What's Happening

Politics

Harris Secures Enough Delegates To Win the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nomination

What's going on: VP Kamala Harris now has the support of enough Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee against former President Trump. The Democratic National Committee announced yesterday that it will move forward with a virtual roll call to determine the party's presidential nominee by August 7. Harris has been collecting endorsements (and dollars) ever since President Biden exited the race on Sunday and put her forth as his replacement on the Democratic ticket. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who previously favored a competitive process over a coronation, notably urged her colleagues to rally behind the VP. Harris also scooped up endorsements from several would-be challengers, including Democratic Governors Gretchen Whitmer (MI) and JB Pritzker (IL).

What it means: With Harris securing enough delegates for the nomination, it could finally put an end to a period of chaos for Democrats and signal unity in their campaign against Trump. Still, not everyone is rushing to support Harris, with some Democrats expressing interest in an open convention. Meanwhile, a new CBS poll found 79% of registered Democratic voters said Harris should get the nomination. As for what's next, the rules for the virtual roll call require Harris and any challengers to submit 300 electronic signatures from convention delegates, with no more than 50 from any one state, according to The Associated Press. Qualified candidates will have a few days to lobby delegates before the virtual vote, which could take multiple rounds.

Related: One of Harris' Former Donors? Trump (The Guardian)

Politics

Secret Service Director Declines To Answer Crucial Questions About Trump Rally Shooting

What's going on: For more than four hours yesterday, the bipartisan House Oversight Committee tried to get answers about the attempted assassination of former President Trump. But testimony from US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle didn’t clear much up. During the heated exchange with lawmakers, Cheatle said an ongoing investigation into the shooting prevented her from answering key questions about how it happened, including: how the gunman got access to the warehouse roof from which he fired, why the security perimeter didn’t include the warehouse, and why Trump still took the stage despite multiple warnings of a suspicious person. One thing she did admit: The shooting was the agency’s “most significant operational failure” in decades. 

What it means: Republican lawmakers have called on Cheatle to resign ever since Trump’s attempted assassination. Now, Democrats are joining in. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the committee’s top Democrat, said Cheatle has “lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country.” The testimony comes as the FBI said online threats of political violence have increased since the shooting in Butler. Meanwhile, Cheatle said she does not plan to step down. As for the investigations into the shooting, earlier this week the Department of Homeland Security created a panel to do an independent review.

Related: The Secret Service Previously Denied the Trump Campaign Additional Security (AP)

Technology

The Humanoid Robots Are Coming

What's going on: Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk announced yesterday that the company plans to use humanoid robots to assist in car production within the next year. Tesla’s newest employees will be bots named Optimus, and the company hopes they'll help with car production, handle technically challenging processes, and address labor shortages. So far, though, the bots seem like an office distraction, as they mostly do dance moves and fold T-shirts. Musk hopes to make these humanoids available to other companies in 2026, with a price point below $20,000. And, according to The Wall Street Journal, the prototypes are expected to have some “conversational capabilities” and safeguards to stop them from, say, going rogue if they come across a fitted sheet that needs folding. Though, don't ask them what they think of the Cybertruck design...

What it means: In recent years, more tech companies have been racing to develop humanoid robots that can perform routine tasks. (And because the universe has a sense of humor, there are also "short king" robots, too.) For major manufacturers like Hyundai, Honda, and Jeff Bezos-backed Figure AI, these robots could offer significant advantages. However, workers and unions are concerned that such automation might displace more human jobs, and pro-union organizations have voiced their opposition to its use. It's TBD whether Optimus will help solve Tesla's mounting issues, including production delays and numerous recalls.

Related: What If the Robots Were Very Nice While They Took Over the World? (Wired)