Hostage rescue: Israeli military officials say they have rescued a hostage held by Hamas in what they described as a complex operation. The 52-year-old man was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza. He was identified as Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi and was described as being in stable condition. He was hospitalized for medical examination.
Trump’s claims: CNN reported this morning that Donald Trump has been making false claims about the numbers of immigrants who came across the southern border when he was in the White House. CNN says that Trump has been using a chart during rallies that shows border crossings at various times and has been misleading people about what the chart says. Trump says that the chart proves that when he left office border crossings were at an all-time low, but the chart actually shows that the low point was at least eight months before he left office and was due to people not coming to the U.S. because of the Covid pandemic.
Republicans: More than 200 Republican staff members who worked for President George W. Bush, and Republican Presidential candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. In an open letter released yesterday the Republicans say that they want to warn fellow Republicans that re-electing Trump would be a disaster for the nation. “Another four years of Donald Trump’s chaotic leadership, this time focused on advancing the dangerous goals of Project 2025, will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions,” the Republicans said.
Spouses: U.S. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker in Texas, who was appointed by Donald Trump, has ordered a temporary pause in a new Biden Administration program that would give immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens legal status to remain in the country. About 500,000 non-citizens are affected. The program was challenged by Republican attorneys general from 16 states. Barker plans to review court filings and then decide whether to extend his order stopping the program.
Paramount takeover: Edgar Bronfman Jr., has told the board of directors of Paramount Pictures that he has decided not to proceed with his bid to take over the company. Bronfman’s withdrawal of his $6 billion offer clears the way for Paramount to merge with Skydance. Paramount is controlled by National Amusements, which also owns CBS.
Guns: The speaker of Tennessee’s House of Representatives and the speaker of the Tennessee Senate have issued warnings to elected officials in Memphis, Tennessee, that they are prepared to cut millions of dollars in state aid to Memphis if city officials go ahead and give Memphis voters the chance to vote in November on three gun safety propositions. But, their threat may be mute since Tennessee’s Republican Secretary of State says he will not approve the ballot for Memphis if it tries to put the gun safety measures up for a vote.
