BEGIN NEWS BRIEF #495
NOTE(P): Bolded headlines will have a corresponding AI-generated synopsis included in a summary section. For more, see our methodology and symbology.
HEADLINES
Trump campaign prepared for Biden's exit with confidential memo since May (Politico).*1
Trump spokeswoman now suggesting Secret Service is threatening the ex-president (The Bias@).
FBI Director says the bureau is unsure if Trump's ear was hit by bullet or shrapnel (raw).
Democrats finalize plan to nominate Harris before convention (Bloomberg).
CrowdStrike warns of hacking threat as outage persists (WSJ).
Big Tech selloff slams Nasdaq with worst day since 2022 (WSJ).
Elon Musk’s X boosts conspiracy theories that Biden is dead or dying (NBC).
Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on Earth (AP).
With AI, jets and police squadrons, Paris is securing the Olympics (AP).5
SUMMARIES1
Senior Israeli Security Officials Label Netanyahu an "Existential Threat" in Letter to US Congress —> Jerusalem Post (0)
In a stark warning to US congressional leaders, 17 senior Israeli security officials, including former heads of Mossad and IDF, have labeled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an existential threat to Israel. The letter criticizes Netanyahu's prioritization of political survival over national interests, accusing him of endangering both Israel’s internal cohesion and its longstanding alliance with the United States.
Trump Campaign Prepared for Biden's Exit with Confidential Memo Since May —> Politico (1)
A confidential memo distributed within the Trump campaign in May detailed preparations for facing a non-Biden opponent in the 2024 election. The memo outlined scenarios for Biden's replacement, including an insider rebellion or an act of God. Following Biden's poor debate performance in June, these preparations accelerated, with the Trump campaign crafting targeted attacks on potential Democratic candidates, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden's Mental Acuity Questioned Following 2021 Congressional Meeting —> WSJ (2)
In October 2021, concerns about President Joe Biden's mental acuity surfaced during a critical meeting with House Democrats aimed at rallying support for a $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Biden's disjointed presentation and inability to make a clear request led to visible frustration from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who felt compelled to clarify his points after he left. This incident marked a turning point, raising alarms among allies about his capacity to lead effectively amidst challenging legislative agendas.
DOJ Finds Previously Denied Transcripts in Biden Classified Probe Amid FOIA Surge —> Politico (3)
The Justice Department has discovered previously denied transcripts of President Joe Biden’s talks with biographer Mark Zwonitzer, crucial to the investigation into Biden’s handling of classified material before his presidency. This revelation comes amid a surge of FOIA requests following a special counsel report that described Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Talks with Trump for Endorsement and Potential Role in Administration —> WAPO (4)
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently engaged in discussions with former President Donald Trump about potentially endorsing Trump's campaign and assuming a health-focused role in a possible second Trump administration. The talks, which began shortly after the Butler shooting, explored significant roles for Kennedy but concluded without a firm agreement amid concerns over the legality and optics of such an endorsement deal.
With AI, Jets and Police Squadrons, Paris Is Securing the Olympics —> AP (5)
As the Paris Olympics approach, the city has implemented extensive security measures to ensure safety amidst high international tensions and recent extremist threats. With 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and advanced surveillance technology, France aims to protect 10,500 athletes and millions of visitors.
GRAPHICS
It’s a team effort…
Earth likely just had its hottest two days in thousands of years.
SECONDARY
Trump appears to confuse Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley (Zeteo@).
Vance expressed support for Iraq War in 2010 ‘on the merits’ (ABC).
Prediction markets notch an important win with Biden's drop out (Axios).6
NORAD detects, tracks and intercepts Russian and PRC aircraft operating in the Alaska ADIZ (raw).
Hackers leak documents from Pentagon IT provider Leidos (Bloomberg).
DOJ report urges clear policies on social media communications (WAPO).*7
FBI searches $3.5M home of former aide to Gov. Hochul (NYT).
OpenAI reassigns top AI safety executive Aleksandr Madry to role focused on AI reasoning (CNBC).
Google rolls back decision to kill third-party cookies in Chrome (BleepingComputer).
SUMMARIES2
Prediction markets notch an important win with Biden's drop out —> Axios (6)
Prediction markets, particularly Polymarket, correctly anticipated President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race, outperforming traditional polling methods. Polymarket traders initially predicted a 22.5% chance of Biden dropping out, which increased to 66% even after Biden publicly stated he would stay in the race. This highlights the evolving accuracy and relevance of prediction markets in gauging electoral probabilities, despite their inherent risks and the influence of "noise traders" in political betting.
DOJ Report Urges Clear Policies on Social Media Communications —> WAPO (7)
A new report from the Justice Department's inspector general emphasizes the need for disciplined and systematic communication between U.S. intelligence agencies and social media companies to avoid crossing into government censorship. The report, released by Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz, calls for a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the risk of infringing on protected speech while maintaining efforts to combat foreign influence operations. The Justice Department has agreed to resume regular meetings with tech firms under new protocols ensuring First Amendment compliance.
TERTIARY
Trump appeals New York civil fraud judgment that threatens his business (Politico).
Pentagon announces new Arctic strategy as region becomes more contested (The Hill).
Swalwell on Fox News: ‘It's the only way my parents will see me is if I go on Fox’ (raw).
Elon Musk says Tesla to begin using humanoid robots internally next year (WSJ).
Wiz walks away from $23B deal with Google, will pursue IPO (CNBC).
MEMC (GlobalWafers) listed as ransomware victim (HackManac).
MrBeast’s co-host breaks silence on grooming allegations, quits YouTube channel (NYP).
Six killed after gunman opens fire in Croatian care home, local media reports (CNN).
BONUS
Thank you for reading this far. Here are a few extra things that weren’t necessarily newsy, but interesting nonetheless:
NOTE(P): AI-generated headlines and summaries may have been edited by a human for accuracy, clarity or density.
NOTE(T): News Brief #495, published by The Bias on the morning of 07/25/24, is based upon articles, posts and other content forms published during the week (approximately) prior to publication. Useful context for the content in News Brief #495 may be found in News Brief #494 or earlier briefings.
NOTE(T): Reference MARKER2#495 for more cycle coverage.