Summary‍

Kamala Harris now leads or ties Trump in 6 of 7 battleground states, indicating a major shift from the Biden campaign. Israel and Hamas are resuming ceasefire talks amid increasing pressure from the potential Iran conflict. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will resign next month due to low approval ratings and scandal. Trump’s hush money trial faces further delays as he requests Judge Merchan’s recusal for a third time. A study reveals Stonehenge’s center altar stone came from Scotland, adding to the monument’s mysteries.
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Today's Script

Good morning everyone! My name is Gabe, today is Thursday, August 15th, and you’re listening to Current2, brought to you by Just Bagels!

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In Must Know News:

• A new poll found that Kamala Harris leads or ties Trump in 6 out of 7 battleground states, completely flipping the numbers from the previous Biden campaign. The findings suggest multiple ways Harris can achieve the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Additionally, she leads with “double hater” voters, or voters who dislike Biden and Trump, by an astounding 30%. Those are some serious numbers, but we’ll see what it takes to win in November!
• Talks are set to start again today between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza. According to reports, this talk is going to be different. With the looming threat of war with Iran, Israel is feeling more pressure to meet Iranian demands for a permanent ceasefire, but the conditions are yet to be laid out.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he will be stepping down next month amidst public outrage concerning his party, the Liberal Democratic Party or LDP. Many Japanese disliked his handling of an LDP fundraising scandal, as well as his ties to a South Korean church. His approval rating currently sits at an abysmal 25%, so a new guy in office is probably the best move.
• Trump’s hush money trial continues to face obstacles, as Trump has once again requested that Judge Juan Merchan recuse himself from the trial, this time referring to his daughter’s involvement in campaigning for Democrats. This will be the third time Merchan has refused to step down, assuring the court that no conflict of interest exists and the sentencing will proceed as normal in September. If you thought this was over, so did we! 
• An ancient monument has modern findings as a study finds the center altar stone in the famous Stonehenge monument in southern England actually originated from Scotland. The 450 mile distance between the origin to the present location has stumped scientists, adding to the mystery of the monument as they hypothesize how the Neolithic people of the time transported it. Maybe they’ll use the theory of the pyramids… aliens! 

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That’s all for today, folks! If you liked this episode, make sure to share it with your friends! Have a wonderful Thursday, and thanks for listening to Current2, the easy way to stay informed.

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Sources:

Kamala leads Trump in 5 swing states (USAToday)

Gaza ceasefire talks resume (NPR)

Japan PM to step down (NPR)

Trump’s third recusal request denied (The Hill)

Stonehenge rock comes from Scotland (NBC)