Nick’s Picks | Biden Fallout, Summer Olympics and Olivia Rodrigo

I stumbled on a social media post over the weekend that claimed, “Aliens could land in America right now, and it would not be a big enough story to make the front page.” 

Given the seismic news developments upending politics over the last few days, it’s hard to disagree. 

Here are nine national and local storylines to keep an eye on this week. 

#1: Biden to Address the Nation 

President Joe Biden says he will address the nation later this week after a stunning decision to end his reelection campaign over the weekend.  

As of this morning, there’s been no mention of when that speech will take place. Several news reports claim Biden is still raspy after contracting COVID. 

We are in uncharted territory. No sitting president has dropped out of a race so late in an election cycle. 

Biden says he will finish out his term and is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him.  

But will Democrats unify around Harris, or will other candidates jump in the race?  

Time is running out. The Democratic National Convention starts four weeks from today. 

But it’s not the only big question in search of an answer this week.  

Here’s another one. 

Who will Harris pick as her running mate? Apparently, she’s already drawn up a shortlist. Two Southern governors, Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Andy Beshear of Kentucky are thought to be at the top of the list, alongside Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. 

Meanwhile, Republicans are calling on Biden to resign the presidency now. Missouri Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt claim if the president isn’t up to running a political campaign, “he’s unfit to continue leading the country.” 

Republicans are also expected to challenge efforts to remove Biden’s name from the ballot, though some constitutional scholars consider that a “long-shot” legal effort. 

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Last Week, Reviewed

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#2: Secret Service Under Scrutiny 

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is scrambling to keep her job this week. 

She is scheduled to be on Capitol Hill today to testify before the House Oversight Committee. 

Lawmakers want to know how a shooter was able to evade secret service agents and almost take out Donald Trump in a failed assassination attempt.  

#3: Netanyahu Goes to Washington 

As Democrats try to unite this week, cracks are expected to widen on another big political divide: the war in Gaza. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to Washington to make a rare joint address to Congress on Wednesday. But more than 60 Democratic lawmakers plan to boycott the speech, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. 

 Widespread protests are expected. The U.S. Capitol Police say they’ve deployed more officers in anticipation of large demonstrations.  

#4: Summer Olympics 

With everything else going on in the country right now, do you care that the Summer Olympics begin this week? Or is this exactly the distraction you’ve been waiting for? 

The opening ceremonies are this Friday in Paris, though the U.S. men’s soccer and rugby teams will begin their quest for gold on Wednesday. 

This will also be the first Olympics where breakdancing has been declared an official sport. 

At least seven Kansas City-area athletes are competing in the French capital, including two KC Current soccer players. Forward Nichelle Prince is playing for Canada. And center back Lauren Eduarda Leal Costa is on the Brazilian team. 

Overland Park’s Leanne Wong is an alternate on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. 

And did you know that half of the U.S. trapshooting team is from the Kansas City area? (Yes, it is an Olympic sport.} 

Derek Mein lives in Paola and Staff Sgt. Rachel Tozier manages a trapshooting range in Smithville. Both have a chance to win a medal at these games. 

Winning athletes in Paris won’t just win gold, silver or bronze. Their medals will also include a piece of iron — wrought iron, to be exact, from the Eiffel Tower. 

The iron fragments are remnants from the famous French landmark’s original construction in 1889. 

#5: First Primary Votes Cast in Missouri 

Everyone seems to be fixated on the presidential race, but there are some important election campaigns going on where we live. 

Early in-person voting begins Tuesday in Missouri, ahead of the Aug. 6 primary election. Advance voting is already underway in Kansas. 

There’s a lot at stake, from finding a new governor to replace Mike Parson in Missouri, to choosing a new Jackson County prosecutor to fill the shoes of Jean Peters Baker.  

In Kansas, the Johnson County sheriff and the Johnson County district attorney are being challenged. And many residents in Wyandotte County will be picking a new member of Congress after Jake LaTurner opted to give up his seat.  

Confused? We have your back.  

Check out our new voter guide that sizes up all the races on the ballot, on both sides of state line.  

Get Ready

#6: Missouri Governor’s Debate 

As President Biden can now attest, election debates are not just consequential, they can sink an entire campaign. 

This week, we enter our local debate season by bringing you the Missouri governor’s debate. 

We’re partnering with our PBS sister station in St. Louis to bring you the leading candidates battling to succeed Mike Parson in the Missouri governor’s mansion. 

The Republican candidates square off this Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Democratic candidates will immediately follow at 8 p.m.  

Something we’re still watching is whether all the candidates will show up. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel have confirmed. But Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe has been a “no show” at every broadcast forum.  

We’ll see what happens on Wednesday night. 

#7: Jackson County Prosecutor 

Concern about public safety makes the Jackson County prosecutor race one of the most consequential on the upcoming August primary ballot. 

Longtime prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has announced she’s not running again. Now, the three Democratic candidates wanting to replace her face off this week on Kansas City PBS. 

Tune in for a “Week in Review” election special, this Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS. 

#8: Indian Creek Serial Killer  

Cast your mind back to the year 2017, and one of the biggest news stories in Kansas City was terror over a serial killer on the loose.  

The victims? White middle-aged men, walking alone on the Indian Creek Trail in south Kansas City. 

Six people would lose their lives on the scenic path that crisscrosses state line, including Coach’s bar owner Mike Darby. 

But did you know that seven years after prosecutors charged Fredrick Demond Scott with the murders, there’s been no criminal trial? 

Scott’s defense team has argued he’s not mentally competent to stand trial. 

Now, after years of delays, a judge this week will finally decide what happens next. 

Scott will appear at the Jackson County Courthouse at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for an evidentiary hearing on his mental competency. Both sides plan to bring at least one medical professional to argue their case. A ruling could come by the end of the week. 

#9: On Stage 

Do you know who Olivia Rodrigo is? I had never heard of her. But the Kansas City Star claims she takes “the top spot” for the most buzzworthy concert of the year.  

The Gen Z pop sensation is in Kansas City on Friday night for a sold-out show at T-Mobile Center. 

It’s Rodrigo’s first concert in Kansas City. And her ticket prices confirm she’s in demand. Rodrigo is commanding $360, even for a nosebleed seat.  

That makes tickets to see Ice Cube seem like a bargain. The rapper and actor stops at Grinders in the Crossroads on Friday night. The Grinders website shows lots of tickets are still available at $69 a pop. 

Nick Haines tracks the week’s most impactful local news stories on “Kansas City Week in Review,” Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS.