Tuesday morning news: August 20, 2024

DNC day one » Just one month ago, President Biden had been expected to speak on the final night of the Democratic National Convention accepting the presidential nod for a second time.

[Applause]

Instead, he addressed party leaders and delegates last night passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.

BIDEN: She’ll be a president our children could look up to. She’ll be a president we all could all be proud of. And she will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.

The president, of course, late last month caved to pressure from party leaders to bow out of the race and make way for a younger contender.

And Democrats heard another familiar voice last night.

CLINTON: Kamala cares, cares about kids and families, cares about America. Donald only cares about himself!

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heard there.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former President Barack Obama are among those who will take the stage tonight on day-2 of the convention.

Blinken - Israel » Secretary of State Tony Blinken says Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences holding up a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza.

BLINKEN: It's now incumbent on Hamas to do the same. And then, the parties, with the help of the mediators, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have to come together and reach clear understandings about how they'll implement the commitments.

Blinken spoke after a 2 1/2 hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. He’s expected to travel to Egypt and Qatar today.

U.S. intel: Iran behind campaign hacks » U.S. intelligence officials say they're confident that Iran was behind the cyber-hack attempt against Donald Trump’s campaign. Intel officials said it was part of a brazen effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics.

Private-sector cybersecurity investigators had previously said Iran was behind the cyber attacks. But this is the first time the U.S. government has assigned blame.

The joint statement from the FBI and other agencies said Iran was behind attempts to hack Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign as well.

Flooding in northeast » In Connecticut, two women have died after being swept away by floodwaters brought by torrential rains.

Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman:

LOUGHMAN:  State police, uh, urge all motorists to check road conditions before driving to their destinations. Motors, motorists should not drive over water or in roadways that are closed, um, due to the water.

And U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called the damage shocking, especially near the town of Seymour, where a river overflowed.

BLUMENTHAL:  Who would have thought the little river would turn into a gushing torrent of destruction, which is what happened.

As much as a foot of rain fell Sunday and early Monday not only in Connecticut but on New York’s Long Island.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman:

BLAKEMAN:  We are dealing with damage reports throughout this county. As a result of that, I am signing a declaration of emergency.

He said the declaration is aimed at trying to get aid to local homes and businesses.

House impeachment report » House Republicans have released their initial report on the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: After a yearlong probe, the nearly 300-page report asserts the Biden family traded on its “brand” in business ventures in corrupt ways that rise to the Constitution’s high bar for impeachment.

However, the report stops short of accusing Biden of any specific crime related to his son Hunter Biden's business dealings.

With Biden no longer running for reelection, next steps are highly uncertain.

The White House has long dismissed the House impeachment inquiry as a political “stunt.”

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

George Santos » Former U.S. Congressman George Santos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in his federal fraud case.

His trial had been set to start in early September. Santos was indicted on charges that he, among other things stole from political donors, used campaign cash to pay for personal expenses, lied to Congress about his wealth.

Outside a Long Island courthouse, Santos said his ambitions led him to make unethical decisions.

SANTOS: You also trusted me to represent you with honor and to uphold the values that are essential to our democracy. And in that regard, I failed you.

He was expelled from Congress after an ethics investigation. Santos faces more than six years in prison and owes at least $370,000 in restitution.

Donahue obit » Phil Donahue has died. He was a pioneer of the daytime TV talk show genre.

Donahue was the first to incorporate audience participation in that kind of talk show.

SOUND: [Donahue show music]

The “The Phil Donahue Show,” later renamed simply “Donahue” ran for almost three decades.

He’s heard here in a 1996 interview talking about the power of his tv talk format:

DONAHUE: I believe daytime television is closer to the street, less pretentious, closer to the people, and also, a place where powerless folks can be heard.

He won 20 Emmy awards through his decades on the air. Phil Donahue was 88 years old.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Cybersecurity in the 2024 election. Plus, Aramaic Christians shining a light in Israel.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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