President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is being thrust into the most scrutinizing of spotlights, suddenly the leading candidate to succeed Biden as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and her party’s main hope of defeating Trump.

Follow the AP’s Election-2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

Here’s the latest:

Sen. Joe Manchin says – again – that he’s not running for president

Speaking on Monday to CBS, the West Virginia Democrat-turned-independent said “I don’t need that in my life.”

Manchin had been the latest senator to call for Biden to exit the 2024 race before Sunday’s announcement by Biden that he would do just that.

Manchin had already mulled a late-breaking 2024 White House bid of his own but said in February after a listening tour that he didn’t want to be a “spoiler.” As a Democrat, he had often bucked his own party’s leadership.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister praises Biden’s ‘courageous and difficult decision’

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel praised President Joe Biden for his announcement that he’s ending his bid for reelection.

“It takes courage for a politician to say ‘I’m a bit old and I’m not capable of doing it anymore,’” Bettel said, describing it as a “courageous and difficult decision” by Biden.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York endorses Harris

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, endorsed Harris and called her “an unwavering champion for families, workers and justice.”

Gillibrand, who ran against Harris in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, said in a statement Monday that the vice president is “incredibly well-qualified, with experience as a prosecutor, as a lawmaker, and as a leader on the world stage.”

“Now is the time to unite,” the senator said. “VP Harris has the grit and toughness to beat Donald Trump and I’m eager to join her in this fight.”

Small-dollar donations total $46.7 million for Harris

ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising platform, announced that it had collected $46.7 million as of 9 p.m. ET from small-dollar donations for Vice President Harris’ campaign.

The Biden campaign and affiliated groups previously had about $96 million in cash on hand. The Republican National Convention, by contrast, reported a campaign fund of $102 million in June.

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Trump’s campaign quickly pivots to Harris after Biden withdraws

Donald Trump’s campaign has spent the last year and a half viciously attacking Joe Biden, ridiculing his policies, mocking his fumbles and relishing a rematch they felt they were winning.

But it has also spent weeks preparing for the possibility that he might exit the race, readying a bevy of attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris that it unleashed as soon as Biden made his stunning announcement Sunday that he would step aside.

Biden soon after endorsed Harris, who was quickly winning support from Democrats to be the party’s nominee.

The shakeup less than four months before Election Day lays out new challenges for Trump’s team, which had until recently been focused on contrasting the former president’s vigor and mental acuity with Biden’s.

Some states’ convention delegates begin shifting support to Harris

The Democratic delegations of multiple states have decided to back Vice President Kamala Harris for the party nomination at next month’s national convention.

“Tonight, all 168 delegates of the North Carolina Democratic Party made history,” North Carolina party chair Anderson Clayton said in a post on the social platform X.

In South Carolina, party chair Christale Spain said in an email statement Sunday night that that state’s delegation met virtually. The vice president “has been fully vetted, and she has earned our unwavering support,” Spain said.

Harris received her first delegates earlier in the day from Tennessee, when the state party posted on X that its delegation voted during a meeting to back her.

Another state where the switch was made was New Hampshire, where the 25 pledged delegates voted unanimously Sunday night to endorse Harris.

Black state attorneys general back Harris

The nation’s six Black state attorneys general threw their support behind Vice President Harris. In a statement on X, they laid out her qualifications and said she “has staunchly defended our right to choose and preserved our most sacred right to vote. There is no one more qualified to lead and continue to uphold the values of our great nation.”

The statement listed Letitia James, New York; Kwame Raoul, Illinois; Anthony Brown, Maryland; Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts; Keith Ellison, Minnesota; and Aaron Ford, Nevada.

Democrats promise ‘orderly process’ to replace Biden. Harris is favored, but questions remain

Shortly after President Joe Biden announced that he would drop his reelection campaign, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison had a message: There would be no automatic coronation for his replacement.

“In the coming days, the party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward,” Harrison said in a statement. “This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.“

The comment reflected the reality that while Vice President Kamala Harris is emerging as the prohibitive favorite to become the nominee — backed already by Biden and many Democrats — it’s not so simple. And for now, the party isn’t offering many details on what happens next.

As soon as President Biden bowed out and passed the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris, Black folk started mobilizing. The movement was swift, phone calls, chats, fundraisers. Black people from all over started lining up behind her as the nation’s next leader, especially Black women and younger voters.

African Americans immediately started working their inner circles with calls and texts, pressing delegates to support Harris as the Democratic nominee and donating money in record numbers not only to her new presidential campaign but also to candidates in local, state and national races.

Still, lots of work remains, political experts warn, and now is not a time for Black voters to sit on their hands with so many issues at stake.

“Sometimes we have to vote as a form of self-defense,” explains Michael K. Fauntroy, Ph.D., director of the Race, Politics and Policy Center at George Mason University outside Washington, D.C.

But this is a message that Fauntroy and other experts don’t have to tell some folks twice — or anything at all. On their own or through their churches, sororities and other organizations, sisters plan to stroll to the polls in even bigger numbers than they did in the past for Kamala Harris and Barack Obama.

They’re excited, but they aren’t playing. They know this is a matter of survival as a people and as a democracy. They don’t want to see the blood, sweat and tears that their ancestors shed to gain voting, reproductive and other human rights to be in vain. And they want to stop what’s already been lost.

That’s why a group of Black women donated $1 million in less than three hours at a meeting intended for 1,000 participants that swelled by word of mouth to more than 40,000 supporters talking past midnight. That’s just one group among many that contributed to raising a record $50 million in a day.

“As of 9 p.m. ET, grassroots supporters have raised $46.7 million through ActBlue following Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign launch,” the Democratic fundraising platform announced on Twitter. “This has been the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle.”

One result of this early push is that Harris is neck and neck with Donald Trump in polls — a difference of 1 to 1.5 percentage points based on analyses of recent polls by CNN and the Washington Post, respectively.

“She is as well positioned as anybody else to win this election,” Fauntroy said. “She’s running against someone who’s uniquely vulnerable.”

“The policies and priorities of the next administration will shape the landscape of reproductive rights, economic security, social justice and overall equality for years to come,” Glynda C. Carr, president and CEO of Higher Heights for America PAC, said in a statement provided to TheRoot.com. “It’s precisely why Vice President Kamala Harris is the only qualified and winning choice for president of the United States.” Higher Heights is a political action committee formed by Black women to support Black women running for office at every level.

“This is a choice election where we will have the opportunity to decide in November if we will be free or not,” says Dorien Blythers, who has been working with Harris on her campaigns since 2015 and was deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“What this shift is presenting us with is an opportunity to re-engage, an opportunity for people to have real conversations with their family, their friends and their communities about the stakes of this election, because this year they truly are higher than they’ve ever been,” said Blythers, founder of Good Rebel, a social impact agency.

Like others, Blythers suggested that African Americans read Project 2025, the conservative manifesto prepared by the Heritage Foundation to dismantle the federal government. These blueprints are nothing new, Fauntroy said, but this version is more severe than what was presented to President Reagan in 1981.

Since Trump has made such a big issue of age and cognition in this campaign, Fauntroy says that Harris should call his bluff by seeing her doctor, publicizing her test results and then asking Trump, “So, when are you doing your tests?”

As political commentator and former South Carolina legislator Bakari Sellers points out, Harris would be running “against the oldest candidate in election history” in taking on Trump.

“Kamala Harris is battle tested and battle ready,” Sellers tweeted. “I look forward to working damn hard to make her the next PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.”

Blythers said this is also a battle between a prosecutor and a convicted felon.

“She was a fighter when she was in the U.S. Senate,” Blythers said. “She was a fighter when she was serving as a prosecutor in California.”

“This is an opportunity for her to lean into her strengths and continue to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, which has been something that we’ve not seen over the last month, as folks have been so distracted by who would serve at the top of the ticket.”

Yanick Rice Lamb is a journalist based in Washington, D.C., and professor at Howard University.

LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Utah State cornerback Andre Seldon Jr. died Saturday in an apparent drowning at Porcupine Reservoir, according to the school.

A search began Saturday afternoon after callers reported that a young man seen diving from cliffs at the reservoir did not resurface, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office said. His body was recovered by a dive team at around 9:05 p.m.

“Our investigation leads us to believe this is a tragic accident as multiple witnesses recount the same information,” the sheriff’s office said.

Seldon joined the Utah State football program this summer after transferring from New Mexico State, where he played the past two seasons under Nate Dreiling, Utah State’s interim head coach and defensive coordinator. Before that, he spent two seasons at Michigan.

