What Happened in July 2024?

What Was the Biggest News of July 2024?

Biden Withdraws from Presidential Race

President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, citing concerns over his age and ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. This decision came after pressure from high-ranking Democrats and donors, and a weak debate performance. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, positioning her as the Democratic front-runner.

Trump Narrowly Escapes Assassination Attempt at Pennsylvania Rally

At a rally in Butler, PA on July 13, 20 year-old Thomas Crooks shot at Trump from a rooftop only 135 yards away. He fired eight shots, nicking Trump in the ear and killing a firefighter in the stands who was shielding his family with his body. Two other attendees were shot, one critically. A Secret Service counter-sniper positioned atop a roof shot and killed Crooks only seconds after he began shooting, but the damage was already done. Incredibly, a member of the local sniper team noticed Crooks using a range finder and texted his team to notify the Secret Service. Attendees saw Crooks on the roof 20 minutes prior to shooting, and he was noticed by the Secret Service 10 minutes before the shooting, but they did not pause the rally. The head of the Secret Service was forced to resign over the lapse in security.

Hamas Leader Assassinated in Tehran, Iran Vows Revenge

On the last day of July, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, was assassinated in an attack attributed to, but not confirmed by, Israel. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “We consider it our duty to take vengeance”. As the political leader for Hamas, Haniyeh was the group’s chief negotiator for the release of hostages and a cease-fire agreement. The assassination was only a day after an air strike that killed a senior Hezbollah official in Beirut. Months before Ismail Haniyeh’s death in Iran, three of his sons and two of his grandchildren were killed in Gaza in an Israeli strike on a car they were traveling in. The Israeli military said it struck the vehicle on April 11, adding that Haniyeh’s sons were “military operatives” who were planning attacks.

Olympic Games Kick Off in Paris with Infrastructure Attacks

French commuters and Olympic tourists were stranded at train stations across Paris when simultaneous acts of arson stopped the trains three hours prior to the opening ceremony. Days later Internet backbone cables across France were cut. It’s not known whether the culprits were ulta-left activists, anarchists, or even Russian sabateurs. The opening ceremony had teams travel down the Seine on river boats with performances by dancers, musicians, and even Lady Gaga along the banks and on bridges. The ceremony concluded with a stunning performance by Celine Dion singing in French from the Eiffel Tower.

Security Software Update Causes Global Microsoft Windows Outage

Cyber security company CrowdStrike pushed a misconfigured software update to its 24,000 customers that crashed systems running Windows worldwide. Airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Allegiant Air canceled flights for several days, hospitals rescheduled surgeries, and 911 services were unavailable in several states. CrowdStrike quickly issued a corrected update and instructions on a work-around, but the world’s reliance on cashless transactions, electronic boarding passes, and even Starbucks orders reminded everyone of the fagility of a world built on technology.

COVID-19 and Measles Surge Thanks to Vaccine Resistance

This summer, the US is experiencing a concerning surge in COVID-19 and measles cases, largely due to vaccine resistance and hesitancy. As of July 2024, over 10,000 children have been infected with measles, highlighting the importance of herd immunity. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are rising, driven in part by the emergence of the new “Flirt” variant, which has shown increased transmissibility. Waning immunity from previous COVID-19 vaccines has also contributed to the surge. Misinformation and misconceptions about vaccine safety and efficacy have led to decreased vaccination rates, creating an environment conducive to outbreaks. The consequences are alarming, with increased hospitalizations and a higher risk of viral mutations. 

Argentina Wins COPA Amid Chaos at Miami Hard Rock Stadium

Argentina won their 16th COPA America soccer title in a 1-0 victory over Colombia. Thousands of ticketless fans scaled fences and crashed through gates at Hard Rock Stadium causing a delay of over an hour before the game could begin. Barriers were toppled, an escalator broken, and the grounds trashed by the crowd.

Spain Defeats England in the Euro 2024

Spain emerged victorious over England in a thrilling Euro 2024 final played on July 14th at the Olympiastadion Berlin. The victory was Spain’s record-breaking fourth European Championship title. Meanwhile, England hasn’t won a title since 1966.

The Caitlyn Clark Effect Helped the WNBA Secure a $2.2 Billion Deal

The “Caitlyn Clark effect” has significantly boosted the WNBA’s visibility and viewership, contributing to a new $2.2 billion 11-year media rights deal. The WNBA will see $200 million a year, up from the current $60 million from media partners including ION and CBS. Clark’s popularity, driven by her outstanding college career and high-profile debut in the WNBA, has drawn substantial attention to the league. Her games have consistently garnered large audiences, enhancing the WNBA’s marketability. Google searches (see graph below) for her briefly outnumbered those for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, making her arguably the most famous athlete in the world.

AI and LLM News from July 2024

OpenAI Launches Prototype Answer Engine with Content Licensed From and Linked to Publishers


OpenAI’s SearchGPT aims to revolutionize search by providing direct and conversational answers to user queries. To address concerns about copyright infringement and AI hallucinations, SearchGPT prioritizes content licensed from publishers. This ensures that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and properly attributed, building trust between the search engine and its users.

The race for AI-powered search is heating up, with SearchGPT joining competitors like Google’s AI Overviews and Microsoft’s Bing. While these platforms offer similar features, the key differentiators will be accuracy, speed, and user experience. As the technology evolves, the search landscape is poised for significant transformation, challenging the Google monopoly on how we find and consume information.

Olympic Mountain Bikes Feature AI-Powered Suspension

Installed on the best mountain bikes, the RockShox Flight Attendant system uses sensors on the fork, rear shock and crankset to automatically adjust the bike’s suspension. Manual override controls are integrated into the bike’s electronic pushbutton shifter, but an algorithm changes the suspension automatically from stiff for flat and uphill sections to maximum travel for downhill, and it learns to tune the suspension for maximum efficiency. Tests show riders with the AI-powered suspension system ride nearly 2% faster, which could translate to a minute and a half over a 20 mile race.

SAG-AFTRA Union Goes on Strike Against AI

SAG-AFTRA members also went on strike against major video game publishers. This action was specifically aimed at companies like Activision, Epic Games, and Electronic Arts. The union’s concerns include the use of AI to replicate voice and motion-capture performances without fair compensation and inadequate working conditions for performers.

Trump Watch 2024

July 2024 may go down as the luckiest month in Donald Trump’s life. He narrowly dodged an assassin‘s bullet, the Supreme Court granted him immunity for his acts while President, his sentence in the Stormy Daniels case was delayed because of that Supreme Court decision, and a judge dismissed the case of his hoarding top-secret documents. Meanwhile, Trump’s top advisor Steven Bannon went to prison for defying a supeona from the July 6th House committee, and his lawyer Rudy Guiliani was disbarred in New York for his false claims about the 2020 election.

On July 13, a young man armed with an AR-15 style rifle at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, nicked Trump’s right ear. Trump turned his head to the right to look at a screen, likely avoiding a direct headshot. One rally attendee was killed, and two others were seriously injured. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was quickly identified, although no motive was found.

Read More About the Luckiest Month in Donald Trump’s Life

US Politics and the Culture War

Biden Withdraws and Endorses Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Biden cited his desire to focus on his presidential duties for the remainder of his term and his confidence in Harris’s leadership abilities as reasons for his decision. He called choosing Harris as his running mate in 2020 the “best decision” he ever made and urged Democrats to unite behind her to ensure victory in the upcoming election.

Biden’s Withdrawal Ignites Massive Disinformation and Conspiracies Including Preemptive Claims the Election Will Be Stolen

Following President Biden’s withdrawal, disinformation and conspiracy theories surged, particularly preemptive claims that the upcoming election would be stolen. These narratives suggest that the Democratic Party orchestrated Biden’s exit to manipulate the election process and favor Kamala Harris, despite a lack of evidence. These theories are amplified by partisan media and social platforms, fueling distrust in the electoral system.

Trump‘s Running Mate JD Vance Tows the MAGA Line

During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, JD Vance called him reprehensible. He called Trump a demagogue and said his appeal was like heroine in that it created short term relief, but ultimately led to harm. But in 2020 Vance ran for US Senate and abruptly reversed his public statements. He actively sought and welcomed Trump’s endorsement for his Senate campaign and aligned himself with Trump’s policies.

Vance has echoed claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, expressing skepticism about the integrity of the election. He has engaged in the culture wars, taking conservative positions on issues such as critical race theory, LGBTQ+ rights, and what he describes as the erosion of traditional American values. Vance has been a fierce critic of big tech companies, arguing that they have too much power and influence. He supports breaking up major tech companies and imposing stricter regulations to curb their power.

Democrats Campaign Against Project 2025

Project 2025 is a comprehensive conservative policy plan intended to guide the next Republican president in overhauling the U.S. federal government. The plan, written by a think tank, would reclassify tens of thousands of federal civil service workers as political appointees to replace them with loyalists. It would dismantle or restructure various federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Education. It would implement tax cuts and reduce regulations, particularly those affecting fossil fuel production, reform the National Institutes of Health and cut funding for climate research, and take partisan control of agencies like the DOJ, FBI, FCC, and FTC.

While Trump denies any knowledge of this plan, Democrats have strongly opposed Project 2025, describing it as an extreme right-wing plan to undermine democratic institutions and civil liberties. They argue it aims to centralize power in the presidency and reduce checks and balances, plus rollback reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and racial justice.

States Threatening Laws Against Wearing Masks in Response to Pro-Palestinian Protests

New York and South Carlina are in the process of banning masks to discourage protesters of Israel’s war in Gaza from hiding their identities. 18 states and the District of Columbia have anti-mask laws on the books dating back to the days of hooded KKK, and they may reinstate them to discourage protesters whose pro-Palestinian actions are considered anti-semitic. Those who mask for health reasons report harrassment, even as Covid levels in wastewater point to a possible summer spike in infections.

Weather and Climate Change News in July 2024

Supreme Court Hands Environmental Law Interpretation to the Courts

The Supreme Court recently ruled against environmental regulations in a series of decisions that weaken the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other agencies’ ability to fight climate change and pollution. The court’s justification is that these agencies are unelected and not accountable to the public. However, critics argue that these decisions will make it harder to enforce environmental laws and endanger public health. The fossil fuel industry (Koch brothers) was a major backer of these efforts.

Hurricane Beryl Dumps a Foot of Rain on Houston and Knocks Out Power for Millions

Hurricane Beryl tore through the Carribean as a category 4 storm, rolled across the Yucatan pennisula, and restrengthened before hitting the Texas coast. La Nina conditions in the Pacific reduced wind shear in the Atlantic, and combined with water temperatures 2-4 degrees F warmer than average in the equatorial Atlantic region and over 5 degrees F warmer in parts of the Gulf of Mexico to make Beryl the earliest recorded category 4 hurricane on record. More than 1 million residents were without power for days, and hundreds of thousands of people did not have power restored a week after the storm. Beryl traveled northeast across the US spawning tornadoes in New York and flooding in Vermont.

No other hurricanes have formed since Beryl thanks to a significant amount of Saharan dust has been present over the Atlantic and a stationary heat dome over Mexico and Central America making for stable atmospheric conditions not conducive to tropical storms​.

Earth Scorched by the Hottest Average Temperatures Ever Recorded

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service July 21 and 22 were the hottest days ever recorded on Earth, breaking the record set in 2023. The planet’s average temperature record caps 13 straight months of higher than average temperatures and the hottest year ever. The western U.S and Canada are battling record-breaking wildfires unprecendented in both the number of fires and area affected. New research has indicated that ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica is happening faster than previously anticipated and could kill the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation which brings warm conditions to northern Europe – much warmer than similar latitudes in Canada and Siberia. Rapid melting of ice sheets has created a cold spot in the stormy seas near Iceland (see map below) which could stop the circulation. If this happens it could ironically make the Scandanavia region and northern Europe much cooler and dryer than present, impacting crops and food supplies for millions of people.

Drugs, Guns, and Abortion News of July 2024

Sinaloa Cartel Leaders Arrested in the U.S.

A major blow was dealt to the Sinaloa Cartel on July 25th with the arrests of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez in Texas. El Mayo, a co-founder, and Guzman, son of the other co-founder “El Chapo,” were key figures in the organization. Their capture could significantly weaken the cartel’s structure and potentially lead to increased violence as factions vie for control.

July 4th Weekend Sets New Records for Travel and Shootings

Over the July 4th weekend, a record 50 million Americans traveled, with air travel alone seeing over 2.5 million passengers daily. Unfortunately, the holiday also saw a surge in shootings, with over 500 incidents reported nationwide, resulting in more than 200 deaths. In 2023, the same holiday period saw nearly a dozen mass shootings with more than 75 people injured and at least 11 killed.

109 People Shot in Chicago Over July 4th Weekend

At least 109 people were shot and 21 died in gun violence across Chicago during the extended Fourth of July holiday weekend. The gun violence was nearly double that of last year. There were 76 shooting incidents, including four mass shootings, most of which started with personal disagreements and escalated to gun violence.

Gun Sales and Stock Prices are Up After Trump Assassination Attempt

Stock prices of U.S. gun manufacturers jumped in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Smith & Wesson Brands stock closed up 11%, while Sturm, Ruger & Co. rose 5%. Gun sales increased 40-50% immediately following the Bulter, PA rally, and sales doubled in some gun shops. Gun sales usually spike immediately following a highly publicized shooting.

J.D. Vance Wants to Eliminate Abortion and Disenfranchise Nonparents

Vice President candidate J.D. Vance is firmly against abortion and supports restrictive abortion laws. He has praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. He is opposed to the use of abortion pills and has supported efforts to restrict their availability. He has expressed the opinion that parents should have greater influence in elections because they have a greater stake in the future. He has suggested that the votes of parents should count more than those without children. Vance has also used the term “childless cat ladies” to criticize Kamala Harris among other Democrats.