In a recent item, "Overdue Debunking of MAGA Cult Xenophobia", I noted how "throughout history, decent, hard-working immigrants (like me) have contributed to the economy and our national security".

Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman who could very well become the 47th President of these United States, is amongst the best contributions a pair of immigrants, Donald J. Harris and Shyamala Gopalan, have given to our nation.

Their daughters Kamala and Maya are by no means their only contributions...

On today's BradCast, we take up the President's charge to stand "in defense of democracy". [Audio link to full show follows below this summary.]

Among our coverage today...

• During President Biden's solemn, somber and historic prime time Oval Office address to the nation on Wednesday evening (transcript here), to explain his Sunday decision to drop out of the 2024 Presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket, he focused in no small part on the need to defend democracy against wannabe "kings and dictators," while he charged that "the cause of American democracy itself" is now at stake. "We must unite to protect it," he implored. We discuss and continue to join that fight.

• Meanwhile, as the U.S. House on Wednesday voted 417 to 0 to create a special task force to probe what happened during the July 13 assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Wednesday that, in fact, nearly two weeks since the shooting, we have no idea "whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel" that wounded Trump's ear. In fact, to date, no medical expert or law enforcement official has ever offered an official public accounting of what actually happened to the former President that day, even as mainstream corporate media have simply taken the social media claim by Trump, an inveterate liar, that a "bullet...pierced the upper part of my right ear" as fact. Ever since, Trump has exploited the event to claim at his convention, in rally speeches and on social media, that he "took a bullet for democracy."

  As we detail today, however, all available evidence suggests that is simply a lie. The man who, himself, has become the greatest threat to American democracy in modern history is now using the near miss for stolen valor to pretend to be a defender of democracy.

  As Ernie Canning explains at The BRAD BLOG this week, whether Trump "took a bullet" or not, it was not "for democracy," as investigators have reportedly found no evidence to suggest the shooting was politically motivated. And, as TPM's Josh Marshall has been reporting for some time, evidence suggests it was more likely some sort of flying shrapnel that grazed Trump's ear, along with causing similar minor injuries to several local cops who were near the stage that day. In any event, the media's failure to even ask the Trump Campaign about these details --- as one rally goer was actually killed and two others critically wounded that day --- for apparent fear of angering the former President, is "bizarre" and "a total journalistic failure" to the American people and to history. It also, as we note, underscores tyranny expert and author Timothy Snyder's repeated warnings about giving up power to would-be autocrats by "obeying in advance." Much more on all of this on today's show.

• We've got more details today on the DNC's plan to begin a virtual roll-call vote on August 1st next week --- well in advance of their August 19 convention in Chicago --- in order to finalize the party's Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees no later than August 7th. Why are they doing this? No, it's not to ensure there are no challengers to presumptive nominee Kamala Harris. Rather, it is thanks to a story we've been covering since the beginning of the year about the failure by Republican state lawmakers to change the statutory deadline for submitting certified party nominees for the Buckeye State ballot by August 7th, as they've done for many years, as needed, when Republicans hold their national conventions late in the summer. Yes, state lawmakers, in a late special session, finally changed the statutory deadline. But the new law doesn't take effect until September 1, opening opening up Democrats to a potential legal challenge by Republicans as to whether their nominee can lawfully be on the state's ballot at all this November. Tune in for more details.

• More news "in defense of democracy" out of Ohio this week. A ballot measure for a state constitutional amendment that would create an independent redistricting committee has qualified for the November ballot! If adopted by voters, it could end the state GOP's wildly gerrymandered Congressional and state legislative maps for 2026. Otherwise, Republican Buckeye State politicians will continue to be allowed to choose their own voters, rather than vice versa, until at least 2030.

• And still more good news "in defense of democracy" from the Buckeye State today! A federal judge has struck down part of a sweeping election reform package adopted by Ohio Republicans last year that makes it a felony for disabled voters to allow caregivers, roommates, in-laws or even grandchildren to help them cast their absentee ballot by mail or drop box. The voter suppression law threatened to charge anyone but immediate family members (which apparently doesn't include grandchildren!) with felonies for helping those voters in need to cast their ballot. That, as the CDC finds that people with disabilities make up more than a quarter of the U.S. adult population.

• Finally, Desi Doyen joins us for our latest Green News Report, with news on explosive wildfires in the U.S. and Canadian west; the two hottest days ever recorded on Planet Earth (this past Sunday and Monday); and a focus on the Republicans' shocking Project 2025 plans to gut federal science agencies --- such as the EPA and National Weather Service --- along with climate science and many if not most environmental protections and climate change initiatives...

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IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Explosive wildfire season worsens in Canada and Western U.S.; Earth just had its hottest two days ever recorded, thanks to man-made global warming; PLUS: Republicans' Project 2025 would gut federal science agencies, the EPA, and force you to pay for your free weather reports... All that and more in today's Green News Report!

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IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Ethiopia landslide death toll reaches 257 as UN warns it could surpass 500; Wealthy Western countries lead in global oil and gas expansion; How Israel’s war on Gaza unraveled a landmark Mideast climate deal; Texas nuclear plant trips offline, grid loses 1400 MW instantly; Enviros challenge EPA's new rules on toxic air plastic and chemical pollution; CA isn't enforcing its strongest-in-the-nation oil well cleanup law; Pollution threatens Mediterranean Sea's health... PLUS: California dam removal project on Klamath River ahead of schedule... and much, MUCH more! ...

We are still hanging on for dear life here at The BradCast amid the past four weeks of non-stop political upheavals. But, at least this week, we've got some much more encouraging stuff to hang on to. For now. [Audio link to full show is posted below this summary.]

It remains to be seen how fleeing it all is, but over the past several days, I must say, I have never seen Democrats more united and elated as they have been since Kamala Harris ascended to become their presumptive 2024 Presidential nominee. One has to go back to the nomination of Barack Obama in 2008 for anything even close to the kind of giddy excitement and optimism we've seen since Joe Biden decided to drop out and pass the torch to Harris on Sunday. But, even back in 2008, the party was still smarting and somewhat riven over the outcome of a long and bruising primary cycle between Obama and Hilary Clinton (who wrote a very good op-ed about all of this in the Times yesterday, btw.)

The first polls taken solely after Biden's announcement and endorsement on Sunday are now beginning to trickle out, with a new Reuters/Ipsos survey taken on Monday and Tuesday this week finding Harris now up over Donald Trump nationally by 2 points. That may be a small lead, but it's a 4-point swing as compared to Trump's 2-point lead over Biden last week. Moreover, when RFK, Jr. was included in the question to respondents, Harris' lead grew to 4 points over Trump in the first polling from this outfit that has seen the former President actually losing to a Democrat since May of this year.

Furthermore, as one of our guests notes today, in the week following a party's national convention, we traditionally see a bounce for that party of anywhere from 2 to 4 points. In this one poll, at least, there is not only no bounce, but a loss of support for the GOP candidate following last week's Republican National Convention.

Of course, be sure to mind all of the usual caveats about such polls --- only one poll, margin of error, snapshot in time, national versus state numbers, etc. Nonetheless, the numbers would seem to be encouraging news for Dems after many weeks of the opposite.

To that end, we've got a lot to make sense of from the past several remarkable days, and we're joined by two old friends to help us do so. Our steadfast HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo is here once again, along with JOHN AMATO, creator of the notorious Crooks & Liars blog, for the first time in a while.

Among our many topics of discussion, debate and tomfoolery today...

• Thoughts on the extraordinary decision by and presidency of Joe Biden, including whether his decision to get out came too late or just at the right time.
• Republicans, Fox "News" and even a number of theoretically legitimate news outlets have been telling us that there is something undemocratic about what has just happened in the Democratic Party. Are they right?
• Thoughts on Harris and her rise to meet this historic moment.
• Thoughts on the ugly, racist, barely concealed dog-whistle attacks against her already emerging from the right.
• The hilarious "fraud" argument now coming from Trump and his campaign on Harris' ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket, and their astonishingly flat-footed response, so far.
• Thoughts on whether we should expect the same protests from the left that had dogged President Biden regarding his position on Israel to similarly affect the Harris Campaign.
• Some advice for those who may be experiencing a bit of PTSD following the last time Democrats nominated a woman to run for President against Trump.
• Veep Stakes on the Right!: Is Trump regretting his selection of J.D. Vance as his Vice-Presidential running mate this week? Is Vance regretting accepting the job? Is it possible he'll soon be tossed from the GOP ticket?
• Veep Stakes on the Left!: Who would our guests like to see Harris select as her own running mate? And who do they expect she will choose?

All of that and much, much more on today's lively round-table BradCast!...

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Most of us, including President Joe Biden, who called upon Americans to "reject" political violence, may have been too quick to assume that the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13 was politically motivated.

