Kamala Harris prepares for Democratic convention, Ernesto forecast to strengthen into hurricane again: Weekend Rundown

Kamala Harris’ big week

As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago on Monday, the party will be looking to introduce Kamala Harris to the many Americans who still know little about her, with just 11 weeks until Election Day. A mad scramble is underway to roll out her biography as Trump works to villainize her.

The DNC speakers this week will include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former first lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. On Monday night, President Joe Biden will deliver a speech at the event that just weeks ago was expected to center on his re-election bid, but has been rapidly reshaped around his vice president’s own candidacy.

Progressives meanwhile are homing in on a a more pragmatic, economy-focused policy agenda like raising the minimum wage and child care funding in place of sky-high ambitions like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal as they prepare for a potential Harris presidency.

Chicago has been bracing for thousands of protesters to show up outside the convention, amid concerns about a potential confrontation with police. Mayor Brandon Johnson said Sunday, “Our local police department, along with the local police agencies as well as the Secret Service, we are ready for this convention.”

As Israel strikes Gaza, Blinken heads to region for cease-fire talks

Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to the Middle East on Sunday to try to seal a cease-fire deal after months of contentious negotiations.

The U.S. and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar said they were closing in on a deal after two days of talks in Doha, with American and Israeli officials expressing cautious optimism. But Hamas has signaled resistance to what it says are new demands by Israel, and the long-running talks have repeatedly stalled.

An Israeli delegation was set to travel to Cairo on Sunday for further talks, and Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

Israeli strikes have continued across Gaza despite the renewed hopes of a deal, with an overnight bombardment killing 28 people including a woman and her six children, Palestinian officials said Sunday. In the West Bank, some Palestinians say Israelis are taking advantage of the fact that the world is focused on Gaza to redouble their efforts to “colonize” the Palestinian territory.

Ernesto forecast to become a hurricane again as it moves north

Tropical Storm Ernesto was downgraded from a hurricane Saturday night after making landfall in Bermuda, but as of Sunday morning it’s forecast to strengthen again as it heads toward Canada’s Newfoundland.

“Some intensification is possible Sunday and Sunday night,” the National Hurricane Center said. “The cyclone will likely become post-tropical near southeastern Newfoundland by Monday night or Tuesday morning.”

Thousands in Bermuda lost power, and as of Sunday afternoon more than 10,000 utility customers (about 34% of the island) were still without.

Dangerous beach conditions, including large waves and rip currents, are expected along the East Coast and Atlantic Canada until early next week.

Who is the ‘Ketamine Queen’ charged in Matthew Perry’s death?

Jasveen Sangha, deemed the “Ketamine Queen” by investigators, is accused of supplying the drugs that killed “Friends” star Matthew Perry.

She had been selling ketamine and other drugs “since at least 2019” and had turned her home into a “stash house,” federal prosecutors say. Court documents say a search of Sangha’s residence found “evidence of drug trafficking” and pills containing “methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained.”

Sangha was arrested in March in a separate federal drug case and was out on $100,000 bond when she was arrested and charged in Perry’s death.

She faces anywhere from 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted.

Meet the Press

South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has suggested former President Donald Trump “may not win this election” unless he focuses on policy over showmanship.

“President Trump can win this election. His policies are good for America, and if you have a policy debate for president, he wins. Donald Trump the provocateur, the showman, may not win this election,” Graham told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker.

Graham also suggested that he and fellow Republicans who are “giving advice on TV to President Trump” should “get together and actually campaign for the guy,” citing Trump’s former rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.

You can watch the full interview here.

Politics in brief

Santos fraud case: Former GOP Rep. George Santos is expected to plead guilty on Monday to multiple charges related to campaign finance fraud, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

Home front: Both Trump and Harris want to sell voters on ways to ease housing shortages, but the practicalities of bringing down costs leave both campaigns navigating political minefields.

Voter registration: A nonprofit aimed at youth voters is connecting high school students passionate about civic engagement to the resources they need to galvanize their peers. Since 2018, they’ve registered more than 80,000 high schoolers to vote.

Earthquake scientists are learning warning signs of the ‘big one’

Japan’s recent “megaquake” warning had seismologists watching carefully. Did the smaller quake mean that the “big one” was on the doorstep? No one could say for sure, but the odds were suddenly higher.

The warning ultimately ended Thursday after no unusual activity was detected, but it highlighted a big question for U.S. seismologists: If they find clues that a devastating earthquake is more likely, even just slightly, what warrants sounding the alarm?

“You don’t want a mass evacuation panic that’s not warranted, but you want people not to go on their merry ways,” said Harold Tobin, Washington’s state seismologist.

Forecasting this future catastrophe is critical, and researchers think they are homing in on the triggers or precursors of earthquakes in the world’s most dangerous seismic regions, but the science is far from settled.

This restaurant is big on TikTok — and entirely fictional

Drew Talbert is a longtime restaurant worker who came up with Bistro Huddy in 2020. It’s an entirely imaginary restaurant, but it’s very popular on TikTok, with 4.5 million followers.

Talbert and his wife have been able to quit their jobs to focus on growing their online brand full time, creating POV skits about working in a restaurant and selling Bistro Huddy merch. The videos initially focused on what it was like to work as a server, but fans now watch for the familiar storylines and drama about the staple cast of characters.

“It doesn’t get much better than what’s going on right now,” Talbert said. “We have full creative control. We’re at home with our kids.”

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