U.S and Israel say Iranian attack could happen this week

The United States says Iran could launch a strike on Israel as soon as this week. The White House says the U-S and its allies are preparing for a “significant set of attacks” from either Iran or its proxies. National security spokesman John Kirby says the U-S shares the Israeli intelligence assessment that an Iranian attack could come within days. He says nobody wants to see a military strike, but President Biden “is confident ” that the U-S has the capability to help defend Israel “should it come to that.”

Trump accuses Harris of stealing his no-tax-on-tips policy

Former President Trump is miffed at the Harris campaign over her pledge not to tax tips to restaurant and other service industry workers. Over the weekend in Las Vegas, the vice president promised to work to eliminate federal taxes on tips paid to restaurant and other service industry employees. Turns out that’s a promise Donald Trump made two months ago — also at a Las Vegas rally. The former president is now accusing Harris of copying his pledge, and claims on social media that Harris “has no ideas, she can only steal from me.” He calls the no-taxes-on-tips policy a “Trump idea.”

Pentagon boosts military presence in Middle East

The Pentagon is sending more military hardware to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Mideast as the U-S and other allies push Israel and Hamas to achieve a cease-fire agreement. The Defense Department also said that Austin told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. Tensions in the region have escalated since the assassination of the top Hamas political leader and a senior Hezbollah commander.

Trump, Harris campaigns take different approaches to abortion

The two presidential campaigns are taking different approaches to the issue of abortion. For Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, abortion access is a central theme of her campaign and a huge applause line. But former President Trump is downplaying the significance of abortion in the election. States are now dealing with the issue after the U.S. Supreme Court removed the constitutional right to an abortion.

Date is set for Trump-Harris presidential debate

The date is set for a presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The on again-off again September 10 debate is on again after Trump agreed to face off against Harris on ABC. And he’s proposing two more debates before Election Day. Harris said she looks forward to debating Trump on September 10th, but is not committing to additional dates until after their first debate.

Americans say democracy is at stake, but they differ on the threat

Most Americans agree that democracy is on the ballot this November, but they disagree on the threat. An AP-NORC poll shows that most Americans believe this year’s presidential race will be crucial for the future of the country’s democracy. Not surprisingly, given the political climate, voters see the threat differently based on their political views. Many Democrats continue to see Donald Trump as a threat to democracy after he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But the poll findings also suggest that many of Trump’s supporters agree with him that the Biden-Harris administration is the real threat.

Trump wants to have a say in Federal Reserve policy

White House blasts Israeli official over hostage deal comments

The White House is denouncing the comments of an Israeli official who opposes a hostage and ceasefire deal with Hamas. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich does not support the deal being pushed by the United States and mediators from Egypt and Qatar. He said it amounts to surrender. At the White House, national security spokesman John Kirby didn’t hide his disgust with the Israeli official.
Kirby said the view held by Smotrich “would, in fact, sacrifice the lives of Israeli hostages, his own country, and American hostages as well.” Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to attend the talks next week.

Abortion not a “big factor” in elections anymore, says Trump

Donald Trump says the topic of abortion is not a “big factor” in this year’s elections. The former president told a news conference that, after the overturning of Roe v Wade, abortion “has become much less of an issue.” However, Vice President Harris has made access to abortion a central theme of her campaign. Trump claimed that “everybody” is happy that the issue is now being addressed by state governments.

Trump: Harris “not smart enough” to hold a news conference

Former President Trump is bashing Vice President Harris for avoiding the news media. In his first public appearance since the unveiling of the Harris-Walz Democratic ticket, Trump took questions from reporters for about an hour. Something he said the vice president is unwilling to do.  Not long after Trump’s news conference, Harris answered a few questions from reporters before boarding a plane in Michigan. And she hopes to schedule a major interview before the end of the month.

Trump says enthusiasm is with GOP, not Democrats

Former President Trump believes that election enthusiasm is on the side of Republicans. Responding to news reports of large, raucous rallies greeting Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, Trump said it’s the GOP that’s generating the most excitement. Trump complained to reporters that the press makes a big deal about Harris crowd size, but downplays the crowds that his rallies attract.

Trump, Harris agree to Sept 10 presidential debate on ABC

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have agreed to meet in a presidential debate on ABC next month.  Just a few days after saying there would be no debate on ABC, Trump has said yes to the September 10 face-off. And he’s proposing a total of three debates with Harris next month. Speaking at a news conference, Trump also said a vice presidential debate is planned on CBS.

White House calls Squad member’s language “inflammatory”

The White House is distancing itself from comments made by one of the members of the Democratic Squad. After losing her primary this week, Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush issued a warning to a top pro-Israel PAC that opposed her. She denounced The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC, and said, “I’m coming to tear down your kingdom.” At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean Pierre took issue with the language, calling it “inflammatory” and “divisive.” Bush is the second member of the liberal squad to lose a reelection bid this year.