The FBI, by contrast, concedes that it hasn't identified a motive. That inability continued after an FBI search of the shooter's two cellphones failed to find "any indication of a motive, ideology or political views", CBS reported on July 17.

History reveals that not all high-level assassination attempts are politically motivated...

Following the tumultuous events of the last several days (and weeks) today seemed a good moment on The BradCast to check in on how the MAGA side of the aisle is processing everything that is going on. [Audio link to full show follows below.]

BUT FIRST, some quick news items, including the "roaring crowd" which greeted newly presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Wisconsin, during her first rally following President Biden's decisions on Sunday to leave the race and toss his support to Harris. Tuesday's rally comes on the same day that Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Hakeem Jeffries joined a rapidly growing list of elected Democrats and pledged DNC delegates coalescing behind the Vice President's candidacy. It also follows on the all-time record shattering $100 million in donations that have flooded into her campaign coffers over the 24 hours following Biden's announcement and the nearly 60,000 voters since Sunday who have reportedly joined the campaign as volunteers.

Speaking to a huge crowd in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Harris --- a former California District Attorney and Attorney General --- described the choice this November as one between "freedom and chaos", as she laid out how she plans to prosecute her case against the 79-year old 34-time convicted felon, adjudicated rapist and fraudster, Donald Trump. We share a few sound bites from her rally today.

In other news today, Biden announced that he will address the nation from the Oval Office at 8pm ET on Wednesday explaining his decisions; Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation following the security lapse that led to the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13; And Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey finally announced he would be resigning next month following his conviction on 16 felony bribery and corruption charges. Fellow Democrats had been calling for Menendez' resignation for months, while Republicans, ironically, did not, since, after all, they are now supporting a man who has 34 felony convictions as their party's Presidential nominee!

IN THE MEANTIME, Republicans are having a difficult time figuring out their plan of attack against Harris after spending years assuming they'd be running against Biden. So, how are Trump's MAGA supporters responding to all of this?

We're joined today by former, dyed-in-the-wool MAGA member, RICH LOGIS who, after voting for Trump in 2016 and 2020 finally came to realize that he had been played for a chump as he had become little more than a member of a cult lead by the former President. Though it took some time to come to terms with it (as we've discussed with Logis on previous shows), he has courageously renounced his MAGA past, and has become the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit called LeavingMAGA.org. It's mission statement: "Empower others to leave MAGA and tell their stories. Foster reconciliation with their friends and family. Develop movement leaders to help others leave."

As a former "MAGA American", Logis is also becoming our MAGA Whisperer. I wanted to touch base with him to find out how Trump supporters are processing the whirlwind of recent news, from the assassination attempt, to the naming of J.D. Vance as Trump's Vice-Presidential running mate, to the latest stunning turn of events with Biden dropping out and Harris taking over the ticket.

We've got a lot to discuss on all of those points, as well as on his continuing mission to offer a safe space for folks trying to extricate themselves from Trump's cult, and how he sees things playing out for MAGA World in the days ahead, based on whether Trump wins or loses this November.

"The assassination attempt, a lot of the rhetoric we're seeing now with Vice President Harris as the likely nominee, what it does is it really embodies that MAGA Americans view Mr. Trump as really the last stand," Logis tells me, after I share a clip from an Ohio state Senator who, yesterday at a Vance rally, asserted that "civil war" would break out if Trump loses. "And if he is not victorious," Logis continues, "if MAGA is not victorious, then it will mean that liberal democracy has taken over, and all of those in the MAGA community are going to lose their country." He admits, "it is what I believed."

Logis argues now, however, that "we need to move on from Mr. Trump, and the way that that will happen is that he and the Republican Party, ideally, are not just defeated but historically repudiated." In fact, he believes "the Republican Party is going to be historically renounced and repudiated in November. I think the Republican Party knows that."

We'll see if he's right. But we've got a lot to discuss along all of those lines with Logis today, including the years-long "grooming" of MAGA Americans by Trump, the rightwing media and cynical, opportunistic Republican politicians.

AND FINALLY today, some disturbing news out of Ethiopia, where heavy rain resulted in a pair of mudslides that have killed at least 229 people, including children, pregnant women and rescuers who had been searching for survivors from a previous landslide when the second one happened. That is followed up by our latest Green News Report with Desi Doyen, detailing the extraordinary climate legacy of Joe Biden, and the climate action records (or lack thereof) of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump...

