Harris Ready to Debate Trump, Meet Netanyahu in 2024 Election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a long-awaited White House visit to meet with President Joe Biden and likely Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at an important moment for all three politicians.

On Wednesday, Biden made his first address since his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. And at a campaign rally in North Carolina, Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of attack lines against Harris, whom he called his “new victim to defeat” and accused of deceiving the public about Biden’s ability to run for a second term. Harris told reporters that she is “ready” to debate Trump and accused him of “backpedaling” on their faceoff.

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Republican leaders warned members not to be racist or sexist to VP Harris. The White House suggests it ‘says a lot’

House Republican leaders have warned their colleagues not to comment on Vice President Harris’ race, sex and ethnic background. The White House suggests it “says a lot.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says that setting “up a meeting to tell Republican leaders to stop being racist, to stop being sexist, to stop being misogynist, I think that says a lot that they have to be told to not do that.”

She added, “More broadly, I think it’s desperate, I think it’s disgusting and I think it’s a dog whistle.”

Trump the Republican party leader, in particular, has a history of leveling racist and misogynistic attacks.

Harris says she’s ‘ready’ to debate Trump

Vice President Harris has accused Trump of “backpedaling” away from a previously scheduled debate on Sept. 10.

“I’m ready. Let’s go,” she told reporters at Joint Base Andrews after returning from her trip to Indiana and Texas.

Trump has said he’s willing to debate Harris more than once, but he has sought to shift the event from ABC News to Fox News following Biden’s endorsement of the vice president.

Now out of the race, Biden’s dance card has opened up

Now that he’s no longer seeking reelection, President Biden has more time for travel — but where he’ll go during the final months of his presidency remains to be seen.

“We still have a lot more to do,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing with reporters.

She said she couldn’t preview upcoming travel or other plans Biden might have now that he’s not seeking a second term, but said, “We will certainly have more to share.”

National Security spokesman John Kirby was asked about foreign travel, including a trip to Africa that Biden once pledged to take but hasn’t come to fruition.

“Now that he’s not running for reelection, certainly, you can expect that there will be opportunities on the calendar that may not have been there before,” Kirby said.

He said that full details are still being assessed.

Illinois governor won’t say whether he’s being considered for Harris’ running mate

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker isn’t commenting on reports that he is among the candidates in consideration for Vice President Harris’ running mate.

“I don’t want to talk about any private conversations I’ve had,” the second-term Democratic governor said Thursday. “I will say that I have said directly to the vice president that I’m going to do everything and anything necessary to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance.”

Pritzker declined to comment on whether he would want the vice president job.

“I really have been honored to have been elected twice as governor of the state of Illinois. I really enjoy the work,” he said. “There’s not much that would pull me away from the job.”

‘Freedom’ has a long history in presidential campaign songs

In Vice President Kamala Harris’ first 2024 presidential campaign video, a familiar rhythm rings out. The clip, which touches on issues of gun violence, health care and abortion, is soundtracked by Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” a cut from her 2016 landmark album, “Lemonade.”

“Freedom” has become a campaign song for Harris, evoking a long history of presidential campaign songs using a title or hook highlighting freedom or liberty: In 1800, John Adams used the song “Adams and Liberty” and Thomas Jefferson used “The Son of Liberty.” In 1860, Abraham Lincoln used “Lincoln and Liberty.” As recent as 2012, Mitt Romney used Kid Rock’s “Born Free.”

Kinitra D. Brooks, an academic and author of “The Lemonade Reader,” says the Beyoncé song centers on “the idea that you must fight for freedom, and that it is winnable,” referencing some of the lyrics in the chorus: “I break chains all by myself / Won’t let my freedom rot in hell / Hey! I’ma keep running / ’Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.”

Netanyahu praises Biden’s ‘support for the state of Israel’

Netanyahu and Biden have had ups and downs over the years. Netanyahu, in what could be his last White House meeting with Biden, reflected on the roughly 40 years they’ve known each other.

“From a proud Jewish Zionist …