Why Democrats Aren't Afraid of GOP Legal Challenges to VP Harris's Candidacy

Update: 2024-07-23

Digest

The episode begins with a rundown of the day's headlines, including the Secret Service Director's testimony before Congress about the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The Director admitted the incident was a "colossal failure" but refused to provide specifics about the investigation, leading to calls for her resignation. The episode also discusses the ongoing impact of the CrowdStrike outage on Delta Airlines, which is still canceling and delaying hundreds of flights despite most other airlines recovering from the tech outage. The episode then delves into potential legal challenges to Vice President Kamala Harris's candidacy for president, focusing on arguments made by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Experts interviewed on the show dismiss these challenges as largely unfounded, but acknowledge that some legal hurdles may exist regarding campaign funds. The episode also covers the Israeli air strike in southern Gaza that killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded over 200. The IDF claimed the attack was in response to a rocket launched toward Israel, but the strike occurred in a previously designated safe zone. The episode concludes with a tribute to the late Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away at age 74 after a long career advocating for progressive causes on Capitol Hill. Lee was known for her work on issues such as Juneteenth, the Violence Against Women Act, and women's and minority rights. The episode also promotes the live show "Love It or Leave It" in Los Angeles, featuring host John Love It and guest comedians, politicians, and LGBTQ+ individuals discussing politics and culture.

Outlines

00:00:00

Current Events and Headlines

The episode begins with a rundown of the day's headlines, including the Secret Service Director's testimony before Congress about the attempted assassination of former President Trump, the ongoing impact of the CrowdStrike outage on Delta Airlines, and the growing support for Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential presidential nominee.

00:00:43

Kamala Harris's Candidacy and Legal Challenges

The episode discusses potential legal challenges to Vice President Kamala Harris's candidacy for president, focusing on arguments made by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Experts interviewed on the show dismiss these challenges as largely unfounded, but acknowledge that some legal hurdles may exist regarding campaign funds.

00:09:03

International and Domestic Events

The episode covers the Israeli air strike in southern Gaza that killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded over 200. The IDF claimed the attack was in response to a rocket launched toward Israel, but the strike occurred in a previously designated safe zone. The episode also pays tribute to the late Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away at age 74 after a long career advocating for progressive causes on Capitol Hill. Lee was known for her work on issues such as Juneteenth, the Violence Against Women Act, and women's and minority rights.

00:13:10

Outro and Call to Action

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with friends. It also promotes the "What a Day" newsletter and credits the production team.

Keywords

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is the current Vice President of the United States and a potential Democratic nominee for president in the upcoming election. She is the first woman and first person of color to hold the office of Vice President.

Secret Service

The Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the President of the United States, the Vice President, their families, and other high-ranking officials. They also investigate financial crimes.

CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company that provides endpoint protection and threat intelligence services. A recent update to their software caused a widespread outage that affected many airlines, including Delta.

Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is celebrated on June 19th, the date in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery.

Sheila Jackson Lee

Sheila Jackson Lee was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 18th congressional district. She was known for her advocacy for progressive causes, including women's rights, civil rights, and social justice.

Gaza

Gaza is a Palestinian territory on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. It has been the subject of ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It has been experiencing flight disruptions due to a recent tech outage.

Love It or Leave It

"Love It or Leave It" is a podcast and live show hosted by John Love It, featuring discussions about politics and culture. The show is known for its comedic and insightful commentary.

Q&A

What are the potential legal challenges to Kamala Harris's candidacy for president?
Some Republicans have raised concerns about the legality of Harris becoming the nominee after Joe Biden dropped out of the race, particularly regarding campaign funds. However, legal experts generally dismiss these concerns as unfounded, arguing that Biden was never officially the nominee and that Harris has a strong claim to the campaign funds.
What happened at the Secret Service hearing before the House Oversight Committee?
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced calls to resign after admitting that the attempted assassination of former President Trump was a "colossal failure." She refused to provide specifics about the investigation, leading to further scrutiny and calls for accountability.
What is the situation in Gaza?
An Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded over 200. The IDF claimed the attack was in response to a rocket launched toward Israel, but the strike occurred in a previously designated safe zone. The situation remains tense and volatile.
What is causing the flight disruptions at Delta Airlines?
Delta Airlines is experiencing ongoing flight disruptions due to problems with its crew tracking software, which was affected by a recent tech outage. The company has canceled and delayed hundreds of flights, while other airlines have largely recovered from the outage.
Who was Representative Sheila Jackson Lee?
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, known for her advocacy for progressive causes. She was a strong voice for women's rights, civil rights, and social justice, and played a key role in passing legislation such as Juneteenth and the Violence Against Women Act.

Show Notes

With Vice President Kamala Harris in position to receive the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson are raising the possibility of legal challenges to keep a new nominee off the ballot. Experts say these challenges will go nowhere. Republicans have also suggested they will try to block Harris from accessing the 96 million dollars Biden’s campaign raised before he dropped out. But it’s unlikely they’ll succeed there, either. We discuss the details with political reporter Abigail Tracy.

And in headlines: lawmakers call for the head of the Secret Service to resign her post, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills at least 70 Palestinians, and Delta is still getting back on track after last week’s CrowdStrike outage.

Show Notes: