Harris Heats Up

Plus, a puppy rescue

July 16, 2024

The Flag

Good morning and Happy Tuesday! As most of you know by now, former President Trump selected JD Vance as his running mate. We’re letting the various outlets react to the pick today, we’ll have a full breakdown from both sides for you tomorrow. In the meantime, here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:

  • US: Florida judge dismisses the Trump classified documents case (NBC News)

  • World: Ukrainian startups are creating a low-cost robot army to fight Russia (NPR)

  • Business: Trump Media shares soar more than 30% after assassination attempt (CNBC)

  • Technology: YouTube Music is testing an AI-generated radio feature and adding a song recognition tool (TechCrunch)

  • Sports: Anthony Davis leads Team USA over Australia in Olympic exhibition (USA Today)

And of course, some good news: "Miracle" dog found alive over 40 feet down in Virginia cave, lured out by salami.

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Right: Removing Biden Won't Solve Public Anger at the Left, Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness

Right: 'Lower Temperature' by Ending Political Prosecutions, Cleta Mitchell, The Federalist

Left: Trump Deserves Sympathy--But Not Support, Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation

2024

Harris Heats Up

Today’s Top Story in One Sentence: As calls for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee rise, intense debate over who will replace him at the ballot box has taken over, with many viewing Vice President Kamala Harris as the clear choice.

Reporting from the Left: Harris under pressure to outline stakes of the election as Biden faces calls to step aside (CNN)

Reporting from the Right: House Republicans say they aren't sweating Kamala as possible Biden replacement (FOX News)

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Harris Could Win

The Top Argument From The Left: Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer could make a winning ticket for Democrats, Julian Zelizer, CNN: “If President Joe Biden decides to withdraw from the election, Democrats need not fear — they have a ticket in front of them that can still defeat presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Not only would a ticket with Kamala Harris as president and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as her running mate have the best odds of getting the party through this moment of crisis, but also the potential to excite voters and produce a historic outcome. To be sure, there are serious risks. At the same time, this could present an exciting opportunity for Democrats. This combination would satisfy the axiom put forth by the brilliant Democratic strategist David Axelrod in 2016, when he explained why Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. While he was referring to open-seat presidential elections, the wisdom still applies: ‘Voters rarely seek the replica of what they have. They almost always seek the remedy, the candidate who has the personal qualities the public finds lacking in the departing executive.’ Should Biden step aside, a presidential candidate who is Black, Asian American and decades younger may provide the change voters are craving. The two-woman ticket would create a stark contrast with Trump; while the former president would represent more of the same, Harris and Whitmer would offer a fresh vision of what America is all about.”

Honorable Mention #1: Kamala Harris Could Win This Election. Let Her., Lydia Polgreen, The New York Times.

Honorable Mention #2: Kamala Harris may be our only hope. Biden should step aside and endorse her, Mehdi Hasan, The Guardian.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Harris Wouldn’t Be Better

The Top Argument From The Right: No, Harris won’t save the ticket, Joseph Nepomuceno, Washington Examiner: “If there is a push by Democrats to replace Biden with Harris for the nomination, they will find she cannot save the ticket. As has been constantly discussed in the media since the presidential debate, Biden’s campaign is struggling. … With many Democrats skeptical of Biden’s chances, there has been a reexamination of Harris’ potential as a presidential candidate. Due to her identity as a black woman and the political realities of name recognition and funding, Harris is most likely to replace Biden if he were to step aside. … But Harris would struggle to be an effective candidate. She has consistently failed to present herself well to the public. One example is her attempt to make the clumsy line ‘unburdened by what has been’ her catchphrase. This stilted political language is unlikely to make her endearing to voters. … Beyond her unlikability, Harris carries ideological baggage. She ran to the left of Biden during her 2020 presidential campaign. In the past, she called for a ban on fracking and supported Green New Deal legislation. Her history as a Democrat from California means many of her past positions were determined by the threat posed by primary competitors to her left, setting her up to struggle in a national political environment that favors Democrat moderates.”

Honorable Mention #1: Would Kamala Harris Be A Better Candidate Than Joe Biden? Doubtful, David Harsanyi, The Federalist.

Honorable Mention #2: Anti-democracy Democrats ready to inaugurate President Kamala Harris, Hugo Gurdon, Washington Examiner.

FLAG THIS

Polling Shows (Some) Promise

Two recent polls indicate that Vice President Kamala Harris would narrowly defeat Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2024 matchup. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll of 1,174 registered voters shows Harris leading Trump 50% to 49%, while an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll of 2,431 adults finds Harris ahead by three points overall (49% to 46%) and among registered voters (49% to 47%) (Newsweek).

Do you believe Harris would be better suited than Biden to win the general election?

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WATERCOOLER

Atomic Bomb, Boarding Pass, Victoria Falls

On This Day in 1945, the Manhattan Project yields explosive results as the first atom bomb is successfully tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Today I learned you can hear the roar of Africa’s Victoria Falls from up to 25 miles away.

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