• Today marks one decade since 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr. was killed in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown’s death at the hands of a white law enforcement officer ignited social unrest worldwide and led countless activists to demand an end to police violence.Former President Donald Trump held his first news conference since Vice President Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. True to Trump fashion, the hour-long conference was jam-packed with intentional mispronunciations of “Kamala,” attacks on VP Harris’s intelligence, incessant rambling, and lie after lie.
• And in headlines: VP Harris addresses the United Auto Workers in Detroit, ABC presidential debate set for September 10, continued fighting in Russia following Ukraine’s surprise offensive attack, and Team USA’s Noah Lyles wins a bronze despite COVID.

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TRANSCRIPT

Tre’vell Anderson: It’s Friday, August 9th. I’m Tre’vell Anderson. 

Priyanka Aribindi: And I’m Priyanka Aribindi and this is What a Day, the show where we are taking in the news that the Trump campaign will not be commenting on the viral meme that alleges VP nominee JD Vance had sex with a couch. 

Tre’vell Anderson: That’s all right. They don’t have to. We, on the other hand, are happy to keep talking about it. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Yeah, we are not going to couch our feelings on that one. It’s funny stuff guys. [music break]

Tre’vell Anderson: On today’s show, Ukrainian forces gained more ground in Russia. Plus, it’s a date. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Harris have settled on plans for their first debate. 

Priyanka Aribindi: But first, Trump gave his first news conference since VP Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate earlier this week, and it was a doozy. In true Trump fashion, the hour long conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort was jam packed with a bunch of things, including intentional mispronunciations of Kamala, racist attacks, attacks on her intelligence, incessant rambling, and of course, lie after lie after lie. We made a big cut for you just to get a load of it for yourself. Take a listen. 

[clip of Donald Trump] She’s not doing any news conference. You know why she’s not doing it? Because she can’t do a news conference. She doesn’t know how to do a news conference. She’s not smart enough to do a news conference. [whoosh sound] I think that abortion has become much less of an issue. I think it’s actually going to be a very small issue. [whoosh sound] If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not, we had more. [whoosh sound] If you look at January 6th, which a lot of people aren’t talking about very much, I think those people were treated very harshly. When you compare them to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed, nobody was killed on January 6th. [whoosh sound] Whether it’s Indian or Vlack, I think it’s very disrespectful but to me it doesn’t matter. [whoosh sound] We are going to start the largest mass deportation in the history of our country because we have no choice. It’s not sustainable. [whoosh sound] She’s a woman. She represents certain groups of people. [whoosh sound] The Democrats are really the radical ones in this because they’re allowed to do abortion on the eighth and ninth month and even after birth. [whoosh sound] If she becomes president, our country is going to be a giant fail. It’s going to fail. It’s going to be a failure, the likes of which this world has never seen. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Mm mm. [disapprovingly]

Priyanka Aribindi: Any time you attempt to compare yourself to Martin Luther King Jr. Just– 

Tre’vell Anderson: Listen. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Maybe don’t maybe don’t do that. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I’m gonna need him to keep MLK’s name out of his mouth, please and thank you. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Far away. 

Tre’vell Anderson: First and foremost. Okay, not to mention all the other– 

Priyanka Aribindi: I mean there’s so much in there. 

Tre’vell Anderson: –foolishness. Okay? 

Priyanka Aribindi: That was a light cut. There’s a lot more that we couldn’t fit in. So many lies. But one thing remains true through all of this. There was a new poll out from Ipsos on Thursday showing Vice President Harris leading Trump by five points. So I don’t think he’s liking the looks of that. It seems pretty evident. 

Tre’vell Anderson: The K Hive is growing. Priyanka okay. 

Priyanka Aribindi: We are all in the coconut tree, what can we say? [laughter] I think it’s also, you know, as the meme go, is important to view that conference in the context. Donald Trump is so used to dominating the political conversation and news coverage. But in the time since President Biden stepped aside from his reelection bid and gave his support to Vice President Harris, she has had all this momentum. She’s getting coverage, attention, loads of money, really positive reactions on social media and in real life from all of these voters who come to these rallies. And by all accounts, there is so much new energy and enthusiasm that is animating Democrats that just wasn’t there a few weeks ago. Another big thing for Trump, as you heard here, is crowd size. It’s what prompted this unhinged MLK Jr remark in the first place. But that fixation goes way back for him to the earliest days of his administration. And as we’re seeing the crowds  that Harris and Walz have been drawing are definitely getting to him. And for their part, the Harris campaign responded to the attacks with a press release titled, quote, “Donald Trump’s very good, very normal press conference.” If you are familiar with Dril from Twitter, they put a screenshot of one of his tweets at the top. It reads quote, “And another thing, I’m not mad. Please don’t put in the newspaper that I got mad.” They just continue to successfully troll the world’s biggest troll. And not only that, they went on to fact check the lies they called that appearance what it was a, quote, “public meltdown.” I for one find it deeply satisfying to see this team respond so adeptly to Trump when he goes off the rails like this. No one seemed to be able to do it before no one knew what to do, but they hit the right tone every single time. It’s really fun to watch honestly. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Absolutely. It keeps me super entertained. So thanks for that, Priyanka. In other news, today also marks ten years since Michael Brown Jr was killed. Back in 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, Brown, a Black 18 year old, was fatally shot by a white police officer named Darren Wilson. As his body lay in the street for four hours, social unrest ignited nationwide, giving way to the slogan, hands up, don’t shoot, and continued calls against police violence spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement. Following three different investigations, the latest led by recent primary winner who bested Cori Bush, attorney Wesley Bell, Wilson was not charged for Brown’s death. Here’s Michael Brown’s father, Mike Sr, speaking to the local Fox News station KTVI TV Saint Louis this week. 

