In today’s newsletter: A global IT outage has grounded flights and disrupted 911 calls. Donald Trump accepts the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in a lengthy speech. And President Joe Biden is left feeling hurt and Democrats are growing impatient by the ongoing debate about his candidacy, sources say. And a popular Trader Joe’s seasoning is being confiscated at Korean airports. Here’s what to know today.
Mass IT outage hits airports, businesses and broadcasters
Major airlines, media organizations and businesses around the world were affected by a massive IT glitch early today.
Flights were grounded in several countries and stores and broadcasters in several countries were offline after the outage, which appeared to be affecting Windows PCs.
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Carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, all issued ground stops this morning citing communications issues.
In the U.S., Alaska State Troopers said in an update on Facebook just before 2.20 a.m. that 911 and non-emergency phone numbers across the state were not working “due to a nationwide technology-related outage.”
Users reported seeing a blue screen when attempting to start their computers. The glitch appears to have caused havoc for supermarket self-service checkouts and countless websites.
The glitch has also affected news outlets, including NBC News. Sky News, NBC News’ British partner broadcaster, was initially unable to air live news before returning to the air. Read the full story here.
Follow our live coverage here.
Trump accepts GOP nomination in rally-like speech
Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in a lengthy speech that touched on the economy, immigration, foreign policy and the assassination attempt he survived just a few days ago.
It was the former president’s first speech since the Pennsylvania rally where a bullet clipped his right ear and left it bloodied. Trump wore a white bandage over his wounded ear throughout this week’s Republican National Convention, with some attendees wearing their own in solidarity.
The beginning of Trump’s speech focused heavily on his shooting, as he gave a detailed description of being shot. He also held a moment of silence for Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who was killed in the shooting, and Comperatore’s firefighter jacket and helmet were placed onstage.
But after that, Trump’s highly planned convention speech turned to attacks and policy, with detours and deviations mixed in. Trump accused President Joe Biden and Democrats of “weaponizing” the justice system and highlighted deep policy differences on several issues.
→ On energy costs, Trump said, “we will drill, baby, drill,” which he said would lead to lower prices.
→ On immigration, Trump pledged to “launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.”
→ On foreign policy, Trump has long advocated for a more isolationist “America First” agenda, which focuses more on domestic spending and sending fewer taxpayer dollars overseas. Citing ongoing world conflicts, Trump said, “our planet is teetering on the edge of World War III.”
Trump also touched on inflation and crime in the 93-minute speech, which exceeded the record he set in 2016 for the longest nomination acceptance speech at a convention. The Biden campaign was quick to criticize the speech. .
More RNC coverage:
- Follow our live blog for the latest 2024 election updates, after Trump accepts the GOP nomination and Biden faces growing calls to drop out of the race.
- Watch highlights from Day 4 of the convention in three minutes.
- Read the full text of Trump’s recounting of being shot by a would-be assassin.
- Fact-checking Trump’s speech on taxes, crime, foreign policy and more.
- “We are getting awfully close to the moment where it might be fair to say, ‘Throw out everything you thought you knew about this election,’” NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd writes. Read the full analysis for a look at a range of scenarios that could shake out.
Calls for Biden to drop bid leave him feeling betrayed and some Dems impatient
Scrutiny on Biden continued to intensify yesterday, with a second Democratic senator calling for him to drop his re-election bid. Meanwhile, some of Biden’s top allies have publicly or privately suggested he step aside.
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana last night called for Biden to bow out of the race. Tester is running for re-election in one of the most vulnerable Senate seats for Democrats this fall. Shortly after Tester’s statement, another House Democrat joined calls for the president to step aside.
The rhetoric has left Biden feeling personally hurt by the way many in his party have left him hung out to dry, according to two sources familiar with their thinking. That includes former President Barack Obama, who has privately expressed concerns. House and Senate Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, as well as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have said they support whatever decision Biden makes. Those lukewarm responses have fueled a belief across the party that the matter isn’t closed.
A Democratic strategist said many in the party are growing impatient and are eager for the fight to end. Read more about the dissatisfaction among Democrats.
Amid the frustration is also a palpable sense that the ground has shifted underneath Biden, according to five people with knowledge of the situation, even among some of the president’s most defiant internal backers. “We’re close to the end,” a person close to Biden said. Read more about the shifting mood within the campaign.
Sitcom pioneer Bob Newhart dies at 94
Bob Newhart, a former accountant who rose to comedy superstardom with a mathematical precision in timing a deadpan routine down to a decimal point, has died at the age of 94, his publicist said.
His decades in the entertainment industry included plenty of milestones along the way. There were two sitcoms that bore his name (and one of the most memorable finales in TV history); 14 feature films, including a beloved role in “Elf”; three Grammy Awards, including best album for the recording that would launch his career; two Emmys, one for his recurring role in “The Big Bang Theory”; and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Not bad for a kid from a blue-collar suburb of Chicago. Read the full obituary here.
Also, Lou Dobbs, a veteran broadcast journalist who helped launch CNN and later became an outspoken conservative, has died at the age of 78.
Heat-related deaths grip state and national parks
Four heat-related fatalities have been reported at state and national parks so far this month, as extreme heat becomes increasingly fatal both in parks and elsewhere in the country. An NBC News analysis found the number of heat deaths on public lands appears to be trending above average early this summer. And in Maricopa County, Arizona, where Phoenix is, more than 300 deaths this year are suspected to be related to heat.
Among the four who lost their lives at a U.S. park is Belyruth Ordoñez, a 30-year-old avid hiker who was found dead in Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park last weekend, apparently overwhelmed by the extreme conditions. Her parents were found near her and both hospitalized with heat exhaustion. “They don’t know yet their daughter passed away,” a close friend of Ordoñez said. Read the full story.
Paris 2024: Gabby Douglas and Nastia Liukin on joining gymnastics royalty
The U.S. women’s gymnastics team has topped the all-around podium for the last 20 years, and this year looks no different. Team USA’s gymnastics domination began in 2004 when Carly Patterson clinched all-around gold, and icons Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas followed in 2008 and 2012. Reflecting on her sudden rise to stardom, Douglas remembers not being able to “go anywhere without getting mobbed” and said she faced online criticism. Liukin said she is grateful social media was not as popular when she won. “Regardless of how strong you are, mentally, physically, emotionally, it can affect you,” she said.
This year’s women’s gymnastics team has two all-around gold medalists for the first time in history: Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee. Both are favored to continue Team USA’s championship legacy.
Politics in Brief
Dismissal request: Hunter Biden’s attorneys have asked for his conviction in the gun trial to be dismissed, citing a federal judge’s decision earlier this week to dismiss the classified documents case against Trump.
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Staff Pick: This seasoning is being confiscated at the airport in Korea
Trader Joe’s “Everything But The Bagel” seasoning is a pantry staple for so many of us. It’s perfect on eggs, salad and even as a topping on Asian dishes — so much so that it’s become an international sensation. But the seasoning’s viral fame is causing problems for travelers to South Korea, where it’s illegal — and airport officials are confiscating it and locking it up. We were surprised to learn why, and that Koreans are risking it all anyway to bring home the crunchy goodness. — Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News Asian America reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Need help making a dent in your summer reading list? If it’s beach reads you’re after, consider one of these e-readers. Plus, read our review of the Amazon Kindle Scribe. And if you’re taking a road trip, audiobooks are the way to go. NBC Select editors shared their favorite apps and subscription services to use.
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