At Walz introduction, Harris emphasizes LGBT support

Kamala Harris emphasized homosexual rights at her first rally with her newly-announced running mate. When introducing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as a patriot and a fighter for the middle class, Harris also mentioned that he sponsored a gay-straight alliance for students when he was a high school teacher and football coach. And she explained what she means when she mentions freedom.

Harris introduces Walz as running mate at Philly rally

Kamala Harris has formally introduced her running mate — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. At a boisterous Philadelphia rally, Harris said Walz will be a vice president “America deserves.” The 60-year-old governor took jabs at the Republican ticket, calling Trump and Vance “creepy” and “weird,” and he welcomed the challenge of running for the White House with Harris. The crowd roared when Harris mentioned abortion and LGBT rights as a part of her freedom agenda.

White House: Gaza War cease-fire talks reach “final stage”

President Biden continues to work diplomatic channels in search of a Gaza War cease-fire. A day after talking with Jordan’s king, the president spoke with his Egyptian counterpart about their hopes of calming tensions in the Middle East through a cease-fire and hostage release deal. In a statement, the White House said negotiations “have now reached a final stage.” Meanwhile, the U-S military has sent a dozen fighter jets to a base in the Mideast to help protect Israel and American troops.

Trump campaign labels Walz a “dangerously liberal extremist”

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has picked a Midwest governor to be her running mate. After clinching her party’s nomination in online delegate voting, Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to join her on the ticket. He is a military veteran, a former member of Congress, and a champion for Democratic causes, including abortion rights. The Trump campaign quickly described Walz as a “dangerously liberal extremist” who “pretends to support Americans in the heartland.” Harris and Walz will make their first joint appearance at a campaign rally in Philadelphia late this afternoon.

Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Walz as running mate

Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate. Walz was said to be one of the vice president’s three finalists for the job, along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. He’s considered to be more politically liberal than the other top contenders for the VP slot. In Minnesota, the 60-year-old Walz signed into law sweeping protections for abortion and transgender rights. He is a military veteran, a former high school teacher and coach who served 12 years in Congress before becoming governor.

Harris and VP pick to tour battlegrounds after Philly rally

Kamala Harris and her running mate will travel the country after tonight’s rally in Philadelphia. After their first appearance together in Pennsylvania this evening, the new Democratic ticket will travel to a series of key battleground states: Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada. However, the Harris campaign is postponing a scheduled trip to Georgia amid the ongoing effects of Tropical Storm Debby.

Biden briefed on Mideast tensions, attack on Iraq base

President Biden met with his national security team [MON] amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The president was joined by the vice president in the Situation Room for a national security briefing on U.S. military efforts to support Israel and American troops in case of another attack by Iran and its proxies. The White House says the briefing included a discussion of diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions and finalize a possible agreement for a ceasefire and hostage release. Officials also provided details about a missile strike on a base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq.

U.S. and allies preparing for expected Iranian retaliation

The United States is preparing for any Iranian retaliation following last week’s killing of a top Hamas leader. Amid rising tensions in the Mideast, President Biden spoke by phone with the king of Jordan, whose foreign minister made a rare visit to Iran over the weekend. This afternoon, the president and vice president will consult with the White House national security team. Other administration members have been reaching out to Western and Middle East allies and partners about defending Israel from an expected Iranian counter strike.

Trump and Harris squabbling over presidential debate details

The debate over a Trump-Harris debate continues. There are new doubts about whether Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face each other before the November election. The former president says he’s pulling out of a scheduled September 10th debate that he had with Joe Biden. Vice President Harris agreed to that ABC debate, but Trump now say he’ll appear on Fox News a week earlier. The Harris campaign says Trump “is running scared and trying to back out.”

Kamala Harris to visit battleground states with running mate

Once Kamala Harris chooses a running mate, the Democratic ticket will barnstorm the battleground states this week. Starting Tuesday, Harris and her vice presidential pick will kick off a week-long campaign trip visiting the states that likely will determine the outcome of the 2024 election. The Democratic ticket will debut in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where Pennsylvania is crucial to both campaigns. Then, they’ll visit Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

Freed Americans return to U.S. and emotional welcome

President Biden welcomed home three Americans who were freed from Russia in a multi-nation prisoner swap. After winning their freedom during a prisoner exchange in Turkey, Americans Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan were reunited with their families here at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington. One by one They were greeted and hugged by President Biden and Vice President Harris as they stepped off the plane late Thursday night. The long-awaited news of their release from Russia turned into a joyous family reunion here on the tarmac.