Harris now a threat to Trump in key swing states

20:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris has pulled her party back into contention in several key battleground states after taking the reins of the presidential ticket and becoming the presumptive nominee for the Democrats.

A new Emerson poll released on Thursday shows Harris putting an end to the bleeding her predecessor was suffering for weeks across five key states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. She still trails Donald Trump in each state, but she’s now within just a few percentage points — ground she has a chance of making up over the next 100-plus days until the general election.

John Bowden looks at the numbers.

Kamala Harris now a threat to Trump in several major swing states, new polling finds

Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for president

19:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Barack and Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris for president, saying that there is “no doubt in our mind” that she has what it takes to beat Donald Trump in the 2024 election and “deliver for the American people”.

Following days of speculation, the former first couple announced their endorsement on Friday morning, with both parties sharing a video on social media of a phone call in which the Obamas pledged their whole-hearted support for Harris’s campaign.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for president: ‘No doubt in our mind‘

Might this be the lowest point of the campaign so far?

19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

A regular guest on the Fox Business network referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “the original ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl,” sparking online backlash about the sexist remark.

Alec Lace appeared on the network on July 5 to discuss the future of the Democratic party after President Joe Biden’s debate stumble — commentary that devolved into racist and sexist remarks about the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Lace suggested that Harris ascended to power by sleeping her way to the top.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Fox guest slammed for calling Kamala Harris a ‘Hawk Tuah girl’ in sexist outburst

18:45 , Oliver O’Connell

You better vote: Kamala Harris appears on RuPaul’s Drag Race with election message

Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support (with a few exceptions)

18:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris is on track to wrap up support from America’s biggest labor unions, even as Republicans led by JD Vance and Donald Trump try to make a play for union voters.

The Vice President spoke at an event held by the American Federation of Teachers on Thursday, where she thanked the teachers’ union for its longstanding support of her political career.

John Bowden and Eric Garcia report.

With a few holdouts, Kamala Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support

Harris campaign brands Trump VP pick ‘already a disaster’

18:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has branded Donald Trump’s pick of JD Vance as his running mate as “already a disaster”.

A statement released by the campaign says:

Donald Trump is breaking records for the worst possible VP rollout a candidate could have.

11 days in, Vance is the most unpopular pick in decades.

In the first week of his candidacy, he’s picking fights with Jennifer Aniston, animating Swifties against Trump’s campaign, insulting couples struggling with infertility, and driving away women voters in droves as article after article reveals just how far he and Donald Trump would go to ban abortion nationwide.

Never mind uniting the country – JD Vance can’t unite his own party. Already, leading Republican strategists are expressing “buyer’s remorse” over Donald Trump’s choice for VP.

Harris for President Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said about JD Vance’s rough week: “JD Vance spent all week making headlines for his out-of-touch, weird ideas, including the Project 2025-endorsed plans to ban abortion nationwide. This week confirmed voters’ worst fears about what Trump and Vance will do if they’re elected. It’s only been 11 days, but voters know the Trump-Vance ticket is running to take America backwards and take away our freedoms – but as Vice President Harris has said, we will not go back.”

Biden ‘tarred’ his reputation by not leaving race sooner, says RFK Jr

17:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he thinks Joe Biden damaged his reputation by not dropping out of the race sooner.

Kennedy’s comments come after Biden, bending to pressure from his party, dropped out of the presidential race on Sunday and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic candidate. The third-party candidate held a press conference shortly after to argue that Biden and his vice president, who appears poised to take over the Democratic ticket, will be indistinguishable.

Now, he tells CBS News the decision to leave should have come sooner.

Katie Hawkinson reports.

RFK Jr. says Biden ‘tarred’ his reputation by not leaving race sooner

Watch: Tomi Lahren warns personal attacks on Kamala Harris ‘bad move’

17:29 , Oliver O’Connell

In an appearance on Outnumbered on Fox News this morning, conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren warned that attacking Kamala Harris personally was a “bad move” for the Trump campaign and would “make women second-guess their support” for the former president.

Veepstakes: Clyburn offers supportive remarks about Buttigieg

17:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking on MSNBC, Rep Jim Clyburn today offered some encouraging and supportive remarks about Kamala Harris selecting transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg as her running mate and potential vice president.

COMMENT: Elon Musk has historic power to influence elections – can anyone stop him winning it for Trump?

17:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Alan Rusbridger writes:

Think of it as a Venn diagram. Elon Musk is almost certainly the richest person in the world and controls a vast social media platform. The US president is probably the most powerful person in the world. Can the person with the biggest bucks help determine who gets to be the most powerful? And would we ever know?