[clip of Mike Brown Sr.] Ten years. Just never forget Mike Brown. You know, Mike Brown was dehumanized as a person. He had a family. I’m his father. I mean, he got siblings. You know, he has a mother. He has a stepmother, he has a grandmother. He has two grandmothers. They’re still alive. You know, people loved him. And uh, we will always raise him up high. 

Priyanka Aribindi: How is the community commemorating this anniversary? 

Tre’vell Anderson: Well, in addition to residents placing flowers, stuffed animals, and other items at the site where Brown was actually killed, there’s also an art exhibit running through Sunday put on by the Chosen for Change Foundation, an organization Mike Brown Senior founded to quote, “turn his pain into purpose.” The exhibit is called, As I See You, and it features photos, videos, books and other mementos, including Mike Brown Jr.’s high school diploma that the Brown family hopes will further humanize their loved one. Here’s Cal Brown, co-founder of Chosen for Change, and Mike Brown Jr.’s step mom. 

[clip of Cal Brown] I just wanted to create a space not only for community, but for people to really see who he was. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Absolutely and incredibly important too. He’s become a symbol for a movement in many ways, but was also a very real person with real interests and family and all the same things that all of us sort of share. And as you mentioned, Michael Brown Junior’s killing ten years ago inspired a lot of protests and organizing. But has policing actually changed in the last decade? What have we seen? 

Tre’vell Anderson: Yeah. So I think for so many people, it feels like much has not changed. Just last month, for example, a Black woman named Sonia Massey was killed in her own home by police in Illinois. But I actually like what DeRay Mckesson had to say to this question. DeRay, of course, is one of the activists who were on the ground in Ferguson that became a national figure as a result. He also hosts Crooked’s Pod Save the People. This is what he said to NPR’s Michel Martin. 

[clip of DeRay Mckesson] So when I think about how this will actually happen, it will be in cities and states. And I think that people have been looking for like the national silver bullet, as opposed to understanding that the best version of the change will be a 50 state strategy, that is just how policing is set up, and it will be at the city level. And I think people misunderstand that because a civil rights movement had these big national wins. 

Tre’vell Anderson: So he’s saying, right, that absent a major countrywide win in the movement, such as voting rights, it might always feel like change hasn’t or isn’t happening. And that by pointing the focus of organizing locally, that is how we continually work toward a world where policing looks different than it does right now. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Right. 

Tre’vell Anderson: That’s the least for now. We’ll get to some headlines in a moment, but if you like our show, make sure to subscribe and share it with your friends. We’ll be back after some ads. [music break]

[AD BREAK]

Tre’vell Anderson: Let’s get to some headlines. 

[sung] Headlines. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Vice President Kamala Harris continued her tour of battleground states in Michigan on Thursday. She and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stopped in Detroit to address the United Auto Workers union and emphasized their support for workers rights. 

[clip of Vice President Kamala Harris] Even if you’re not a member of a union. You better thank unions. [cheers and applause] That five day work week. You better thank unions for that eight hour work day. You better thank unions for that vacation time. 

Tre’vell Anderson: The UAW endorsed Harris for president late last month, shortly after President Biden exited the race. UAW President Shawn Fain spoke at Thursday’s event about the stakes of this year’s election, and took shots at former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. 

[clip of UAW President Shawn Fain] They spent their lives serving themselves, representing the billionaire class and enriching themselves at the expense of the working class. 

Priyanka Aribindi: I mean, absolutely, and we saw it throughout President Biden’s presidency, how he positioned himself as the most pro-union president in history. And it’s very clear that Vice President Kamala Harris wants to continue that in her own run and hopefully in her presidency. Place your stress ball orders now, because Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have agreed to debate on September 10th. Trump spoke about the debate at the press conference he mentioned earlier, and host network ABC later confirmed that both candidates would attend. ABC had originally scheduled a debate on September 10th between Trump and President Biden. Trump referenced two other upcoming debates with Harris at his press conference, one with Fox News on September 4th and another with ABC on September 25th. But Harris pushed back, telling reporters later in the day that she would discuss the possibility of an additional debate only after the debate on September 10th. Ideally, none of us will be thinking about future debates at that point, because we will be in such a state of euphoria from watching Harris demolish Trump on national TV that we will have lost our grip on time and space. I know we can’t count our chickens but listen we can hope. 

