Daily Briefing: Kamala Harris is Black and Indian-American

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump questioned Kamala Harris' race while addressing an audience of Black journalists about issues key to their community. Thursday has a stacked schedule of events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. New laws are raising voting rights concerns in some states.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. We all are this girl watching Katie Ledecky win.

Harris responds to Trump's attacks about her racial identity

Vice President Kamala Harris said "the American people deserve better" as she responded to former President Donald Trump's combative interview with the National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention that included false claims about her racial identity. In his interview with the NABJ in Chicago, Trump questioned the Black racial identify of Harris, who is Black and Indian-American. Read more

Olympic update: Biles goes for individual gold

Thursday is perhaps the biggest day of the 2024 Paris Olympics: Simone Biles and some her of U.S. teammates compete in the women’s gymnastics all-around final.

What else to watch for: The Olympic swimming schedule features four finals, including Katie Ledecky in the 4x200-meter free relay. Track and field gets underway with the men’s and women’s race walk. Olympic men’s golf begins with their first round of play. And the U.S. women’s basketball team continues group play against Belgium.

• Who and what determines which female athletes can compete? The issues of so-called gender verification or sex testing have fueled discussion at the Olympics as boxers prepare to enter the ring.
• Look out for Gabby Thomas: The 200-meter specialist favored to win gold used to work at McDonald’s. 
• The USA leads the medal count: Our 2024 Paris Olympics medal count tracker updates after every single medal event.

More news to know now

• The biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War could be underway.
• Police unions often defend their own. But not after the Sonya Massey shooting.
• Hamas, Iran vow "harsh" response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.
• Gen X and Millennials are at greater risk for these types of cancer.
• Time to play today's Paste BN Crossword! Click here for Sally's expert analysis.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

The VP vetting process, from an insider

Before they can be selected as a running mate, vice presidential contenders undergo a vetting process that seeks to unearth their darkest secrets − and even those of their family, friends and business partners. Several Democrats are going through that process right now, as Vice President Kamala Harris chooses a vice president of her own. A decision is expected by early next week.

9/11 mastermind makes plea deal with US

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an al Qaeda operative considered to be the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, has entered into a plea agreement along with two of his lieutenants in the terror organization, the U.S. Department of Defense announced. Mohammed has been jailed at Guantanamo prison for nearly two decades. Read more

One dead as Colorado wildfire spreads

Hundreds of central Colorado residents were evacuated early Wednesday after deadly wildfires spread fiercely over mountainous terrain as firefighters in California battled the fifth-largest blaze in state history. Read more

Keep scrolling

• Almost a year after MSU firing, football coach Mel Tucker files suit.
• Carrie Underwood is set to be Katy Perry's "American Idol" replacement.
• Who is Doctor Doom? Robert Downey Jr.'s shocking Marvel return.
• An Olympic fencer competed seven months pregnant — and had victory.
• The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge turns 10. What work remains?

Three states, three voting rights concerns

A number of states have changed voter laws since the last general election. But voting rights advocates worry these measures could discourage turnout. In Florida, a roll-out of shorter hours for ballot drop boxes are raising concern. Meanwhile, Georgia introduced a portal that allows voters to cancel a voter registration — their own or someone else’s — through a few clicks. And in North Carolina, new earlier absentee ballot deadlines mean thousands of votes could be discarded.

Photo of the day 🏊‍♀️

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.