Continue reading:

Can we stop Elon Musk from winning the election for Trump?

Veepstakes: Mark Kelly gets backing of pro-science PAC

17:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Shaughnessy Naughton, founder and president of 314 Action, a group committed to electing more scientists to public office, released the following statement in support of Vice President Kamala Harris picking Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona as her running mate.

At a time in history when our democracy is facing an unique threat from MAGA extremists and our planet is staring down climate change that can devastate future generations, it is imperative that we put forward the strongest ticket possible. I believe Mark Kelly’s experience as an astronaut, combat Navy Veteran, U.S. Senator, and a distinguished public servant brings just that. He is the best choice to serve the Democratic ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee.

As a Navy pilot Mark Kelly took an oath to protect our constitution and flew 39 combat missions to defend our country. As an astronaut, he led missions to space in order to advance humanity. When Arizona families, including his own wife, were struck by violence, Mark Kelly listened, and brought people together to help the community heal. In the United States Senate Mark Kelly became a champion for solving problems and getting things done.

Mark Kelly is a proven leader. He has time and again answered the call to put service first and country before self. He knows how to win tough, competitive elections, turning Arizona from Red to Blue by defeating a formidable incumbent the first time and another Peter Thiel acolyte the second time. He uses facts, science, and data to make informed public policy decisions. He knows how to work across the aisle to get results for his constituents.

There are many great candidates under consideration, however, Mark Kelly’s profile, experience, background and perspectives make him the best choice for Vice President. He can simultaneously energize the base, win swing voters, and profoundly impact this race and we are proud to stand with him.

Former DOJ officials line up behind Harris, branding Trump ‘grave risk’ to country

16:52 , Oliver O’Connell

More than 40 former Justice Department officials who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents have signed a letter endorsing 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to a new report.

The letter — which includes the signatures of former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former deputy attorneys general Sally Yates, David Ogden, and Jamie Gorelick, and the top Washington prosecutor during George W Bush’s administration, John McKay — paints Harris as a common sense candidate who will respect the rule of law, according to NBC News, which first reported the endorsement.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Former DOJ officials back Kamala Harris and brand Trump ‘grave risk’ to country

Youth groups unite in support of Harris

16:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Seventeen leading youth organizing groups, representing hundreds of thousands of young people nationwide, have announced their united support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for president.

A joint statement released this morning by Voters of Tomorrow, College Democrats of America, Young Democrats of America, High School Democrats of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Leaders We Deserve, Brady’s Team ENOUGH, Students Demand Action, Jr. Newtown Action Alliance, Grassroots Democrats HQ, Path to Progress, Blue Future, Progress Libs, Voices of Gen Z, Dream for America, Tour to Save Democracy, and Democratic Youth Coalition.

It reads in part:

In 2020 and 2022, young voters delivered critical margins to defeat Donald Trump and his far-right allies up and down the ballot. This November, we will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in defeating Donald Trump and the extreme Project 2025 agenda he hopes to force on the country. With our futures at stake, our announcement today signals the youth movement’s unified front and marks an important moment in the fight against Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Regarding the vice president, the statement says:

As a champion of reproductive freedom, climate action, economic justice, and gun violence prevention, Vice President Harris is uniquely equipped to build a coalition of young voters who will lead her to victory. Elevating Vice President Harris to the Oval Office would be historic: the first woman, first Asian American, and second Black president. As members of the most diverse generation in our nation’s history, a Kamala Harris presidency would be one in which we see ourselves.

Fed’s preferred inflation gauge cools

16:15 , Oliver O’Connell

The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation measure remained low last month, bolstering evidence that price pressures are steadily cooling and setting the stage for the Fed to begin cutting interest rates this fall.

Prices rose just 0.1% from May to June, the Commerce Department said Friday, up from the previous month’s unchanged reading. Compared with a year earlier, inflation declined to 2.5% from 2.6%.

Continue reading…

Fed’s preferred inflation gauge cools, adding to likelihood of a September rate cut

President Joe Biden released the following statement:

Today’s report shows we are making real progress fighting inflation. Over the last year, inflation has come down to 2.5% at a time when the economy has grown 3.1%, we’ve created 2.6 million new jobs, and wages are rising faster than prices. The agenda that Vice President Harris and I are fighting for has helped us come back strong from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and deliver for working families.

We’re going to keep building on this progress to lower costs for all Americans by expanding on our success capping prescription drug costs and building more homes to lower rents. Congressional Republicans have a different plan, one that would “reignite” inflation by giving more massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy while raising costs for working families by taxing all imports. While they fight for special interests, the Vice President and I will keep fighting to rebuild the middle class.

Veepstakes: Walz popular among labor unions, report says

16:00 , Oliver O’Connell

ABC News reports that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has emerged as a popular choice among labor unions as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris.

Sources told the network that Walz has drawn support for his record of pro-labor legislation in a blue-leaning state and his potential appeal with voters in Midwest battlegrounds Wisconsin and Michigan.

‘What happened to any time, any place?’

15:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris has trolled Donald Trump by using his words against him after the Republican presidential nominee backed out of a proposed television debate.

“What happened to ‘any time, any place’?” the vice president posted on X late on Thursday night.

Joe Sommerlad has the story.

Harris trolls Trump as he backs out of debate ‘What happened to any time, any place?’

Watch: Buttigieg calls Trump backpedaling on debating Harris ‘extraordinary show of weakness’

15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Transportation secretary and potential running mate for Kamala Harris Pete Buttigieg said today on Morning Joe about Trump backpedaling on debating Harris: “It’s extraordinary. Tough talk is this guy’s calling card, and there’s this extraordinary show of weakness.”

Chicago police chief says out-of-town police won’t be posted in city during DNC

15:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Outside police agencies that will help to secure the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago next month will not be posted in city neighborhoods, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said on Thursday as federal authorities released maps of convention security perimeters.

The renewed attention on out-of-town police comes after Ohio officers stationed in Milwaukee for the Republican convention last week fatally shot a man at a park not far from the Fiserv Forum.

Here’s more.

Chicago police chief says out-of-town police won’t be posted in city neighborhoods during DNC

Voices: Will America ever overcome its prejudices and elect a woman as president?

14:45 , Joe Sommerlad

What began as the “age” election is now the “gender” election, writes Mary Dejevsky – but will being a woman tip the balance in Harris’s favor?

Will America ever overcome its prejudices and elect a woman as president?

Post-Covid video of Joe Biden sparks bizarre height conspiracy theories

14:15 , Joe Sommerlad

The President’s address to the nation on Wednesday night to explain his decision not to seek re-election has, inevitably, inspired a slew of internet nonsense about him being replaced by a body double.

Here’s Jake Brigstock of Indy100 to examine the evidence.

Post-Covid video of Joe Biden sparks bizarre conspiracy theories

Buttigieg coy on Harris running mate rumours

13:45 , Joe Sommerlad

US Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been doing some fine work stumping for Kamala in recent days but was suddenly much more evasive when asked straight out on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today whether he could be her running mate.

Here he is sticking it to Trump on Harris’s behalf for dropping out of the September 10 TV debate, incidently.

Former DOJ officials back Harris and brand Trump a ‘grave risk’

13:15 , Joe Sommerlad

More than 40 former Department of Justice (DOJ) officials who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents have signed a letter endorsing 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to a new report.

The letter – which includes the signatures of former attorney general Loretta Lynch, former deputy attorneys general Sally Yates, David Ogden and Jamie Gorelick and the top Washington prosecutor during George W Bush’s administration, John McKay – paints Harris as a common sense candidate who will respect the rule of law.

Graig Graziosi has more.

Former DOJ officials back Kamala Harris and brand Trump ‘grave risk’ to country

Watch: Harris says two state solution is ‘only path’ for Israel and Palestine

12:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Kamala Harris says two state solution is the ‘only path’ after meeting with Netanyahu

Watch: Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Harris in ‘historic’ phone call

12:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Listen: Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris in ‘historic’ phone call

Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support (with a few exceptions)

11:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Kamala Harris is on track to wrap up support from America’s biggest labor unions, even as Republicans led by JD Vance and Donald Trump try to make a play for union voters.

The Vice President spoke at an event held by the American Federation of Teachers on Thursday, where she thanked the teachers’ union for its longstanding support of her political career.

John Bowden and Eric Garcia report.

With a few holdouts, Kamala Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support

Harris now a threat to Trump in several major swing states, new poll suggests

11:15 , Joe Sommerlad

In further polling news, Harris appears to have pulled her party back into contention in several key battleground states after taking the reins of the presidential ticket and becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee this week.

A new Emerson poll released on Thursday shows Harris stopping the bleeding her predecessor was suffering for weeks across five key states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

She still trails Trump in each state, but she’s now within just a few percentage points — ground she has a chance of making up over the next 100-plus days until the general election.

John Bowden looks at the numbers.

Kamala Harris now a threat to Trump in several major swing states, new polling finds

Harris narrows gap on Trump in new poll

10:45 , Joe Sommerlad

The latest New York Times/Siena College poll has Trump at 48 per cent and Harris at 47 per cent among likely voters in a head-to-head match-up, in the first survey since Harris took over as the presumptive Democratic Party nominee after President Biden stepped aside.

This shows a marked improvement for Democrats. The last poll conducted by the group in early July showed Biden down six per cent to Trump.

Among registered voters, Trump leads Harris by two per cent (48:46) but he led Biden by nine per cent in the earlier poll.

Per the Times:

“The poll showed Ms Harris garnering about 60 percent support from voters under 30 and Hispanic voters, groups Mr Biden had consistently struggled with. Among voters under 45, Ms Harris was ahead by 10 percentage points, less than three weeks after Mr. Trump had held a narrow edge with that group over Mr Biden.

“Because the survey was of voters nationwide, the impact of Ms Harris’s candidacy in particular battleground states was not immediately clear. But a Democratic candidate with greater appeal to younger and more diverse voters could put renewed focus on the Sun Belt states of Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which had been threatening to slip off the swing-state map for Mr Biden.

“The nationwide poll surveyed 1,142 registered voters between July 22-24 by phone in both English and Spanish. The poll’s margin of sampling error among registered voters is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.”

Obamas endorse Kamala: ‘She’ll make a fantastic President of the United States’

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Barack and Michelle Obama have just put out this video endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee in place of Joe Biden, putting to bed any conservative speculation that they had doubts about her candidacy once and for all.

Judging from Kamala’s outfit, the call must have come in on Wednesday.

Here’s the very latest from Rachel Sharp.

Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for president: ‘No doubt in our mind‘

Harris trolls Trump as he backs out of debate: ‘What happened to any time, any place?’

10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

US Vice President Kamala Harris has trolled Donald Trump after the Republican presidential nominee backed out of a proposed television debate, asking on social media: “What happened to any time, any place?”

Trump had previously used those words to lay down the gauntlet to Joe Biden but now appears to have cold feet about taking on Harris, after the former stepped down from the Democratic Party ticket on Sunday to make way for his deputy, who is now its presumptive nominee for the White House.

Harris accused Trump on Thursday of “backpedaling” on his commitment to a presidential debate provisionally scheduled for September 10 to be broadcast on ABC.

Trump’s campaign team subsequently confirmed that he would not face her, at least not yet, blaming Democratic instability for the U-turn.

Here’s our report.

Harris trolls Trump as he backs out of debate ‘What happened to any time, any place?’

09:00 , Oliver O’Connell

You better vote: Kamala Harris appears on RuPaul’s Drag Race with election message

Simmering tensions over Gaza but Biden and Netanyahu all smiles in Oval Office

08:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were unfailingly cordial as the two leaders met in the Oval Office for what may be their last face-to-face talks before Biden leaves office after this year’s presidential election.

Netanyahu, who has spent much of the time since he became Israel’s prime minister in 2009 as a thorn in the side to Democratic presidents for his work to undermine the two-state solution to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, praised Biden’s long-standing support for Israel while he and the American leader spoke to reporters ahead of their bilateral talks.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Biden and Netanyahu all smiles in Oval Office meeting despite tensions over Gaza

Gabrielle Giffords stumps for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania

07:16 , Namita Singh

Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman who was grievously wounded in a 2011 shooting in her Arizona district, took to the campaign trail on Thursday for vice president Kamala Harris, as her nascent presidential campaign gets off the ground and a parallel campaign to find her running mate takes shape.

Ms Giffords, speaking at the Salt and Light church in swing-state Pennsylvania, met with community activists in a predominantly Black section of Philadelphia hit by gun violence recently, including one over the weekend in which three people were killed and at least six others were wounded.

The event had long been planned, Ms Giffords aides said, well before her husband, senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro entered the conversation to be Ms Harris’ running mate, now that president Joe Biden ended his re-election bid.

Ms Giffords spoke briefly about her long recovery from the shooting in 2011, which killed six people during a meeting with constituents at a Tucson grocery store. Ms Harris’ other surrogates, including Pennsylvania House speaker Joanna McClinton, framed the November presidential contest as a choice between Ms Harris, who would sign a ban on assault weapons, and more gun violence under Republican Donald Trump, who gun-rights groups back.

“We are overwhelmed with violence all across America from rural Pennsylvania to inner city neighbourhoods like where we are today,” Ms McClinton said. “We as voters can make a decision on having a more violent United States or safer communities in every part of America.”

Nikki Haley denounces attack on Harris over gender, race

06:45 , Namita Singh

Nikki Haley has criticised members of her own party for attacks on vice president Kamala Harris over her age, race and gender.

“There are so many issues we can talk about when it comes to Kamala Harris, that it doesn’t matter what she looks like,” Ms Haley told CNN. “It matters what she said, what she’s fought for, and the lack of results that she’s had because of it.”

Earlier, representative Tim Burchett called the vice president a “DEI hire,” and “DEI vice president,” in a reference to diversity, equity and inclusion programmes, while representative Glenn Grothman said Democrats chose Ms Harris to replace president Joe Biden “because of her ethnic background.”

Harris likely to name running mate by 7 August

06:30 , Namita Singh

Vice president Kamala Harris is likely to name her running mate by 7 August, reported the New York Times, citing sources.

A number of candidates are in consideration including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

She is reportedly casting a wider net in her search for a running mate, looking to current administration officials, Democratic lawmakers and potentially other high-profile figures who do not currently hold elected office.

Trump backtracks on debating against Harris

06:04 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump’s campaign on Thursday cast doubt about a 10 September debate that had been previously scheduled against Joe Biden. Kamala Harris has said she is prepared to debate Trump that day, but the Trump campaign said in a statement that debate details cannot be finalised until the Democrats formally name a candidate, which could happen the first week of August.

“It would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds,” said Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign communications director, in a statement late on Thursday.

Ms Harris, meanwhile accused Trump of “backpedaling” saying: “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on the debate stage.”

Will Maya Rudolph make her Saturday Night Live return as Kamala Harris?

06:00 , Oliver O’Connell

As Kamala Harris continues her campaign to officially secure the Democratic presidential nomination, Saturday Night Live fans are calling on Maya Rudolph to reprise her beloved impersonation of the Vice President.

Rudolph, 51, first portrayed the VP on a 2019 episode of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series, where she sparred with Woody Harrelson’s Joe Biden and riffed on Harris’s most memorable lines from the first round of Democratic primary debates.

She famously brought back her impersonation of Harris for the show’s 46th season in 2021.

Inga Parkel has the story.

Will Maya Rudolph make her Saturday Night Live return as Kamala Harris?

Who Kamala called

05:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The New York Times reports on how Kamala Harris took charge of her future at the head of the Democratic Party in the all-important 48 hours following the decision by President Joe Biden that he was not standing for re-election.

There was a sprawling call list waiting for her of all the key Democratic power brokers.

Per the Times:

“I wasn’t going to let this day go by without you hearing from me,” Ms. Harris had said over and over, as day turned to night, according to five people who received her calls or were briefed on them.

She phoned past Democratic presidents, many of her potential rivals — including Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania — the Democratic congressional leaders, Senator Bernie Sanders, the heads of the various influential caucuses and other top Democrats, a person with direct knowledge of the call list said.

The blitz demonstrated exactly the kind of vigor and energy that Mr. Biden had lacked in recent weeks. Mr. Biden had reportedly made 20 calls to congressional Democrats in the first 10 or so days after the debate, while his candidacy hung in the balance. Ms. Harris made 100 calls in 10 hours.

The paper quotes Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and past presidential candidate, as saying: “It was a very well-orchestrated cascade.”

“I have to confess I am surprised myself how fast this has gone.”

Robby Mook, former campaign manager for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 run, called it “a perfect 48 hours”.

Harris tells Netanyahu ‘it is time’ to end war in Gaza

04:49 , AP

Vice president Kamala Harris said she urged Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas so that dozens of hostages held by the militants in Gaza can return home.

Ms Harris said she had a “frank and constructive” conversation with Mr Netanyahu in which she affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself but also expressed deep concern about the high death toll in Gaza over nine months of war and the “dire” humanitarian situation there.

With all eyes on the likely Democratic presidential nominee, Ms Harris largely reiterated president Joe Biden’s longstanding message that it is time to find an endgame to the brutal war in Gaza, where more than 39,000 Palestinians have died.

Yet she offered a more forceful tone about the urgency of the moment just one day after Mr Netanyahu gave a fiery speech to United States Congress in which he defended the war, vowed “total victory” against Hamas and made relatively scant mention of ceasefire negotiations.

“There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal,” Ms Harris told reporters shortly after meeting Mr Netanyahu.

“And as I just told prime minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done.”

Jill Biden meets with US Olympic athletes in Paris

04:00 , AP

U.S. first lady Jill Biden visited some American athletes at an Olympic training center in Paris on Thursday, wishing rugby and track and field competitors good luck and even taking part in a stationary relay drill with runners.

Biden arrived in Paris a day before the Summer Games’ opening ceremony on the Seine River. She will watch athletes parade on a flotilla of boats Friday after a reception with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the Élysée Palace.

Read more…

Jill Biden meets with US Olympic athletes in Paris — and even helps with a relay drill

03:00 , Oliver O’Connell

NBA legend Steph Curry backs Kamala Harris in 2024 presidential election

Kamala Harris officially joins TikTok

02:30 , Mike Bedigan

Kamala Harris has launched her own official TikTok account.

The vice president, and now presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, posted her first video on the social media platform on Thursday.

Asked whether she was now “on TikTok” she replies: “Well I’ve heard recently that I’ve been on the For You Page, so I thought I would get on here myself.

Reaction to Biden’s address to nation from across political spectrum

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats, Republicans and talking heads have lead reaction to President Joe Biden’s address to the nation on Wednesday night, with supporters saying he “fell on his sword” while critics blasted it as “barely understandable”.

James Liddell reports.

‘He fell on his sword’: Reaction to Biden’s address to nation

Judge threatens to sanction Hunter Biden’s legal team

01:00 , AP

A federal judge in California is threatening to sanction Hunter Biden‘s lawyers, saying they made “false statements” in a court filing asking the judge to throw out the tax case against President Joe Biden‘s son.

US District Judge Mark Scarsi accused lawyers for the Democratic president’s son of “misrepresenting the history” of the case when they said in court papers filed last week that no charges were brought in the investigation until after Delaware US Attorney David Weiss was named special counsel in August 2023.

Judge threatens to sanction Hunter Biden’s legal team over ‘false statements’ in a court filing

Which Democrats worked with JD Vance in the Senate and what were their thoughts?

Friday 26 July 2024 00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Senator Elizabeth Warren has been one of JD Vance’s sharpest critics since former President Donald Trump picked the Ohio Republican senator as his vice presidential running mate. And that makes sense, given she was an early supporter of Kamala Harris going back to the vice president’s days as attorney general of California.

But back in Washington, the Massachusetts Democrat has happily worked with Vance, as the pair serve on the Senate Banking Committee and co-authored legislation to claw back executive pay for failed banks.

“It’s good legislation,” Warren told The Independent while she rushed out of the Senate after votes on Thursday. “I’m happy to work with anyone.”

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

The Democrats who worked with JD Vance in the Senate

Harris wins over Democrat voters but still trails behind Trump

Friday 26 July 2024 00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The first few polls are out since President Joe Biden announced he would be abandoning his second bid for the White House on Sunday, with Vice President Kamala Harris set to take over as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Most polls show Harris neck-and-neck with former President Donald Trump, with Harris leading by two points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, but trailing Trump by a few points in several others.

The polls were carried out between July 21, when Biden dropped out, and July 23.

Data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports.

Harris wins over Democrat voters but still trails behind Trump in first polls

Harris ‘ready’ to debate Trump and accuses him of ‘backpedaling’ on agreement

Thursday 25 July 2024 23:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said she is fully prepared to meet Donald Trump at the September debate which their respective campaigns agreed upon earlier this year and accused the ex-president of reneging on the agreement.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Harris says she’s ‘ready’ to debate Trump and accuses him of ‘backpedaling’ on deal

Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support (with a few exceptions)

Thursday 25 July 2024 23:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris is on track to wrap up support from America’s biggest labor unions, even as Republicans led by JD Vance and Donald Trump try to make a play for union voters.

The vice president spoke at an event held by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on Thursday, where she thanked the teachers’ union for its longstanding support of her political career.

John Bowden and Eric Garcia report from Washington, DC.

With a few holdouts, Kamala Harris rides Biden wave to pick up union support

Who are Kamala Harris’s stepchildren?

Thursday 25 July 2024 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris was once called a “childless cat lady” by Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance — a claim that the childfree community, her husband’s ex-wife, and even Jennifer Aniston have slammed as sexist.

It’s also just plain wrong, as Kelly Rissman reports.

Who are Kamala Harris’s stepchildren?

Thursday 25 July 2024 22:46 , Oliver O’Connell

You better vote: Kamala Harris appears on RuPaul’s Drag Race with election message

Thursday 25 July 2024 22:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Constitutional amendment aims to reverse Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling

Thursday 25 July 2024 22:02 , Oliver O’Connell

New York congressman Joe Morelle has introduced a constitutional amendment intended to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision granting presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions while in office.

A statement from Morelle reads:

Earlier this month the Supreme Court of the United States undermined not just the foundation of our constitutional government, but the foundation of our democracy. At its core, our nation relies on the principle that no American stands above another in the eyes of the law. I introduced this constitutional amendment to correct a grave error of this Supreme Court and protect our democracy by ensuring no president is ever above the law. The American people expect their leaders to be held to the same standards we hold for any member of our community. Presidents are not monarchy, they are not tyrants, and shall not be immune.

Former DOJ officials endorse Kamala Harris fearing Trump win

Thursday 25 July 2024 21:46 , Oliver O’Connell

NBC News has obtained a letter signed by more than 40 former Justice Department officials — who served under presidents of both parties — endorsing Kamala Harris for the presidency.

Those who signed the letter include former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former deputy attorneys general Sally Yates, David Ogden and Jamie Gorelick, and John McKay, who was appointed as a top federal prosecutor in Washington state during the George W Bush administration.

“The fabric of the nation, the rule of law and the future of the Democracy are at stake in this election,” the letter states.

“The stakes could not be higher. Former President Trump presents a grave risk to our country, our global alliances and the future of democracy.”

Per NBC News:

Trump “regularly ignored the rule of law” as president, the former officials wrote, pointing out that one of his first acts was an “unconstitutional Muslim travel ban” and one of his last acts was an attempt “to stay in power by defying election results and the will of the American people.”

Harris is “the best choice to defeat Donald Trump and lead the nation,” the letter says, citing her work in the Biden administration and as attorney general of California, where “she oversaw the largest state justice department in the country. She forged strong relationships with law enforcement to keep people safe, fought for American consumers and fought against those preying on the American people.”

Read the full letter here

Simmering tensions over Gaza but Biden and Netanyahu all smiles in Oval Office

Thursday 25 July 2024 21:36 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were unfailingly cordial as the two leaders met in the Oval Office for what may be their last face-to-face talks before Biden leaves office after this year’s presidential election.

Netanyahu, who has spent much of the time since he became Israel’s prime minister in 2009 as a thorn in the side to Democratic presidents for his work to undermine the two-state solution to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, praised Biden’s long-standing support for Israel while he and the American leader spoke to reporters ahead of their bilateral talks.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

Biden and Netanyahu all smiles in Oval Office meeting despite tensions over Gaza

Thursday 25 July 2024 21:31 , Oliver O’Connell

New poll: Harris now a threat to Trump in several major swing states

Thursday 25 July 2024 21:13 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris has pulled her party back into contention in several key battleground states after taking the reins of the presidential ticket and becoming the presumptive nominee for the Democrats.

A new Emerson poll released on Thursday shows Harris putting an end to the bleeding her predecessor was suffering for weeks across five key states: Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. She still trails Donald Trump in each state, but she’s now within just a few percentage points — ground she has a chance of making up over the next 100-plus days until the general election.

John Bowden has the details.

Kamala Harris now a threat to Trump in several major swing states, new polling finds

A new low point?

Thursday 25 July 2024 21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox guest describes Kamala Harris as ‘original Hawk Tuah girl’

Thursday 25 July 2024 20:57 , Oliver O’Connell

“You have been asking me about the debate and I’ll tell you I’m ready to debate Donald Trump. I have agreed to the previously agreed upon September 10 debate. He agreed to that previously. Now, here he is backpedaling and I’m ready and I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage and so I’m ready to go.”

New York Times/Siena College poll sees single point between Harris and Trump

Thursday 25 July 2024 20:45 , Oliver O’Connell

The latest New York Times/Siena College poll has Donald Trump at 48 per cent and Kamala Harris at 47 per cent among likely voters in a head-to-head match-up, in the first survey since Harris took over as the presumptive Democratic Party nominee after President Joe Biden stepped aside.

This shows a marked improvement for Democrats. The last poll conducted by the group in early July showed Biden down six per cent to Trump.

Among registered voters, Trump leads Harris by two per cent (48:46) but he led Biden by nine per cent in the earlier poll.

Per the Times:

The poll showed Ms. Harris garnering about 60 percent support from voters under 30 and Hispanic voters, groups Mr. Biden had consistently struggled with. Among voters under 45, Ms. Harris was ahead by 10 percentage points, less than three weeks after Mr. Trump had held a narrow edge with that group over Mr. Biden.

