Every year, I find it fitting to write a piece in August titled “Beware the Ides of August.” This phrase is inspired by Shakespeare, wherein Julius Caesar is forewarned to “Beware the Ides of March.” For Caesar, mid-March signifies his tragic fate. Throughout the years, I have observed that August, often seen as the mid-month point, frequently becomes the most tumultuous, historic, and unpredictable time in politics and governance.
In August 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency. The U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963. The riot in Charlottesville, Va., occurred in August 2017. There was even an earthquake in Washington, D.C., in August 2011. And it wasn’t of the political variety.
Will August 2024 keep up with this legacy?
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July 2024 was something else, proclaiming, “August, hold my beer.”
There’s still plenty of August ahead. However, July has earned a unique place in the archive of remarkable political months. The attempted shooting of former President Trump, alongside President Biden’s shocking announcement to withdraw from the 2024 race, generated monumental news. Additionally, the political storm that swept through the news cycle for nearly three weeks following President Biden’s dismal debate performance in late June added to the chaos. Let’s not overlook the Republican convention in Milwaukee and Mr. Trump’s choice of Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, as his running mate. Though significant, these events didn’t quite rival the intensity of the assassination attempt on the former president and President Biden’s subsequent exit.
A profound example of the frenetic pace of the July news cycle came on July 24. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to give a controversial address before a Joint Meeting of Congress. Bipartisan Congressional leaders—predominantly Republicans—invited Netanyahu to speak for an unprecedented fourth time. Yet, that morning, much of the attention surrounding his speech was overshadowed by other events.
Former President Donald Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, after his historic decision to withdraw from the reelection race. (Getty Images)
Reflect on how the narrative changed throughout July 24.
Netanyahu’s speech would have been the primary news story early that morning under normal circumstances. However, the testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray before the House Judiciary Committee quickly overshadowed Netanyahu for a period. Wray was already set to testify before the committee before the shooting incident. However, the attempted assassination of the former president dominated the news headlines. Wray appeared before the House to discuss the FBI’s investigation into the shooting, amplifying the focus on him.
Netanyahu’s address to Congress was not scheduled until the afternoon. Yet prior to this, the left reacted vehemently, and numerous pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrators took to the streets, protesting fiercely and clashing with law enforcement. They burned American flags and displayed Palestinian flags in front of Union Station, just a short distance from the Capitol. The dramatic visuals and boldness of the protests captivated the media’s attention leading up to Netanyahu’s appearance.
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When Netanyahu finally took the floor, the focus went beyond his words. Multiple subplots and controversies emerged from his appearance. Many Democrats chose to boycott the Joint Meeting. Notably, Vice President Harris—serving as President of the Senate—was absent, attending an event at a Black sorority in Indiana. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the highest-ranking Jewish member in Congressional history, notably refused to greet Netanyahu on the House floor. Netanyahu’s speech criticized the demonstrators outside, labeling them as “useful idiots” for Iran. Democrats present at the address expressed disappointment that Netanyahu did not propose a plan to recover hostages or call for a ceasefire.
Yet by nightfall, Netanyahu’s speech faded into the background of the day’s developments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, President Biden had recovered sufficiently from his bout with COVID-19 and prepared to address the nation about his significant choice to not seek reelection. He had already announced this decision publicly via X on the prior Sunday, but addressing the nation in an official capacity was another matter entirely.
Amid all this, there was a quick shift as Harris garnered what appeared to be substantial support from Democratic delegates and lawmakers to step in for Biden. The country was scrutinizing Harris’s profile and assessing her viability against former President Trump. Simultaneously, discussions were underway regarding Vance, his policy agendas, and investigations into his 2016 book, Hillbilly Elegy.
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The whirlwind of events seemed to be endless.
So here comes August, filled with possibilities and expectations.
Those of us in the political and media spheres are not particularly itching for another round of intense news cycles.
There will indeed be the Democratic National Convention at the month’s end in Chicago, and with Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, there’s much to discuss. However, these occurrences do not evoke the same intensity as the July turmoil.
Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, take the stage during a campaign event at Girard College on August 6, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Nonetheless, one cannot dismiss the likelihood of significant developments occurring this month. The situation in the Middle East is heating up, with serious worries surrounding potential regional conflicts. One could also contemplate the possibility of tensions escalating between China and Taiwan. Other significant political narratives may emerge revolving around Trump, Harris, Vance, or Walz. Biden remains in office, and many questions loom regarding his remaining time as president. Then there’s always the element of surprise that August tends to bring, often resulting in historic changes that come out of the blue, redirecting the course of events.
The early August 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq led to the first Gulf War just months later. In late August 1983, the Soviets downed a Korean airliner, resulting in the deaths of an American congressman and hundreds more. The choice of Walz was genuinely significant news, yet it could not compare to the shockwaves caused by then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain selecting former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008. Additionally, the 2006 Hurricane Katrina disaster drastically altered the political landscape for former President George W. Bush.
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Thus, heed the warning for the Ides of August—it holds its weight as a month of surprises.
But last month was all about “Beware the Ides of July.”
