Wednesday, July 24, 2024

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1/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s war in Gaza and condemned American protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots” in his speech to a joint session of Congress. Netanyahu portrayed the war in Gaza as a “clash between barbarism and civilization” and declared “we will win,” saying: “Our enemies are your enemies. Our fight is your fight. And our victory will be your victory.” Since the Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and another 250 taken hostage, Israeli strikes in Gaza have since killed an estimated 39,090 Palestinians and injured another 90,147. Nearly all 2.3 million Gazans have been internally displaced. More than 50 congressional Democrats declined to attend the speech in protest of Netanyahu’s handling of the war. Republicans, meanwhile, criticized Harris’s decision not to attend and preside over the joint session of Congress in her role as president of the Senate. Although she was attending a previously scheduled gathering of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis, Republicans nevertheless called it a “disgrace” and accused her of putting politics above the Israel-U.S. relationship. Republicans, however, did not attack JD Vance, who also had a prior commitment and did not attend. (Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / ABC News)

2/ Democrats adopted rules to choose their presidential nominee via a virtual roll call vote. Voting to officially nominate Kamala Harris, who has already amassed enough pledged support from delegates to win, will begin online on Aug. 1. At least 3,180 of the nearly 4,000 Democratic delegates have already endorsed Harris. The party wants to officially nominate its presidential and vice presidential candidates by Aug. 7 to avoid the possibility of litigation over ballot access in Ohio. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other top Republicans, meanwhile, warned members to stop making overtly racist and sexist attacks against Harris. When nominated, Harris will be the first Black and South Asian woman to be a major party nominee. The warning follows a series of comments by Republicans that focused on Harris’ race as well as accusations that she is a “DEI hire” – a reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. (CNN / Washington Post / Politico /

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