Tre’vell Anderson: We can hope. Okay? 

Priyanka Aribindi: It’s like we’re sitting there hoping for a snow day, but like instead of a snow day, I want it to be libs in the street banging pots and pans just celebrating and feeling something for once. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Russian and Ukrainian forces entered their third day of fighting following Ukraine’s surprise offensive attack on Thursday. About a thousand Ukrainian forces pushed into Russian territory earlier this week, crossing several miles into the country’s Kursk region. Local officials say thousands of residents have been evacuated from the area amid the attack. The Kremlin claimed on Thursday that its forces had stopped Ukraine’s advances, but evidence suggests that Kyiv is actually gaining ground in the region. Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the Kursk attack directly, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made remarks on Thursday, praising his country’s military and its ability to, quote unquote, “surprise.” Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine’s attack a, quote, “major provocation in the war.” Meanwhile, world leaders worry that the embattled country may not have enough resources to sustain such a bold offensive. 

Priyanka Aribindi: This podcast is going for gold in the event called Short Daily Recaps of the Paris Olympics, a.k.a. our favorite part of the program. Here are a few big takeaways from Thursday’s contest. American sprinter Noah Lyles was expected to dominate in the 200 meter final, but he ended up taking bronze behind first and second place finishers Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Team USA’s Kenny Bednarek. Afterwards, Lyles revealed he had tested positive for Covid on Tuesday, which explains why he celebrated finishing the race by immediately lying down on the track, he was gasping for breath. He did not look great. Hopefully his Covid symptoms will go away soon. Olympic officials said that they supported Lyles decision to compete. That is quite interesting. I would love to hear what everyone else has to say separately. Wild that he was able to do that with Covid. Also on Thursday, team USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall won gold in women’s long jump. LeBron James and Steph Curry led the U.S. men’s basketball team to beat Serbia by just four points, allowing team USA to advance to the gold medal game on Sunday. And lastly, American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won gold in the 400 meter hurdles, breaking her world record for the sixth time in the process. If you watch that race, it is like those hurdles aren’t even there. She is just it’s like a full sprint. Blink and you missed it. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Mm hmm. But I want to go back to Mister Lyles, Priyanka. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Lets. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Okay. Because why is that man running with Covid? Okay now I know it’s the Olympics. You get one chance every four years I get it I you know. But–

Priyanka Aribindi: I sort of see what’s enticing about it. But I don’t know. I agree with you. 

Tre’vell Anderson: And he still got bronze. 

Priyanka Aribindi: It’s amazing that he got a bronze. I feel bad for everyone else, obviously, because they’re like next to this guy with Covid. It feels worse in a way to do that to everybody else and kind of be like, well, I could have won if I didn’t have Covid. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Well, I’m sure the gold medal and silver medal winners are not worried about that man and his covid. Okay? They said thank you for your Covid all right. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Yeah. Maybe they’re happy I don’t know. We’d have to ask. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Also, when you’re not watching the Olympics, make sure you go outside and look up. It’s time for the annual perseids meteor shower, which is at its peak this weekend. 

Priyanka Aribindi: I don’t quite know where I’m going to go, how far I can get away from the city to be able to see this, but I would like to. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Yeah. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Do you have plans to watch this Tre’vell? 

Tre’vell Anderson: I don’t know, I don’t particularly like the outside. Um.

Priyanka Aribindi: Mosquitos, things, not for me. Not for me.

Tre’vell Anderson: It’s just too much going on, but, you know, come on, a meteor shower. How often do you get a chance to see one? 

Priyanka Aribindi: I’ve actually never seen one. I would love to. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Exactly. Y’all go look up now. Okay. And those are the headlines. 

[AD BREAK]

Tre’vell Anderson: That is all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, give it up for unions and tell your friends to listen. 

Priyanka Aribindi: And if you are into reading and not just team USA’s medal count like me, What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and subscribe at crooked.com/subscribe. I’m Priyanka Aribindi.

Tre’vell Anderson: I’m Tre’vell Anderson. 

[spoken together] And learn how to pronounce Kamala’s name, Donald.

Priyanka Aribindi: A few like random people every now and then like, do you come across like friends who say it the wrong way and you’re like, what are you doing? No, no no no. Everyone learn how to say it the correct way. 

Tre’vell Anderson: Listen, if my country behind can learn how to say it the right way, I know y’all can. 

Priyanka Aribindi: Yeah. 

Tre’vell Anderson: I promise. 

Priyanka Aribindi: It’s been a while. Like, we can do this. [music break]

Tre’vell Anderson: What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. It’s recorded and mixed by Bill Lancz. Our associate producer is Raven Yamamoto. We had production help today from Michell Eloy, Ethan Oberman, Jon Millstein, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our showrunner is Erica Morrison and are executive producers Adriene Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka.