Center for American Progress Action Fund's Navin Nayak and Ethics and Public Policy Center's Henry Olsen discuss Campaign 2024, and George Mason University Mercatus Center's Ben Klutsey discusses efforts to bridge the political divide.
"This is a very good afternoon, a very good afternoon," said President Biden from the White House of the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that freed former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, and Russian-British political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza. The president went on to say, "the deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship, friendship. Multiple countries helped get this done." President Biden also took a moment to acknowledge the 13th birthday of Alsu's daughter, Miriam, by having all those in attendance sing her happy birthday. Others freed in the prisoner swap included five Germans and seven Russian political prisoners, while eight Russians "held in the West," will also be sent home.
Change was needed in the White House to tackle issues of border security, immigration, and inflation, 2024 Republican vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Henderson, Nevada. It was one of two Nevada stops he had planned for the day, both hitting on key Trump-Vance campaign messages. Senator Vance brought Sam Brown, the 2024 Republican U.S. Senate nominee in Nevada, on stage for brief remarks. He also mentioned his upcoming 40th birthday, which prompted the crowd to sing "Happy Birthday" to him.
Former President Trump accused Vice President Harris of not always claiming to be Black. The 2024 Republican presidential nominee's accusation came during a discussion with three journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention held in Chicago. Former President Trump also criticized one of the reporter's questions and proceeded to call her and her employer ABC News fake news. Other topics that came up during this face-to-face interview included Sen. JD Vance's childless cat ladies' comment, border security and Mr. Trump's age and health. The journalists interviewing him were Rachel Scott with ABC News, Kadia Goba with Semafor, and Harris Faulkner with Fox News.
While commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, President Biden unveiled his proposal to make three changes to the Supreme Court. These proposed changes included setting term limits for justices, implementing an enforceable code of conduct and adding an amendment to ensure no president is above the law. President Biden stressed changes are needed to restore public confidence in the Court after recent rulings. He added these rulings have undermined civil rights, taken the right to an abortion away from Americans and gave a president immunity for official acts. The president's plan stemmed from the work of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. It was created in April 2021 and tasked members with examining changes to the nation's highest court.
Something seismic just happened in professional baseball. For over half a century, records from the Negro Leagues had been kept separate from Major League Baseball. In May 2024, MLB announced that statistics from the Negro Leagues would now be incorporated into the record books. Inspired by the long overdue correction, C-SPAN's "The Weekly" is incorporating the Negro Leagues into this week's podcast. It's C-SPAN's "The Weekly" annual baseball episode. And this year, following the death of legend Willie Mays, we're doing something special - we'll hear presidents and politicians honor the towering baseball players who got their start in the Negro Leagues.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced the Fed kept interest rates steady but signaled a cut during the September meeting could be "on the table" if economic data continues to be good. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets eight times a year to make monetary policy decisions, such as rate hikes or cuts based on economic data. The next meeting is scheduled for September 17 and 18.
Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D, NY) and other congressional leaders delivered remarks at a memorial service in Houston for the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), who passed away at age 74 from pancreatic cancer.
Up-to-date highlights from candidates' speeches, interviews with political insiders, the latest poll numbers, fundraising stats, and political ads. Witness the campaign unfold in every episode. This week, 2024 Campaign Trail was in Houston, Chicago, Nashville, and at the U.S.-Mexico border with presidential and vice presidential hopefuls. Also, a conversation with the Texas Tribune's Jasper Scherer on the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Texas.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell testified on strategic competition with China before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Topics included China competing with the U.S. for influence in the Global South, the country assisting Russia with its war against Ukraine, clean energy dominance, and the U.S. not having ambassadors in more than 20 countries where China does have ambassadors. In regard to the last issue, Mr. Campbell said, "I find it embarrassing," when the U.S. engages in diplomacy with nations that do not have U.S. ambassadors, saying it was antithetical to strategic interests. Moreover, the committee's chair, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), condemned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for holding onto power despite losing the popular vote to his opposition.