Because the survey was of voters nationwide, the impact of Ms. Harris’s candidacy in particular battleground states was not immediately clear. But a Democratic candidate with greater appeal to younger and more diverse voters could put renewed focus on the Sun Belt states of Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which had been threatening to slip off the swing-state map for Mr. Biden.

The nationwide poll surveyed 1,142 registered voters between July 22-24 by phone in both English and Spanish. The poll’s margin of sampling error among registered voters is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Harris says she is ready to debate Trump as he backpedals on agreed date

Thursday 25 July 2024 20:41 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris says she’s ready to debate Donald Trump on ABC on September 10 as previously agreed.

Trump now seems to be backing away from the face-off.

Anti-immigrant campaign ad sees Missouri Republican slammed for ‘racist bigotry’

Thursday 25 July 2024 20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

A Missouri Republican with a history of attention-seeking political stunts is promising to “crack down on illegal immigration” in a widely derided ad loaded with racist stereotypes.

Bill Eigel, a GOP state senator running for governor of Missouri, stands next to a Spanish “translator” as he pledges “no more taxpayer handouts to illegals, period. Nada, zilch, zero.”

Alex Woodward reports.

Missouri Republican slammed for ‘racist bigotry’ in anti-immigrant campaign ad

Harris wins over Democrat voters but still trails behind Trump in first polls

Thursday 25 July 2024 20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The first few polls are out since President Joe Biden announced he would be abandoning his second bid for the White House on Sunday, with Vice President Kamala Harris set to take over as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Most polls show Harris neck-and-neck with former President Donald Trump, with Harris leading by two points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, but trailing Trump by a few points in several others.

The polls were carried out between July 21, when Biden dropped out, and July 23.

Alicja Hagopian, data correspondent, reports.

Harris wins over Democrat voters but still trails behind Trump in first polls

Fox News proposes hosting new debate between Trump and Harris

Thursday 25 July 2024 19:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News has written to both the Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns proposing that the network host a presidential debate on September 17 in Pennsylvania.

“Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee, Fox News Media is amending our proposal for a debate this cycle. Given the race has changed, we’d like to request the opportunity to host a Presidential Debate between VP Harris and former President Trump,” the letters sent to each campaign, signed by Fox News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace and Fox News vice president of politics Jessica Loker, stated.

“We propose to host the debate in the state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 17, just as early voting is getting underway there and in other key battlegrounds. We are open to discussion on the exact date, format and location — with or without an audience,” Wallace and Loker continued. “Again, we believe Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the faces of our political coverage, are the best choices to moderate.”

The proposal continued: “As you recall, despite not having a Democratic debate in 2016/2020, Fox News was able to secure town halls with Democratic candidates such as: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand.”

“In recognition of Fox News Media’s capabilities and reputation, we cordially extend an invitation to all concerned parties to discuss our proposal. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to the opportunity to foster informed political dialogue at this pivotal moment for our nation,” they concluded.

COMMENT: Has Netanyahu finally lost support in America?

Thursday 25 July 2024 19:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Kim Sengupta writes that the Israeli prime minister’s address to US Congress showed just how badly frayed the relationship between the once-close nations has become.

Has Netanyahu finally lost support in America?

Read Joe Biden’s Oval Office address in full

Thursday 25 July 2024 19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Joe Biden’s full remarks from the White House about ending his campaign

RFK Jr thinks government should send ‘addicts’ to tech-free ‘wellness farms’

Thursday 25 July 2024 19:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has said he wants to create tech-free “wellness farms” for those struggling with addiction to “reparent” them away from using both legal and illegal drugs.

The anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist took part in a live recording of the Latino Capitalist podcast during a virtual “Latino Town Hall” last week when he shared his idea for new addiction treatment programs for “addicts” using opiates, but also antidepressants, and ADHD medication.

Gustaf Kilander reports on what he said.

RFK Jr says ‘addicts’ should be sent to ‘wellness farms’ to grow organic food

Obama said to be planning to endorse Kamala Harris for president soon

Thursday 25 July 2024 18:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Former US president Barack Obama is believed to be planning an endorsement of Kamala Harris soon, but is holding back as he does not want to overshadow Joe Biden’s moment.

Mr Obama and former first-lady Michelle Obama are in support of Ms Harris’s candidacy after the vice president consolidated her party’s support following Mr Biden’s withdrawal from the race, reported NBC, citing at least four sources familiar with the matter.

Mr Obama has been in regular touch with Ms Harris and privately has fully supported her candidacy, the report said.

Shweta Sharma has the story.

Barack Obama said to be planning to endorse Kamala Harris for president soon