Biden pledges to continue running for reelection despite signs of diminishing support for him on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is determined to stay in the race for reelection, resisting calls from within his own party to step down following a poor debate performance that raised concerns about his preparedness. However, in a troubling development, one of his key allies hinted at the possibility of selecting an alternative candidate. According to sources close to the campaign, Biden reassured his staff that he has not been pressured to withdraw. Nevertheless, there are indications that Democratic support for Biden is dwindling rapidly among lawmakers in Congress. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a long-time Biden supporter, mentioned the idea of a “mini-primary” leading up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to exit the race.
Democrats in Congress are grappling with the decision of whether to continue backing Biden for renomination or to consider other options
WASHINGTON (AP) — With direct communication between Joe Biden and congressional leaders stagnating, many lawmakers are facing a potential crisis that extends beyond the outcome of the presidential election. The president initiated phone calls on Wednesday, nearly a week after the lackluster debate. However, Rep. James Clyburn openly discussed the prospect of a “mini-primary” ahead of the Democratic National Convention in mid-August. A growing number of Democrats are questioning Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in November and are cautiously entertaining the idea of his withdrawal.
Trump, for now, is stepping back as Biden grapples with fallout from the debate
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump typically seeks the limelight, but in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s underwhelming debate performance, the presumed Republican nominee has adopted a low-key approach, allowing attention to focus on the turmoil within the Democratic Party. Trump and his campaign are reveling in a series of legal and political triumphs leading up to the Republican National Convention later this month. These victories include a Supreme Court ruling granting former presidents broad immunity from prosecution and a judge’s decision to postpone the sentencing in Trump’s New York criminal hush money case, originally scheduled for next week.
Struggles in Gaza’s ‘safe zone’ revealed amid food scarcity and unpredictable Israeli airstrikes
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Reports from Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses describe an Israeli airstrike hitting a residential building near the main medical center in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza. The strike on Tuesday resulted in at least seven injuries. Nasser Hospital is located in the western area of Khan Younis, designated as a “safe zone” by Israel, urging Palestinians to seek refuge there. However, the head of the U.N. humanitarian office for the Palestinian territories noted that even these designated safe areas are not immune to bombings, as evidenced by an incident on Wednesday. The Israeli military estimates that around 1.9 million people are currently concentrated in central Gaza.
Hurricane Beryl passes Jamaica after claiming lives and causing widespread damage in the southeast Caribbean
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Beryl is making its way past Jamaica, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall after causing significant destruction and claiming at least six lives in the southeast Caribbean as a powerful Category 4 storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that Beryl’s eyewall is skirting the south coast of Jamaica, with torrential rain and gusty winds battering the island as residents follow authorities’ advice to seek shelter until the storm passes. Much of the capital has experienced power outages. A hurricane warning is currently in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Beryl is expected to weaken slightly over the next few days.
Abortion-related initiatives may appear on Arizona and Nebraska ballots following signature submissions
PHOENIX (AP) — Organizers in Arizona and Nebraska have submitted enough signatures to place abortion-related propositions before state voters in November. Election officials will now verify the signatures. Five states already have measures on their ballots explicitly protecting abortion rights, while a sixth state will consider a proposal that advocates claim will safeguard those rights. In Nebraska, supporters of two opposing amendment campaigns announced that they had submitted the necessary signatures. One amendment aims to expand abortion rights, while the other seeks to uphold the current ban on abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Rising floods and infrastructure decay pose threats to dam safety in the U.S.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Recent floodwaters in rural Minnesota caused severe erosion around a century-old dam early last week, while intense rainfall damaged a dam in Texas several days later. There are approximately 90,000 significant dams across the United States, with over 4,000 classified as being in poor or unsatisfactory condition, posing risks to both human life and the environment if they were to fail, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While many dams are well-maintained by competent operators, others lack the financial resources needed for essential repairs. States have limited authority to compel these fixes, and the impacts of climate change are exacerbating the intensity of rainfall events in certain regions, heightening the risk.
Exploring the increase in violence and mass shootings during the summer months
Violence and mass shootings tend to surge during the summer, particularly around the Fourth of July, which historically registers as one of the deadliest days of the year. Data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals that June, July, and August have consistently recorded the highest number of mass shootings over the past decade. Independence Day stands out with 58 mass shootings in the last 10 years. Researchers attribute the spike in violence and shootings during the summer to a combination of factors, such as an increase in social events, teenagers being out of school, and higher temperatures.
Efforts to preserve spotted owls involve culling hundreds of thousands of a competing owl species
U.S. wildlife officials are endorsing a controversial plan to deploy trained marksmen in dense forests on the West Coast to eliminate nearly half a million barred owls over the next few decades. The goal is to support the survival of spotted owls, which are facing displacement due to the encroachment of barred owls from the eastern United States. Previous conservation efforts focused on protecting the habitats of spotted owls, but the recent proliferation of barred owls has jeopardized these efforts, putting the spotted owl population at risk of potential extinction. The idea of sacrificing one owl species to save another has sparked division among wildlife advocates and conservationists.
TikTok’s impact on trends and consumer behavior raises questions about its lasting influence
NEW YORK (AP) — TikTok, a platform known for its short videos, was introduced to the United States as a global counterpart to the Chinese app Douyin. Less than six years later, TikTok has become deeply integrated into American consumer culture, reshaping the lifespan of trends and reshaping how people engage with food and fashion. Despite its popularity, TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese parent company has raised concerns about national security, prompting Congress to pass legislation threatening to ban the app unless its ownership structure changes. Both ByteDance, the parent company, and TikTok have filed lawsuits citing First Amendment rights. Despite facing uncertainties, TikTok’s influence remains strong and unmatched for the time being.
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