Politics
Kamala Harris, poised to make history tonight, will urge Americans to 'move past the bitterness'
![Kamala Harris, poised to make history tonight, will urge Americans to 'move past the bitterness' Kamala Harris, poised to make history tonight, will urge Americans to 'move past the bitterness'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9996b88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2576+0+350/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9b%2F2b%2F16c971524deaa15c1a2df4f70be5%2Felection-2024-harris-99662.jpg)
Vice President Kamala Harris is preparing to make history Thursday night as the first Black woman and first Indian American to accept a major party presidential nomination with a call “to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past.”
Her speech is expected to frame her vision as nonideological and “practical” as she courts moderate voters who have concerns about the economy but reservations about electing former President Trump.
Her election offers “a chance to chart a new way forward,” Harris planned to say, according to excerpts of her speech released Thursday evening. “Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,” she planned to say. “A president who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical and has common sense.”
The speech reiterates attacks on Trump and the Project 2025 document — which lays out an extensive right-wing populist agenda — that was written for him, but he has since tried to disavow.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” she planned to say. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious. … Consider the power he will have — especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled he would be immune from criminal prosecution.”
The moment will be heavy with symbolism, with many women at the Democratic National Convention at Chicago’s United Center wearing white to commemorate the suffrage movement. But Harris has so far used this week’s convention to make a case beyond the history, emphasizing her personal biography, the party’s loosely defined “freedom” agenda and the case against returning Trump to the White House.
Her speech traces her upbringing by her late mother, Shyamala Harris, who at age 19 “crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.” Harris seldom mentions her father, Donald J. Harris, an economist and Jamaican immigrant who divorced from her mother when she was a child. And he is not included in the excerpts.
“It was mostly my mother who raised us,” Harris plans to say, describing the small rented apartment she lived in for a time in the East Bay flats — “a beautiful working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses and construction workers, all who tended their lawns with pride.”
Harris planned to cite her high school friend Wanda, who was sexually abused by her stepfather, as her inspiration for becoming a prosecutor.
The contest is essentially a toss-up at this point, according to pollsters. But Harris’ elevation to the top of the ticket just over a month ago, after President Biden stepped aside, has given Democrats hope that they have a chance.
Harris, the vice president for four years, has sought to portray herself as a tough prosecutor who put away violent criminals when she was San Francisco’s district attorney and went after big banks when she was California’s attorney general.
Trump has sought to portray her as a San Francisco liberal and a failed “border czar,” a title Harris rejects because she was tasked by Biden to improve conditions for migrants in other countries and did not have direct control over the southern border.
But she has sought to defuse the issue by going after Trump for scuttling a bipartisan border enforcement deal this year and will likely do so again Thursday.
She has also blasted Trump over abortion rights, calling attention to his role in appointing Supreme Court justices who two years ago overturned Roe vs. Wade. Harris has led Democratic political efforts on the issue, which helped the party perform better than expected in the 2022 midterm elections and is again a large motivator for women voters who form the party’s backbone.
Harris is also expected to pitch the party’s economic agenda, which includes subsidies for first-time home buyers, anti-price gouging measures on groceries and expanded child tax credits. Though most recent economic indicators have been positive, polls show the economy is voters’ biggest concern, in large part because of inflation.
“We know a strong middle class has always been critical to America’s success,” she planned to say. “And building that middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency. This is personal for me. The middle class is where I come from.”
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Politics
Kerry Washington Knows TV Politics. Now She’s Hosting a Real Party.
![Kerry Washington Knows TV Politics. Now She’s Hosting a Real Party. Kerry Washington Knows TV Politics. Now She’s Hosting a Real Party.](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/08/22/multimedia/22ELECTION-LIVE-KERRY-WASHINGTON-01-wmgk/22ELECTION-LIVE-KERRY-WASHINGTON-01-wmgk-facebookJumbo-v2.jpg)
When “Scandal” debuted on ABC in 2012, Kerry Washington became the first Black woman to play the leading role in a network drama in almost 40 years. The show was a hit, particularly with Black viewers. At one point, more than 10 percent of Black households tuned in weekly to see Ms. Washington play a hard-charging Washington lawyer.
On Thursday, Ms. Washington — known to fans of the show as Olivia Pope — stepped into the real-life political spotlight as the fourth and final host of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Tony Goldwyn, Ms. Washington’s “Scandal” co-star, was the first host. Ana Navarro, a Republican commentator, and the actress and comedian Mindy Kaling filled the role on the intervening days.
On “Scandal,” Ms. Washington’s Olivia Pope character captivated audiences with her political acumen, striking intelligence and flawless professional style — crisp suits, elegant wraps, red-soled Louboutin heels.
After the show went off the air in 2018, Ms. Washington increased her own political activity. She told The Hollywood Reporter last year that she was inspired in part by how the character shaped the audience’s feelings about politics and activism.
“People wanted this imaginary character to fix their problems, and I felt like this was a moment of real disconnect because we’re living in a democracy; we’re the people who hold the power to unlock the change that’s most important, but we keep passing that power off to characters on television,” Ms. Washington said.
