News
Harris Begins Campaign with Walz as Running Mate
United States: Vice President Kamala Harris is set to appear publicly with her new running mate, Tim Walz, at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. This event will mark or will be identified as the start of a five-day campaign tour across seven key battleground states.
Tim Walz’s Political Background
As reported by the telegraph, Tim Walz, who has been chosen as Harris’s running mate, has a notable political history. Elected to a Republican-leaning district in 2006, Walz served nearly 12 years before becoming governor of Minnesota. As governor, he advocated for progressive policies including free school meals, climate change action, and LGBT rights.
Selection Over Josh Shapiro
Walz was chosen for the vice-presidential spot over Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania. Some Democrats were concerned that Shapiro’s strong pro-Israel stance might be problematic for the campaign.
Walz’s Reaction to the Selection
Tim Walz described his new role as “the honour of a lifetime” in a post on X. He expressed his excitement to join Kamala Harris in the campaign.
Democrats Highlight Walz’s Gun Ownership
Democrats have emphasized or focused on that Walz is a “gun holder” and a “supporter of the Second Amendment of the constitution.” According to a press release, Walz is an avid pheasant hunter who has backed universal background checks for gun purchases as governor. He believes that more needs to be done to address gun violence.
Poll Shows Many Unfamiliar with Walz
A recent NPR/PBS/Marist polls shows that most Americans do not know Tim Walz well or they don’t have any specific idea about him. The survey, conducted from August 1-4, found that 71% of U.S. adults had never heard of Walz or were unsure about him. Hereby almost 17% viewed him favourably or can say in the favour, while 12% had an unfavourable opinion.
Harris Praises Walz’s Leadership
Kamala Harris has praised Walz’s “principled leadership” and his proven track record in Minnesota. In a message to supporters, Harris expressed confidence that Walz will bring strong leadership to their campaign and to the vice presidency. She also asked for immediate support to help defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance, emphasizing how much their backing means to both her and Walz.
News
Trump Hints at Potential Ban on the Abortion Pill in Future Policy
United States: Former President Donald Trump, speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Thursday, said he might consider stopping access to mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions.
Possible FDA Action
When asked by NBC News, Trump mentioned that there are options to change how these drugs are handled, and he didn’t rule out taking action like asking the Food and Drug Administration to remove mifepristone
“There are many things on a humane basis that you can do outside of that,” Trump added, saying that “you also have to give a vote” to people about abortion.
Shift in Position
As reported by NBC news, Trump’s comments Thursday appeared to be a shift from his position in June, when the former president as said in the CNN debate: “I will not block it.”
In the response to clarifying the questions that have been asked on the Trump’s position, Karoline Leavitt and the Trump’s campaign’s national press secretary told the NBC news about this.
As the president Trump said that he wants everybody to vote and, on the issue, reiterating his long-held position of supporting rights and of states to. Make the decisions on abortion.
Leavitt later clarified that, “As a President Trump had said the numerous times during the press conference and the questions being asked were difficult to hear and his position on the mifepristone remains the same and the Supreme Court unanimously decided on the issue and the matter which is settled.
Policy and Future Announcements
The idea of directing the FDA to revoke access to mifepristone is a rare core policy plan in the project 2025 also a 900-plus page document written by conservative groups and organized by the Heritage Foundation that lays out a governing plan for the next GOP presidential administration.
Recently at a press conference on Thursday Trump was also asked how he planned all these thing to vote in Florida’s ballot initiative and this fall to expand abortion the access and the former president a Florida resident didn’t say how would vote but hereby also teased a future announcement on that and added that abortion isn’t is a big factor anymore.
Criticism from Opponents
However, Harris-Walz campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez also critized the Tumps’ comments in a particular statement this Thursday.
“Already, women across the country are suffering because of the nightmare Donald Trump unleashed by overturning Roe v. Wade,” she said.
“That reality — women forced to the brink of death before receiving the care they need, doctors facing the threat of jail time for doing their jobs, and survivors of rape and incest made to flee their states for basic health care.
News
Kamala Harris Shows How Black Sororities Influence Politics
United States: On July 10, just before Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, Kamala Harris attended a veritably important event for Alpha Kappa Alpha(AKA) in the Harward University, a major Black sorority she joined in council.
AKA, innovated in 1908 at Howard University, supports Black women and is one of the most influential sororities in America. Harris’s aunt was also a member in 1950. notorious women like Coretta Scott King, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou were part of AKA. In a 2021 Vogue cover, Harris was shown in AKA’s colours and wearing its hand plum choker.
Harris’s Continued Involvement with Black Sororities
As reported by The Guardian, since Biden stepped down and became the presumptive nominee, Harris has spoken at more sorority events, including one for Sigma Gamma Rho. There, she addressed comments from Donald Trump questioning her race. Harris feels a strong connection to these events, saying, “When I look out at everyone here, I see family.”
The Influence of Black Greek Letter Organizations
Black Greek letter organizations, like AKA, have a huge impact on politics. In 2020, when Biden chose Harris as his vice-presidential pick, AKA members raised a lot of money and helped get voters to the polls through creative campaigns. They used their networks to support voter registration and education, which was crucial for Biden’s election. These organizations, together known as the Divine Nine, have over four million members and significant funds.
Harris’s Journey and Black Greek Organizations
Lawrence Ross, an expert on the Divine Nine, explains that these organizations are more than just college groups. They continue to support members throughout their lives and focus on important issues like voter education. Harris’s involvement with AKA is a key part of her identity, like how Barack Obama’s connection with his church shaped his identity. Both Harris and Obama made choices that tied them to a distinctly American form of Black culture.
The Role of Divine Nine in U.S. History
Ross points out that the Divine Nine played a very vital and major role in the civil rights movement. Important figures are like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Jesse Jackson were members of these organizations. Harris’s sorority sisters remember her as ambitious and cool, balancing her serious approach to education with a relaxed side.
Excitement for Harris’s Historic Role
Harris’s sorority sisters are excited about her being a major political figure and see it as a historic moment. They are committed to supporting her and making sure her impact is recognized, especially in this important election. According to Ross, the Divine Nine’s involvement has been vital for advancing Black civil rights and continues to be influential today.
News
Trump Misrepresents His Record on Prisoner Exchanges
United States: In May, former President Donald Trump claimed he was the only one who could secure the release of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich from a Russian captivity.
however, on Thursday, President Joe Biden successfully secured Gershkovich’s release through a multi-country internee exchange. Following the news, Trump posted skeptical commentary on social media, questioning if dangerous culprits were released in the exchange.
Trump’s Criticism:
He criticized the negotiation, stating that he had previously secured hostages without giving anything in return, and warned that such deals could set a bad example for the future.
As reported by CNN, Former President Trump said he never gave anything in return to get American prisoners freed, but that’s not correct. While Trump did get some Americans released without giving anything back, he also agreed to release prisoners from the U.S. to get Americans freed from other countries.
On Thursday, President Biden helped free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich through a deal where no money was exchanged and no U.S. rules were changed. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that during Trump’s time, Americans like Whelan and Trevor Reed were also freed, and getting people out of danger often requires making tough choices.
Fact-Check Reveals Inaccuracies:
Fat check debunked this trump claim about his record on securing the release of the American prisoners abroad when he previously made it in the year 2022 and here is the look at four prisoner exchange under the trump and who is now the Republican presidential nominee and plus a case in which Trump said that he had gotten an ally to release a suspected criminal as a part of an attempted exchange.
Fact-Check Findings:
In the year 2019 the Trump administration secured the release of Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University PhD student wo had been imprisoned in the Iran since 2016 by agreeing to free an Iranian medical scientist who had been charged with trying to export biological materials from the US to Iran without any authorization.