KAMALA HARRIS (Shutterstock).

Vice President Kamala Harris slammed former president Donald Trump at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans on Friday but steered around the question of whether President Joe Biden should drop his candidacy for a second term.

Harris has been vocal in defense of Biden, but she is also considered one of the most likely alternate presidential candidates if he yields to pressure to step aside.

In Pennsylvania, another potential successor to Biden, spoke up strongly in favor of him staying in the race. That’s California governor Gavin Newsom.

“If Donald Trump succeeds, God help us,” said Newsom. “We will roll back the last half-century. It’s America in reverse.”

Trump disavows Project 2025

DONALD TRUMP (Shutterstock).

A recently unveiled plan by a conservative group to change the federal government was disavowed by former president Donald Trump on Friday. Posting on his Truth Social website, he said, “I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

Project 2025 would dramatically increase the power of the president, and allow for the chief executive to replace career government officials with party loyalists.

Some have tied Trump to the plan because some of the officials from his presidency have been involved in composing it.

Angels, Dodgers post victories

After being swept in Oakland by the A’s, the Los Angeles Angels got back on the winning track with a 7-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field,

Tyler Anderson (8-8) gave the Halos a strong start. He lasted eight innings, giving up three hits. He struck out 10 batters and walked none.

At bat, Jo Adell hit his 14th home run off the season and three Angels had two hits. Logan O’Hoppe was 2-for-4 with two RBIs on a double.

With the win, the Angels are 37-51 and remain in fourth place in the American League West.

Will Smith continued to go hard  for the Los Angeles Dodgers, homering in the first inning of the Blue Crew’s 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at home. That was his 15th homer of the season. Shohei Ohtani blasted his 28th homer of 2024 and Miguel Rojas also homered, both in the decisive eighth.

The Dodgers are 55-35 and lead the National League West by  seven games. 

Weather: Warming up

Our West Orange County area will cool for a few days and then return to warming. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies on Sunday with a daytime high of 81 and with an overnight low of 66. Monday (and through Wednesday) will bring us partly cloudy skies, with a high of 81(67). Tuesday warms to 84(67) and Wednesday to 86(67).