Good Morning!
On this day in 1963, John F. Kennedy became the first U.S. president to have a direct phone line, famously called the “hotline,” connecting him to the Kremlin in Moscow.
Quick News
Debate Rules Set for Trump and Kamala
ABC News has agreed with former President Trump that there will be no audience, muted mics, and no written notes for the Sept. 10 debate between the two candidates.
Trump and Harris will stand on a stage and will only be allowed to have a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. The rules are essentially the same as in the June debate between Trump and President Biden.
The debate is scheduled for 90 minutes, and the candidates must stand behind podiums and are not permitted to ask questions of each other or interact with campaign staff.
The Harris campaign had previously pushed back on the rules by demanding the use of live mics throughout the broadcast, raising questions about whether Trump would participate.
Listeria Linked to Deli Meat Kills 9
Nine people have died in a listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
The outbreak has sickened at least 57 people across 18 states, with all cases requiring hospitalization.
CDC officials say it’s the largest listeria outbreak since 2011 and warn more people are likely affected beyond confirmed cases.
Boar’s Head has recalled 7 million pounds of products from its Virginia facility, and health officials urge consumers to check for recalled meats and thoroughly clean potentially contaminated surfaces.
Ohtani and Decoy Put on a Show
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy threw out the first pitch on Ohtani bobblehead night, drawing a massive crowd and causing traffic jams around Dodger Stadium.
Decoy, a Dutch Kooikerhondje, wore a Dodgers uniform, grabbed the ceremonial ball in his mouth, and delivered it to Ohtani, squatting behind home plate. You can see the pitch here.
Tens of thousands of fans arrived early at the stadium to see the first pitch and grab the special bobblehead featuring Ohtani holding Decoy. Traffic jams began five hours before Wednesday’s game.
If all that weren’t enough, Ohtani led off the bottom of the 1st inning by hitting his 42nd home run, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead over the Baltimore Orioles.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to three separate, three-day pauses in fighting to allow for the vaccination of an estimated 640,000 children against polio, a senior WHO official said on Thursday.
An Aurora, Colorado councilwoman has blamed Denver’s sanctuary policies and the Biden-Harris administration for the rise in robberies, shootings, and assaults by alleged Venezuelan gang members.
