U.S. and world news for July 22
Harris campaign: Democratic politicians and party officials have jumped on board the Kamala Harris campaign train and endorsed the vice president to become the Democratic candidate for president. President Biden endorsed her minutes after announcing yesterday afternoon that he was ending his campaign for reelection. Politico reported that key Biden aides had presented data to Biden showing that he had no path to winning the November election.
Harris fundraising: Vice President Kamala Harris raised $49.6 million in the half-day yesterday after President Biden and others endorsed her to run for president on the Democratic line. It was the biggest day for political fundraising in the 2024 campaign cycle. CNN reported that Harris and key aides plan to emphasize her background as a prosecutor and position Donald Trump as a convicted felon. CNN quoted Harris advisors as telling it that her campaign will emphasize her experience as an attorney general, prosecutor and questioner in Senate hearings.
Secret Service: Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas is naming a bipartisan panel conduct a 45-day review of the planning for and actions taken by the U.S. Secret Service and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Donald Trump was wounded by a bullet. Named to the panel are former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano; Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush; Mark Filip, a former federal judge and Deputy Attorney General to President George W. Bush; and Chief David Mitchell, the former superintendent of the Maryland State Police. Others may be added. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was due to testify today before a House committee on recent problems in the agency.
Yemen attack: Israel has staged an attack inside of Yemen. It’s the first time the Israeli’s have struck inside of Yemen’s border. Six people were reported killed. The Israelis were retaliating for Houthi rebels based in Yemen firing missiles at Israel and also at ships in the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels control most of northern Yemen. A drone that was used in an attack on Israel’s city Tel Aviv was launched from Yemen.
Netanyahu: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Israel today for the U.S. where he is scheduled to speak to Congress and meet with President Biden. The meeting with Biden had not been scheduled yet due to Biden being infected with Covid. Netanyahu said that he will thank Biden for his service and for supporting Israel. Before he boarded the plane for Washington, Netanyahu was briefed on the recovery of the bodies of two more hostages who had been captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 raid.
Farnborough: The Farnborough International Airshow opened this morning in England. Boeing announced at the show that it has received a $7 billion order from Korean Air for 20 new 777X airliners. A Boeing executive told reporters that the company is undergoing a transformational change with respect to safety and corporate culture. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing’s commercial division, said the overhaul will take years. The CEO of Airbus said his company expects to receive orders for 30 new airliners from the Saudi airline Flynas.