Last year, she started a nonprofit, the KW Foundation, to support civic engagement. On several occasions, she has taken to social media to encourage her followers to register to vote, often with messages sure to grab the attention of “Scandal” fans. In one, she posted what she said was information about a “Scandal” movie. The link actually redirected to a voter registration website.
Thursday marks the third time Ms. Washington has spoken at a political convention. In 2012, she delivered remarks at former President Barack Obama’s second nominating convention, and in 2020 she was one of several celebrities to emcee President Biden’s virtual convention.
Ms. Washington has been an enthusiastic convention attendee this week, posing for photos with Mr. Goldwyn, Oprah Winfrey and various politicians including Representative Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and former President Bill Clinton.
Ms. Harris and Ms. Washington have met before, when Ms. Washington visited the White House last year. It’s not clear what they discussed, but in an apparent nod to her tenure as a (fictional) D.C. operative, Ms. Harris posted a photo to social media with the caption “Welcome back to the White House.”
Politics
Vivek Ramaswamy sounds off on potential RFK Jr. role in a Trump administration
![Vivek Ramaswamy sounds off on potential RFK Jr. role in a Trump administration Vivek Ramaswamy sounds off on potential RFK Jr. role in a Trump administration](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/trump-ramaswamy-kennedy.jpg)
Vivek Ramaswamy is responding to former President Trump’s comments that he would consider Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for an administration role if the third-party 2024 candidate were to drop out and endorse him for re-election.
Ramaswamy declined to go into specifics when asked by Fox News Digital, but suggested the liberal political family scion could have a hand in crafting U.S. pandemic policies.
Kennedy was an outspoken critic of vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic — a stance that earned him ire from others on the left.
“Look, I think let’s let what’s going to happen play out without stepping on any announcements that he’s going to make,” Ramaswamy said in an interview. “But I think RFK Jr. has been thoughtful on a number of issues, particularly on COVID policies. So the failed COVID policies is something that he has been particularly incisive about and insightful about, and so a lot of that requires rectifying those wrongs.”
RFK JR.’S RUNNING MATE SAYS DEMOCRATS ‘OBSTRUCTED A FAIR ELECTION,’ ‘FULLY SUPPORTS’ WORKING WITH TRUMP
Vivek Ramaswamy, center, discussed reports that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., right, may drop out of the 2024 presidential race and endorse former President Trump. (Getty Images)
He pointed specifically to mandates that forced military service members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or risk being discharged.
“Think about going back and understanding what the adverse events were for those vaccines that have maybe gone underreported or suppressed — some of those errors related to COVID policy and rectifying past wrongs is somewhere where I could imagine a guy like that being pretty helpful,” Ramaswamy said.
The comments come after Kennedy said he would “address the nation” on Friday amid reports that he’s considering dropping out and endorsing Trump.
TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD BE ‘HONORED’ BY RFK JR. ENDORSEMENT, SAYS DEMOCRATS ‘TREATED HIM VERY BADLY
![COVID clinical trial vials depicted in stock photo](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/covid-clinical-trials.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
(Ramaswamy praised Kennedy’s stance on COVID vaccine mandates.)
Trump called Kennedy “brilliant” and “very smart” in comments to CNN, and said of a potential role in his administration, “I didn’t know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I’d be open to it.”
As for his own political future under a possible Trump administration, Ramaswamy suggested he was looking at statewide elected roles in his home state of Ohio.
He was among the possible replacements floated last month after Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, was named Trump’s running mate. If they win, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine would have to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Vance’s term.
JOE ROGAN DENIES ENDORSING RFK JR. FOR PRESIDENT, SAYS HE ONLY MEANT TO SAY HE LIKES HIM ‘AS A PERSON’
![JD Vance campaigning in Kenosha](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/vancecampaign.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
As for himself, Ramaswamy is eyeing Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s seat if Trump and Vance win the election. (Andy Manis/Getty Images)
“What I hear a lot about, certainly from people nationally is, of course, my friend JD Vance is hopefully going to be the next vice president. That would leave an important vacuum to fill in the U.S. Senate,” Ramaswamy said.
“At the same time, a lot of people on the ground are recruiting me in Ohio to even consider options I hadn’t thought about six months ago, like running for governor. So those are all options on the table.”
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Politics
House GOP demands elite universities counteract 'dangerous' anti-Israel protests in the fall semester
![House GOP demands elite universities counteract 'dangerous' anti-Israel protests in the fall semester House GOP demands elite universities counteract 'dangerous' anti-Israel protests in the fall semester](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1724315473.jpg)
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are spearheading efforts to demand elite universities counteract the threat of anti-Israel protests on campuses in the upcoming fall semester amid their ongoing investigation into a “disturbing pattern of antisemitic activity” on campuses.
The House Ways and Means and the Education and the Workforce committees sent a letter to 10 high-profile colleges on Thursday, asking the universities to provide details on what measures they will be taking to protect Jewish students next semester and prevent antisemitic unrest similar to that of the spring semester.
“Refusals to impose basic discipline, hold bad actors accountable, and restore order on campus in the face of disruptions, violence, and hate will make life worse for all students, including Jewish students,” the letter read.
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chair of the Ways and Means Committee, charged that some colleges, such as Columbia University – which canceled its spring commencement ceremony amid protests – did not discipline anti-Israel agitators on its campus.
ANTI-ISRAEL DEMONSTRATORS BURN AMERICAN FLAG OUTSIDE CHICAGO CONSULATE ON 2ND NIGHT OF DNC
Protesters gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Oct. 14, 2023. Thousands of Palestinians sought refuge on Oct. 14 after Israel warned them to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip before an expected ground offensive against Hamas, one week on from the deadliest attack in Israeli history. (Joseph Prezioso)
“The Ways and Means Committee has broad jurisdiction over the U.S. tax-code and the generous tax benefits American universities enjoy,” Smith said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. “In recent weeks, we have learned institutions like Columbia University have grossly mishandled disruptions on campus and refused to expel or discipline a single student who took over and occupied a campus building. That is unacceptable.”
The committees have been leading an investigation into antisemitism on college campuses since April that they say has “uncovered a deeply worrisome, systemic culture of antisemitism at a large number of elite American universities across the country.”
‘PUTRID’ DNC ANTISEMITISM DENOUNCED BY COUNTERPROTESTOR WHO SAYS DEMS HAVE ‘LOST THE JEW VOTE’: ‘WE’RE DONE’
Pointing to the hundreds of anti-Israel agitators who recently protested and burned the American flag outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint-address to Congress, the letter emphasized that the threat of similar coordinated events on college campuses by these groups remains high.
“The problem of antisemitic harassment, disruption, and violence has not been resolved. Based on the evidence available, these disruptions are likely to return to campuses this fall and you must be prepared to act,” they wrote.
“Without severe disciplinary action and clear, enforced campus policies designed to prevent harassment and intimidation, these elite institutions are giving radical students and organizations the greenlight to continue taking our higher education system hostage and creating a campus environment unsafe for Jewish students. University administrators should take this as a warning to right the ship.”
![Arrested demonstrator escorted out of Hamilton Hall by NYPD](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/1200/675/GettyImages-2150433034.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
New York Police Department officers detain dozens of anti-Israel students at Columbia University after they barricaded themselves at the Hamilton Hall building near Gaza Solidarity Encampment earlier in New York City on April 30, 2024. (Selcuk Acar)
The members of Congress also highlighted the implications such protests have on student’s safety and ability to receive an education.
Recipients of the letter included Barnard College, the University of California Berkeley, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University and the University of California Los Angeles. Several of the universities responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding the letter.
A spokesperson for Northwestern University told Fox News Digital that they are updating their code of conduct ahead of the new school year amid the spike in antisemitism.
“The University is committed to ensuring appropriate steps are taken to combat the spike in antisemitism at Northwestern, which is reflective of a disturbing trend across the country,” a spokesperon for Northwestern told Fox News Digital. “The University is in the process of updating its Student Code of Conduct and our Demonstration Policy, as well as the establishment of a new Display Policy. We also are enhancing on-campus security, community resources and educational opportunities, as was outlined in President Schill’s message to our community earlier this week.”
![NYPD officer, protester screaming](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/04/1200/675/AP24115739885202.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A University of Southern California protester, right, confronts a University Public Safety officer at the campus’ Alumni Park during a pro-Palestinian occupation on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Cornell University said that they “have received the letter and will respond to the Committees’ questions.”
Similarly, Rutgers told Fox that “the university received the letter and will respond directly to the House Ways and Means Committee and Education and Workforce Committee.”
“Columbia is committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and taking sustained, concrete action toward a campus where everyone in our community can thrive. We have been working diligently to review and enhance our policies ahead of the fall semester and we are reviewing the letter,” a Columbia spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement in response to the letter.
“Rutgers stands against hate in all its pernicious forms,” the university said in a statement to Fox. “The university strives to be a safe and supportive environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. We reject absolutely intolerance based on religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or political views.”
Berkeley directed Fox to a recent message sent from the President of the UC system to students, staff, and faculty on the Berkeley campus and across the UC system.
The president wrote: “We actively encourage members of all UC communities to make your voices heard on issues that matter to you … the University must of course comply with UC, state, and federal policies that protect the rights of expressive activity, provide safeguards for state and federally protected identities, and ensure safe and timely and full access to our campuses for all.”
![Anti-Israel demonstrators outside the Stern School of Business at New York University in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City on Monday, April 22, 2024.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/04/1200/675/GettyImages-2148018104.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Anti-Israel demonstrators outside the Stern School of Business at New York University in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City on Monday, April 22, 2024. (Stephanie Keith)
When reached by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania declined to comment.
Efforts to reach Barnard College, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of California Los Angeles were unsuccessful.
Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said that “Jewish students have a right to a safe learning environment, and without a plan, they’ll be forced into the same hostile and dangerous situation they left last semester.”
“Universities should have spent every possible minute of their summer ‘break’ making sure that those responsible for the chaos last semester don’t return and that they have a plan in place to handle potential violence going forward,” Foxx said in a statement. “If they didn’t, they owe their students answers.”
The letter asked the universities to share what new policies and disciplinary procedures are in place to deter protests on the campus this fall.
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