“Our football program is heartbroken to have to endure the loss of one of our own,” Dreiling said. “Having had a previous relationship with Andre during our time together at New Mexico State, I can tell you he was an incredible person and teammate. Our condolences and prayers go out to Andre’s family as we grieve with them over this tremendous loss.”

Dreiling was promoted earlier this month after Utah State fired Blake Anderson, saying he violated university policies.

Seldon, who played for Belleville High School in Michigan, appeared in 15 games last season for New Mexico State, recording 36 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception.

“The Aggie community is devastated to hear the news of the passing of Andre Seldon Jr.,” New Mexico State said in a social media post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Seldon was scheduled to start classes at Utah State in the fall semester.

“Our Utah State University Athletics family is devastated over the sudden death of Andre Seldon Jr.,” Utah State vice president and athletic director Diana Sabau said. “We extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, teammates and all who loved Andre.”

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Black greekdom is currently mourning the death of Rep. Shiela Jackson Lee(D-Texas) a prominent member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Rep. Jackson Lee was 74 years old.

Representing Texas’s 18th Congressional District for over three decades, Jackson Lee was a key figure on the House Judiciary Committee from her election in 1995.

Jackson Lee championed critical issues including police reform, reparations for enslaved people, and women’s rights. She authored the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and was influential in the Violence Against Women Act.

A native of Queens, New York, Jackson Lee earned degrees from Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law. In Congress, she served on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget Committees, and was the first female Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance.

Initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in 1988, Jackson Lee was honored as a Silver member. Divine 9 fraternities and sororities took to social media over the weekend to pay their respects to her and her lasting legacy.

Read the statements made by the NPHC fraternities and sororities below:

We at Watch The Yard ask that you keep Rep. Shiela Jackson Lee’s family, friends and sorority sisters in your thoughts. We also ask that you leave your condolences and memories of her so that her family can see how much she meant to all of us.

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Love is in the Fijian air! Peacock’s addictive dating show, Love Island USA, has crowned its season 6 champions: fan favorites Serena Page and Kordell Beckham. After such a wild ride of temptations and testing situations, their strong connection moved America and landed them the grand prize money of $100,000, which they shall indeed share.

Reunion Special to Dish the Drama

It’s time to get ready for more villa gossip! Set your calendars for Monday, August 19th at 9:00 pm ET, when a special reunion episode, hosted by the very lovely Ariana Madix, is airing. This can’t-miss event will reunite viewers with Season 6 winners, fan-adored couples, and unforgettable bombshells spicing things up. Prepare for behind-the-scenes revelations and a juicy look back at their time in paradise.

Love Island USA Dominates Streaming Charts

Well, Season 6 of Love Island USA creates a splash in the streamers’ world. Since launch, it has held its position at #1 for reality series across all U.S. streaming platforms consecutively, based on Nielsen data.

And the love doesn’t stop there! It has also broken into the Top 10 SVOD Original Series for four weeks running, really cementing its place as a proper pop culture phenomenon.

Love Island USA: A Streaming Powerhouse

Season 6 does Peacock the most—ever. It’s been the most streamed and most-discussed series ever, doubling the streaming reach from its prior seasons.

Your One-Stop Love Island Destination

Looking for more Love Island action? Peacock is your one-stop shop! With over 200 hours of content available at your fingertips, you could do a good old binge of previous seasons of the original series, get stuck into the franchise’s first spinoff with LOVE ISLAND GAMES, or dig back into library titles from LOVE ISLAND: ALL STARS, LOVE ISLAND SOUTH AFRICA, and LOVE ISLAND SPAIN.

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Democratic and civil rights leaders reacted in real time on Sunday to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election. TheGrio was in the room as many gathered inside a Brooklyn church for a prescheduled private event. 

“It’s a momentous day. It’s a historic day. It’s a day to celebrate President Joseph Robinette Biden, who has led in an extraordinary way over the last three and a half years,” House Democratic leader, U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told theGrio.

Jeffries said he was “appreciative” of Biden’s accomplishments as president, including signing “transformative legislation,” and his work over his 50-year-plus political career. 

The Democratic leader said the president made a “heroic and patriotic decision, a selfless decision” in “passing the baton to the next generation of Democrats.”

In announcing his decision not to seek reelection, President Biden also endorsed Kamala Harris, his vice president, as the Democratic presidential nominee’s successor. If nominated by the party, Harris would take on former President Donald Trump in November. 