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IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: President Biden withdraws from the 2024 race with a legacy of unprecedented climate action; Apparent successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, was a climate action warrior; PLUS: At the GOP convention, Republicans replay the golden oldies, highlighting lies over facts on energy and climate... All that and more in today's Green News Report!

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IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Where Kamala Harris stands on climate; Trump would privatize weather forecasting; Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth, scientists say; Canada’s popular Jasper National Park ordered to evacuate as fire nears; 123 House and Senate Republicans deny climate science; Texas heat deaths climb after Beryl left millions without power for days; Big meat, dairy companies spend more on ads than cutting emissions... PLUS: White House seeks to end government purchase of single-use plastic by 2035... and much, MUCH more! ...

Like it or not, we live in historic times. Personally, I could live with a bit less history making news damned near every day now. But this is what we got and so this is where we go, yet again, on today's BradCast. [Audio link to full show follows below this summary.]

As you may have heard, on Sunday, Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 Presidential race against convicted criminal and now official GOP nominee Donald Trump, who accepted his party's nod in an unprecedentedly long (and boring, and falsehood-filled) acceptance speech last week in Milwaukee.

About thirty minutes after his announcement that he would be passing the torch on Sunday, Biden (apparently taking our advice from about a month ago) immediately endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, for the top of the Democratic ticket.

Since then, praise for Biden from top elected Democrats and world leaders has been pouring in, along with endorsements for Harris, who will have to win the nomination among delegates at the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago. AP reports, however, that more than half of the pledged Democratic delegates needed to clinch the nomination have already indicated they will support Harris, as have all 50 state Democratic Party chairs.

In addition to endorsements, financial support has also been flooding in from the public since Biden's announcement on Sunday, with Democrats reportedly raising a record-breaking $81 million in small donations over the past 24 hours.

So, how do some of our listeners --- many of whom were adamant just two weeks ago that Biden should stay in the race --- feel about the President's decisions on Sunday to both drop out of the running and endorse Harris? And who might they like to see as her Vice-Presidential running-mate if she is able to secure the nomination next month in Chicago?

We open the phone lines to listeners today on all of that and many other interesting points amid yet another historic and unprecedented moment in American politics. So, how many will this week bring? Don't ask...

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Well, it now appears to be official...

Here is his full letter to the American people...

The President did not directly endorse anyone in his letter. But, minutes after it was made public, he did so --- much as I had suggested me might the day after his disastrous debate last month --- on Twitter, with an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris...

* * *

UPDATE: So who would you like to see as her VP? Please ring in in comments! May share this week on air!

Historically, whenever I've asked for folks to consider dropping a few dollars in the old tip jar around my birthday, some of ya'll have been quite generous.

Well, good news! (Hopefully.) I've made it through another year! And not an easy one at that...above and beyond the politics, in truth. Arguably, it's been the most difficult one I can remember after about 20 years of doing what we do here, all thanks to your kindness and generous support.

I do know that, in an election year --- especially an unprecedented one like this --- you are likely being hit up by all sorts of folks right now. But, if have something left over to spare for your hardworking independent media types, trying to make sense of it all right along with you, it would really be appreciated.

I've got no NFTs or crappy hats or creepy bibles or cheap gold tennis shoes to give you in return. Then again, my "business model" --- as quaint as is may be --- has always been to NOT try and scam you. Our worth and value and record is on these 20 years of pages for all to see and decide for yourself.

Anyway, amid a very tough year, a few new folks signing up for automated monthly subscriptions, of any amount you may like, to help see us through it, would really make my day. One time donations are, of course, equally welcome.

Here's the donate button. Your birthday support is always greatly appreciated, whether via good wishes or actual financial contributions. I'll welcome either! Thanks for tolerating my personal plea, and do feel free to hit that button if you can! Thanks to all of you very much for helping to keep us going here for all of these years! --- Brad

P.S. I'm gonna keep this on top for a few days, so scroll down for the latest.

I've got to post today's BradCast quickly a) before convicted felon Donald Trump speaks at tonight's RNC and b) before more political shoes (and/or earthquakes) drop. So, here's the quick skinny. [Audio link to full show follows this summary.]

Among our coverage today...

• Donald Trump critic-turned-toady J.D. Vance of Ohio, officially accepted the GOP's nomination for Vice President during his remarks at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night. His speech was long on hillbilly biography but very short (virtually bereft) of the horrifying policies that Vance actually supports. Helpfully today, we correct his oversight with actual facts and policy proposals from the ambitious Yale-educated Senator, including his push for a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions; ending no-fault divorce; slashing Social Security and Medicare; embracing Project 2025, turning over Ukraine to Russia and much more!

• While leaving out his radical policy positions, Vance also dropped a few big lies about a number of things during Wednesday speech. When it comes to his lies about all-time record, world-leading energy production under Joe Biden, our own Desi Doyen has a few thoughts and a corrective that J.D. and his convicted conman running mate would prefer you didn't listen to.

• Self-proclaimed "Liberal Redneck" comedian Trae Crowder, who hung out with the GOP's new Veep nominee back in the days when Vance regarded Trump as "America's Hitler", also has a few insights on him today.

• What explains the complete lack of pressing by corporate media for any kind of official medical statement on the injury suffered by Donald Trump during last Saturday's assassination attempt?

• The Chief U.S. District Court Judge in Nevada tossed out a suit on Wednesday brought by the Trump Campaign, the RNC and the Nevada GOP seeking to block the counting of potentially tens of thousands of perfectly legal mail ballots in the battleground state, cast and timely post-marked by Election Day, but arriving up to four days after, as allowed by NV state law.

• With President Biden now battling COVID again, top Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have all reportedly been pressing the President, in various ways, to reconsider his insistence on staying in the race for reelection. If there is to be a change at the top of the ticket, it is believed likely to come (and would need to come) within days. Perhaps as soon as this weekend.

• In the meantime, President Biden has been continuing to present new, popular policies --- as all Democrats should be joining him in doing at this point. This week, for example, Biden is reportedly planning to issue a long-overdue proposal for SCOTUS reform to include term limits and an enforceable code of ethics for Supreme Court Justices. He will also be proposing a Constitutional amendment to counter the Court's recent corrupt ruling granting criminal immunity to Presidents. Also this week, Biden has called for a national rent control statute that would cap rent increases at 5% annually unless landlords choose to forego federal tax write-offs. These are the sort of things that Dems should be doing right now, rather than squabbling amongst themselves. (Not that anyone asked me.)

• Finally, Desi Doyen joins us for our latest Green News Report, as Toronto is crippled by extreme storms and flooding; the cost of extreme heat is quickly escalating in the U.S.; and as Marathon Oil agrees to pay a record fine for pollution under the Clean Air Act...

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IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Toronto crippled by extreme storms and floods; Economic losses from extreme heat escalate in U.S.; More frequent severe floods raise concerns over 4,000 aging dams across the country; PLUS: Marathon Oil to pay record fine for oil and pollution in violation of the Clean Air Act... All that and more in today's Green News Report!

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IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): 'We built our world for a climate that no longer exists'; With sewage gushing into sea, US and Mexican border towns plead for help; Prisoners are uniquely vulnerable to extreme heat and flooding; Biden BLM to add protections against drilling in Alaska Petroleum Reserve; Record salmon migration runs into hot water --- literally; Deadly floods engulf parts of South Asia... PLUS: Britain faces 'age of trade-offs', warned new climate adviser... and much, MUCH more! ...

Welp, we've just been through about three political weeks in this country unlike any other, at least in my lifetime, as briefly summarized at the top of today's BradCast. And, before I'm even able to get today's show posted, that summary is already out of date, with the breaking news just after airtime that President Biden has COVID again. Good lord. [Audio link to full show follows this summary.]

Other than that, to help me "hold on for dear life" amid the political whirlwind, I brought back our friends and fellow old school bloggers HEATHER DIGBY PARTON of Salon and Hullabaloo, and 'DRIFTGLASS' of The Pro Left Podcast to try and help us make sense of everything that continues to unspool this week. Among those things...

• The weekend's assassination attempt of Donald Trump by a registered Republican and how all of that has (or hasn't) affected the current state of the Presidential race.
• The temporarily-undergrounded and now-reemerging battle among elected Democrats as to whether Joe Biden should or shouldn't be replaced on the Presidential ticket.
• The "sign of weakness" in naming of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as the GOP's Vice-Presidential pick and what Trump hopes to gain from selecting a former critic-turned-toady who opposes support for our democratic allies in Ukraine and seeks a nationwide abortion ban (even in cases of rape or incest) as his running mate.
• Other noteworthy observations from the Republican Party's "unity" convention, including the curious and controversial anti-corporate elite/pro-union speech delivered at the RNC by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, why Republicans refuse to learn how to pronounce Kamala Harris' first name after more than 3 years in office, and the media's terrible job in covering the entire affair. (Especially MSNBC in this case!)

All of that and too much more on today's BradCast! Enjoy!...

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