Your Morning: FBI accesses phone of suspected Trump rally shooter

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YOUR MORNING

FBI has ‘successfully gained access’ to phone of suspected Trump rally shooter

Investigation: The FBI says it accessed the phone of the man suspected of shooting former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday. The phone could provide information on a motive as to why suspected gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks climbed a building near where Trump was giving a speech and opened fire on the former president. The FBI also added that investigators completed a search of Crooks’ vehicle and home. Authorities told The Associated Press on Sunday that bomb-making materials were found in both the car and home of the 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Latest on the investigation > 

Secret Service under scrutiny: The shooting, which is being investigated by the FBI as an attempted assassination, has sparked concerns with Secret Service security protocols among some members of Congress and raised questions about how the suspected gunman managed to get so close to the former president. The House Oversight Committee and Secret Service personnel will hold a private briefing Tuesday ahead of a public hearing next week. What to know >

Rooftop security: Local authorities were assigned to cover the building where the suspect shot a weapon in the assassination attempt targeting Trump, a U.S. Secret Service source told NewsNation. The source said it’s standard for local police to handle areas outside the perimeter of an event because they know them better. The shooter was set up on a rooftop roughly 140 yards (420 feet) from the stage, which is about 60 feet longer than an NFL-regulation football field. Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told NewsNation that Secret Service was in charge of Trump’s security, and he was not aware of any county units assigned to the building, adding he didn’t want to get into a finger-pointing match with the Secret Service. Full report > 

Who gets Secret Service protection? By law, the Secret Service is authorized to protect the president, vice president, president-elect and vice president-elect and their immediate families. The Secret Service announced changes to Trump’s protection as former president and a major party candidate. As of Monday, Trump had nearly the same coverage as Biden, a source told NewsNation. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received Secret Security protection Monday. Trump pushed for the change after the campaign rally shooting. See the difference in Secret Service protections >

Day 1 of RNC comes to a close: Here’s what happened

Trump appearance: With a large white bandage on his right ear following an assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump appeared to become emotional while entering the Republican National Convention floor Monday night, as delegates cheered him on. Earlier, delegates had formally nominated Trump as the Republican Party’s nominee. Here are five takeaways from the RNC’s first day > 

Trump announces VP pick: Trump named Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential ticket. He announced his pick on Truth Social, praising Vance’s credentials and work in Ohio, saying that during the campaign, Vance “will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond.” Having only served in the Senate for two years, Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” is a relative newcomer to politics and previously criticized Trump. What you need to know about Vance >

Economy focus: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., highlighted Trump’s economic message during her RNC address. She cited multiple legislative priorities on Trump’s agenda if he wins in November, including lowering gas prices, making tax cuts passed in 2017 permanent and firing tens of thousands of IRS agents in the coming years. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., also touched on the economy, arguing that the “economy will boom again” under Trump’s leadership if he’s elected. Full recap > 

50 Cent: Rapper 50 Cent was reportedly in talks to attend the RNC this week, but NewsNation partner The Hill later confirmed that the rapper “will not be attending.” 50 Cent is one of the celebrities who took to social media in reaction to the attempted assassination of Trump. He posted a photo Saturday on the social platform X of his studio album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin,” with Trump’s head edited onto the rapper’s body. The latest >

Musk pledges big money: Tech billionaire Elon Musk said he will commit $45 million per month to a new political action committee backing Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Musk’s announcement comes on the same day Trump was named the Republican Party’s official nominee. The commitment would likely be one of the largest donations of the 2024 presidential campaign. Read more > 

RNC updates: NewsNation will be live at the RNC this week. Read the newsletter each morning for a wrap of the prior day and tune into NewsNation on your TV for live coverage. Not sure how to find us?  Find your channel here and get the latest 24/7 news coverage with the NewsNation app >

Biden suggests ‘bull’s-eye’ remark was a ‘mistake’ in new interview

The interview: President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt on Monday following the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on Saturday. The president was pressed on his own rhetoric after he called for Americans to “cool it down” during the 2024 election. Biden suggested that it may have been a mistake to use the word “bull’s-eye” while talking about Trump on a call with donors last week. Amid pressure from Democrats to drop out of the race, Biden said on a donor call last week, “It’s time to put Trump in the bull’s-eye.” During Monday evening’s interview, Biden said: “It was, it was a mistake to use the word. I didn’t mean— I didn’t say crosshairs. I meant bull’s-eye, I meant focus on him.” Here are five notable moments from the interview > 

AI could harm democracy. Some say it’s also the tool that could save it

Deepfakes: Artificial intelligence-fueled deepfakes and misinformation pose a threat to democracy, but those on the front lines believe AI could be the best weapon to fight against harmful content. “There’s a lot at stake, everything’s at stake, democracy is at stake,” said Emily Spratt, a professor at the Institute of World Politics and Columbia University specializing in how AI shapes culture. “We’ve got to get this right and make sure that there are no foreign influences or bad actors out there … by using technology to detect foul play of technology.” 2024 is particularly important for politics, as roughly 2 billion people in about 60 countries are choosing leaders in elections. How deepfakes have already affected the 2024 election >

Immigration cases down since June asylum orders issued, report finds

Border report: The number of new U.S. immigration court cases decreased significantly in June after new asylum rules were put in place on the southern border, new data reveals. The number of new immigration cases nationwide was about 100,000 in June — that’s down about 40,000 cases from May, according to Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse of Syracuse University, a nonprofit group that tracks court cases. The drop came after President Joe Biden issued new asylum rules in early June. Full report >

Perseid meteor shower begins, set to peak in August

Out of this world: If you’re hoping to see a shooting star this summer, watch out for the Perseid meteor shower. The meteor shower, which began Sunday and will continue through Sept. 1, is set to peak in early August. The Perseids often leave wakes of light and colors behind them, and the shower is known to produce fireballs that are visible for longer than typical meteors. Why this year’s a good one to view the Perseids >

 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING 👀

We’re keeping an eye on these topics today. Make sure you tune in to our latest coverage and share your thoughts with us on social media!

• The Republican National Convention continues with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley expected to deliver remarks.

• President Joe Biden addresses the NAACP National Convention.

• Amazon Prime Day, an annual global shopping event, offers millions of deals. Here are the best deals for under $100 > 

• Russia holds a U.N. Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security.

• The MLB All-Star Game is set for Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.
  

NEWS ACROSS AMERICA

Support for the homeless family of a boy with autism who was slapped by a man for touching his car has continued spreading across a California community. How people are helping out > 

A Canadian protester reportedly carrying a Nazi flag was charged Sunday night for using the flagpole to hit a downtown Nashville bartender who had just been fighting with members of the neo-Nazi protest group. Full report > 

A woman is dead after being pushed down a grass embankment inside of a New York park Sunday by her son, sources tell NewsNation affiliate WPIX. The investigation > 

A book bandit is on the loose after stealing an Oklahoma woman’s library stand with free books intended for the children that live nearby. The latest > 

Nevada wildlife officials have issued a warning after coyotes bit two women in separate attacks. What to know > 

For nearly 50 years a local tattoo artist has been busy creating permanent art for people in South Dakota. His secret to success > 

A Kentucky animal shelter worker said they had a “slight heart attack” when their security camera pinged in the middle of the night, showing cats trying to make a late-night escape. Video >

Teacher’s guidance helps lead man to successful music career

Corey Staggers, a professional saxophone player in Los Angeles, didn’t like music at the beginning. In the second grade, his principal sending him to a music teacher’s class changed his life. Read more >
 
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