đď¸ #061 NoFOMO | Biden Shows Proof of Life and Passes the Baton
No FOMO đŤ here; bringing you the highlights of the week's news.
Itâs FRIDAY, July 26!
After a little hiatus, the Friday newsletter is back, and yes, I have changed the formatâAGAIN!
Itâs a one-woman show over here, and I am trying to find the most efficient format to get the news to you without it taking me all day. So here we are.
Fridayâs newsletter is NoFOMO, so you never have to fear missing out on the highlight of the weekâs news. The format is now a walkthrough of this week's biggest stories. Like we are sitting down for a chat at your favorite hangout spot, and I am giving you a gossipy rundown of the news.
If you want to read more about the stories of the week, I have a link for you.
The election is in full swing, and itâs going to be a doozy. So you will be hearing more from me. But for now, here is the news for the week.
Sunday
Biden resigns by what is the 2024 equivalent of a post-it note, by posting a PDF of a withdrawal letter with a weird signature and no White House seal.
Thirty minutes later, he posted his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on X. No photos were released, no video address, just a tweet. How modern of him! Who needs a proper goodbye when you can just ghost the nation?
Monday
Biden went missing for a week, allegedly because of COVID-19, which generated an insane amount of speculation about his well-being. From COVID-19 being a cover-up to Biden being a vegetable and on the verge of kicking the bucket, everyone was asking, âWhere is Biden?â The first proof of life was when he called to speak with his campaign headquarters during Harrisâs announcement her run for president. Because nothing says âIâm alive,â like a phone call after the leader of the free world disappears and drops out.
Meanwhile, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced the wrath of Congress. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (yes, you read that right) grilled Cheatle on why the security perimeter at a Trump rally was basically a welcome mat for an AR-15. AOC emphasized the urgency of addressing security concerns before upcoming elections. The irony of the century: AOC playing the role of security expert. Cheatle, who went from Pepsi's Global Security to failing at protecting a former president, refused to resign. Despite bipartisan calls for her head, she appeared determined to hold on to that prestigious position until she didnât.
Tuesday
After facing mounting pressure and a humiliating congressional scolding, USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle finally resigned. About time, right? The Secret Service also asked the Trump campaign to stop holding outdoor rallies following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Because apparently, the idea of basic safety measures hadn't occurred to them until now.
Kamala Harris requested vetting materials for six VP contenders â Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. One notable absentee? Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Guess he didnât make the cut for the Kamala Kool-Aid club.
Wednesday
Following a successful coup by Democrat leadership, Kamala Harris earned enough delegate support to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. As of July 24, she has surpassed the required majority of 1,976 delegates, with an Associated Press tally indicating she has secured 2,668 delegates. The DNC has decided to move forward with its virtual roll call vote for the party's presidential nominee weeks before their convention in Chicago next month to confirm Harris and avoid potential legal challenges. Looks like the Dems are all in on Kamala. Let the games begin!
A TikTok trend attempts to rebrand Harris, and Axios takes a page from Orwellâs 1984 playbook and rewrites history in real life to minimize Kamala Harrisâs responsibilities regarding the southern border.
FBI, Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress, revealing the meticulous and creepy preparations of the Trump shooter. The gunman was apparently inspired by JFK's assassination and even flew a drone around the rally site. But we still donât know the motive. Okay. đ
In a spectacular display of unity and maturity, around 70 members of Congress, the majority of them Pro-Palestine Democrats, boycotted Netanyahuâs address. Vice President Kamala Harris, who youâd think would have a more pressing duty as the president of Congress, dipped on Netanyahu and instead opted to attend a closed-door event with the historically black Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Indianapolis instead. Rashida Tlaib, always the epitome of tact, showed up wearing a and holding a paddle that read âWar Crimeâ on one side and âGuilty of Genocideâ on the other. Very classy.
And let's not forget the pro-Palestinian protesters that were bussed into Washington, D.C., from various states. Over 200 protestors gathered, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, and took over the Cannon House Office Building, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans until Capitol Police arrested them. Outside, the protests escalated into violence. The protestors ripped down the American flag, burned it, and replaced it with a Palestine flag, leaving  Columbus Circle looking like a war zone. Nothing says peaceful protest like graffiti and damaged statues. Cleanup efforts are now underway to restore the area because, apparently, historical landmarks are just too tempting to leave untouched.
Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office and resigned from his candidacy for a second term as president. He was camera-ready with a fresh spray tan and what looked like Tartâs Fake Awake eyeliner.
No clear reason for his withdrawal other than some vague comment about protecting democracy. Translation: He was losing and had to go. He didnât address concerns about his health and didnât resign from the presidency. Classic Bidenâkeeping us all guessing.
Thursday
Gavin Newsom must have woken up Thursday morning, bumped his head, and realized itâs election season because he signed an executive order ordering the removal of homeless encampments in the state.
Harris is already playing president. Both Harris and Biden met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, which was weird. After her meeting, she spoke from notes and did not take any questions. During her remarks, she expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself. She also mentioned the American hostages and called Hamas a terrorist organization. However, she leaned in criticizing Israel, placing the blame for the humanitarian crisis on Israel alone. Lastly, she made a not-so-veiled attempt to strong-arm Netanyahu to accept a deal requiring Israelâs full withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the hostages and endorsed a two-state solution. Everything Hamas needs to repeat an October 7th attack.
Friday
Following Bidenâs breakup post-it, many in the Democrat leadership quickly coalesced behind Kamala. But one major name was missingâŚObama. He did not immediately endorse Kamala, leading to much speculation about Michelle possibly entering the race. Well, the speculation can end because, on Friday morning, the Obamas officially endorsed Kamala for president. The social media addicts were greeted Friday morning with a totally not staged, not hyper-produced, video of the Obamas calling Kamala and offering their endorsement.
Godspeed America, this is going to be a wild 101 days.
Thatâs it. Thatâs the news. For the rest of Fridayâs headlines, follow me on Instagram.