Is it bye-bye for Biden?
Calls to replace Joe Biden as a presidential candidate are getting a lot louder. A look at the Fourth of July weather forecast. And how California is fighting back against date rape drugs.
👋Hey, Wednesday! Laura Davis here. But not for long! After today, I’ll be headed off with my sister and nephew to a cabin near Rocky Mountain National Park for some much-needed Colorado sister time. But have no fear - my friend Julius will be keeping you posted with all the latest news. And hopefully, I’ll come back with a few big fish stories to share! Now, let’s get you caught up on Wednesday’s news.
But first: A year of the Sphere! 🤩 The Las Vegas Sphere is celebrating a year of its dazzling shows. Here's a look at what's next.
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Swap out Biden?
They're not super happy with Biden right now. A growing number of major Democratic donors and activists are uneasy at the prospect of Biden seeking reelection after his disastrous debate performance, especially as new poll numbers indicate voter displeasure with his candidacy.
What they're saying: The White House said Biden's shaky performance at the debate was because of a cold, and Biden himself said he was jet-lagged. But that hasn't satisfied donors who worry about exacerbating divisions within a party already smarting from rifts around the president’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. They say Biden’s approach is self-centered and out of touch with the growing majority of younger Democrats. 🔍 We break it down.
'No one's pushing me out': Biden tells campaign staff he won't withdraw from race.
A hypothetical matchup: Michelle Obama would beat Donald Trump.
📬 Keep up with the political stories that matter in Washington, D.C., and beyond – without leaving your inbox. Sign up for our OnPolitics newsletter.
Beryl battering Jamaica
All of Jamaica was about to feel the power of Hurricane Beryl on Wednesday as the eye of the Category 4 storm approached the island of 3 million people, the National Hurricane Center said.
What's happening now: The hurricane's outer bands had lashed Jamaica earlier Wednesday after hurtling across warm waters in the Caribbean, forcing millions to brace for a massive storm that devastated the southern Windward Islands earlier this week. By early afternoon, Beryl and its 140-mph winds had closed to within 45 miles of the Jamaican capital of Kingston. 👉 See the latest updates.
📌 Tracking the storm: Hurricane Beryl's projected path.
Will Beryl hit Texas? It's getting more likely.
📸 See photos: Hurricane Beryl arrives in the Caribbean.
Real quick
The dinosaurs died. And then came wine.
Pink's secret health issue and the need for privacy.
Cape Cod residents 'heartbroken' by dolphin deaths.
There's a reason 'The Bear' makes you anxious.
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Fourth forecast: Hotter than a firecracker
If you've stepped outside pretty much anywhere in the country lately, it should come as no surprise that, uh, it's hot out there. 🥵 Potentially record-breaking heat will scorch portions of the U.S. over July Fourth and into the holiday weekend – with some spots in the Southwest seeing the possibility of temperatures soaring well into the 110s and even 120s. And we couldn't have scorching temperatures without a mess of potent thunderstorms in the forecast: They'll likely rumble across the central U.S. on Thursday. 🌦️ See the forecast in your area.
🌭 Hot diggity dog: Joey Chestnut, the now-banned 16-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champ, is aiming to pull off a remarkable feat from afar.
Getting ahead of roofies
Date rape drugs are a problem – and California is fighting back. Starting this week, California bars serving alcohol must sell or offer customers test strips to make sure their drinks haven’t been spiked with date rape drugs. The kits can come in the form of test strips, stickers, and straws that pick up on controlled substances such as flunitrazepam, ketamine and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, also known as GHB.
What to know: When GHB is taken, it can make a person more passive and more open to suggestions, as well as heighten libido. 🧪 What to know about date rape drugs.
A break from the news
🍿 Grab the popcorn! Best new streaming movies.
😎 Are tanning beds safe? What to know.
📺 How much screen time is OK for little kids?
🐶 Watch (and warning!): Dogs are turning on stoves now.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden, Hurricane Beryl, weather, date rape drugs: Wednesday's news