Jeffries expressed his support for Harris’ candidacy, telling theGrio, “It’s no surprise that President Biden issued a full-throated endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.” He continued, “She’s been a part of the tremendous success of the Biden administration. And Kamala Harris is ready, willing, and able to get the job done.” 

The New York congressman joined other political leaders on Sunday at Berean Baptist Church to celebrate the 90th birthday of former New York Congressman Ed Towns. From the pulpit, just minutes after the announcement of Biden’s withdrawal, Rev. Al Sharpton framed the potential Harris-Trump matchup as one that would see “a prosecutor” vs. “a felon.” 

Jeffries cut his time short at the afternoon church service, fielding calls from former President Barack Obama and President Biden, among others, in the midst of the fallout from the historic move by a sitting U.S. president.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer were expected to attend Sunday’s ceremony. However, theGrio confirmed with sources with direct knowledge that the Democratic leaders did not show up due to Sunday’s major news from the White House.

The announcement also came weeks after political pressure from high-stakes Democratic donors and members of Congress following Biden’s less-than-stellar debate performance against Trump.

Though most Democrats are enthusiastically supporting Biden’s decision and Harris as his replacement, there is also sorrow. 

“We are disappointed,” U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks, D-N.Y., told theGrio of the president’s choice to bow out. He added, “It was always his choice to determine what he wanted to do. And I think we respected that, and we respected him, and we wanted others to respect him for the work that he has done.”

Nonetheless, Congressman Meeks said Harris is the “best candidate to win.” He noted that key swing states needed to win, like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Georgia, have large Democratic populations in cities that are significantly Black.

“We know that the heart and soul of … the Democratic Party is Black women,” noted Meeks.

With the Democratic National Convention just weeks away, organizers are working on rules and other procedures for handling this historic moment.

Within hours of Biden’s announcement, most of the Democratic governors believed to have a shot at clinching the presidential nomination, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, came out on Sunday in full support of Harris. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not endorse Harris but indicated she was not interested in seeking the nomination.

Last week, nearly 3,900 delegates committed to the Biden-Harris ticket for the nomination. It is now uncertain who those delegates will cast their votes for the convention.

“It is clear that Vice President Harris ought to be the one that is considered,” Sharpton told theGrio it’s important for leaders to be “weighing in very clearly” on behalf of Harris.

He explained, “When people voted for Joe Biden, they also voted for Kamala Harris.”

Vice President Harris is expected to deliver remarks on Wednesday at the national convention of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a historic Black Greek organization, in Indianapolis. It would mark her first time in front of a Black audience after this historic shift in American politics.

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In a recent post on X, a dedicated fan of pop artist Madison Beer raised concerns about the artist’s streaming numbers for her new single 15 Minutes. The fan stated, “700k-800k i fear … no promo, NOTHING & her team let a harasser sabotage Madison by allowing him to impersonate her team and have all promotions removed for ‘copyright’….”

Madison Beer took to social media to address the fan’s worries, sharing her perspective on the situation. “i don’t really know how i feel about commenting on this bc i just feel it can get taken in the wrong way so easily but man. “fearing” that a single debuted with 700k-800k streams is just so jaded to me. those are numbers id be proud of. the things we’ve grown to care the most about just don’t align with me. i love and appreciate you guys wanting songs n things to do insane numbers, and when they do i am so grateful and blown away!!!!!! but that isn’t why i make music. music is my escape. my gateway n passion. i fear the streams and numbers have become all we care about. i appreciate you wanting more / the most for me. but it’s not all there is.”

She continued by updating her fans on the actual streaming numbers, “and for the record! we’ve done 1.1m already! your fear of a 700k day 1 may be true !! 👻👻👻 but i am so happy w this n literally just want u to enjoy the vid n song as much as possible 💞 that’s it!!!!!! let’s just enjoy music n b positive there is nothin wrong !!”

The fan responded to Beer’s heartfelt message, clarifying their support, “Just for your information, I always support you, meaning I stream and buy your music. Also, every single, every album—honestly, for years, I didn’t care about the numbers. It’s just becoming very frustrating because they don’t seem “fair” compared to the quality of your work.”

Madison Beer concluded the exchange by expressing her gratitude, “and seriously i want you to know i appreciate that SO MUCH. your support and love means fuckin everything to me, which is exactly why it’s what i focus on!!!! i appreciate you wanting more for me like i said 🤍 it is so so so kind. i don’t want it to seem like i’m ungrateful for that.”

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