The Show Notes: Ayman al-Zawahiri, Primary Day, & Pelosi Lands In Taiwan
Welcome! Major elections today in Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, and Kansas.
DEAD: The United States killed the world’s most wanted terrorist in a drone strike.
Must read: A Vicious Smear - Commentary
Household debt tops $16 trillion for the first time, fueled by higher inflation and interest rates - CNBC
Gallup surprise: Supreme Court approval ticks *up* after end of Roe? - Hot Air
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Clip of the day:
Missouri readers:
Dead Terrorists
Ayman al-Zawahiri, the world’s most-wanted terrorist, was killed on a Kabul balcony by a Biden-ordered drone strike. Al-Zawahiri was al-Qaeda’s second in command only to Osama bin Laden. Media coverage of Al-Zawahiri has solely focused on Biden’s tactical savy and ignored Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan which made Al-Zawahiri’s presence possible.
The existence of Al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan was a (shocker) breach of the Doha agreement which prohibited the Taliban from sheltering terrorists.
Pelosi’s Visit
Nancy Pelosi and her congressional delegation just land in Taiwan and will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tomorrow. The US Navy deployed four warships east of Taiwan while multiple Chinese fighter jets circled the Taiwan Strait early Tuesday morning. Pelosi is the highest-ranking US figure to land on the contested island since Newt Gingrich in 1997.
Primary Day - Four Races To Watch
Michigan GOP Governor Primary: Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is perceived to be one of the most vulnerable governors up for reelection. Tudor Dixon appears to be on track to clinch the nomination after galvanizing the support of the Republican base and securing endorsements from Betsy DeVos to Donald Trump. Still, the primary was a bit of a mess. Dixon is the wide favorite leading the RCP average by 20.4.
Missouri GOP Senate Primary: Eric Greitens, Eric Schmitt, and Vicky Hartzler are the main Republican candidates fighting it out to determine who will replace retiring GOP Senator Roy Blunt. Donald Trump called Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens independently to announce his support for each of them individually only to announce his decision to back “Eric” in the primary. Politico has a great breakdown of the saga. Eric Greitens is the disgraced former governor who is facing multiple sexual assault charges. The RCP has Schmitt ahead.
Arizona GOP Governor Primary: Kari Lake will take on Karrin Taylor Robson to determine who will be the Republican nominee to replace the term-limited Doug Ducey as the party nominee. Pence has backed Robson while Trump backed Lake. Lake is ahead in the RCP average by 9.3.
Arizona GOP Senate Primary: Blake Masters and Jim Lamon will battle it out to decide who takes on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly. Kelly is widely seen to be one of the most vulnerable Senators up for reelection. Masters, a 2020 election truther, is widely perceived to be the favorite. The RCP average has Masters ahead by 15.
The rest of the news:
Images show Kabul house where al Qaeda chief is believed to have been killed by US strike - CNN
PayPal Unfreezes Moms for Liberty Funds After DeSantis Announces Crackdown on ‘Woke’ Banking - Florida’s Voice
Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Support State’s Response to Monkeypox - California Gov
Bill Ackman blasts Visa, saying it has the power to pressure Pornhub to remove child pornography - CNBC
Kansas first state to vote on abortion since Roe’s demise - AP News
TikTok's ties to China are once again under fire in Washington. - CNN
GOP eyes 2024 payback for Manchin's Dems-only deal - Politico
Democratic anxiety grows over Sinema’s silence - The Hill
Adams rejects gun permit plea from NYC bishop robbed of $1M in jewels mid-sermon - Fox News
California trying to make the world's tallest tree invisible. Now visitors face jail, fines - Yahoo
Greg Norman: Tiger Woods turned down LIV Golf’s $700 million-$800 million offer - NY Post
Hackers drain nearly $200 million from crypto startup in ‘free-for-all’ attack - CNBC
Airbnb apologizes after Miss. ‘slave cabin’ is listed as luxury getaway - MSN
A Pride Of Cannibal Lions Slaughtered 40% Of Africa's Lion Population - Barstool
Tweets that caught my eye: